Where Timing Shapes the Relationship (Copy)

I recently met my friend and colleague Ashley Briggs at River Park in Brentwood, Tennessee, as part of the Dialogue Miles™ journey.

Ashley and I first met through our mutual friend Ann Howard when I was looking for a content writer for an siY, LLC project. During our walk, she confirmed for me the importance of experiencing nature, when we encountered an owl. Honestly, I would have missed it had it not been for Ashley’s naturalist knowledge.

In our 4 miles together we avoided what we thought might become a rainstorm. Remember that lyric from "Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield... "Feel the rain on your skin/No one else can feel it for you." Maybe a walk in the rain is one of my next big ideas!

I really enjoyed spending time with Ashley discussing family, careers, seeking balance in life along with the importance of being focused on what is most important. Make it happen!

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A Few Things That Stayed with Me

• Look for the Signal
  Challenging times present new opportunities for us when we take the time to understand the real message that is often clouded by our emotions.

• Know What Matters
  Knowing what your priorities are can actually simplify what appears to be quite a complex decision.

• Act Like a Kid Again
  Summer is a time when adults should really try being a kid at least one day a week. Bring back a sense of play. It changes your perspective.

• Value Real Friendship
  Great friendships are the coolest thing to have because they are sources of insight, a laugh or two, a nudge but, often, simply a safe place for expression.

• Pay Attention to Nature
  Nature is amazing. Ashley is a naturalist and when she heard a noise she jumped off the trail and told me to come and look. We saw a barred owl (linked below) sitting in a tree just a few feet away. I learned that a bird calling out "Who cooks for you?" is the distinct sound of this large owl. It was cool that we heard him and caught a glimpse during our walk.

• History Is Everywhere
  What looks ordinary often is not. Sometimes we think it’s just a house but in this case, we saw Forge Seat (linked below), a historic home where Andrew Jackson stayed when he was stopping to purchase rifles on his way to New Orleans. He was heading off to fight what became known as the War of 1812.