Pain, Growth, and Dreams

I am the first to admit that I live an eclectic life. But this week may have been even more odd than normal. I spent most of the week in Ocala, FL at the OBS horse auction getting a great educational experience and chasing a dream. And I ended the week in Denver visiting my son at the Air Force Academy.

Unusual adventures created the usual worthless tidbits that we call the “TK Thoughts of the Week”:

1. This week I had a painful emotional experience. What that event was doesn’t matter much, but what it did was created a great amount of clarity for me. It made me wonder: does clarity of mind only come from some kind of pain or loss?
2. When I was a kid, my great grandfather would tell stories of his life in the horse racing industry. It became a romantic lifelong calling for me to become an owner and participant in the business. In the last few weeks, I have launched my racing stable, “Wasabi Ventures Stables”. Now I am wondering if I can turn the quixotic dream into a profitable business. What I want to challenge you all to this week is to keep chasing your dream. Dreams are what keep us alive.
3. I have modeled my life after one of my historical heroes, Theodore Roosevelt. I have always been drawn to him (and others) because they were men of action — people that saw things and took a course that was heavier on the action and less on the planning. Using every ounce of energy and little skill I have to will things to happen. But as I study TR, it is obvious that he died an older, bitter man. You can see in his writings and the writings of others of his times that he he had frustration that he no longer could will things to happen. This sad state of ending for TR makes me wonder: is my destiny the same as my hero’s? I can feel that bitterness well up in me as my body and mind start to break down. It will be interesting to see how the next few years play out for me.

May your weekend be filled with fast horses, great laughter, and a touch of bourbon.