Category: Campfire Conversation

Wait… What am I doing?

February 4th, 2022

Almost all of us do it. As soon as we have quiet moment when no one is talking to us, asking us a question, directing us where to go… we reach into our pocket and pull out our phone.

As soon as school is done and you are safely back home (or on a bus or riding in the car), the phone comes out.

Scroll, tap, scroll, scroll, scroll, tap, scroll, lots of taps, scroll, etc. Next thing we know, it’s been 15 minutes, 30 minutes or… gulp… one hour?!? I need to get a handle on this.

All this scrolling and tapping we are doing… it’s not moving our needle in any productive, helpful manner. Yes, it’s entertaining at times. Yes, it can help you stay connected with your crew.

But, let’s be honest. How much of all that scrolling is habit vs. helpful? How much is to ‘fill the time’ rather than make your time full? As Cal Newport talks about, we can get into an unhelpful pattern of numbing ourselves with our scrolling if we aren’t careful.

So, how do we get out of this pattern? Two things come to mind.

Intent

Why are you using your phone? Is it helpful in you becoming a better person? A better actress on stage? A better student or sibling or child or parent or spouse or human?

It may! Please don’t think I’m saying this marvel of tech is always a bad thing. I’ve learned a lot reading from others or texting with friends or finding new ideas. I’m sure you have, too.

And, I’ve also found myself deep in some ‘rabbit hole’, following links or just wasting time scrolling that do not make me better in any way that is important. In fact, it most likely makes me worse as a spouse, parent, camp director, etc.

Curiosity

It’s a big world out there with a lot of different ideas, viewpoints, places, etc. When we practice our innate curiosity, we’ll find new avenues to explore, new arguments to pay attention to and new people from which we can learn.

When we scroll away our time, we short circuit this most natural of human gifts. Figuring out how things work got us to this glorious (yes, I believe that is the correct word) stage in humanity. And, it’s curiosity that will get us to the next great breakthroughs and triumphs.

Be Intentional. Be Curious.

I’m not telling you to drop the phone. (Unless you are at camp. Tech is just not a thing for us for those few fantastic weeks at camp.) But I am suggesting that you be more intentional with how you use it. Is it making you better? Is it helping you relax or is it revving you up? Is it helping you explore and find new ideas and thoughts or is it keeping you stuck in the same spot?

I don’t have the answers for you. Only you can find those. But I do know these are important questions. Why don’t you take some time this weekend to explore them? Have a great weekend!

The Balance

January 7th, 2022

Happy first Friday of 2022! It doesn’t feel possible that we are already in a new year – I feel like you all just left camp from last summer! We can’t wait to get you back and for all of our new found friends to join us around the campfire soon.

Many of you may have spent some time in the last week thinking about how you spent 2021. (And, if you didn’t a little re-examining is useful.) When I was going through my 2021, I kept coming up with phrases starting with or including ‘should have.’

I Should Have…

I should have eaten less fast food on the road… been better about returning calls…written more ‘thank you’ notes… stretched more… listened more and spoken less.

The ‘should have’ phrase is important. It allows us to look back on past behaviors and decisions and reassess the situation. We can make a lot of good plans for the future by looking at our past mistakes and planning how we’ll do things differently in the future. (You can learn from other’s mistakes, too!)

And, if we aren’t careful, the ‘should haves’ can drown everything else out. Too many of these can make you think ‘Wow, I really stink.’ But we know that is not the case. So, you’ve got to balance the ‘should haves’ with a different, just as important sentence starter.

Thank Goodness For…

Thank goodness we planned for extra time to install the new water park… for all those incredible staff members… everyone who lifts another’s spirits… the campers who were so brave to jump back into ‘the soup’ of camp last summer (and the parents who let them!)

How would you complete ‘thank goodness for…?’ Take a moment and think about your 2021. Write out at least five ‘thank goodness for’ starters and fill them in. It’ll take you five minutes. (Don’t worry – the tiktok video will still be there!)

There’s a lot of research showing the expression of gratitude makes you calmer, happier, and more fulfilled. But, you don’t need scientific research to tell you what a 30 second mental exercise will let you feel.

The Balance

Now, too much of ‘thank goodness for’ without some ‘I should haves’ can be detrimental, too. The idea is to continue to grow as a person, no matter how old you are or how much you know. By balancing the ‘should have’ with the ‘thank goodness’ phrases, you’ll learn a lot and keep yourself motivated to keep the learning and growing going.

And that, I think would be a great start to the year. Happy New Year, Weequahic!

Gratitude Quotes to Ponder

November 19th, 2021

As we move into Thanksgiving, we celebrate one of Camp Weequahic’s values: gratitude. As a reader, I’m often highlighting what much smarter and more eloquent people say about one of my favorite subjects. Here are a few quotes that stood out recently. I hope they’ll be helpful to you as well.

Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.

Eckhart Tolle

We all have so much. Start simple and close: with yourself! Your body is this incredible creation that leaps and loves and learns. You are expressive and impressive. As one writer said, you are fearfully and wonderfully made. You’ve got a family that loves you. You have friends that care. And, if you feel like you don’t, give me a call. I’ll be your friend.

When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.

Maya Angelou

Ms. Angelou was a marvelous storyteller. I love how she connects two personal choice actions (give and accept) with the personal choice attitudes (cheerfully and gratefully.) We don’t have to give and when we do, do so cheerfully. It’s another gift to the recipient.

We don’t have to receive the gift. In fact, many of us were pretty closed off emotionally because of the ripple effects of the pandemic. Some still are. In order to truly give and receive a gift, you’ve got to open your hands. Take a listen to Director Kate who has a great short talk about this very idea.

We should certainly count our blessings, but we should also make our blessings count.

Neal Maxwell

You’ve got a gift. It was given to you at birth. You didn’t have to do anything for it and you have to do a lot to uncover it. But, once you do, it’ll be one of the most important experiences of your life. You see, it’s not enough just to have a gift or a blessing. It’s so much more important to share it with others.

You see, we humans were built for the campfire, for the community. Failure to find and then share your unique gift with those around you is a tragedy. You’ve got so much, even if you don’t know it yet. You will. Keep digging… gratefully.

Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.

Marcel Proust

This is my favorite because it reminds me so much of camp… and my family. When we feel like we are at our absolute best, we are surrounded by those who love us and challenge us, who bring joy and comfort, who laugh with and lean in. If we do not express our gratitude toward them, we risk having a barren garden of joy.

Weequahic, we wish y’all are wonderful and thoughtful Thanksgiving. And, for our friends and families outside of the US, we hope you’ll celebrate along with us. We’ve so much for which to be grateful.