Little Frenchie Smurfs

USA National Parks Contest runs from Jun 10 - Jun 30, 2021. The winner wins 50 points. Participants earn 10 points.

USA National Parks Contest Who doesn’t love a trip through our National Parks? Play this fun contest to find out if your National Parks trivia knowledge is like a walk in the park.

“As you move outside of your comfort zone, what was once the unknown and frightening becomes your new normal.”
- Robin S. Sharma
Watching little (and big) kids doing scary things is always a striking life lesson. At first, jumping into the unknown seems impossible. “There’s no way I can do it!” are the words that most often escape our trembling lips. Little by little, however, an intriguing itch of hope begins to scratch away at our fears until all that is left is us and the knowledge that we must leap in order to discover.
At this point, we know that walking away will result in us dying a little inside... while jumping... jumping guarantees us a new life and new horizons.
Whatever your cliff today, be it physical, mental, or emotional, may you have the courage to jump into the unknown and discover a better version of yourself in the process.
@ Pont Du Gard

We all suffer injuries in life. Some are thankfully only skin deep while others live deep within. Looking at my bandaged and bruised leg today, I was struck by multiple awesome facets of the hurting and healing: 1) Time is life’s giant eraser. It slowly scrubs away the pain of our suffering while also wiping clean our ability to recall our starting point on the path of progression 2) Simplicity is life’s magnifying glass. Before my knee surgery I biked and ran a few times without giving my legs a second thought. Today my entire focus is on flexing a single muscle hundreds of times. Unsurprisingly, I’m suddenly much more aware and grateful for all the muscles in my body. 3) Trials are life’s reminder that change is constant and so too is our ability to improve. They force us to flex muscles we never knew existed, promising that in the end we’ll be more whole than we ever imagined possible.

Once upon a time, you were so sick that I begged God to take me in your place. I wanted so badly for you to experience all the sunrises and sunsets that I knew you deserved.
14 years later, you've seen sunrises and sunsets from all over the globe and I've been lucky enough to be along for the ride. You're caring, confident, and creative and I love watching you grow into a man.
Happy birthday Noah! You forever changed my life the day you were born. Thanks for making me a father and reminding what a precious gift it is to love a son.
I reposted an article, in your honor.

and I have longed dream of seeing the inherit the intellectual, emotional, and social benefits of embracing a second national identity in France. However, in the wake of today’s World Cup Workers Strike, we going to have to go back to the drawing board 😜😂🇫🇷👍:)

road trip this past weekend to visit a place of healing for the all-time favorite artist of one
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@ Saint-Rémy-de-Provence

Noah would like to make sure his cabin has a home when he eventually leaves France, so consider this the official listing for some future date: Rustic mancub cave for sale: enjoy a 3-bed spacious interior (built from one double mezzanine and two twins), completely off the grid chandelier (takes AA), and balcony views of Beaujolais countryside (or YouTube thanks to complimentary phone holder). Also comes with guide to the night sky, tomato plant, and possibly London Tower key holder. Norwegian Duolingo, America Sunglasses, and Eiffel Tower not included. For all inquiries, please contact the very 13-year-old, very pleased with himself owner. @ Lachassagne, Rhone-Alpes, France

There are 1440 minutes in your day today. Do you have 60 for yourself? If not, I challenge you to take a look at your calendar and try and find them. Deliberately choosing to act for 60 minutes instead of our default reacting to the daily barrage of to-do’s and distractions can be illuminating. You never know where you might end up.
P.S. I wrote on this a week ago - I’ll put the link back up for anyone interested

I was reborn the minute he arrived.
After a long weekend together, I woke early on Monday morning to cradle our newborn son in my arms. I then got dressed, kissed my wife and son goodbye for the first time ever, and reluctantly walked out the door for work.
I hadn’t taken ten steps before the strangeness of it all stopped me in my tracks. I turned 180 degrees to look back at my quiet little house. Inside, just beyond that front door, my entire world had been redefined.
But ten steps away, standing there with my laptop bag slung over my shoulder and my sack lunch in hand, it felt oddly as if nothing had changed.
Unfortunately, it took me twelve long years to really get back through the front door of fatherhood.
Read on by clicking on my link in my profile.
@ Lachassagne, Rhone-Alpes, France

Dads, we live in a world today that often encourages us to excel in the office, sacrificing what should matter most in the name of fatherhood.

We’re not bad people, we’re just sad people — trapped by our 9 to 5 (or 6 or 7 or 8) environments.

Willpower is a wonderful gift, but it only goes so far. You have to be willing to shake up your environment before you can witness real change.

