Pleasure

How often do you allow yourself pleasure?  Yes, it's a very serious question.  Stop and take a moment to think about it.  How often do you actually allow yourself to truly enjoy your life?  Most enjoyment comes as a reward for personal accomplishment, physical achievement, etc.  How often is it that you just take a weekend, a day or even an afternoon for you.

As Americans, living in the United States, it's just not what we do.  How many Americans do you know who go on Holiday?  How many Americans do you know who take a sabbatical?  How many Americans take a two and a half hour lunch and a nap mid-day?  It just doesn't happen here in the States.  We push, push, push.  We are always going, always have somewhere else to be and something to do that we're running late for and in the midst of our own self-imposed chaos, we neglect ourselves.

So what does this "pleasure" look like in my life?  Pleasure may be what we didn't work for, or what we don't deserve, but it's part of what makes us whole.  I think I've only recently begun to understand what it looks like, and even then, it's not quite something I fully grasp.  A full day, mid-week, uninterrupted, with family, friends or those closest to you.  An extended vacation in excess of two weeks either here or abroad.  A walk in the gently falling snow.

I just can't help but realize that we all have a very warped view of pleasure.  We think we have to earn it, put ourselves in the grave for it or sacrifice our families or ourselves to get it.  We think it comes in the way of physical stuff, a new car, a shopping spree at the mall or an extravagant weekend in Vegas.

This afternoon sit back, pop the cork and like a cellared bottle of Deschutes Brewery's, Abyss, slowly drink it in.  Enjoy the richness of your life today.

Cheers

Family

Once again, I'm welcomed by the crackle of the fire in the woodstove, sipping on a glass of Black Happy ABA from SRB.  I've found that the most clear thoughts happen right here in the front room of the cabin and generally with a growler of something from SRB.

My mind is going over and over the conversation of the day that the ONLY thing important in life is family.  Jobs, titles, money and status come and go but family is always there, family is the true constant in our lives.

I often refer to time back at the cabin in the mountains.  I do so in part that there are few things in my life as pure, without flaw.  Stresses fade, time doesn't seem to have an end and everyone seems to be more centered.  More often than not I find myself wondering how frequently I've taken my family for granted.  I always felt guilt and remorse when my wife and I had the opportunity to get away, but never in the day to day, which I now see clearly as habitual neglect.

Why is it that the ones we love the most are the ones that we often treat the worst?  I've made a commitment to myself that I want to die, but I also want to leave a legacy.  The only way to truly leave a legacy is to have those closest to you actually want to spend time with you and carry on your thoughts and beliefs.

I challenge you to find time with the ones you love, set aside your selfishness and enjoy something new.

Cheers

No beer...

Today has absolutely nothing to do with beer, it is, however, honest, open and true and I found this to be very thought provoking in my journey.  I hope you find it to be the same.


Cheers,


A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that 1,100 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

Three minutes went by, and a middle aged man noticed there was musician playing. He slowed his pace, and stopped for a few seconds, and then hurried up to meet his schedule.

A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping, and continued to walk.

A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work.

The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried, but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally, the mother pushed hard, and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.

In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money, but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the most talented musicians in the world. He had just played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, on a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.

Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste, and priorities of people. The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?

One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?

Procrastination........

Congratulations, if you are reading this, I have some earth shattering news, I'm human.  Yes I have actually procrastinated in getting my thoughts put together for the day, which, I actually find odd due to the fact that I truly have enjoyed this writing experience.  Nevertheless, I've waited right up until the last minute and now feel the pressure to come up with something mind-blowing.

With that being said, there's nothing quite like spending half of your day in the crawl space of a house to give you something somewhat interesting to talk about and/or lead you to drink.  Scratch that.  One could have the added opportunity of repairing and replacing broken sewer pipe.

It's funny the things you forget when you've been cramped in a small and strange place for any length of time.  Things like, disconnecting the drain pipe from the toilet, venturing above grade to stretch out, move around, use the restroom, FLUSH THE TOILET.  It's uncanny how much water really does go down the drain with each flush.....or so I've heard.  Needless to say, happy-hour came a little early, along with a fresh set of clean, dry clothes.

Due to the fact that the days affairs had created an unquenchable thirst, I met my friend Monty at Sockeye Brewing for one of their many award winning craft beers.  Yes, as if there could be any question, I'm quite confident that when Sockeye reads this they will be so proud of the fact that their brewery is mentioned in the TOILET post.  In any event, I procrastinated, partly due to the fact that I was sitting on a stool in their fine establishment enjoying a malted-hopped beverage and some fine conversation.

