What have we done?

He explains that the average child spends about 44 hours a week indoors in front of the tv, on the Internet or playing video games. You can read more about it here and look into the references cited.

All you have to do is look around and you see the problem with childhood obesity and some of the effects that has, but what I want you to me more aware of…… not that your child isn’t important to you….. after all, you ARE trying to protect them….. is that Nature Deficit Disorder is not something that effects only children.

I’m going to say that again….. Nature Deficit Disorder is not something that only effects children…… it also effects you!

When is the last time you spent time outdoors? Taking walks with a loved one, going to your local park, taking the dogs out or…… my favorite….. been camping?

I am not talking about getting outside to do yard work….. although that can be therapeutic if you want to do it and not if you have to do it…. I am talking about just getting outside to connect with nature….. to connect with the beauty that God has created for you and I!

My wife sent me picture after picture of small female dogs. I let her know I thought we should get a puppy and I would know the one that would be perfect for us when I saw her picture. My wife sent me the picture and I felt the connection instantly. They said she was a Catahoula Terrier mix, but after a DNA test we found she was a Siberian Huskey, Dalmation, Spaniard mix.

She has been mostly an inside dog since we continue working all week. We don’t mind that she tears up the toys and chews holes in our carpet…. ok… it bums me out she does that but what can I do… we haven’t taken her out much. Shame on us!

In August I needed to go pick up some information for a camping trip we were providing for some guests. My wife had to work, so she couldn’t go, but I wanted to take Taya with me. I thought it would be good to get her out of the house and see nature.

We arrived at Lodgepole in the Sequoia National Park and headed with leash in hand…. Me and my dog…. to preview the sites we had reserved. I enjoyed taking her to the forest. It is one of my favorite places to go…. the perspective of how minute we really are becomes relevant.

Whenever we go to the pet store, to the vet, or the pet resort, she is always a big hit. This time wasn’t any different. Campers and hikers were intrigued. I enjoyed having her with me, watching as she experienced new surroundings, slipping face first into the slow moving river after she became curious about it’s movement and sound.

I realized something as we walked around the campground… as she was excited to be out in this new experience with her papa…. how relaxed i had become. There was a feeling of peace and happiness that overcame me. Everything that had happened at work since my last vacation a little over a month ago…. all the negative junk that we all deal with…. was gone at that moment.

I was happy to be in an environment that made me smile….. one that allows me to be at peace…. quiet….. just me and my dog… wishing that my wife could be there with me.

When is the last time you have been out….. in nature…. reconnecting with who you were…. the person you desire to be…. again? It is not impossible. You just have to decide to be that person. You may have become sidetracked with work. Don’t let that stop you.

You have to Get S’more Outdoor!

I always look for shirts that attract my attention. They have to be unique and say something about who I am. I am not one to wear what society wear’s….. or at least try to be…. I like to be different and wear what others may not have. I guess this stems to my childhood when my mom always had my brothers and I wearing the same clothes when we traveled. I know it was to be able to find us easier if we got lost, but for someone like me who wanted to be different and unique…. it wasn’t a blast. Whenever we travel, I will pick up something for our trips.

I was having a tough time deciding what shirt I was going to get and was already in line with one when I looked over and suddenly saw a shirt with the Grateful Dead’s Steal Your Face logo on the front. It had a peace symbol in the middle of it and above the logo said “Maintain Your Brain” with “Sequoia National Park” below it. On the back it has a larger rendition of the logo with a beautiful color drawing of the forest, a waterfall, a snow capped mountain, a trail and the sun.

Most people who are familiar with The Dead would automatically relate this T-Shirt and the phrase to mean something relating to drugs….. but to me….. I read it differently.

“Maintain Your Brain” is exactly the purpose of getting outdoors. We all work so much more than we should….. in jobs that we wish we didn’t have…… and spend few of our waking hours outdoors. Other than the usual yard work or going to our kids sporting events.

We are bombarded with advertisements wherever we go, whatever we watch, and whatever we listen to. Our brains can become overwhelmed and desensitized to what we need at our core…… more time to relax and unplug….. more time to connect with ourselves and more time to connect with our loved ones….. more time to stimulate our senses and more time to breathe easy.

When you get outdoors, you experience these feelings. That is the message of “Maintain Your Brain”. Being in nature, you experience a sense of peace…. a sense of wellbeing…. a sense of being who you are!

It is time for you to get out of the cubicle…..escape to someplace special. We all have one and most of those places are ones we experienced when we were young. The reason you remember those places is because it brought a sense of peace to your soul.

It is time for you to Get S’more Outdoor!

Our company has a new policy that we have to be under 80 hours of PTO by June 30th and December 30th every year. We used to just accumulate it and then cash it out, but they took that away from us. I found out that it was a liability for them.

What I didn’t understand was that they also want us to have a good work life balance. Can you believe it….. a company that cares about your balance? That is why they are one of the few companies left that give us up to 5 weeks per year of paid time off.

A month ago I mentioned to my employees that we had to have them take one vacation before we go into our holiday black out period. I have 10 people who need to take vacations.

