After taking quite a break from writing on this blog, I spent a lot of time thinking about life: the ups, the downs, the twists, and the turns. And I have come to one very non-profound conclusion: I’m just happy to be here.

The last 60 days have been a lot of fun. There have been a lot of big things happening. There’s been a lot of turmoil. There’s been a lot of ups, there’s been a lot of downs. There’s been the greatest moments of happiness in my life, and some of the greatest moments of sadness. Yet, while all this has happened, it has made me reflect on just being happy being. That’s probably not a very profound statement to a lot of people, but as I continue to go through life, what I seem to find is really a feeling of enjoyment for just living in the moment. Big situations used to scare the hell out of me. Bad things that happen used to frighten me. I used to live some days in fear. But I’ve gotten past it because, with every new thing that happens, each and every day comes as a new opportunity; a new experience. I no longer live with a concern of anything being over my shoulder. In fact, some days I literally feel weightless that nothing makes me uneasy. It’s truly an enjoyment just being here.

As I was flying today, I looked out the window gazing over the earth and wondered how many times? How many times has it happened in my career? There, out the left side window, I saw the Mississippi River and just wondered, how many times have I crossed you?

Maybe it’s because for 150 years very few people ever got a chance to cross it, and the phrase “west of the Mississippi” was such a popular phrase in society. Or it could be because I think back to 2006 when I first went out to Texas alone and signed a rather large account. Better yet, maybe it’s because, regardless of whether I am coming home or going out on a mission, I can look down, see the river, and know exactly where I am at.

Then, my thoughts turn to the many years and millions of miles I have spent flying across the country, and truly wonder how many times I have crossed this amazing piece of geography. Regardless of what thought triggers in my mind, I can merely look out in vast amazement at the twists and turns of such a massive beast and think about how cool and reflective the Mississippi River is of life in general.

Sometimes things go your way…

Sometimes they don’t go your way…

Sometimes you’re cruising down a current…

Sometimes you’re battling the current with all your might…

Sometimes it’s too murky to see your future and what’s out in front…

Sometimes it’s as clear as a bell…

Sometimes you look at it in amazement…

Sometimes you look at it and you are scared to death to cross it…

Regardless of how you look at things on any certain day, no matter how many times, I fly over the mighty Mississippi and think about something.