Webster defines expedition in the following way: noun a journey or excursion undertaken for a specific purpose. I don’t quibble with that definition, but the word seems to carry more meaning as well. That additional meaning is why auto manufacturers and movie makers have included the word in their products. There is a sense ofContinue reading “Expeditions”
Author Archives: onbeyondblue
Sometimes, Just For Beauty’s Sake
MGM movies begin with a roaring lion and “Ars Gratia Artis“. Recently I’ve noticed that MGM has added a translation for those of us not fluent in Latin and I now know it means “Art for Art’s Sake“. I love the sentiment behind this and after some thought, decided that after writing about retirement, wellness,Continue reading “Sometimes, Just For Beauty’s Sake”
Lessons From The Field
Throughout my career and certainly during the first portion of my career, the people I have worked with would likely agree that a commonly used adjective to describe me would not be “patient”. It’s likely that my children and some of my friends would join my former coworkers in a chorus of laughter if someoneContinue reading “Lessons From The Field”
Embracing Change
My footfalls were quiet on the moisture laden grass. There was just enough light so I was comfortable walking through the mist and finding my way. The sun broke over the horizon fully and the mist covered marsh I was standing in suddenly began to come alive. In the part of the world where IContinue reading “Embracing Change”
Moments
Since the dawn of photography, photographs have been glimpses of people, places, animals and events…moments in time captured in a way that seems to appeal to the human psyche. As I set forth with a camera in hand I usually have several goals in mind. Among them capturing beauty is certainly one. Eliciting emotion onContinue reading “Moments”
On Adventures
Most adventures begin with a hero pondering life or in an epic clash with some antagonist. There are a few that begin with a hero at rest in a tranquil environment experiencing life as it should be only to be interrupted by a damsel in distress or an offer he can’t refuse. Clive Cussler wasContinue reading “On Adventures”
Wildlife Reset
Most Saturdays like everyone, I like to sleep in. Yesterday my body had other ideas. I woke earlier than on the days when I need to be in early for work. I checked the news and found the world was still crazy. People still hated each other and overlooked the many things they have inContinue reading “Wildlife Reset”
Champions
Somewhere in a southern city in late September over two thousand athletes ranging in skill level from professional to amateur gather. They are fully ambulatory to para-athletes and gather with growing anticipation. The two thousand or so athletes are joined by are joined by an army of two thousand volunteers, hundreds of employees, vendors, thousandsContinue reading “Champions”
Fingerprints
Humankind has always had creators and consumers. Farmers and those who frequent the farmers market. Artists, actors and musicians and those who consume or appreciate their art. It’s how our world works. We have to have products and a marketplace and a market. But lately, fewer and fewer people are creators. People seem to beContinue reading “Fingerprints”
Taking Flight In Retirement
Each of us chart our own path to and through retirement. We have our own idea about what this chapter should look like. Sometimes circumstances beyond our control alter the landscape. Our health. Our loved one’s health. Financial health…etc. Most first responders and veterans are quite adaptable and capable of improvising and moving beyond theContinue reading “Taking Flight In Retirement”
Unexpected Find
The small county park off of the Crawfordville Highway here in Leon County is easy to drive by. I must have done so hundreds of times. But this still summer morning I stood on the modest graffiti laden boardwalk/overlook and looked out at the still, glassy waters of Lake Munson. The long eerie cry ofContinue reading “Unexpected Find”
Urban Wild Kingdom
I imagine it was sometime in the early 1970s. The television was small, black and white and had an arrangement of antennas on top that would make any modern HAM radio operator jealous. Occasional lines zig-zagged across the screen and static was common as members of my family and I tuned into Mutual of Omaha’sContinue reading “Urban Wild Kingdom”
The Book
“Oh my God you cannot make that stuff up!” The small group of police officers walking back to their patrol cars were intermittently illuminated by the evenly spaced street lights. Water still ran down driveways and gutters from the recent rains and the streets sparkled in the night reflecting the now clear sky and theContinue reading “The Book”
The Rhythm of Life
As the first crimson fingers of what promises to be a stunning sunrise sneak across the inky sky, creatures begin to stir. The first birds to herald the coming of the sunrise are Northern Cardinals and Carolina Wrens where I live. Their songs pierce the cool, humid summer morning air. They are the first toContinue reading “The Rhythm of Life”
