What Box?^®

When you think of wonder what do you think of? Something mysterious? Amazed? Awe inspired? Overwhelmed? Surprised? Or maybe emotionally charged?

Wonder is such an incredible part of being a human. Wonder allows us to understand that there is something out there way beyond and bigger than ourselves. Wonder has the ability to connect us to the source of all life, opening our hearts and souls to become more aware of our purpose in life, if only for a fleeting moment.

When was the last time you had a wonderous experience?

While sitting on the boat dock at the house here in Zena I have experienced wonder as the sunset fell over the trees. Driving the boat at night across Grand Lake almost always creates moments of wonder. While riding a boat from Cancun to Isla Mujeres I was in wonder as I viewed the detail of the ocean floor through the clear water. Whenever the vultures come to roost around the property I am in wonder with their beauty and graceful form.

Wonderous experiences have the ability to support the awakening of what it means to be totally present in the moment. A wonderous experience runs through every fiber of our being. It takes over all the stuff in our lives and only allows us to focus on that exact wonderous moment. It is a rare moment in life where there is no past or future, only the now. This is absolutely fantastic. I only wish I could sustain the wonder for longer periods of time.

How did your last wonderous experience make you feel? Grateful? Surprised? Like everything else just faded away? More connected to something unknown?

Plato said, “By wonder we are saved.”

When you are in wonder you are more open and as a result can experience more. During these wonderous times many people have new inspirations and awakenings. Life is all about wonder, enabling us to see ourselves as a part of rather than the center of the whole system in which we are an integral part.

Are you taking enough time to wonder?

Let me know what you think.

Dear Sean,
I have really been enjoying getting back in my boat and cruising around Grand Lake. What are your favorite places to go that give you a chance for some peace and quiet, away from the growing number of boats out on the lake?
Looking for Tranquility

Dear Tranquility,
This is one of my rare secrets. My suggestion is to explore every inch of the lake to find a place that you can call your own and has all the tranquility you are searching for. In the process you will meet some great people and see some amazing boats. It is always fun to stop into some of the lake side establishments along the journey and create a memory or two. Happy floating.
Keep on keeping on,
Sean

Remember the only boxes that exist are the ones you create for yourself.

In life, we have many choices to make along the journey. We can take the high road-the road less traveled-or we can take the low road traveled by most. In my life, I have almost always chosen Henry David Thoreau’s route, though it has not always been popular.

Like my friends Steve and Terri Irwin, also known as the Crocodile Hunters, one of my great passions in life are animals. This includes the preservation and protection of these wonderful gifts to our planet. You could call me a “wildlife warrior.” I have continued to fight against the use of endangered and exotic animals in circuses. These animals live in cruel conditions and are often abused physically and mentally. You can stop by Les’s Liquors in Grove and pick Les’s brain on the subject the next time you are restocking your supply. Like me, he has a lot to say on the subject.

Since I was a kid, I have rescued stray dogs. I am the guy who stops on the back roads of Zena to move the turtle who has not quite made it to the other side of the road. (Please watch out for both these fantastic reptiles and me!) I also stop and move road kill so other animals won’t meet the same fate.

What has your role been in protecting wildlife and our natural environment? If you aren’t supporting the future of a sustainable life for Grand Lake and our planet, who will?

Just this week an event occurred in my neck of the woods that ruffled my feathers in a big way. The incident involved a limb line and a Great Blue Heron that had embedded a fishing hook in its beak while attempting to go after the live fish bait attached to the hook. It was about 5:50 a.m. Anyone who knows me will tell you it is a rare day when I am up this early, especially on a Saturday morning. Having a few too many beers the night before, nature was calling. I was heading to the bathroom when I looked out the window to find a fisherman retrieving fish from limb lines. As I’m thinking about whether or not limb line fishing qualifies you as a true fisherman or just a lazy harvester of fish, I realize a gorgeous Great Blue Heron was caught in one of the fisherman’s multiple limb lines. I could hardly believe what I was seeing. My heart (and subsequent expletive’s) began to race. I threw on my clothes and ran downstairs to the boat dock to evaluate the situation and determine what could be done for the Heron.

My first reaction was total astonishment and anger. I was not on the high road at that moment and my emotions took over. As I approached the magnificent bird, I could see the confusion and fear in its eyes. He immediately started flapping his wings to take flight. My heart sank and I was prepared for the worse. To my amazement, the Heron was able to fly off without being jerked back to the shoreline. The fisherman had cut the limb line—leaving a large hook in its mouth and about six foot of line following behind. I was so upset by the situation, I started yelling, “This is not OK with me… I am going to see that every last limb line is cut! These Herons are protected birds and we have a responsibility to take care of them!” This is a fact. They help make Grand Lake so special and now this bird’s life is literally on the line. I left the scene to calm myself down and call my good friend Sandy, a former GRDA lake patrol person. I wanted to find out what the regulations for limb lines are on Grand Lake. After speaking with an Oklahoma Wildlife office, it turns out that the limb lines had been illegally placed and could be removed.

