Celebrate It

Life in general,and ones specific situation in that life, can be massively improved by following a simple rule. I learned the concept years ago and my life has been inestimately altered for the better.

Are you ready for it? Here it is.

Join it,  don't fight it. Embrace it, don't hide from it. Can you see how applying this philosophy to your life could change everything? Life comes at you. Life hands you some unpleasantries. Don't fight life. Join it. Don't hide from life. Embrace it. I promise you this if you'll follow this simple life hack your existence will be immeasurably improved. 

Your life consists of many varied situations and circumstances both pleasant and unpleasant, enjoyable and bland, exciting and boring. So if you're in a tough place now...embrace it; join it. Make friends with your mountain. Don't hide from it.

A frozen lake in Anchorage

My grandson Nathanael is a US Army soldier. He and his beautiful wife Amber are a great example of applying this simple life principle. They are stationed in Anchorage, Alaska. Today December 31, 2020 the temperature didnt get above 10 degrees. The ground is frozen. And will be covered in snow until o, say May. This time of year around the winter solstice the sun rises only slightly 5 degrees above the horizon. This means that the sun will have almost no affect on the daytime temps.  It's cold! Nathanaels native Florida is a distant memory. What's he doing today?

Nathanaels small catch

He is embracing it. He is joining it. He"s not the hiding type. He and Amber are practicing the simple life philosophy I described above.

Amber catches more than him.

So today in the 11 degree temps They're ice fishing! On a frozen lake they drill holes in the ice and they catch fish.

The old tent...they have a better one now

They catch them, take them home, clean and prepare them. They bake their catch, they fry their catch, they smoke their catch. And they feed the scraps to their two dogs Lana & Archer. They could be hiding inside from the weather. But they have learned that's not the answer. The answer is joining life not hiding from it.

         The sun hugs the December horizon.

Amber & Nathanael love to ice fish. They catch trout and other varieties even some species of salmon. They have purchased a shelter and a heater as well which they carry onto the ice.

       Amber caught the first trout

So they could be hiding out inside by the TV. Playing a video game. But no Nathanael embraced Alaska. And he tells me often how much he loves Alaska and that he knows that Alaska is the exact place they should be. I think that it's because they're smart enough to join Alaska instead of hiding from it. Simple.

Manatees & Springs & Amazing Things

In winter when the gulf waters cool down to below 70 degrees the West Indian Manatees head for warmer waters. 

A place they love to "winter over" are the 1st magnitude springs where the year round water temperature is a balmy 72 degrees.

Today December 27 the outside temps were in the 60's snorkeling with these guys in the spring felt heavenly. 

The Manatees, a mama and her calf and two other adults, each probably more than 9 foot long are inquisitive and curious and have no fear of humans.

Manatees are mammals. They breath air and surface every few minutes to breath. They're nicknamed Sea Cows because of their massive size.

The Manatees & I got together today in a fantastic 1st magnitude spring. This means it produces an average of 64 million gallons of pure 72 degree water every 24 hours.

In winter the Bald Cypress Trees that live here along the Suwannee and surroundng the Spring are bare.

Asters bloom in in the winter sun along the slopes of the spring.

By December the Cypress needles have nearly gone and the last of them are pure gold in color.

The cypress that surround the spring are ancient and massive. Some as much as 24 ft. circumference and 60 feet tall. They are awesome living things.

The magnificence contained in this small north Florida bio zone can only be described as overwhelming. Within the space of less than one acre is the beautiful clear First Maginitude spring; the gigantic, friendly and amazing West Indian Manatees that swim in its waters; and the ancient and amazing Bald Cypress that live along its banks.

 It is a holy & sacred place and I am always awed and humbled when I'm here.