Hidden Gems
This country of ours is filled with people and places that never cease to amaze and impress me. Breathtaking landscapes touched by the hand of God himself, thundering waterfalls, abundant and wildly varying wildlife and amongst that splendor are kind, interesting, engaging, hard working people. RVing and camping is a fantastic way to see ourContinue reading “Hidden Gems”
Revisiting Leadership
I’ve previously written about leadership. The topic is expansive and important and as I’ve recently been “called off the bench” to serve in a leadership capacity, it deserves revisiting. If you are a reader who has served in the military or as a first responder then I suspect the topic is especially important to youContinue reading “Revisiting Leadership”
Bringing Beauty To A Crazy World
In many of my blogs I write about things that we can do to take care of ourselves or our families. I have written about the challenges of retirement, working in retirement, hobbies and even the wolves inside the fence. In other words, I’ve covered a lot of ground. Today, I’d like to challenge myContinue reading “Bringing Beauty To A Crazy World”
Challenging Yourself
Two cameras. Roughly the same size, weight and made by the same company. Both look similar, feel similar and to the casual observer are similar. But, if you were to draw that conclusion, you would only be correct in the most superficial manner of describing them. The old Nikon D5300 on the left above isContinue reading “Challenging Yourself”
Uncommon Sense
I have traveled fairly extensively across our great country. The people here are amazing. Wherever I have gone, I have run into friendly, accommodating, helpful, kind people who share their stories and are eager to help a stranger if they need it. But recently there has been a change. A change in how people think,Continue reading “Uncommon Sense”
North Florida Safari
I’ve written about getting out there and about photography. Maybe it’s time to combine the two, take you with me and chronicle an actual adventure. It’s late in the season to hike in the Saint Marks Wildlife Refuge. Not because a person on a hike might not be able to see all kinds of wonderfulContinue reading “North Florida Safari”
Clicking About
I had a fantastic childhood. Although it was not without bumps and bruises, I was blessed with an outstanding family. My brother and I were constantly outside roaming the neighborhood when we were home with a group of friends. We rode bikes, built forts, battled unseen foes, played sports and had to be forced toContinue reading “Clicking About”
Birding Basics II
3/30/25. One of my readers gave me some feedback recently. Apparently, when reading the blog, it is not obvious to the reader when the blog was written. Good information for me to have, and I appreciate the feedback. The last bog was lengthy. This one will not be. I did want to follow up withContinue reading “Birding Basics II”
Birding Basics
For my newer readers who are not aware, I’ll quickly recap how I started birding. Then for those who might be interested, I’ll share how birding connects to wellness, give you a few pointers based on the many mistakes I’ve made, and then share some of what I’ve found. Shortly after I retired, I foundContinue reading “Birding Basics”
Adventure Is Out There
Webster defines adventure in the following ways: a an undertaking usually involving danger and unknown risks or b the encountering of risks. Sometimes we forget how small our world has become. It’s healthy for us to remind ourselves that the world is vastly larger than the space we occupy in our banal, day to dayContinue reading “Adventure Is Out There”
Observations
I have had the opportunity recently to spend a great deal of time thinking about retirement lately. Over the last couple of weeks, I have attended retirement functions, spoken to friends who recently retired and read more about the topic. Retirement is a monumental step in our lives. We are stepping away from the teamsContinue reading “Observations”
Tranquility
Over the course of previous blog posts, I have extolled the virtues of hiking/walking in the woods for our well being. I do not intend to re-hash those posts. What I do want to do here is share an experience I had recently with a walk in the woods and wilderness and its effect onContinue reading “Tranquility”
Yes Part II
To say that I was a little out of my comfort zone by enrolling in a public safety communications operator academy would be equivalent to saying that the eagle in the photo above resembles a hummingbird. I wasn’t a little out of my comfort zone. I was in a different zone altogether. In this zone,Continue reading “Yes Part II”
Yes
After a career working for a lot of people who made it their business to reflexively say no, part way through my supervisory career I made the conscious decision to try to say “Yes” to every reasonable request. This meant several things: First it meant that I was forced to carefully consider the proposition beforeContinue reading “Yes”