Learn more by clicking the link to my latest Medium article. If you read, please clap (note: up to 50 times is possible)

Why Your Day Job is Killing Your Dad Job – Dave Smurthwaite – Medium It’s not about where or how you work, but your mindset that makes all the difference. Unlock the key to happiness as a father by…

Fun getaway this weekend when stole me away for a pre bday celebration. The only real thing on our itinerary: eat good food (including escargot stuffed rabbit wrapped in bacon). It was inspiring enough to write about. Discover the secret to French food domination (link in profile).
@ Charlieu

In a favorite scripture passage of mine, we're reminded that this life was designed for opposition in all things. "If not so, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad."
It seems that God intended for each of us to experience both the highs and lows of life so that we might better understand everything in between.
Today's story is taken from the highest and lowest 24 hours I've ever experienced. It was a labor of love, so any feedback you have is appreciated. And, as always, please clap at the end of the article if you enjoy.

One of the dangers of being your own boss is that no one tells you how to spend your time. This has been problematic, as lately I end up spending hours in front of my computer monitor crafting and honing my daily articles. Thankfully my coach suggested I try the pomodoro technique (look it up) - essentially breaking my day into bite-size “on” and “off” blocks. One of my morning “off” blocks has consisted of a brisk walk up our country road, the purchase of a “pain au raisin,” at our village boulangerie, and the collection of wildflowers in the way home. gets the flowers, I get the pastry, and unsurprisingly I’m suddenly feeling much better about my employment status.

When was the last time you picked a travel destination based on what your soul needed? My latest article, published today, talks about how to discover a new level of fulfillment in your explorations / link in bio

Don't miss these five tips guaranteed to make your next trip 500% more fulfilling.

Why 90% of Your Vacation Photos Are Crap – The Ascent It’s sad, but true.

I married way above my station and I’m reminded of it every time she smiles. To say has redefined me would be a gross understatement. I’m who I am today, with limitless options of who I might become tomorrow, because she has always believed in me. Any true joy I feel in life is totally her fault, either directly or indirectly. She is my wife, my partner, my best friend, my lover, and the mother of everything that matters most to me. Thank you Love, for always making tomorrow the best day of our lives.

“The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation… concealed under what are called the games and amusements of mankind...” — Henry David Thoreau, Walden.
I’m sure you browsing on Instagram right now has nothing to do with the “mere amusements of mankind.” Just in case, my latest piece, published in The Startup has some suggestions on how to reduce your wasted time and replace it with quality time with the people that matter most. Link in bio - as usual

Meet my newer little sister in today’s What Were You Born To Do. She came to the US at age six from Panama and decided to stick around (lucky for us). She’s fly, dope, chill, and all the really hip adjectives that I know longer know - link in bio

“If you want to succeed you should strike out on new paths, rather than travel the worn paths of accepted success.” — John D. Rockefeller. Ditch the daily grind today and do something, ANYTHING, to shake things up. I’ve got 16 ideas of things you could do today in my latest piece.

Randall was too young when he started expecting too much from himself. While he still struggles at times with the sensation of falling short, he’s unshaken in knowing what he was meant to do in life. Follow his inspiring "What Were You Born To Do" - link in bio

Randall was too young when he started expecting too much from himself. While he still struggles at times with the sensation of falling short, he’s unshaken in knowing what he was meant to do in life. Follow his inspiring "What Were You Born To Do" - https://medium.com/series/fb9307749b87

“Trials teach us what we are; they dig up the soil, and let us see what we are made of.” — Charles Spurgeon

Why We All Need a Break Down – Dave Smurthwaite – Medium The worst things in life are usually the best

Most of the paths you and I choose today won’t matter. They definitely won’t matter a year from now, probably won’t matter 30 days from now, and most likely won’t even matter tomorrow. This is not because our life is inherently filled with meaningless actions. It’s because the far majority of us have programmed ourselves to stuff life with the meaning-less (i.e. good but not the best). HOWEVER, what is amazing is that you and I have been given the power to choose the paths we take today, no matter our past decisions, and that they could radically impact our future self. Read more if you like - link in my bio, and please 👏👏👏 if you enjoy

To be absolutely honest, the act of writing terrifies me at times. On days like today, I wonder who am I, of all people, to be producing anything worth reading. And yet, even in the midst of a fog of self-doubt, I continue to write. Not because it's easy or enjoyable, but because I feel like it's what I should be doing. Today's article is about what my kids have taught me about growing up in the world, through their perfectly innocent examples. If you read it and enjoy, please remember to clap on Medium.