Individuality

It's been a while since I pulled a thought from M*A*S*H so I thought the time was right today. I suppose in the climate that this show was produced the idea of individuality was a big deal (read: Communist Russia). This isn't the way that I took the idea of individuality the first time I read this quote.

The last couple years I've really been exploring and modeling the idea of blazing your own trail and not going with the herd. So what about individuality? I say that this sense of trailblazing is a the purest form of expressing your individuality. Be honest with yourself, when was the last time you did something absolutely trail-blazing because you honestly thought it was the right thing to do? I think there's precious few people out there who can find a personal example. Don't forget about your individuality. Go exploring. Don't worry so much about going with the group, go your own way.

Party

I suppose today's Thought is a pre-emptive apology. Over the next 12 days, I will be working as a Social Media Intern at the Minnesota State Fair. If you're around, be sure to stop by the 4-H Building and say hello!

The idea of the state fair brings about thoughts of a party. Where else can you find millions of people gathering over twelve days for such an event. Best yet, there's something for everyone. Livestock, 4-H exhibits, rides, food, you name it, it's there. What are you celebrating? Perhaps like me, you are celebrating the accomplishments and future of thousands of young 4-H members. Or maybe you are celebrating that weekend off, seeing the sights with your family.

The time, activities and venue aren't what is important. The fact of celebration is the important part. I think it's easy to get sucked into a life where there is precious little worthy of celebration. Well, it's time to ditch that mindset. Take some time and celebrate your life and your day. While I can't promise victory in a war, I can promise that the person celebrating wins the day.

Goodbye

I do apologize for missing Friday's post, at the time I would've been writing I was driving through Iowa and Illinois on my way to Chicago. So you'll have to appreciate the fact that I chose not to be in an accident rather than publishing this post.

Today's thought is another one from M*A*S*H and is particularly relevant. Friday was my last day on my internship with Agriculture Future of America (AFA) and so it was a day of goodbyes. In one word, the folks at AFA are the best. That made the goodbyes, farewells, and amens that much harder. Throughout the day I kept thinking back to all the wonderful experiences I had and all the people I had met. The more I thought about, the more Alan Alda's quote struck a chord with me.

At the beginning of the summer, I decided that it was time to stop caring. Stop caring what happened and just focus on living life to it's fullest. Looking back, I can honestly say that I have done that. Somewhere, that creativity came through. Somehow I found that place that no one has been and no one else can be. The funny thing is that I couldn't explain to you how it happened or how I did it. I think that's a sign that what I did was truly creative. The fact that I was the only one that could fully understand it is amazing. Have you ever had those experiences? Will you live creatively?

Slide

I've never been a big fan of psychiatry or psychology. That being said, the one psychiatrist that always seems to get me is Dr. Sidney Freedman from the television show M*A*S*H. If you are unfamiliar with M*A*S*H, it is a show about the life of a bunch of army doctors set in the Korean War. M*A*S*H stands for Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, and it is one of the first lines of defense in treating the wounded. Enough background on that. The long and short of it is that Dr. Freedman is called in from time to time to alleviate the stresses of war.

In my life I have tried to live by the idea that if I do my best and help others, help will come to me. If I do what feels right, I will be taken care of. Without even knowing it, I have been living out Dr. Freedman's advice portrayed in this Thought. Sometimes, through all the hard times and all the crap you put up with, you just have to let go and slide on the ice. I can't say anything about pulling down your pants (that could be awkward) but the idea is the same. All too often though, I find myself fighting against this ideal. I try to control too much. I can't let go. This is when I get into trouble. Usually when I try too hard, things don't work out as I want them to.

Maybe you are like me, trying to go with the flow, but having to constantly work at it. If you are one of those people who are able to let go and just trust that you will be taken care of. I admire your serenity. Has there ever been a time when you just tried too hard? I'm betting that, like me, it didn't work out so well. Go with the flow. Pull down your pants, and slide on the ice.