Lazy Sunday

It was a lazy Sunday after church this morning.  Me and my wife had a nice lunch with my parents and then we went on to take a nice walk at a local park.  The park has a Frisbee Golf Course.  I was shocked to see people playing even though we had 24 MPH wind today.  We walked across part of the course and we could see a Frisbee be thrown and only see it to fly straight up into the sky and fall just 10 feet in front of it's original launch point.  Yet I have to commend that players because despite the short comings of them being able to play they appeared to be having fun still.  We walked the bicycle trail and then went to the bird watching area.  While we were there we were able to see a Woodpecker.  I am not sure of the type since bird watching is not my forte.  Now we are just sitting here waiting for the next episode of The Walking Dead!  Can't wait to see what we are in store for tonight!

 

Millstream Gardens

So today me and the wife went to Millstream Gardens Conservation Area.  It is nestled in a rural part of Ironton, MO.  It is a swift 2.5 mile hike to the "Cat's Paw" which overlooks the Tieman Shut-in which is located on a portion of the St. Francois River.  This section of the river provides the only location in Missouri where you can get a taste of white water kayaking.  If you take this route you will travel down through an old damn which was once used to power the Silver Mines.  It was a gorgeous hike and one that I would recommend.  You can spend a good part of your day exploring and crawling around the rocks which have been smoothed by the river over time.  

Overlook that allows you to view the Tieman Shut-in.

The St. Francois River.   

Tieman Shut-in is located a little over to the left from this location.

St. Francois River.

Weathered Rocks.  

 

Attempting To Keep Up With Posting

So, I have not really kept up with posting like I would like to have.  It always seems like something comes up in my life that keeps me from being able to keep up with a routine of keep regular content flowing to my blog.  It is sad because I was actually starting to get some regular readers.  Sad thing most of those readers are gone now as it stands.  Life has slowed down a little right now.  I am not working 14 to 16 hour days anymore trying to make money.  I do not think I ever posted about that.  I was literally working 6 days a week and putting in 14 to 16 hours per day trying to make money.  I only had Sunday off.  They even asked me to work Sunday.  So when you read my posts about balance in your life I know a little about it from experience.

I am going to be more diligent with my posting.  I am going to commit to trying to post at least one time per week.  I would love to post more often but I am not going to count my chickens before they are hatched.

As always I look forward to comments!

Wadoni

Old Memories

Today I went to my childhood home.  Well at least from the time I was five till I was half way into my seven grade year.  It was nice to see it, and it was a sad experience to see how much it has changed.  I remember the years I was there how hard my parents worked to make it is a beautiful and welcoming place.  The roads were in poor condition and the old walk bridge over the creek was twisted and buckled in several locations.  The lake no longer was kept and clear around the perimeter.  The homes that were there were looking old and neglected.  The old wooden barn that I had spent so much time with my father was laying in a heap of twisted and rotting timbers.  The older stone house had lost it's roof but the stone silo stood in pride, surrounded by new trees and vines trying to hide it's presence to the world.  How I miss the animals, the long walks in the woods, and sitting in a boat lazily floating with my pole in the waters waiting for a fish to bite.  It was nice to take a stroll down memory lane and show my wife where I grew up and the place I so loved.    

Missouri Is Trying to Pass a Lifetime Concealed Carry Permit

I just heard on the news that Missouri is trying to pass a lifetime concealed carry permit. I am pretty excited about this because I have always felt that once you pass the requirements you should not have to keep renewing your permit. I welcomed the change from three years to five years for renewal. I feel that this is the next logical step. I think what has impacted this is finally some fear and stigma of people carrying firearms around is starting to diminish. This is just my opinion and I am sure that some people will be more than willing to point out flaws in my logic. I feel this way though because I have noticed that where there used to be signs stating no concealed weapons allowed have disappeared. I also think as the times have changed and what is unfortunately happening in our great country that it is becoming more and more apparent that law abiding citizens need to have a means to defend themselves always. We as citizens in the United States no longer can automatically assume we are safe no matter where we are at. So I personally believe that this is playing a role in it as well. I would like to see a law passed like Texas where we can open carry no matter where we are at. I would most likely still conceal my firearm but I am not opposed to going places and seeing everyone wearing a firearm.

As I hear more I will post it.

To Become a Millionaire....

So I know we all have these lofty ideals....who does not, right? I know I did....note I said did. When I was in high school that was all I thought about. I was going to have an amazing home with everything that a teenage boy's heart could dream of at the time. I had envisioned I would have this home by the time I was 25....did I mention a garage full of high end cars both new and classics. With a small handful of motorcycles for good measure. Yes, you can say the least I was a dreamer and the fact of the matter I still have dreams but I am more of a realist now. Would I like to be a millionaire still....sure, I think you would find very few people that would say no to that. I however have learned that the path to happiness is not in what you own...it is your mindset.

I have met several people in my life that had large amounts of money. I am not sure if they were at millionaire status but they lived very comfortably and had many a nice thing. However, I noticed a trait that most of them had. They were not happy and for the most part miserable. It appeared that no matter how successful, how nice of things they owned, or how prestigious they became they still had a nagging emptiness inside of themselves. We can speculate all sorts of reasons why they would have this. Some could say they felt lonely because most people only wanted to be friends with them for what they had or could give. It could be chalked up to the old saying that goes something like “money doesn't buy happiness”. I personally feel in the end they were not healthy in their life. No, I do not mean physical health but in emotional and mental health. Sure, they may have physical ailments but I believe these ailments they had manifested themselves from mental and emotional distress over a period of time.

I am sure you wondering what led me to this conclusion, well simply put just sitting down and talking to them over a period of time has led me to believe this. In my life I have the fortunate pleasure of meeting people from all walks of life. From the homeless to people who live rather comfortably to unverified millionaire status. I can say that the people who had the least, but were not struggling to put food on the table often were the most healthy individuals I have met in my life. They appeared to be more stable in day to day life and often were in much better spirits and emotional health.

So is becoming a millionaire healthy? Well I think it all depends on your frame of mind. Will you allow the money to dictate who you are and let it corrupt you? Or will you count your blessings and give thanks to God and live your life as you did prior to your new found wealth? I think that is the key.

In the end I feel it is better for all of us to be rich in love and understanding of each other. Show kindness to people you do not even know. Hold a door open for someone, say hi and smile to another at the store, and practice the Golden Rule. In the end is it not better to be happy and emotionally healthy? I will chose happiness and emotional healthy every time. Also you just might notice things go better for you in your life when you realize this.