Fletcher Friday Five
Friday Five is a short weekly list of things I’ve been reading, thinking about, or enjoying.
Dream On: Aerosmith has one of the great rock songs of all time, “Dream On”. For years after war, my dreams were entirely combat related nightmares. After ibogaine, I’m back to normal dreams. It is both wonderful and strange. This article on dreams caught my attention. Researchers now think vivid dreams may actually help people feel more deeply rested and mentally restored. The study co-authors highlighted that dreams may help by immersing us in an internal world that keeps us disconnected from external distractions. So…dream on!
Put the Phone Down: This video shows a short segment of what it was like last week fly fishing down the Smith River in Montana. Just incredible. I am so grateful for Warriors and Quiet Waters for supporting post 9/11 combat veterans with a year long program that culminates with this trip (please consider supporting them). But it wasn’t fishing one of the world’s great rivers that made it special. It was completely unplugging in nature with some great friends and fellow veterans. Nature and tribe. Quiet and connection. I wrote about the trip and why it mattered.
Speaking of phones: Adults who spend all day on their phones love judging kids for…being on their phones all day. But it turns out a growing trend among younger people is going back to old analog hobbies. Old people stuff like needlepoint, birdwatching, gardening, pottery, knitting, and even blacksmithing. As a new grandpa, I fully support this movement. Researchers say these kinds of hobbies can reduce stress, improve focus, and create a sense of accomplishment because they require patience and attention. These damn kids might actually be onto something.
Wisdom: John F. Kennedy had a line: ‘My good judgment comes from experience, and my experience comes from my previous bad judgment.’ I saw this graphic this week and saved it immediately. Same sentiment through a slightly different lens. There’s a difference between wasting time and learning through experience, even painful experience. Most of us are carrying lessons we only earned the hard way.
Cowboy Up: Normally when you think ranch dogs, you think blue heelers, Australian shepherds, or border collies. Or maybe my Pit Bull/Lab mix, Nacho. But you do not think about pugs. Which is why this video made me laugh. Apparently even a pair of pugs can cowboy up! (I guarantee you a smile if you watch it)
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Have a great weekend.
Nathan