When it was all said and done, I'm quite sure that Monty and I had solved the worlds problems with five words, "in quiet there is strength."  No matter what you are facing in life, no matter what you have to overcome, remember those words.  Don't be afraid of time alone, it's an opportunity to center yourself.  I just don't think it was in the crawlspace!

Cheers

Oh the THINKS you can think...

I love spending time playing with my kids, although, I will admit, it doesn't come natural.  To clarify, I didn't really grow up around small children and I'm pretty certain that I don't really know how to play with them on their level.  But, I am learning.  Thus far, reading is definitely our common ground, especially when it comes to Dr. Seuss.

There is no better way to discover the THINKS you can think than to get out of your routine, shut off your phone and just allow yourself to be in the moment.  Just like my time with my kids, I make the physical choice to free myself of distractions.  It's only then that I don't over-think what I'm doing and just enjoy being in the moment.

Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery conveyed it best in his book, Brewing up a Business.

...pursuing artistic hobbies is a perfect escape route for businesspeople.  They can engage your mind in nontraditional yet productive ways.

I, like Sam, never realized how much I enjoyed expressing my thoughts and feelings in writing.  To paint a picture in words, of an experience, a place or the taste of a finely prepared meal or a craft beer is truly a release me.

What is your release?  Is it a good book, an afternoon of cycling, a walk by the river, a fine craft beer or throwing a ball with the dog?  Whatever it may be, I challenge you to find that time, allow yourself to unwind, be in the moment and just see what THINKS you can think.

Cheers

Happy Valentines Day

Alright, I'm coming clean, it has been a few years now….

Eric, my fellow vertically challenged friend and I started our pilgrimage to Denver, Colorado a few years ago.  We were headed to pick up our pilot system for brewing.  Before I go any further, I will declare that this was possibly the most male thing I've ever done.  Yes, we left on Valentines Day.

There's nothing quite as romantic as two dudes, leaving their wives and kids behind to unite a common love for craft beer.  There's also nothing quite as enjoyable as a trip to Denver from Boise, Idaho in the middle of winter, in only 3 days.

For those of you who are not familiar, 3 days would allow enough time to drive there, pick up our equipment, find a new brewery to try, have dinner and begin the drive home.  Having spent no time in Denver previously, outside of the airport, we were fortunate enough to wandered in to one of the best breweries in the world, Great Divide, completely by chance.

Great Divide Brewing Companies beers have landed an impressive amount of acclaim: Great Divide beers have earned 17 Great American Beer Festival medals and 5 World Beer Cup awards. Great Divide was also ranked 8th in Ratebeer.com’s 2010 “The Best Brewers in the World” and was ranked 7th in Beer Advocate’s 2010 “All-Time Top Breweries on Planet Earth.”

On a day that celebrates the expression of love, I find it very fitting that I get to share about my experiences in craft beer.  As in a marriage, relationship or friendship you have to invest time, be passionate and love. I know Great Divide does.

Cheers

Oh, and by the way.  Happy Valentines Day to the most beautiful woman I know.  Thank you for the support to go on this amazing adventure and for believing in me.  It's kind of ironic that Great Divide became one of your favorites too!

The empty tap room at Great Divide Brewing Co. at 2:00 on a Friday afternoon

The standing room only tap room at Great Divide Brewing Co. at 2:30 the same afternoon

Eric working on our new pilot system

Ryan (aka Justin Timberlake) and I brewing

Collision

When two forces collide, the end result can go in two very different directions.

I sat down this afternoon with one of my best friends, Ryan, aka Justin Timberlake, for a fine craft beer and a little conversation at R&R Public House in Meridian.  At the rapid approach of he and his wife's second child, the conversations underlying theme seemed to drift to balance and harmony and a topic for discussion that has been on my mind for quite some time, collision.

There's no debating that collisions occur daily in life causing disruption.  A misunderstanding with a spouse about finances, a disagreement with a child over curfew or an argument with a co-worker over the credit for a project.

Why can't every collision have the balance of a Mountain Standard.   Odell Brewing Company scored a triumphant victory on this Double Black IPA, a collision of dark roast and light hop.  Yes, I have an affinity for a big, bitter, herbal and citrusy character in my beer.  However, it still boggles my mind to think that an American IPA in style could ever co-mingle with a dark beer.   The first sip of this pitch black, hoppy perfection and you can truly see the marriage of two opposites in perfect harmony and balance.

At the end of the day it's time, spent with a close friend that helps create a great sense of perspective and brings balance.  Conversation, reflection and a great beer can birth great opportunity for growth personally, within the family unit and in the business world.  

If it were easy, everyone would be doing it.  Like a great craft beer, invest in the collision, the outcome can be phenomenal.

Cheers