Sometimes, I wrote yesterday, when our hearts are exposed we seem like a car in need of a jump-start: cold, (e)motionless and hard as steel.

I asked: How’s your character?

Does Your Character Need A Jump-Start?

Our music affects us.
Does yours lift you up or tear you down?

Our friends’ influence us.
Do your friends build your character or burden your conscience?

Our books teach us
Is  your reading list bad, neutral or helpful? Why settle for bad or neutral?

Our mentors guide us
Do you follow your mentor’s lead or make excuses and postpone progress?

I’m anticipating cold temperature this week. In the Twin Cities this week is the week that historically has the lowest low temperatures.

While I’m driving to work today I realized how cold it really was.
Single-digits.

Jump-start

I’m blessed to own a running vehicle.
It’s not always been that way.

Dead in the driveway.
Freezing cold outside.
The wind blowing through my coat.
Howling, as India.Arie sang, “where the wind calls my name.”

Stuck.
Frustrated.

My car was cold, hard, motionless steel.

Jump-starts

Those words make me cringe: cold, hard, motionless steel.

As a Minnesotan springtime involves profound change.  If you’re a Minnesotan you know what I mean.  It’s not just the weather, it’s an entire mindset!

Springtime is my favorite time of the year. I want to believe it’s truly Spring.

There is evidence beyond my feelings and my hope for change.

The calendar says the “First Day of Spring” arrived; according to infoplease on March 20, 2011, at precisely 7:21 P.M. EDT, the Sun crossed directly over the Earth’s equator; the temperature soared above sixty; and the snow is finally gone, BUT for how long I wonder?

I love snowboarding.

My favorite time to snowboard is during or just following a snowstorm. Yesterday & today the first snowstorm of the 2009-2010 winter descended upon the Twin Cities.  We have three inches of snow in the driveway with more coming.  The winds carving beautiful etches in the snow.  Drifts and drifting snow  danced through the streets and yards.

I wished that I was snowboarding.

I’ve had wonderful snowboarding buddies over the years.  Miska & I tearing it up.  My dad & I in sub-zero weather.  Wonderful memories snowboarding with Josh & Shannon: laughing, chasing, playing follow the leader, muttering, and challenging one another.