A Little of Me

Midsummer sunset at the lake on the family boat.

Although I perhaps instinctively have known that life is not about things, the older I get the more it becomes apparent.  Life is relational, and to live life to its fullest it must include others.  As time moves along it has become apparent why I enjoy the instructional design field of study and practice.  It ultimately is about creating opportunities for others to learn.  Although learning is individual in nature, it is inherently interactive.  That interaction comes from learner-to-content, trainer-to-learner, and learner-to-learner.  In one sense, it is a relational experience.  Thus, we come back to the underpinning of life, relationships.

My relationships with family, friends, and colleagues, intermixed with my faith provide the grounds and grounding by which I live.  Having grown up in a military family and subsequently served myself, has a way to ground you in such tenets of life.  Although I served in various roles while in the Armed Services, much was spent in training, instructional design, or instructor roles.  These skills and knowledge have transitioned well into the corporate world.

 

If I were to look towards the future, my best guess or desire would be to stay in the instructional design world to help an organization develop and train its people.  Position or titles do not have much value.  Yes, I want to get paid for a job well done, but I do not seek continued ladder-climbing opportunities or experiences.  However, I do not allude to a notion of avoidance either.  As opportunities arise, they are viewed in light or through the lens of relationship, which is family and faith.

In the meantime, my wife, kids, and faith will be the center by which to keep me balanced.  Hockey, football, golf, baseball, boating at the lake, snowmobiling, and reading inspiration and soul enriching stories will be the activities that fill my life.