Live Bold, Live North: Introducing the Traverse City Fairy Trails
There’s something serene, peaceful and tranquil about Up North that is hard to describe to someone who’s never spent time here, but is instantly recognizable to someone who has. It’s a feeling, a smell, a breath of fresh air, and a peace of mind that is ubiquitous and lasting.
The point is that some places are more than places. They occupy more than physical space, they occupy space in people’s hearts and minds. You don’t have to be there physically to, in fact, be there, because such places embody a spirit that stays with you long after you’ve left.
Traverse City is such a place – one that empowers people to live purposeful, meaningful and active lives. But you don’t need to live here to live this way. Anyone, no matter where they call home, can Live North.
That’s because Living North isn’t just about living in Traverse City. It’s about a state of mind that values experiences over things, revels in the majesty of nature, and passionately chases big dreams.
At its core, Living North is about living boldly – in whatever you do, and wherever you do it.
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Experience the Longest Summer of Your Life
These words are undoubtedly still ringing in the ears of parents across the country who made the long drive south for spring break. Time crawls to a kid stuck in the backseat.
In fact, it’s not just long drives that pass slowly for kids, it’s life itself. When I was a kid summer vacation dragged on and on and some days seemed endless.
We’ve all heard that time goes faster as we get older. And it sure seems that way, doesn’t it? The days, weeks, months and years fly by, almost indistinguishably. Later this week, at a time when many of us are still getting used to writing 2016 on our checks, we’ll start hearing: “Can you believe it’s already April?”.
But of course time does not go by any faster than it did when we were younger. It just feels that way. So what’s the deal?
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6 Mistakes We All Make, But Hopefully Only Once
Despite moving to Traverse City in search of a more balanced life, there are times that things still seem totally out of control. But that’s okay, because balance is a relative thing. If you lead a full life, there are bound to be imbalances. Mostly ups, but inevitably some downs – like a chart of the S&P 500. It’s important, therefore, to have a big picture view and long-term outlook, because relative balance can be achieved over time, but it’s unrealistic to always expect perfect harmony.
And how boring that would be in any event! We were meant to take risks and probe boundaries. When you’re pushing the envelope, that’s when good things happen. It’s also when bad things happen, because everyone makes mistakes when trying new things. But the key to progress is to learn from them and move on. As Albert Einstein once said, “Life is like a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”
It’s a curious thing that so many people – myself included – make mistakes of the same variety. You’d think that our collective wisdom would have evolved to the point where we know better, but unfortunately that doesn’t seem to be the case. It’s almost like we have to make these mistakes – once, as a rite of passage – if we want to move forward. But if we keep making them over and over and still expect a different outcome? Well, we all know what Einstein said about that, too.
Here are six mistakes most people make, but hopefully only once.
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Lions and Tigers and Kids: Get Outside
Note to Readers: We’re happy to feature our first Guest Post today. It’s written by Traverse City resident Steve Booher, who is one of Jay’s best and oldest friends. Steve, his wife Anna and their two kids moved to Traverse City approximately one year before we did, and we’re very grateful for all they’ve done to help us integrate into the community. We’ve always enjoyed Steve’s quick wit and keen insights and we’re excited about this opportunity to share them with you.
Sometimes I feel like I’m raising cats. My son’s bathroom looks, and smells, like a litter box while my daughter’s bedroom is strewn with odds and ends – it’s like a kitten militia broke into the Dollar Tree on Munson Ave and is using her room as a stash house. Courageous and curious; I’m reminded of the time I found my precocious 2 year old daughter perched on top of the refrigerator, purring with excitement. Pouncing and playful; I picture my son sprawling for a ground ball to his left and then gracefully adjusting his body as he makes the toss to first base.
But I’m not a cat person. Cats, to me, are stuffy noses and itchy eyes; arrogance strutting and preening on four legs.
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Let’s Regain the Proper Perspective About Sports in Our Kids’ Lives
It’s that time of year again – spring sports season! Time for kids to pick dandelions, suck down sugary juice boxes, and for parents to lose their sh*t. Seriously, how did we get to this point?
Here in the Midwest we’re only a few short weeks away from soccer fields full of toddlers tripping over too-big-t-shirts while wandering aimlessly about like a scene from The Walking Dead. The baseball diamonds will soon be buzzing with excitement as small children man the infield and construct intricate piles of gravel while waiting not-so-patiently for the “game” to end and snack time to begin. All the while anxious, hopeful and overly-amped-up parents coax and cajole their little ones to “Score!”, “Shoot!”, and “Run!” from the sidelines.
Youth sports is a bubble that is bound to burst. It’s getting ridiculous. A return to sanity would be a positive development for both kids and their parents, but it will require parents – like me – to get a grip.
It’s said that, “If you’re not part of the solution, then you’re part of the problem.” Don’t get me wrong, I’m part of the problem, but I’m trying to learn from my past mistakes. The problems rampant in youth sports have been well catalogued. Here’s my attempt to add something to the dialogue.
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Six Reasons People Get Stuck and How to Move Forward
You’re 30. You’re advancing in your career, planning a wedding, and trying to pay off student loans. You’re too busy.
You’re 40. You have kids, a mortgage, and college to pay for. You have too many responsibilities.
You’re 50. Your knee hurts, you’re tired, you need to save for retirement. You’re too old.
Life goes by fast, and then faster and faster. If you’re not careful, your bucket list will get filled with excuses rather than accomplishments and experiences. It’s easy to allow routine to take hold, and once it does, progress often grinds to a halt. Next thing you know you’re wondering where the time went and rationalizing why you deferred your dreams, which now seem unattainable. This scenario is a common one, but it need not be.
One of the biggest reasons that Heather and I decided to move to Traverse City was that we felt stuck in the rut of routine. We didn’t have to move to shake things up, but we concluded that a kick-in-the-ass catalyst would help propel things along at a much quicker pace.
The experience has been insightful. We’re still not sure exactly where we’re headed, but we’ve gotten ourselves moving. And that’s important, because almost everything positive that has happened in our lives has come when we’ve stepped outside of our comfort zones.
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