I am a Duck!

We have lived many places. Each place has good and bad...things to enjoy and things to detest. Wherever we are, we have numerous experiences and meet many people.

It is important to retain the good and leave the rest behind (though easier said than done). Life is too short to hold onto difficult experiences...nonetheless, forgetting completely may be out of the question.

Growing up in Utah, I learned all I ever really needed to know for a happy life. To name a few...be honest, be kind, be helpful, be prayerful, families are forever, there is life after school, learning doesn't end when school ends. I cultivated a love for beautiful mountains, which always give me a feeling of peace.

In Kansas, I observed simple pleasures - cicadas, fireflies, gardens, sunsets.  The lesson...Life gets too busy, so slow down, Enjoy simple things, and remember what is most important in life.  Honestly, before moving to Kansas, I wasn't fond of sunflowers, the Kansas state flower.  Now, I love sunflowers! Sunflowers are cool, and they follow the sun.

New Jersey, Fuhgeddaboutit! The quick pace of life sometimes left me feeling overwhelmed. I began to realize that you don't know what you don't know. The biggest lesson of all was "things are not always as they seem" so look deeper. Living near the coast, I developed a love for the ocean and its power and majesty.

Oregonians enjoy nature. Even the university mascots are from nature - University of Oregon Ducks and Oregon State Beavers. During rivalry games, we've never taken sides to support either school. Instead of a duck or beaver, we were more like a platypus (a little of both). Now, I cheerfully declare "I am a duck!" Why? Because I have learned to remain calm on the surface when paddling like crazy underneath. The key to progress is persistence and consistency.

Oregon has left an indelible mark.