Muted, unspoken identity: a narrative of the beginning years in the shooting sports

It’s a beautiful Sunday afternoon, and I just stepped into the house with my dusty, trail running shoes; brown tape stuck to my shorts.  My hair is bundled in a messy bun with bangs smashed to my forehead. I’ve been sweating under my baseball cap all day at the shooting range.  As I close the…

Have You Met Failure?

Finally, a High Lady title is in the records! Countless times in our lives we are going to succumb to disappointing someone, unfulfilling the expectations, and eating ourselves alive over it. Ambition is what prompts us to chase these expectations, and elated success is the outcome of conquering a journey to reach that point. But…

August, shooting sports month!

There are countless benefits inherent to the shooting sports.  Being at the range makes all my problems melt away.   Here I am beneath a baseball cap, behind protective eyewear, and have this hefty rig hugging my waist.   I’m up.  Faced forward.  Ready to dash.  Clear mind.  Remember: full speed.  *Beep*.   As athletes of…

The Art of Apology

I’d spent several weeks bickering over small things in my relationship: to realize that no matter how detailed and neutral I was at justifying my actions, nothing could be resolved without an apology. I’d always been the girl with a hard shell and a wall up. It was natural for me to ball up my…

Restoring Stranger Connections

Restoring faith in humanity: stranger connections We have choices: how do we wanna spend our most precious moments, and with whom? Do we hold on to those college buddies who have trekked the same rigorous academic journey we have or share a little part of yourself with complete strangers. I always grew up skeptical about…

1st Exposure to Heavy Business

Blog Type = Opinion Subject = Entrepreneurial Investments Pets are no longer extensions to families for humans.  Pets have become companions with emotional attachments.  They are human replacements if you will.  Some people prefer having pets as companions over their own primate species.  Since the turn of the 21st century, pet owners in the US…

Late-20s Revelation

In the early twenties, I eagerly looked into the late-20s, seeing a successful, happy, forward-looking workforce member and ready to happily part ways with those who are wedding before me.  I saw a girl living on her own, managing her own finances, taking class for “fun”, and having bundles of energy to tackle life’s silly…

Death of the warm-hearted

  This post is inspired by iconic actor, voice, and comedic, Robin Williams.  Regardless of how his death occurred, depression is finally brought to light as not something just for the wimpy.  Puzzled and confused, we’ve asked, “What do you think was his reason for taking his life?  He has everything: laughter, family, and he’s…

Living things grow stronger, cure sooner, and heal faster when you hone in on providing a supportive environment for it.

Two important events occurred this past week which validate this point I’m about to present here.  For three months, I tried germinating okra seeds, which should take about 12-14 days to sprout and–as not many people know–it’s a hardy seed that is recommended to freeze in an ice cube and then placed in soil.  I employed various tactics, covered one, exposed one to sunlight, planted them in different potting soils, and just them be.  However hardy these okra seeds may be, indeed there was no sign of growth.

Most gardeners don’t start their garden from a seed, but rather from small plants that have already sprouted their initial leaves.  6 days ago, after digging out 3 heads of bitter, chewy lettuce from my garden box, I wanted to continue the flux of veggies and came across my pack of okra and pepper seeds.  Pepper seeds take 8 weeks to germ!  If that’s the case, when will I ever make my monies worth for the $100 I spent starting this garden box?  Garden forums are of plenty, and easily I was introduced to this new Paper Towel Method for germinating pepper seeds.  I spaced out 7 seeds onto a paper towel, sprayed it with water, folded it in half, placed it in a Ziplock, and above my refrigerator to sit in 70deg “weather”.  It was simple.  Too simple to be good; but today I uncover and find inflation of half the seeds and a tiny root peeking through one.  Did the classic 8 weeks indoor for germination magically convert to an estimated 10 days?  No.  Surprisingly, the paper towel served as the ideal foundation for germination, so here you’ll see my hardy okra seeds have protruded strong roots.  But that’s not the end to it.  Planting, watering, transplanting, thinning, mulching, eliminating weeds, and resupplying organic fertilizer all shock the plant at times.  The plant does go through its trials and tribulations and needs continuous monitoring and nurture.

I saw the same phenomenon occur in a patient recovering from surgery.  Just as each plants needs specific requirements for germination (ie. cold shock, scarification, moisture, 70 deg warmth), so do people.  Some may prefer the being pampered, but others cultivate enough courage inside them to recover independently.  How do you make yourself useful to stubborn patient that doesn’t want help, pity, or encouragement?  Stand back.  Give them the space that minimizes anxiety.  Fill in for the gaps for when they ask for you like cooking their favorite food, handing them a towel upon request.  Don’t do what you think is best for them, especially not for adults who can make their own decisions.  They’re not mentally handicap.  They are strong and motivated individuals for the most part.  As with plants, hone into your patients individual needs, when they need you.

First Kill Reincarnate

Shock makes you inadvertently do inhumane things.  It rips your soul of sympathy, compassion, and logic.  I’ll tell you now. I am the subject to this matter. Wednesday, 4/23, 6:30am  ♦  I’m headed on i280 going south, declining down a straightaway with the sun peeking from the eastern horizon.  Traffic is light ahead of me…