June 13, 2023 - Owls, Kids, Men, Cogs

You don't have to be a pinball wizard to be part of my generation.

Nuggets of Information: Who Are You 

Walking is a key part of my health & wellness routine. I walk in the mornings, right after I wake up, and I love it. Now that summer is here, and it stays light later, I’ve started adding post-dinner walks to my routine. Last week I took KP (the wonder dog) on a walk through the park near our house. There is a section of the trail that winds through a wooded/shaded area, away from the road and park activities. As we walked through it, I caught a glimpse of an owl flying from one tree to another. As we got closer, it sat and stared at us, and posed for the picture above. Beautiful bird.  

Our family has attended the “Birds of Prey” show at Callaway Gardens several times over the years and we’ve learned a bit about owls in Georgia. Owls are avian apex predators, meaning they are the top of the food chain. Owls possess specialized feathers that enable them to fly silently, allowing them to approach their prey stealthily without being heard. Owls have exceptional vision and hearing. They have large eyes that are well-adapted for low-light conditions, and their facial disks help funnel sound towards their ears, allowing them to locate prey accurately. Additionally, owls are known for their wisdom, helping kids everywhere understand how many licks it takes to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop. (Answer: 3, 3 licks to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop.) 

If you feel owl knowledge is too left-wing or right-wing for you, there are other studies that address the number of licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop. According to Wikipedia: “A student study by Purdue University concluded that it took an average of 364 licks to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop using a "licking machine", while it took an average of 252 licks when tried by 20 students. Yet another study by the University of Michigan concluded that it takes 411 licks to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop. A 1996 study by undergraduate students at Swarthmore College concluded that it takes a median of 144 licks (range 70–222) to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop.” 

Enrichment: The Kids Are Alright 

A single-engine Cessna carrying three adults and four children (ages 13, 9, 4 and 11 months) crashed in the Amazonian rain forest in Columbia on May 1^st. Before the crash, the pilot radioed their emergency, and sadly the three adults died in the accident. The search began at once for the children, and miraculously, on June 9^th - 40 days after the crash - the children were found alive – dehydrated, but alive! 

From the airplane, the kids had access to a bag of Fariña, a cassava flour that people eat in that region. When that ran out, the kids ate seeds, and various fruits. Luckily, the forest was in harvest, so there was an abundance of fruit to eat. The eldest child (11) had some knowledge of how to survive in the rain forest, and she helped the other kids survive. They were found about three miles from the crash site.

I’m amazed by this story. My own experience with kids is that they will text you from their bedrooms to bring them a glass of water and complain they won’t survive unless you promptly comply with their request. Hmm.

Workshop: The Real Me 

Two weeks ago, I wrote about asking “What Do I Need to Work On?” and in my own reflection on that question, I’ve gone down some interesting roads. Recently I watched a TedTalk by actor Justin Baldoni where he discusses how he no longer tries to be “man enough” but instead asks "Your strength, your bravery, your toughness: Are you brave enough to be vulnerable? Are you strong enough to be sensitive? Are you confident enough to listen to the women in your life?"  

This struck a nerve for me. I grew up with two older sisters, a caring mother and a father whose career as an OB/GYN was focused on women’s health and wellness. I am married to a wonderful woman and have two incredible daughters. My whole life I’ve been surrounded by women. But I still struggle with what it means to “be a man”. Don’t cry, don’t show weakness, be strong, be confident, take care of the women because they need you to. Ugh.  

One part of Baldoni’s talk that really hit home is when he shares how he would cut off his wife when she was speaking with others and would finish her sentences or stories. I have been guilty of this! Why? Why do I feel the need to step in and take over my wife’s stories? Baldoni didn’t even realize he was doing it – and neither did I, until Lisa called me out on it, over and over again. I am now more aware of this tendency and actively work on NOT doing that. I try not to jump in, I encourage her to tell our shared stories, I ask her questions. Sometimes it is as easy as me just shutting up and listening. Well, it isn’t “easy” - if you know me you know I am an extrovert, and I like to talk. But growth takes effort. It still troubles me that I have that pattern in my brain. It is disrespectful to my wife and reveals a weakness I have that I do not want to define me.

If you want an even deeper dive into this subject, watch the documentary “The Mask You Live In” on YouTube. The film highlights the concept of the "mask" that boys are encouraged to wear from a young age, emphasizing traits such as toughness, dominance, and emotional suppression. Boys are often taught to disconnect from their emotions, to be stoic and self-reliant, and to avoid showing vulnerability or seeking help. This is a powerful documentary - both fascinating and heartbreaking.

To my guy friends – if any of this resonates with you, and you want someone to talk to about it, feel free to reach out to me.  

Selected Content: Going Mobile 

One of my all-time favorite YouTube videos is a Honda Accord Commercial from 2003. “The Cog” shows a Rube Goldberg-type sequence of different car parts interacting until the final reveal of the new Honda Accord. No CGI – every step you see is in real time. The video took 606 takes to get the single continuous version where every transition worked perfectly. From putting weights in the tires to make them roll up hill to using the windshield’s rain sensor to trigger the wipers to walk across the floor, every part of the video was carefully planned out. Check out the “Making of” video to get a glimpse of what they went through for this remarkable commercial.