A Thick Time

In 1996, I was in graduate school at Azusa Pacific University.  I took a leadership class that I absolutely loved.  I liked the class so much that after all these years, I still have all the recommended books.  I re-read the books and occasionally have passed some of them along to others interested in the topic of leadership.  But the most significant factor that semester in this specific class was the Professor. That man could tell a story better than almost anyone I have ever met.

One class session he was talking about getting the most out of life.  He talked about the ups and downs that we experience and how to cope with tough situations.  As he spoke, he gave us a visual of how to really enjoy life.  He said that life was like a cyclone.  At the bottom of the twister, the power was weak and thin.  You bounced along the bottom and ran into objects that could cause pain.  But as you fully engaged in life you moved up the cyclone and life become thicker and richer.  He said there will be times that you feel like you’re spinning out of control, but as you add deep, rich experiences, your life will become more meaningful and worthwhile.

I believed every word he said.  His words resonated in my heart.  I was determined at that point in my life to do everything I could to enrich my life, my husband’s life, and children’s lives.  My desire was to try to “change the world – one person at a time.”  I wrote out a personal mission statement.  I planned things out on a thirty-year calendar.  I set about to make deliberate choices that impact everyone who I thought might benefit.

I took this message of living a thick, rich life home to my family.  My husband listened and encouraged me, but I doubt it impacted his life much.  My kids:  Beau, 11; Sarah, 6; and Jesse 18 months probably thought I was crazy for being so excited about this new concept.  But I shared it with them anyway.

The first thing I did was to rent a cabin in the Big Bear Mountains of Southern California.  It had recently snowed, and I thought it would be a great time to take the kids sledding outside.  I wanted to create an experience where we could get out and enjoy nature.  So, we loaded up the van and made the two hour trek up the mountain. 

On that first Friday night, we enjoyed a nice meal in front of a roaring fire.  Later in the evening, we popped popcorn, baked chocolate chip cookies, and made smores.  We played board games, and just enjoyed some family time.

The next morning, we got up and had breakfast.  We piled on the layers, coats, and gloves, and packed up the sleds in our mini-van.  We made the trek up the hill a few miles to an area at a park that was designated for sledding.  The two older kids emptied out of the van with sleds in hand.  Before I could blink, they made their way up the hill to get in line to go down the slope.

I got Jesse out of his car seat and grabbed a snow disc so I could pull him along behind me as we went to watch his brother and sister.  By the time I got over to the bottom of the slope, Beau and Sarah had already made the run a few times.  Sarah was out of breath and Beau’s cheeks were quite pink from the cold temperatures.

After a run, Sarah ran over to my husband and me to check in.  I asked her if she was having fun.  From her big smile, I knew she was.  She asked if she could go again.  Of course we said, “yes!”  She walked up the hill and got in line for the run carrying her bright red sled.  Once at the top, she set her sled down, hopped on, and pushed off!  She was flying down the hill, her long, brown hair soaring out behind her.  She was about half way down the hill, when she yelled out as loudly as she could towards my husband and I, “I’m having such a thick time!; I’m having such a thick time!”  I burst out laughing!  She had been listening.  And she got it!  My little six year old daughter totally affirmed all my efforts to enrich our family by creating special moments in order to make our lives more abundant.  She was “having a thick time!”

So, we’ve been spending the past 16 years giving our best effort to “have a thick time!”

"Tribal Tales"  by Diane LeJeune  (c) 2010 Feeling Good Entertainment, LLC & Diane C. LeJeune