Wolves Inside Our Fence
Across our great country in less than a span of twenty four hours, an individual decided to drive a truck through a crowd celebrating the arrival of the New Year in New Orleans slaughtering multiple innocent people. When that wasn’t enough, he got out, and shot it out with the brave members of The NewContinue reading “Wolves Inside Our Fence”
Getting Out There
Shortly after the last blog dropped, I bumped into an old friend while traipsing about looking for subjects for my camera. The subject of this blog is in part as a result of that conversation, and in part as a result of feedback that I got as a result of the previous blog. Birding andContinue reading “Getting Out There”
All The Winged Neighbors
They are all around us. Some of the most prolific and visible life forms on the planet. In the south, we wake to the songs of the Cardinals and Carolina Wrens singing bright, vibrant song to herald the arrival of the new day.Another benefit of living in the south is that many of us haveContinue reading “All The Winged Neighbors”
Soaring Into The New Year
We are fast approaching a near year. Full of new opportunities and new challenges. This is a time when people are prone to grand celebrations and resolutions. Neither of which I have ever really understood. Grand celebrations seem like overkill to me and resolutions are most often disregarded by spring. But, this is a greatContinue reading “Soaring Into The New Year”
The Real Thin Blue Line
It’s the day after Thanksgiving, and for the last twenty four hours I’ve been mulling over something. For about the last decade I have read and watched the press and pundits talk about the thin blue line. While not all portray it in the following manner, most have framed the thin blue line in exactlyContinue reading “The Real Thin Blue Line”
Milestones
Recently I begrudgingly attended a wedding. Begrudgingly only because I am generally speaking not a wedding person. The pomp, circumstance, expense, and pageantry are for the most part wasted on me. The people I’m good with and in this case they were dear friends whose daughter was the bride. So, off I went. We arrivedContinue reading “Milestones”
Neighbors
To date, everything I have written has been about wellness, heathy living and warrior servants moving into the retirement chapter of their lives. Sometimes, things need a slightly different perspective. I recently realized that I have been observing and photographing a mated pair of red shouldered hawks who live in my neighborhood for about threeContinue reading “Neighbors”
Journeys
In the fall of 2018, I was well into my training for Iron Man North Carolina. The race was Scheduled for the following fall, and I was diligently keeping up with my training regimen. Hurricane Michael had just blasted through North Florida and I was retiring from law enforcement. There was a lot going on.Continue reading “Journeys”
The Power In Kindness
In the first responder and military world much importance is rightfully placed on toughness, grit, strength and endurance. Without these things, our community stands little chance when we come upon the darkness that lurks just outside our civilized fences. What about during all the time that passes when we aren’t confronting the darkness? How areContinue reading “The Power In Kindness”
Cool Mountain Air
On the heels of two enormous hurricanes, and with hopes of being deployed into the wake of the second one to provide peer support for the first responders, guard units and others working hard to restore some sense of normality to our storm battered world, a brief retreat to the mountains to visit family wasContinue reading “Cool Mountain Air”
Forgotten Injuries
As Hurricane Helene slowly formed, the entire Gulf Coast held its breath. Forecasts were dire. The better organized it got, the more it looked as though it would make landfall as a major storm (category 4 or 5), come straight into Apalachacola Bay, through Saint Marks and run over Tallahassee. Emergency managers, first responder organizationsContinue reading “Forgotten Injuries”
Finding Your Peace
Before I get going on this blog, let me acknowledge a universal truth amongst first responders and veterans who retire; all of them have unique experiences. Each individual experienced their career in a unique and profound way that is their story and their history. But, that said, we are all bound together by common experiences,Continue reading “Finding Your Peace”
Those Cold And Timid Souls
Theodore Roosevelt is credited with having said “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust andContinue reading “Those Cold And Timid Souls”
The Road We All Travel
Sooner or later the adventure comes to an end. Then we have memories and a lot of stories to tell. Veterans and first responders experience the same thing. One chapter closes and another opens. Our career of service ends and we begin retirement in some form or fashion. Some of us move to another fullContinue reading “The Road We All Travel”
On Taking One’s Own Advice
