ruth·less /ˈro͞oTHləs/ adjective 1. having or showing no pity or compassion. The other day I misplaced something or made a simple mistake or couldn’t remember something I had just looked up… I’m not exactly sure what it was. But in my annoyance, I said out loud to myself, “You idiot!” When something goes wrong, I find that I have a whole raft of self-critical statements that play out in my head, just below the surface of my consciousness. I think most people do. …
“So, what do you think?”, my wife’s gentle eyes inquired with a bemused look and a slightly raised eyebrow. My attention snapped back like a splash of cold water. “Um… yeah… I think that’s good. I like it. Very promising.” I say, vaguely. “You didn’t listen to a word I said, did you?” Busted. Now, I don’t know how I developed this particular talent and I’m not so sure it’s a good thing. But apparently, I have the capacity to…
This past Spring, I checked a big adventure off of my bucket list. I hiked the 101 mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail (AT) that passes through the Shenandoah National Park from Front Royal to Waynesboro, Virginia- just me, a 40-pound backpack, a hammock and a walking stick. For some, the thought of walking 100 miles in the woods might seem boring. But for me, even the small things seem to hold my interest. Being out in nature energizes me….
This morning I locked myself out of the house. I knew it the second the door closed behind me. “You don’t have your keys, you idiot!”, the voice in my head rang out loud and clear. So, now what to do? Since we are new to the area, I knew that the house was, indeed, locked. I had checked each door carefully before retiring the night before. It didn’t help that at our staff luncheon yesterday, I had told the…