‘If we all put our problems into a hat and then picked out of it someone else’s problems, we’d all ask for our own back.’ - Unknown. Earlier this week I attended the monthly chamber meeting at Becker Community Center. The presentation was from Freedom Personal Develpment from Madison, Wisconsin. The speaker (Robb Zbierski) was dynamic and very thought-provoking.
He spoke about the importance of what we focus on. He talked about highly successful business people and professional athletes and what makes them stand apart. They visualize their goal and remain positive. It’s very easy in our busy lives to get distracted and off-track. It was a good reminder to be aware of the blessings in our life instead of focusing on what’s not going right.
The speaker had everyone at the meeting do a simple exercise. He asked us to close our eyes and raise our hands if we have a problem in our lives. Every hand in the room was raised (with poor posture and painful body language as we all thought about multiple problems we are facing). Robb then asked us to raise our hands if we have anything in our lives we are grateful for. Every hand shot up quickly (with better posture) and everyone’s countenance was much more positive. It’s a good reminder to focus on the blessings in our lives and have an attitude of gratitude. The workshop was a good reminder to be an encourager of others instead of a critic.
During the workshop, we learned tips about how to become more effective in what we do in order to free up time for fun and to do the things we want to do.
The Erickson family has many family traditions. For example, we make lefse together after Thanksgiving every year. We sing at a local nursing home at Christmas time and ring the bell for the Salvation Army. It feels good to bless people beyond our immediate family. I think it’s important to show the younger generation by example to think of others and serves as a reminder that many people are struggling.
My husbands’ family spends time on Lake Koronis at the cabin. We find that very fun, as the Erickson’s never had a family cabin. My husband and his dad are avid golfers, which is another fun activity to do with loved ones. My husband took my great nephew Nicholas golfing for the first time this summer and gave him a great deal of helpful advice. It was a special time. It sends a message to the other person that they are valuable to you when you spend time together.
Growing up in a farm family didn’t allow for many hobbies, but we had a ton of fun together. We were active in church and 4-H and formed many life-long friendships through both activities. We also have had a family tradition of taking road trips together (more now that I’m not milking cows, as that hindered my social life). Most of my brothers enjoyed hunting.
Aaron and Kelly (Lutz) Jurek live near my moms farm north of Becker. Kelly has been a wonderful neighbor for over 20 years, even before she got married. It turns out that Aaron is my great nephew Nicholas’ teacher in Sauk Rapids! The Jureks are hard workers and family time is a priority to them. Kelly and Aaron (Lutz) Jurek and their children enjoy the tradition of hunting. The whole family goes up north and prepares the hunting shack and stands. At a certain age (after much anticipation) the kids are allowed to hunt. Kelly and Aaron’s sons Logan and Jacob have been hunting with the grown ups for a few years. Although the littlest kids have to wait to hunt, they enjoy going up to get the shack ready and doing target practice. Kelly and Aaron’s son Adam will be hunting for the first time this year and is excited for his right of passage.
The Jurek family enjoys other traditions, such as gardening. Jacob spends time planting, weeding, and tending to their tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans and other chemical free vegetables and sells them at a roadside stand north of Becker near my moms farm. The Jurekboys are very hard workers and are excited to see the fruits of their labor (no pun intended). Not only is it a family bonding time, the kids are also learning a strong work ethic. The Jureks also chop wood and sell it at the stand. It’s refreshing to see parents cultivate hard-working children. It’s a skill that will serve them well in life.
