Stephen Braunius

We purchased a couple of kayaks this year and I made one for our daughter last year. Now we need a trailer. I’m starting to modify a harbor freight trailer for just such a purpose. Here are some inspirational photos that I took when I visited the West Michigan Coastal Kayakers symposium.

Late in January 2010 my daughter and I had the amazing opportunity (courtesy of my amazing wife) to learn the basics of snowboarding. Here is a list of things that our instructor, Sam (Samantha), taught us during our lesson:

• most of your weight needs to be on the front foot (I’m goofy–my right foot is in front)
• the boots need to be tight and you need to be fastened tightly to the board–this helps transfer movement from your body to the board
• turning is done by leaning with front foot toward toe or heal and then let rear foot follow its lead
• stopping is done by falling or turning until you are perpendicular to the hill
• crouch down a bit and keep arms down
• when falling backwards you need to just let yourself fall on your bum without putting out your arms (chance to hurt wrists)
• when falling forwards you need to punch the snow so you don’t hurt your wrists
• “Attack the hill.” This means that you need to keep the weight in your body on your front foot. Everything in your body makes you want to lean back and away from going down the hill. **THIS IS KEY** I was only able to start enjoying myself on the hill once I started doing this.
• going down a hill is done by making large “S” curves by leaning toward toe or heal
• getting up when on the ground is best done from your stomach–if on back, flip board over and then twist body over so you are on your stomach
• moving around at the bottom of the hill is done by removing rear foot from board and scooting around–a bit awkward

I love the idea of “Attacking the Hill.” Isn’t this how we should view the uncomfortable areas of life? Embracing the challenge allows you to have more control of the challenge than resisting it. It can even be fun!  See you on the slopes.

I just read a little article in the October 2009 Prevention magazine (pg 15) about how anger messes with sleep.  The article references a report stating, “…heart patients who stifle angry feelings are twice as likely to report poor sleep quality as those who share them.”  This sounds similar to the Bible passage in Ephesians 4 where we read about not letting the sun go down on your anger.  So, how might you do this?  The author of the study, Mary Whooley, suggests to “Start by stating how you feel instead of attacking or criticizing.”  I have become increasingly aware of the need to say things out loud in order to bring light to darkness.