Stories from the ridgeline

Honest words for the roads we never expected.

Reflections on fatherhood, faith, healing, leadership, adventure, and the spaces between expectation and reality.

The Power of Intimacy in Parenting

The Paradox of Intimacy Intimacy is a strange thing. It asks us to be both strong and exposed. Real and meaningful connection doesn’t come from pretending we’ve got it all together — it’s about letting someone see the parts of you that are fragile, uncertain, or even messy. But here’s the kicker: it takes real […]

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The Power of Balance: Learning to Take the Hit

I recently read an interview with Jack Johnson, the heavyweight boxing champion of the world from 1908-1915.   In discussing how the sport has changed, he said something simple and profound.  Some of the greatest fighters of all time didn’t last because they could punch the hardest; but because they knew how to take a punch.  

It’s all about the stance Johnson said, the positioning of your feet: “Front foot pointed forward, rear foot pointed out at an angle.”  This stance gave fighters perfect balance, and control.  The fighters who could take a hit, and still stand, would prevail; because once you are thrown off balance, your opponent gains the upper hand.

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