Our destination was Tallulah Falls State Park with the idea that we would hike, I would take a lot of photographs and maybe we would attempt to hike the gorge floor. After we arrived and settled in to the campground, we set out on a short, get-to-know the area hike. I, of course took myContinue reading “On Taking One’s Own Advice”
The Difficulty With Crows
The American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) is, I have come to find out in the broad class of songbirds. For hundreds of years this large, ominous, occasionally noisy black bird has been maligned by generations of humans. The crow has been the center of evil superstitions, believed to be bad luck, signs of a plague andContinue reading “The Difficulty With Crows”
Leap of Faith
Few moments in a career are as sharply recalled as when you are called upon to step off of an otherwise perfectly structurally sound building that is five or six stories above ground. I recently had the honor to attend rappel day during a Basic SWAT School that the Tallahassee Police Department was conducting andContinue reading “Leap of Faith”
Tennessee Spring
Many first responders and veterans are so dedicated to service that they forget self care should be an important part of all of our lives. A particularly poignant line in a movie I recently saw (Mending the Line) went something like “In the book of every soldier’s life, the military is a chapter. That’s it.Continue reading “Tennessee Spring”
On Journeys
Preface: First, it has been a good while since I have written. Uninspired and busy is a poor combination and for those who read and follow this blog I have endeavored to give you the best quality that I am capable of. So, writing just to write and churning out sub-par material seems counter productive.Continue reading “On Journeys”
Power In Purpose
Each of us found ourselves serving for different reasons. Each reason powerful and driving in its own way. All our reasons as varied as the servant warriors who don the uniforms each day and protect our nation, our cities and our homes. But, we share one thing in common…purpose. Our work, our lives, our missionContinue reading “Power In Purpose”
Beauty All Around Us
A few years ago when I picked up the camera in earnest birds became frequent subjects of mine. Frequent mostly on account of their abundance and easy access. After some years and occasional success capturing the beauty, diversity and glory, I came to realize that birds are, simply put an often overlooked gift to usContinue reading “Beauty All Around Us”
Gimme Shelter
It’s North Florida. Afternoon thundershowers are a fairly normal occurrence here. So, I wasn’t surprised when while out running errands recently when the skies opened up. No big deal. The usual series of things proceeded to happen where I live; people drive as though they have never seen rain before, traffic congests, tempers flare, parkingContinue reading “Gimme Shelter”
IRON MAN CHATTANOOGA 70.3 2023
We arrived in Chattanooga a few days before the race, got settled into the hotel and oriented to the city. Lori had been here before, raced previously and was anxiously awaiting the arrival of members of her team (Big Sexy Racing). Our hotel was about eight blocks from the river and we walked everywhere weContinue reading “IRON MAN CHATTANOOGA 70.3 2023”
Evolve Or Perish
If you have been one of the few loyal readers of this blog, thank you. This may be one of my last or at least one of the last in the form that the blog has taken previously. I’ve asked myself the tough questions concerning the low interest and low readership. Some of the answersContinue reading “Evolve Or Perish”
The Retirement Paradox
First responders and members of the military spend their careers toiling in intense, close knit team environments. Assignments and responsibilities vary as widely as the personalities of the people in these vital jobs and there is little dispute that the careers are challenging, intense, and reliant on teamwork. Then comes retirement. Predictably, as we enterContinue reading “The Retirement Paradox”
Peer Support
Life has an amazing tendency to fill our emotional cup. When this happens, it can seem as though there is a fire hose filling our cup instead of a gentle and manageable flow from the kitchen tap. Troubles at work, troubles at home, illnesses, friends in need, exposure to trauma and profound human adversity canContinue reading “Peer Support”
In Pursuit Of Passions
As I have previously written, my belief is to get the most out of life and especially retirement, we should all pursue our passions. I have recently been blessed to have four of those passions collide in two hikes in the Saint Marks Wildlife Refuge. Friends, family, photography and the splendor of our natural world.Continue reading “In Pursuit Of Passions”
The Trouble With Trauma
From the time I began my first law enforcement academy, it was beaten into us that we were to be “in control”. Control the suspect, the victim, the scene, turn chaos into calm and then go on to the next call. And the next and the next and the next. In the Field Training Program,Continue reading “The Trouble With Trauma”