This employee told me he felt that I was forcing him to take an unwanted PTO day and that I couldn’t do it. Long story short….. he was unhappy about it. I tried to explain the reason, but it was like talking to a brick wall.

I am not making him take it. It amazes me that people are so bent on making money that they forget about making a life.

So what are you doing to make a life? Are you taking enough time away from work to do that or are you just making a living?

Get S’more from Life…… and make one!

Here is and excerpt of one of his articles;

“In the ‘busyness” of modern life, I fear we have lost the rhythm between activity and rest. ‘I am so busy.’ We say this with a badge of honor, as if our exhaustion were a trophy, and our ability to withstand 70 hour work weeks a mark of real character. We convince ourselves that the busier we are, the more we are accomplishing and the more important we must be. But is this really so? Does more activity really mean more accomplishment? To be unavailable to friends and family, to miss the sunsets and the full moons, to blast through all our obligations without time for taking a deep breath — this has become the model of a successful life.”

I am confident that this article resonates with about 90% of you. I know it does with me. I have spent so much time focusing on gaining stuff and in that pursuit….. losing my way. Have you?

In my pursuit to change…. I have developed a new business model that will incorporate a more peaceful living for my family as well as for those who I serve. It will help us to unplug and relax…. in nature.

So my question for you is this….. Are you going to continue doing what you did yesterday….. to keep up with the Jones’….. or are you going to make a change in your life to forgo the idea to “become the model of a successful life”?

Are you going to continue to live like we all do…. constantly running around to like a rat…. or are you going to become more….. like those who are pursuing a free agent life style like those who have joined the Free Agent Academy?

If you are not sure what you want to do…… take some time away from it all to Get S’more Outdoor!

He says “Spending time outdoors with your kids is the best way to experience nature in real-time, without the electronic distractions of our everyday lives.”

Here are his 5 reasons and why I agree;

1) Time with the Kids – In the world we live in today, or at least I live in today, there are so many dual income families. My wife and I both work and spend very little time at home. I couldn’t imagine having kids right now because neither of us is home a lot. I believe that as a society, the less time we spend with our kids, the more dysfunctional we become.

2) Time Outdoors – We need to be outdoors….. if nothing more than to breathe some fresh air…… soak up some sun….. and just be who we are enjoying the beauty of nature.

3) Rewarding – We are a microwave society and want everything now…. stuff has become easy to acquire and does not take much thought to make…. such as tv dinners. All we have to do is push a button and dinner is cooked…. or the heat is turned on. The most rewarding feeling I get when I am camping is building a fire…. which I love to do.

4) Educational – He is right on with this section. I remember when I was a kid, I had the chance to go to Outdoor School in the Santa Ynez Valley of California. We spent a week studying nature first hand instead of from the tv and books…. don’t get me wrong…. you can learn a lot from them…. but being outdoors has much more of an impact because you are using all your senses.

5) Social – part of the seven areas of leading a balanced life is having a social life…. when you camp…. you get to meet other people. Whenever I am out camping I always see kids meeting others. Just the other day, I took our dog Taya to the Sequoia National Park to view the campsites I have reserved for a trip coming up. Just having our dog with me, created a social environment me. I had people coming up to me asking to pet her and what kind of dog she was…. from adults to little children…. we were then able to connect on that level.

If you are interested in camping….. read The Camping Blogger…. he inspires me…. who is an outdoor enthusiast…. to Get S’more Outdoor!

He states in is daily message that “One of the most helpful and spiritually uplifting activities we can do is notice nature”

So…. when is the last time you got out in nature for a spiritually uplifting activity?

This is something I love to do. I was fortunate to grow up in the small town of Ojai, CA where my parents owned some land. I was brought up in nature. I remember as a kid how much fun it was to get dirty! Somewhere along the line…. I wasn’t getting dirty anymore….. I was going to school to work toward getting a job….. the same thing we all aspire to do because that is what we are supposed to do…. or is it?

One of my most memorable experiences was attending Humboldt State University which was built on the edge of the Redwood Forrest in Northern California. For a general ed requirement, I took a Botany class. For one of our labs, we went out to study the plants and trees behind the college. What I discovered next would change my adult life forever.

We came to a patch of moss that was growing on the side of the hill and although I had marveled at the softness of it when I was a kid, I never really took the time to study it. We were in the Redwood forrest and it was the first time that I felt so small, but when we stopped to study the moss, I was amazed. I never thought about how moss reproduces and if you would like to know check this article out.

I was fascinated by all that was going on in this patch of green moss as I listened to how my professor described to the class how this particular moss reproduces. From that moment on, I became much more aware of what was going on in nature. I now understood what is meant from the saying ” stop to smell the roses”.

It isn’t just to take in the beautiful scent that a roses emits… it is much more than that…. it is to take some time time out of your busy schedule and marvel at how vast our universe is and what a small roll we play in the scheme of things.

We get so caught up in work and the business of life, the kids, our animals, providing for a place to live…. that we don’t get out enough for activities like these to enjoy an activity that we were created to do…… Yes…. that is correct…. I said created. I believe that part of why we were created is to marvel at the beauty that God has given us. My love for nature came from seeing where the Green Moss Grows….. where will yours begin?

