Carpe diem Life,

David Kuhn

Joining the Cancel Culture

According to The Cambridge Dictionary, Cancel Culture is a way of behaving in a society or group, especially on social media, in which it is common to completely reject and stop supporting someone because they have said or done something that offends you.

Okay, so no one specifically has said or done something that offends me; However, I do believe that it’s time to cancel something: winter! 

“You can cut all the flowers but you cannot keep Spring from coming.” — Pablo Neruda

A year ago at this time we were just coming to grips with the reality of COVID-19.  Obviously, no one could predict the historic craziness that became 2020.  It was like a comment Suzanne and I overheard at a dinner the other night from someone up at the bar, “That shit comes with a dark cloud!” (I don’t have a clue what he was referring to; I just liked the line).   

Now, days are longer.
Nights are warmer.
Spring is coming.

“In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.”  — Margaret Atwood

Time to hit the delete button on winter, log off, log on to spring, and smell like dirt!

Carpe diem Life,
David Kuhn

Letting Go

I recently taught my grandson to ride a bicycle.  Training wheels off.  Riding.  On two wheels.  Like the big kids.  

 

This was NOT an easy task. We've been at this on and off since last year when the parents decided that it was time.  The training wheels came off one day and that was that.  It didn't go over well then and it certainly didn't start well this time.

Fear!

Fear of falling.  Fear of getting hurt.  Fear of failing.  Fear of being made fun of.

"I'll never be able to do this! I want my training wheels back on. . . NOW!"

After many attempts at the high school parking lot, we decided to pack it up and head to a playground and enjoy the rest of the day. After he played for a half-hour or so -- and watched kids riding bike on the nearby bike path -- he came over to me: "Grandpa, let's get the bike out and try again."
 
And try we did.
 
This time there was no fuss. And if there was fear, it was Feeling Excited And Ready.
 
After only a few times up and down the path -- with my holding on and running beside him the best I could -- I let go.  When he stopped a little bit down the bike path and looked back, he realized that I let go some time back.  The emotion was sheer joy, "Grandpa, I DID IT!"

After that, all I did was help him get started from time to time and he was off,  "I'm riding like the wind!" And then, excitedly from a distance, "Grandpa, I don't need you anymore!"

I knew what he meant. I also knew that he really didn't need me anymore -- not for this task, anyway.

I guess we both got over our fears:  He got over his fear of riding; I got over my fear of letting go.

I wonder if that's how my Grandma Louie felt? 
 
Who taught you how to ride like the wind?
 
Carpe Diem Live,
David Kuhn