Upon reflection, I realized that I really needed to go back to the fisherman and see if we could reach a peaceful resolution. Unfortunately, I was unable to get anywhere. He immediately began threatening me. That is when I became aware of how easy it is to take the low road. “So this is how a Hatfield and McCoy’s situation gets started,” I thought to myself. GRDA got involved even though they are not responsible for the fish or wildlife. They were a great help in resolving the situation. I really want to thank Derek Biddleman and Kevin Easley for their patience and hard work in mediating many of the difficult and challenging situations in and around Grand Lake. This was definitely one of those challenging situations. (You guys are doing a great job! Keep it up.)

Situations like these have the potential to create greater hostility or an opportunity for dialogue and a greater understanding of the conflicting situation. We all have experienced both of these at one time or another. The challenge is to put our creative caps on and to take the initiative in resolving the situation. In the moment, I can forget this and let my emotions get the best of me. You can read more about examples of this in my What Box? article entitled, “Perfectly Imperfect” at www.whatbox.info. It is said, “what a difference a day can make.” 24 little hours. This could not be any truer than this situation.

With my new creative cap on, I am taking the “creative initiative” to start the process of proposing legislation that will ban fishing devices that pose real threats to birds and other wildlife such as limb lines. Grand Lake is unique and water levels can change overnight. This causes limb lines that were underwater before nightfall to reach the water surface, leaving bait exposed for fish hunting birds to identify and hook themselves. I can’t be sure that my efforts on the high road will pay off, but I can be sure that I will be able to bring greater awareness to the threats posed by these less-than-environmentally-responsible methods of fishing.

Which road will you choose? The delicate balance of our natural environment on Grand Lake and around the planet is in need of your help. Every human and animal is counting on you to step up and take responsibility for your actions or inactions. Visit www.wildlifewarriors.org.au to learn more about how you can make a positive difference.

Let me know what you think.

Remember the only boxes that exist are the ones you create for yourself.

What would you do if you were given the unfortunate news that you only had one day to live? 24 short hours. 1,440 quick minutes. 86,400 fleeting seconds.

Would you spend your last hours with your loved ones? Would you fulfill the dream that sits on the back burner while life passes you by? Would you get depressed and give up hope? Would you travel to the place you have always dreamed of going? What would you do?

Guess what? None of us know how long we will be alive or when our number will be called. Each day is a gift and so many of us let time pass by without ever thinking about what it is we really want to be doing with our lives. Life is so short why not live as if it is your last day every day?

It seems that more and more of us are settling for what is instead of striving for what can be. What dreams do you have? Do you work towards your dreams or do you suppress them in the back of your imagination because they seem too difficult to achieve? Our dreams challenge us to reach for our greater potential, they stretch us, they increase our creativity, they make us unique and they have the potential to become real.

180 seconds have passed since you started reading this What Box? piece. Time is ticking away. What are you waiting for?

Remember that dream you had as a child? You know, the one that is way back there in the cobwebs of your brain, the one that has been filed away under “never going to happen.” It’s time to pull it out and start working on it. Dreams only happen when you work at them and keep them alive. No one said it would be easy.

In my life I work hard to keep my dreams alive and track those dreams that have come true. I have been blessed to have many of my dreams fulfilled: marrying Kristen, a remarkable woman with whom I have the privilege of sharing my life, visiting Machu Pichu, being CEO of a company, working in Hollywood, writing a creativity column, consulting with world leaders, creating my own schedule, and owning a slice of heaven on earth right here on Grand Lake.

What dreams have come true in your life? Write them down and appreciate what you have achieved. Now write down the dreams that have not yet been fulfilled. Write down your dreams, no matter how out of this world they may seem. You can make any dream come true once you set your mind to it. What is holding you back from achieving your dreams?

Another 360 seconds has just passed you by. Better get on it!

When you live a life that takes in each and every moment appreciating the positives and working towards fulfilling the dreams you have, then you are truly living. And what could be better than living life to its fullest?

There is no time like the present to “live life as if.”

Let me know what you think.

Dear Sean,
My son is convinced he’s the next “American Idol,” but he has no rhythm and can’t carry a tune. I don’t want to crush his dream, but I also don’t want him to be humiliated on national television.
Facing Reality

Dear Facing Reality,
Why not create a mini concert in your backyard or that of a neighbor’s for your son to highlight his talents in front of the entire community. Better he learn from the local community verses national television. If he truly can’t carry a tune in a bucket he will get the picture and then you can support him to move onto another dream. The other option is that he is so darned awful that he makes Idol history by being worse than William Hung, who has cut three CD’s since his memorable performance of “She Bangs.” We can’t all be as talented as Carrie Underwood. It would be a kick to have one of the best and worst Idols come from Oklahoma.
Keep on keeping on,
Sean

Remember the only boxes that exist are the ones you create yourself.