Category: Digging for Courage

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An Unexpected Valentine’s Day

Two lovely ladies joined us on an adventure I’ve been waiting to happen for years.

I have wanted to go sledding at Winterthur for as long as I’ve been taking my sons. This year they’re allowing it on select Sundays.

Some other families were already enjoying the hill when we arrived, but our stash of snacks and hot cocoa kept us going longer than most. After our umpteenth snowball fight, we noticed that we were the last ones there.

Snowboarding practice into a sand trap.

We left our sleds to explore on foot. Winterthur is constantly changing, so there is something magical about how snow seems to stop time and obscure the continous flow of life.

It’s also pure joy to spend time in the snow with children. Their discoveries, wonder, and constant imaginative play radiate joy.

This adventure was cooked up a mere 24 hours in advance. The conditions were right and serendipities colluded for a wonderous day of connective laughter and fun. Much needed for all involved.

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Kim Anami and Wim Hof Send Me Outside

Wim Hof with Kim Anami

I’ve been listening to Kim Anami for more than two years and somehow missed this episode she did with Wim Hof.

These two are innovators in self actualization and empowerment. They’re both powerful, sexual, intensely alive, and working to bring their peace and happiness to the masses.

Halfway through the episode I was reminded that I was off my daily breathing routine. I pulled my shirt off and got about 19 minutes in the cold shortly before sunset.

Anami and Hof regularly challenge our societal narratives. They empower their listeners to take responsibility for their health, whether it be mental, cardiovascular, sexual, spiritual, neural, muscular, immune, or any of the critically important systems that we outsource to experts.

They are uncovering cutting edge science in ancient practices. They promote radical answers that have been lost to modernity.

On a personal level, I have found less shame in my sexual self and more power buried in my cells than I knew was there.

I entered my fourth year as a widower yesterday. There has been healing in each day. Through Hof and Anami I have seen how much ancestral trauma is carried in the body. The daily healing digs deeper into the past and deeper into my own body. The results are remarkable. I am happier and healthier with each breath, each prayer, and each connection with similar souls.

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Losing It

I skipped my Wim Hof Method breathing and cold therapy today. It’s been a long time since I missed a day. I showered late last night and slept in today. We got going on adventures with friends early and I didn’t think much of it.

The lack of intention rolled on through the day. Small impositions and improper self care wore on me. As time for dinner came close, I realized I was too hungry and too tired. The awareness of it wasn’t enough. I screamed at my sons for fighting (oh yeah, that’s a good model of conflict resolution). I threw things that were left out of place (look at that, more modeling of hurtful behaviour).

I finally broke down and hugged them, apologized, and hugged them again.

The pain I caused them and the anguish I caused myself seem unforgivable. It took someone’s loving words to remind me that I am not perfect. I’ve been on this intentional journey of positive parenting for more than two years. I’ve made great improvements in our lives because of it. Our house is more full of love than ever.

These backslides are difficult, even in the bright light of those improvements.

But, as I was told tonight, I should give myself grace. And I will.

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Fresh Snow

A couple inches of surprise snow fell last night. As I opened my back door out into it, I could tell how soft and fluffy it was. My barefeet welcomed the gentle blanket, then the fear of the cold shot into them. I took my first intentional breath, calmed and proceeded to appreciate every nerve ending as I took a couple pictures. The deck was still slick underneath the new snow and I stumbled a couple times.

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Out in the yard, the cold started to get to my feet. I rolled out my yoga mat and the snow was deep enough to pour over the edge in places. I lied down and felt the little intrusions. I cleared some, but knew this was another baby step I could take into my cold therapy journey.

The Wim Hof Method breathing was easy. Birds and traffic weren’t awake and my mind was softly focused on God, myself, and Love.

I walked back to the house and my feet reached their limit as I fumbled with the door.

While meditative and calming, the practice is also uncomfortable and challenging. It prepares me for the discomforts of the day and sets my sights on the greatest things that Creation has to offer.

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Wim Hof Method and Crying

28° outside, t-shirt and underwear, yoga mat, and barefeet.

I didn’t cry this morning during breathing exercises, but sometimes I do.

We hold all types of trauma in our cells: material, emotional, and spiritual. Discomfort shakes that trauma loose. It’s a blessing to say goodbye to baggage you didn’t even know you were carrying.

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The Super Mario Effect: Mark Rober’s Ted Talk

Mark Rober is one of my sons’ favorite Youtube stars. Having seen the game walk throughs, ridiculous movie reviews, and general garbage they watch, I wrote him off before watching any of his videos.

My sons are tenacious and I quickly learned that this guy is the real deal. He comes up with exciting goals and engineers his way to reaching them.

When I found out that he’s done a couple Ted Talks, I took the chance on one of our We Each Get to Pick One Youtube Video Before Bed nights.

The talk is about how a goal-focused approach to learning leads to more success and more lessons learned. Negative point scoring (as in tests) discourages people and focuses them on the mistakes rather than how to overcome obstacles to reach a goal.

It’s hard to trust the freedom I give my sons when they’re watching a pale waif of a boy (man?) scream at pixels on a screen. I don’t know if I’ll ever understand the value they find there. On the flip side are the Mark Rober and how-to videos. They take ownership in what they want to consume. When learners take ownership, they are empowered.

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The Tom Woods Show: Socialism as a Secular Creed: A Worldwide Study

The Tom Woods Show: Ep. 1826 Socialism as a Secular Creed: A Worldwide Study

This episode of The Tom Woods Show would be enough to share as a fascinating discussion of the religious structure of socialist theory. However, what excites me more is that the guest, Andrei Znamenski, sounds like a Russian Christopher Walken.

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Enjoy and be educated.

Book discussed:

By Tom Woods:

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Free Speech February: Ignorance and Fear

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The Hiding Place is the story of Corrie ten Boom and her family during Germany’s occupation of Holland during WWII. The movie is very good and it may be free on Amazon. Amazon also has various documentaries about her.

It’s an unbelievable journey of faith that I was not familiar with, but should be shared without fear of the symbols of history.

Corrie and her sister were Christians who ran a safe house for Jews escaping German persecution. Their bravery as they were taken to Ravensbrück concentration camp is astounding. Their ability to keep and spread God’s Word while under guard is inspiring. Corrie’s sister died in that camp.

We had the privilege of being a part of Pages Alive Theater’s production. Westen and Isaac had the heavy weight of playing villianous Nazis and a traitorous spy.

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Free Speech February: Bridget Phetasy

When I gave up cable news, I discovered Dennis Miller’s podcast. It was a brilliantly funny review and takedown of current events. I started to see how I didn’t need a daily diet of mainstream media to lead a happy and productive life.

He went off the air and I checked out of most news shows. I listen to tons of podcasts, but they tend to run deeper than the news of the day.

Last year, I found Bridget Phetasy talking about being 40 and sober and it spoke to me. She’s hilarious, self-deprecating, and doesn’t fall into a tidy, ideological box. A lot like Miller.

Dumpster Fire tackles the news of the week and highlights the absurd.

Check out the latest episode: https://youtu.be/JqU5Gdm5IfI

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Dave Smith Surprises Me

I’m not even halfway through this debate and Dave Smith may have convinced me to join a political party.

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Should the Ron Paul Liberty Movement Go LP or GOP? Dave Smith Debates Eric Brakey! https://castbox.fm/vb/348029014

Bonus knowledge: