Tired Hiker

Tired Hiker by John Clymer

On April 15, 1950, The Saturday Evening Post printed an illustration by John Clymer, titled Tired Hiker, and it's challenging me.

I think most will look at this rad painting and see a group of eager boys outlasting their chaperon as they seek to summit a mountain.

In fact, the Post itself described the painting as, “Father and the boys ascending a middle-size mountain... The boys would make the summit a lot sooner without their chaperon, but he has to go along to see that they get there all right."

Sure, the father is tired, and the boys have all the energy to summit, and more. But what I see, is much different.

For me, I wonder how the journey even started in the first place.

Maybe the father's children had made up their minds to journey into the unknown, and bring their friends along with them. Then when pitching the idea to the father, he was cornered into having to go and make sure they arrived safe.

Or maybe the father was the instigator. He rallied his boys and their friends for an adventure and what we see here is a gross miscalculation of just how far up that mountain they had to go.

Beyond the practical, all I see, are a collection of steps forward. One step after the other.

Sometimes the journey is unknown, and maybe the best journeys always are. One thing is for sure, I'd rather be on an adventure with my kids and their friends, than a cautious clay, calculating their first step and never taking one.

I'd rather be a tired hiker.

Food For Thought

​What first step has needed to be taken? 

You do not need a digital detox.

You just need a day (a week).

Get a life,

Analog Sunday

The Rhythm

Every Analog Sunday is built around five simple practices:

Eat something made with care.
Play without keeping score.
Make something with your hands.
Read something that expands your mind.
Rest without feeling guilty.