Day of Thanks

I know I might be a day late, but it took a little longer for me to figure out what I'm thankful for this year. Because my family we're all going separate ways, I decided to take this Thanksgiving weekend and try to fit in one last camping trip. I planned on going to Zion National Park, and camped just outside the park last night, but this morning I wasn't excited to go on any hikes there, as I've already done nearly all of them. I realized that the Grand Canyon was only a couple of hours away and in newfound spontaneity decided to make the trip.

I haven't been to the Grand Canyon since I was probably about 12 years old. I remember seeing little children running around the edges of the precipice and being afraid they were going to fall. That same acrophobia presented itself years later while visiting Arches national Park. But in recent years I've overcome that fear in a large part. This evening, I climbed out on the jutting rock looking out over the vast canyon below me. I wasn't being reckless, there was plenty of a safe distance between me and the wedge. But as I sat watching the sunset over the Grand Canyon, I realize I had made a lot of improvements in my life. I am more content with who I am, more willing to go with the flow, and better able to deal with the stresses of day today life.

And so today, I am grateful for the ability to change and to grow. I'm grateful to have the freedom to spend a weekend on an adventure. And lastly, I'm thankful for Mother Nature, and that the human race has not altogether killed her just yet.

What's the deal with protein?

I'm a fairly avid hiker. My dad took me on my first camping trip when I was only a few months old. My first backpacking trip was when I was three. And I even carried my own backpack. While growing up, my dad and brothers and I went backpacking in the Sierra Nevada. Last year I hiked to the top of Mt. Whitney, the tallest mountain in the lower 48 states. Just last weekend I hiked Mt. Nebo, the tallest in the Wasatch front, and will be reaching the summit of Kings Peak, the tallest in Utah later this summer. Through all of my hiking and talking with others about it, I tend to hear something that confuses me quite a bit. It has to do with protein. "Be sure to bring lots of protein."

 

UPDATE:

Thanks for the responses from Claire, Rebekah, Kurt, and Marie. Here's more explanation on why I was confused about using protein during endurance activities – namely that it actually isn't a good energy source.

When being right, isn't.

Neil deGrasse Tyson shares that 57% of senate and 38% of the House cite law as their profession. He then explains why this is not the ideal foundation on which to build our laws and government.

"When you look at law, and what happens in the courtroom, it doesn't go to what's right, it goes to who argues best. The entire profession is founded on who the best arguers are. For example in debating teams, you know the subject but you don't even know which side of the argument you will be put on to argue.
"So the act of arguing, and not agreeing, seems to be fundamental to that profession, and congress is half that profession."

I completely agree. Winning an argument does not mean you are right. This is just one of many reasons why I dislike politics and feel our government comprises inappropriate representation. Tyson asks, "Where are the scientists? Where are the engineers? Where is the rest of life represented?"

Unfortunately, this widely accepted premise that the winner of an argument is right, has often caused me personal grief. I'm horrible at arguing my point, but that doesn't mean I'm wrong. Many of my friends are very good at arguing, especially my little brother. What's most frustrating is that hours later I see the flaws and limitations of their arguments and realize that their success was largely due to their strong personality and ability to instill doubt with carefully crafted words. But that doesn't make them right.
Often, I am equally as impassioned and full of conviction, though I don't have the skill of convincing others of my ideas with argument. All too frequently, this is also the case with the people behind movements of great importance, and truth.

How do we differentiate between what is right and true, rather than what is only temporarily convincing?
How can we encourage rational thinking and examination of fact over emotion?
Or do those of us with poor argument skills simply need to learn to play the game?