National Parks

President Woodrow Wilson established the National Park Service in 1916 to consolidate management of America’s federal parklands under one agency. The National Park Service today manages 84 million acres across all U.S. states and territories, and has served as a model for countries around the world.

https://www.history.com/topics/us-government/national-park-service

In 2015, President Obama announced an initiative to give all US students in the fourth grade (and their families) an annual pass for free admission to National Parks. Our family decided, along with close friends, to schedule a trip during 2020, as we had 4th grade children. Unfortunately, COVID-19 struck; Fortunately, the Feds opted to extend the 2021 opportunities to fifth grade students! So, we rebooked our itinerary and had quite the adventure!

Here are a select group of photos from our trip.

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Zion

Bryce Canyon

Capitol Reef

Goblin Valley

Arches

Canyonlands

Monument Valley

Horseshoe Bend

Grand Canyon

Las Vegas

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Our trip across Nevada, Arizona, and Utah was wonderful. I am hopeful that, even if the specific memories of sites and activities become vague and unclear to Camilla and Holger as they age, the recollection of instances where they felt certain emotions will remain etched in their psyche for the long-term: awe at the scale and beauty of certain sites (e.g. The Grand Canyon and Monument Valley); satisfaction at overcoming fear and building techniques for advancing while afraid (e.g. Bryce Canyon); enjoyment in engagement with close friends (e.g. over games of Uno at picnic tables.)

Personally, I feel quite recharged. I posted a week before we departed about leaving my job [blogpost here]; That decision was brewing for some time, and my resignation was delivered in early March. I feel rejuvenated and excited about the outreach I have had from friends and colleagues interested in collaborating professionally. I feel strongly about the opportunity in the market to differentiate on insurance and employee benefit matters by adjusting the approach and mix of technology, data-science, and human capital across an optimized organizational structure. I am excited about the discussions I am having about opportunities to bring my talents into established firms in leadership roles; I also feel enthusiastic about the opportunity to build an agency from the ground-up, participate in the LBO/acquisition and repositioning of a firm, or bring product and consulting services into agencies as a vendor/consultant (while, of course, remaining respectful of and compliant with the applicable covenants and restrictions that I am subject to…)

I am fired up.

I keep a daily journal and read a daily passage from The Daily Stoic. I felt the July 6th passage was meant for me.

On those mornings you struggle with getting up, keep this thought in mind — I am awakening to the work of a human being. Why then am I annoyed that I am going to do what I’m made for, the very things for which I was put into this world? Or was I made for this, to snuggle under the covers and keep warm? It’s so pleasurable. Were you then made for pleasure? In short, to be coddled or to exert yourself?

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 5.1

We had a great vacation and a few days of resetting ourselves. Thank you for reading my blogpost and I look forward to connecting soon!

Memento mori!