MARSHFIELD, WI (OnFocus) – The students have become the master! Thursday evening Connor and Bryce boated more fish than I. Not sure what is happening with my fishing luck lately? I know I have been spending a lot more time looking at the surroundings than concentrating on fishing.
This evening I sat looking at the leaves changing colors; the almost full moon was pretty as ever! The squirrels in the oaks nearby chased and knocked acorns down. Now and then, I would feel a light tap on the end of my line, and it was another missed fish!
Just like a Major League Baseball hitter, you can get into slumps. My slumps, though, do not draw criticism from fans. It’s just a guy who has taken his eye off the ball and focused on looking at the things around him.
Thursday night not only offered a night of natural beauty, but it also gave me a chance to see the smiles of my boys. Seeing those smiles is a reminder that being a dad is an excellent job to have.
Raising teenage boys can give a parent an empty feeling. They are not very talkative; they often show little emotion towards things. It makes a guy wonder, am I doing things right? Then you see them smile over something. Or maybe they open up to you, and when I say open up, it’s a 15 second moment! They might share something about their day, tell you something they have going on, or ask questions. Those brief moments still make it all worth it.
When I got home and gave Angie the update on the evening’s results, she grinned at me and said, “are you still thankful?” What a great question, and the response is I’m always thankful! The question is a reminder always to celebrate the experience.
As I get ready for my 35th hunting season, I think about how much the outdoors has taught me and how it structured who I have become in life. Mother Nature has been a great life coach. Where else could I learn the value of life, disappointment, failure, patience, determination, and success?
My mother reminds me that I was the same way my boys are right now, more interested in other things than being around their parents. Mom always knows best, don’t they! I think back to my teenage years and remember that I didn’t talk a whole lot to my parents about stuff.
This fall, I will let Mother Nature continue to show me the lessons of patience. I will look to build that emotion into my life more as I wait patiently for my boys to continue on their path in life, knowing that someday in their late teens or early twenties, they will come back around.
In closing, I hope you find a way to get into the outdoors, create your adventure and memories, but most importantly, find a way to “Celebrate the Experience.” Go check out www.thankfuloutdoors.com for more content and share your “Celebrate the Experience” moment with us!
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Author: News Desk
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