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The wild places, mind

man next to glacier
Me at Sperry Glacier, July 2023. Photo credit to a fellow Sperry Chalet Guest. Sperry Chalet is deep inside Glacier National Park. So is its sister Chalet, Granite Park Chalet. The next two photos are from Granite Park Chalet’s night sky. You don’t sleep on the ground at Granite, but it’s close…no electricity, no heat, no running water, no wifi nor cell signal, pit toilet, and you hike 1/2 mile roundtrip for your drinking/cooking water.
night sky with stars
Granite Park Chalet’s main building casts a faint, nearly invisible, nighttime silhouette.
night sky with stars and Milky Way
Saw the Milky Way for the first time from Granite Park Chalet.

Happy present moment.

Why do you love the wild places?

From an early age, nature and all of Pennsylvania’s wild things, bugs, flowers, birds, creek critters, fish – all of it mesmerized me.

Heard Dan Fogelberg’s song, The Wild Places, yesterday and was once again inspired by the final verse:

“When you sleep on the ground
With the stars in your face
You can feel the full length
Of the beauty and grace
In the wild places man
Is an unwelcome guest
But it’s here than I’m found
And it’s here I feel blessed”

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This website is about our MIND. To read today’s post about our BODY, click here.

Family epiphany, mind

Sanibel sunrise
Photo: Sanibel sunrise from my phone, years ago. No one hands you a written contact guaranteeing your idea will become good enough to change your life and the life of those you love. But i feel like i can guarantee a better life if you stay in contact with your parents.

Family epiphany?

Yes.

My parents never initiated contact.

Mom’s parents always did.

Mom’s mom? Literally daily contact.

My parents? Crickets.

The lesson?

Power through what feels intrusive.

Because the opposite of intrusive is neglect.

Neglect can be convenient when you’re busy and stressed.

“Intrusive” is another way of saying, “I love you and want to be part of your life for as long as our lives let us.”

Son, this song was playing while and after i wrote this post.

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This website is about our MIND. To read today’s post about our BODY, click here.

Put your habits in your Will, mind

Wellness excuses, habits, rituals. This immediately triggered a business application.
If Disney Ran Your Life podcast
Wellness excuses, habits, rituals. This immediately triggered a business application.
Disney Institute Keynote Speaker
Have spent my life discerning life’s most vibrant habits.

Got your Will all set?

If your family inherited only your habits (not your things or your money), which habits would be your most valuable gifts (legacy)?

What habits would i bequeath?

First, who am i to bequeath anything to anyone?

Seriously.

Such a street rat.

Yet.

Yet, i have tried.

My whole life i have tried.

Tried what?

Tried to be a good and decent person.

Ps. Tried to be a good and decent person for you, mom, and for me.

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This website is about our MIND. To read today’s post about our BODY, click here.

June 1, 2026, mind

family on beach
Sanibel Island Summer 2009.
boy with inner tube at beach
Sanibel Island, 2011.
Family at Sanibel
Every Summer it’s Sanibel and Glacier.
Sometimes, Life's A Beach
Sometimes (like every Summer from 1988-2018), life’s A Sanibel Beach
florida beach pools
The Sanibel location’s pool was also a huge ‘fun time’. Chapin ‘flying’ into the pool.

Happy June 1, 2026.

While the Summer Solstice is three weeks away (June 21, 4:54am), Since childhood, i’ve always celebrated Summer’s arrival on June 1st.

Why?

Why wait!

Go.

Have fun.

Why wait?

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This website is about our MIND. To read today’s post about our BODY, click here.

The privilege of making mistakes, mind

Mid Life Celebration book
Wisdom comes from experience. Experience comes from making mistakes.

Is it a human privilege to make mistakes?

i think it is.

The privilege of making mistakes is only for people who act.

Why?

Intentional action leads to outcomes.

Outcomes lead to learning.

Learning leads to growth.

Growth is the essence of life.

Mental growth.

Physical growth.

Spiritual growth.

Growth at work.

Growth at home.

Unintentional inaction (which is an action), also produces unintentional outcomes. Not flossing contributes to poorer oral health than intentional flossing.

Taking risks, challenging societal, personal, and industry norms, these are the building blocks for progress, improvement, and sometimes, breakthroughs.

Note: There are exceptions to literally everything, yet i’d offer that no breakthrough has ever happened from avoiding risks.

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This website is about our MIND. To read today’s post about our BODY, click here.