Read a book and go to sleep.
Something that most people know, but neglect to act on, is the link between a predictable, cyclical circadian rhythm, and the systems our bodies use to regulate negative emotion.
I'm no better than the average person with respect to going to sleep at a reasonable time (I'm probably worse), but I'm trying.
It's also important to read books, because it's the most fruitful way to experience things you wouldn't otherwise get to.
An idea presented in a book is not the same as the one you get by watching a youtube video or watching tv.
It hasn't been distilled and polished by the process of writing it down and having to literally stare at all its imperfections. Please read some books and go to sleep so you can wake up wiser and happier.
We jumped off the tower.
Michael, Noah, and I set off on Sunday afternoon for a sail to the tower.
After a slow start, including a snapped halyard and a wet phone, we finally got underway.
It's a lot easier to sail when you're able to steer and control the sails properly. This one was luxury compared to the last few sails.
Now that we've fulfilled the lower orders of Alex's hierarchy of Sailing Needs, we're able to focus on the higher, more exciting tiers in the pyramid.
Specifically, this afternoon we'll be focusing on the green tier.
The thing about the tower is that none of us have been to it in a long time, and it's difficult to see it from afar.
So we were beginning to think we had remembered it inaccurately and even doubt that it existed entirely.
Or maybe it's like in the Polar Express when in order to find the tower, you first need to believe that it exists. ⇦ click
The tower is deceptively difficult to get to. At low tide it is enclosed by sandbars, and it's located at a spot in the river that has particularly strong currents. But eventually, it did end up revealing itself to us.
I'll say it, climbing the tower isn't the safest activity.
But there's risk in everything you do, we're careful, and it's worth it.
You're more likely to get hurt driving a car than doing just about anything else.
This tower was used to look out for big storms coming in from the ocean before radar was invented.
They would plop someone up here for hours just to look out on the horizon for dark clouds.
Not a bad job.
What's more fun than jumping from up high?
Next, Lauren and I got in the car and drove North.
We stopped right at the border of SC and NC to visit our family on the farm.
It's fun to go to the farm, because you do farm things at the farm.
Like pet and feed the horses.
And go for walks in the woods.
And pick up thousands of pounds of hay from the hay farmer.
And try to guess what Kitty the dog will do next.
And shoot guns at targets.
Etc.
John was also in the middle of a weekend full of jumping (horses).
He's a really good equestrian and it was fun to watch.
We also went swimming in an artificial lake inside of what used to be a golf course.
That was also fun.
We did a lot of animal petting.
It was great to see everyone and go somewhere different for a while.
We stopped at the fireworks store on the side of the highway to truly take advantage of living in South Carolina.
The lady running the store was barefoot, took us for a tour of the whole store, then gave us extra fireworks for free.
For use at a later date.
