By Dave Markwell

Following a work day, and a work day after a work day transferring my brush pile into a dump trailer and a buddy plumbing emergency, I sit in my yellow chair a little dreamy and tired and happier than maybe I should be. But, I will not complain. I’ll choose any happy feelings I can get, no matter how I get them. Movement helps, though. And, so does courage and honesty.

I’m afraid a lot. I worry about perceptions of others and poor choices and being wrong. I also keep showing up. I say things I think and feel things I feel. I’m afraid, but not afraid of being afraid, if that makes any sense. Inaction or not telling the whole truth or not trying hard to feel alive is scarier to me than my other fears of things. I don’t know if this is good or bad, but it is. And, I’m not afraid of this. The only one really losing in my loss is me, and I can accept a loss. I suspect I’ll learn something, too, and become better. And, that’s the only way I know to learn, besides just getting lucky.

With this in mind, I think I’m lucky and we’re all lucky. Sometimes our “unlucky” transforms us in ways nothing else can, so that we can become something we could not have become otherwise. So, even unlucky is lucky. This is a nice way to see things, I think.

Scrolling earlier through some pictures of sunsets and friends and my sweet children, I smiled and loved them all. With colors in the sky and love surrounding us as air and taste and touch, lucky is the only thing that makes sense for our blessings. So, that’s how I’ll feel.

Photo credit: Robin Malmanger

 

Dave Markwell is a life-long Des Moines liver and lover. Former owner of Waterland CrossFit and the Waterland Arcade, Dave uses his unique story-telling voice to help small businesses tell a better story, and his love for people to help folks live bigger and better lives.

For more info, check out his website: wordsbydave.net