Blog Posts – Paddlin’ On

“Not until we are lost, do we find ourselves again” –Henry David Thoreau Many of us are familiar with Henry David Thoreau for his infamous publication, Walden and his deliberate intention to live in the woods. More than a woodsman, however, he was also an avid paddler who lived near the confluence of the Concord, Sudbury […]

As I reflected on 2019 and thoughts I wanted to share, I found this saying in one of my morning meditation books – “Each person’s life is like the pattern of a mosaic. Each thing that happens to you is like one tiny stone in the mosaic, and each tiny stone fits into the perfected

“And the world cannot be discovered by a journey of miles, no matter how long, but only by a spiritual journey, a journey of one inch, very arduous and humbling and joyful, by which we arrive at the ground at our own feet and learn to be at home.” Wendell Berry, The Unforeseen Wilderness: Kentucky’s

Yet having struggled for a lifetime with letting the needs of others define me, I’ve come to understand that without the healthiest form of self-love, putting another before you can result in damaging self-sacrifice… Mark Nepo, The Book of Awakening Greetings from the Red Kayak Institute (RKI)! We wish you a healthy and fulfilling 2019.

Greetings for the new year! I wish you all the best of health, prosperity and positive change in your life in 2018! I am excited to let you know that my newest book, Change: Our Ever-Present Companion is now complete and ready for purchase. It is a collection of essays from many of my paddling adventures over the

I have always been fascinated by red-winged blackbirds when I have been paddling through the inlets and coves on many Wisconsin lakes. How they swoop around in the marshes and then land on a tiny strand of reed. The unsuspecting reed sways back and forth, adjusting to the weight of this surprise visitor and it

I have been writing a lot this summer about change and transition. It has been the focus of the Red Kayak Institute retreats this year in an attempt to help our retreaters process and move through changes in their lives. It has also been a huge part of my life this year, as I shift and move

Red Kayak Institute was honored to participate in a morning of healing on the water with parents grieving the loss of a child. Our morning retreat on July 25th at the Monee Reservoir in Monee, Illinois was part of a four day retreat hosted by Purple Project, a Plainfield based nonprofit. Thank you Joe and Sherry Anicich

Greetings this holiday season to you! It has been months since Reflections has come to you, and I’ve missed you! I apologize for my absence from the written word, but it has been a fabulous year of paddling, transitioning to our new status as a 501(c)3 organization and living our mission at the Red Kayak

Every morning, as I enjoy my dark roasted coffee and sit in the soft light of dawn, I read an enlightening passage from The Book of Awakening by Mark Nepo. This gem of a book is a daily dose of wisdom and I am always amazed at how vividly his descriptive manner brings his simple,