Greetings to all our great friends,

I guess this would be a good time to wish everyone a Happy New Year. I always love this time of the year with closure of the past and dawning of the new. It always brings memories of my late Dad. With Dad you never had to worry about the calendars in the house being changed from month to month because he would always go through the house the last day of the month and switch all the calendars with anticipation. I just loved that about him, always dreaming about what’s coming and what could be better.

Some of the lessons I hope to learn from the past year.

–Enjoy the process of change because it’s a part of life.
2014 was a year of change for my family, a big one being the expansion of the Ashery. Change is something I often find myself trying to hurry through so I can just get back to a new normal. Sort of like diving into a pool and holding my breath. Just get this under the water thing out of my way so I can enjoy the swim once I come up for air. Once I realize that the whole process of “under the water” can be enhanced with goggles, the time under the water becomes much more enjoyable. So much that I might even consider strapping on an oxygen tank so I can stay under longer.

     What would happen if I treated change the same way? I think my wife would say I would be less grouchy,  my kids would say I took more time to connect with them, and I would realize that some of the most beautiful things are under the water.

–2 ways of dealing with stress
It’s been easy for me to think that as long as everything is going good I’m not under stress. This just couldn’t be further from the truth. I found out this past year that when there is just too much stuff going on even though it’s good, I’m under stress. When too many things are flying around in my head my body can’t rest.

The 2 ways i experienced were….
#1 the power of prayer- I testify to the fact that by daily taking the “cares of my world” to the creator of the world, my body can find rest.

#2 stress release through physical exercise-  It’s invigorating and refreshing to breath deep and sweat.

     So going into 2015 it’s not that I didn’t know these things before, it’s that they made a connection from my head to my heart in a new way. Now, if I can just get the connection from my heart to my “do’er” you know…. Go do it now. 🙂

It’s exciting to start 2015 at the Ashery with a new expansion and lot’s of new things to be developed. And we couldn’t possibly experience it with anyone better then you.

Looking forward to seeing you all soon.  It’s been a little chilly but I hear this weekend it’s going to feel like a heat wave. Come on out and see us.

 

Happy Trails
Curt