Zedder, both remedy and reason...

I had a rough day that I'm slowly recovering from, Zoey helps me to do that...so does sun, sand and water. So while I worked at straightening out my perspectives (I don't want to be the guy who can't or doesn't do that sort of thing....I want to be better than that) I took off for the beach with Zoey, a bag full of beach toys, and some sunscreen. There's not a whole lot that those three things can't fix.



We built sand castles, played in the receding wake of waves, threw a lot of sand, and wandered up and down the beach until Mom got home. I totally forgot what I was so bothered by earlier, and the smile factory that is my daughter helped me to put it all into the proper perspective without even trying. I hope she always does that. I can't imagine a day when she doesn't.



I find it impossible to not think a little more clearly when you're willing to look at yourself honestly, and when you open yourself up to influence. It's really the only way you're ever going to find any success in your life. The process of self-reflection isn't easy, especially when you don't like what you find, but it's just as hard to open yourself up to allowing someone else to pick you up. The end result shouldn't be finding weakness in yourself, it should be revered as the most courageous way to live. There's certainly no shame in allowing an almost-seventeen month old little girl to help you pull your head out of your ass. Besides, you're never gonna get a decent tan that way.



That Mom of hers does one heck of a job making me feel like the kind of person I want to be too. Every time I feel as though I'm less than what I might be, or that I'm allowing myself to be bumped off of my game, embarrassingly so, I don't have anything to prove at home. That might be the best asset I've got, although the beach is nice too.



So while it's easy to imagine the soothing effect that a beach and a beautiful little girl can have on a struggling psyche, it's something more to consider the kind of introspection that a toddler can inspire. I don't know much, but I know that if you're children aren't significantly altering the way that you think, about both the world and yourself, well, you might want to reconsider the kind of parenting that you're practicing. June makes me better, but I have the feeling that Zoey could make me great, you know, provided I pay attention. All by myself, I'm the much less than impressive man who got thrown off of his game so easily today. You don't win championships bitching about the game...you just play it. Boy, oh boy, everyone needs a Zoey and a beach.