Fairy Tales We Tell Ourselves
There comes a time in the lives and careers of most first responders and members of the military when they begin, slowly at first, discussing retirement. The discussions grow in duration and intensity as the predicted date approaches. The young ones ask the soon to be retired when they will be going in a thinlyContinue reading “Fairy Tales We Tell Ourselves”
A Profile In Caring
The first in a series featuring stars of the wellness world who specialize in caring for our military members and first responders. Once in a while we all run into someone so amazing, that we instantly know they are a star in some way. Then, as we get to know them, we realize that we wereContinue reading “A Profile In Caring”
Unpacking
Not long ago I was speaking with a friend of mine whom I know to be a compassionate person. During the course of the conversation, I mentioned that I was going to be introducing my boss to some folks interested in bringing relaxation meditation to our place of business in the interest of the folks whomContinue reading “Unpacking”
Dragons
Dragons of myth and legend are terrifying fire breathing beasts. For centuries they have been centerpiece in myths and legends across cultures and times. Frequently equipped with wings and a hunger for humans, these beasts would soar about in the night and consume the innocent. That is, until a brave soul equipped with the right weapons and tacticsContinue reading “Dragons”
An Epic Journey Part II
Our next treat was from the ship where we parked ourselves on the balcony outside our stateroom to watch as the captain and pilot skillfully wedged our giant ship into a fjord (Endicot Arm) that led to Glacier Bay (Daws Glacier). The views were staggering and the fjord was positively littered with chunks of ice thatContinue reading “An Epic Journey Part II”
An Epic Journey Part I
Sometimes an epic journey begins and we find ourselves completely unaware that we have struck out on the trail. Sometimes the journey is planned for years in advance and we are well aware when, after years in the making, we have finally set out. My career in law enforcement was an epic and amazing journey that tookContinue reading “An Epic Journey Part I”
Something New Something Old
I realize that just introducing the idea of Forest Bathing (shinrin-yoku) to my intended audience will likely induce groans and eye rolling. Knowing that, I’ll keep this short and save lengthier efforts for other topics. But, if you have made it this far, all I ask is that you stick with me, entertain the idea openly, and try yourContinue reading “Something New Something Old”
Life After Service Addendum
A short while ago, I wrote a blog titled “Life After Service”. In that post, I mentioned making sure we all have sustainable and diversified healthy pursuits and focused some on some warrior servants who pursue photography as a healthy pursuit. Over the last few years I too have revisited this hobby. I suppose thatContinue reading “Life After Service Addendum”
A Biography Of A Warrior Servant’s PTSD Journey
As I have worked on this blog, I have worked hard to make sure the content is relevant, recent, and of a quality that encourages readers to read, follow, share and return. While researching and writing this post, I worked harder than ever. I labored to collect information that filled the categories I mentioned above,Continue reading “A Biography Of A Warrior Servant’s PTSD Journey”
On Warrior Servants
Somewhere on the planet it is early in the morning. As an embattled city awakes, a squad of American soldiers pick their way carefully through a debris cluttered street taking care to watch for furtive movements, unusual objects beside the road and anything and everything that might be considered a threat. Their boots crunch onContinue reading “On Warrior Servants”
Life After Service
If anyone in my orbit discussed retirement with me in the early stages of my career, I don’t recall it. If they did, I’m sure I was too driven, too short sighted, and too focused on my mission at the time to pay any attention what so ever to a discussion that focused on aContinue reading “Life After Service”
Scars
We all sustain injuries over a lifetime. Some are self inflicted, some just fall under the umbrella of living, some spring from unnecessary spats we have in the workplace, and some come from the choice we made to serve. Unfortunately for those PSCOs, military and first responders who have or are currently serving, they areContinue reading “Scars”
What’s This All About?
First responder, PSCO (public safety communications officers) and military careers are intense, consuming and rewarding careers. The intensity however can sometimes be at the expense of healthy living which can exact a hefty cost over the long run. We surround ourselves with people who have similar interests, become consumed pursuing our career and forget toContinue reading “What’s This All About?”
On Beyond Blue 