It is time…. the weather this weekend is going to be great…. at least in California…..go relax, unplug and Get S’more Outdoor!

However, if you don’t have all of the gear and would like to learn about what you need and some ideas on where to take your family….. then this is the place for you.

Your initial investment for the equipment is going to be the most expensive part. You can get buy with a $300 – $400 and just buy the basics and inferior quality…. but keep in mind…. you get what you pay for. Now I am not saying that you should go out and buy the most expensive gear you can find…. just don’t by the cheapest.

I have done extensive research on the web and found many places that you can buy products at a discount, but if you are like me….. you want to see and touch what you buy.

I love Coleman products and have found that Walmart…… if you don’t like them, don’t buy from them….. has the best prices on camping equipment.

Here are the items that you will need to make your first camping trip a success

Tent – This can run you anywhere from $50 to $100 depending on how many people you plan on sleeping in the tent. All tents show how many people they can fit in them…. yes, you can fit more in them, but remember that you do need room for gear. I recommend that if you have 2 people… get a 4 person tent. Double the size of the tent to how many people you have. Make sure you practice setting up the tent before your trip…. otherwise it can make your trip very frustrating and take time away from your enjoyment.

Tarp – even though tent bottoms hold up good and are made from the same material as tarps, get one a little bigger than the size of the tent. I like to put it under my tent to keep the dirt off the bottom. This way I am not rolling up a dirty tent and it will be much cleaner when you pack it up. They run under $10

What to Sleep On – My wife and I use an inflatable mattress when we go, but some of you may want to pick up some cots. These can run you around $40-$50. Although you can’t blow up the mattress in the store, you can check out their cots.

Sleeping Bags – You can get a nice sleeping bag for between $30 and $40. All Coleman sleeping bags have a degree weighting on them which means that the bag can potentially keep you somewhat warm down to that temperature.

Extra blankets – I like to take some extra blankets when we go just in case. I found some nice ones by Ozark Trails that are made of fleece and roll up like a sleeping bag. We use them to line the inside of your sleeping bag if the weather is expected to get cold. Most of the time we just open them up and lay them across the top of us.

Pillows – Just go ahead an take your own…. saving you money

Lantern – I like to use rechargeable battery powered lanterns, but you can get buy with just a flashlight. I found a Coleman lantern with battery for $45. It is a real nice one.

Flashlights – Most people have them, but Mag-lite makes some small, and very durable flashlights. These are great when you need to make your late night potty break and don’t need to carry the lantern. The small ones run about $8.

Nightstand – You don’t need to buy one…. just use one of the containers you will have to carry your gear in.

So there you have it, the first set of equipment you will need your S’more Outdoor Bedroom.

Next week I will be sharing with you some ideas about your S’more Outdoor Living Room.

I love to go camping….. whether it be for one night or a few days. I love being with my wife out in nature!

I have been camping for many years. I have been to different lakes, National Parks, and the mountains near where I grew up. I have gone on backpacking trips with friends, white water rafting camping trips, week long camping trips at lakes, and many overnight trips close to where I live.

I regard myself as an expert when it comes to camping and feel that I need to share my experiences with you.

This will be the beginning of my series on “S’more Outdoor – Your Camping Adventure Begins”.

I will be sharing stories from friends and readers, talking about different gear you will need, take you on a tour of the best place to buy your equipment on budget, post how to videos, show you how to use your gear, show you how to build a good campfire, and share with you the places we like to go.

There are many others out there who talk about camping on line, post how to videos, etc…….. but the message that I want to convey to you is that you need to get outdoors…… you need to take a break from your work life and get away!

I am here to help you and hopefully during my writings… become an inspiration.

As I’ll always say……. You need to Get S’more Outdoor!

A few moments after that thought, the reporter came on and said that “there might be a link with obesity and early puberty”

My heart goes out to these young children….. not that they are experiencing puberty earlier….. but that every day I see young boys and girls who are overweight and know that they are going to have struggles growing up.

I wasn’t obese as a child…. but I was bigger than the average kid my age…. It had a big effect on my self esteem growing up.

It still does as an adult…. but I am doing something about it.

The sad thing is that these kids don’t have a chance……. unless you….. yes you!….. their parents change your behavior on how you are raising your kids.

I commend those of you who put your kids in sports…. as that does help.

But you have to do more than that….. you have to spend more time connecting with your children… building them up…. taking them out to do things… OUTSIDE.

Is it really that important to you to spend a few hundred dollars on a video game so that you can get things done?

I know that you are working hard and providing for your children….. because you don’t take enough time off from work to get away from everything.

Don’t forget to spend time with your children….. outdoors….. teach them about nature. If you don’t know a lot….. find someone or a group of people that go out on nature hikes. You may have to break the habit you have created for your kids by allowing them to spend hours on end in front of the tv.

I commend my parents for doing just that. When I was young, we moved to Ojai, CA on 4 acres….. do you think I spent all my time in doors playing video games?

Absolutely not. I spent most of my childhood outside…. That is why I love being outdoors now!

Take care of your child….. their obesity….. and Get S’more Outdoor!