Sam and Dave Dig a Hole

Post first published in my personal newsletter

Photo by Mabelle Photography 2016

Stay with me here. When I was 4 I found out how awesome it is to make things. When I was 6 I started martial arts, at 8 I joined gymnastics and track. At 11, I was a basketball player. In junior high I tried football and in Highschool I played soccer. turns out.... I sucked at all of them.

Have you ever wanted to be really good at something? You start practicing like every day for a month. Then, out of the blue you realize you picked something super freaking hard? Well I just found out, that pattern goes for every single thing we do.

When you are young It's important to try a lot of stuff but here is something I never understood until i was in my 20s. If you want to find what you're good at you have to STOP CHANGING YOUR MIND. Make a decision and stick with it. 

My wife, Rebecca, gave me this kids book for valentines day, it sounds lame but it's one of the coolest traditions we have created. Kids books are way cooler than they let on.

The book is about two boys and their dog trying to dig an amazing hole. They would not stop until they found something spectacular. They dug a hole that would be barely possible for a real kid in a week with no results. Then they change their mind to go in a different direction.

The reader sees, the boys are close to finding success every time they change their direction. this goes on for pages and is a great lesson but hard to watch. in the end, they are left with nothing but a fun time... no diamonds and no accomplishments, just their work.

Here is the part I didn't like at first. They got nothing? what was the point? I'm glad I read it because I think I finally understand. The thing is, you usually can't control success. you can only take ownership of the work. If you enjoy your work and do what you like. it will never matter how successful you are. You get to do what you love.

THE ART:
The art work of this book is very appropriate for the writing. 
the colors are earthy reinforcing the outdoor nature of the story and the the characters are well designed. What steals the show for me though is this texture. it is just perfect for the book. and it really pulls the whole story together. 

over all very nice book. I am glad it is in my little collection.