Did you know that the individuals that are most vulnerable to burnout are the people that are motivated, driven, & involved in their work. Since these individuals find meaning in their work, if the meaning in their goals evaporates, burnout is a likely outcome.

In their study, researchers Dierendonck, Garssen, & Visser sought to reduce burnout and it’s accompaning dimensions of exhaustion, cynicism, & reduced professional efficacy through the use of Transpersonal Psychology. In their study, participants took part in a 3-month training program which focused on the themes of body consciousness, emotions, subpersonalities, personal goals, and personal responsibility. The results showed that the intervention group had a decrease in exhaustion and an increase in efficacy, happiness, clarity of emotions, repair of negative emotions, purpose and meaning in life, inner resources, and transcendence. These results suggest that a transpersonal-oriented prevention program can be effective in reducing burnout and enhancing happiness, emotional intelligence, and feelings of spirituality.

What are some of the techniques that you use to prevent burnout and increase happiness, spirutuality, & emotional intelligence in your life?

(”Burnout Prevention Through Personal Growth”, International Journal of Stress Management 2005, Vol. 12, No. 1, 62-77.)

Beautiful!!!

Day 1, arrive in the evening at Key West and check in to your hotel. Immediately walk 2 blocks to the Irish pub and eat, followed by a pint or two and possibly a shot of some of the oldest Irish Whisky ever known. Rest, because you will need all the energy you can muster for the next day/week. Envision yourself on the pristine flats with some of the most incredible fish at your fingertips.

6AM, meet Capt Pollack and ride to the outer reaches of the Keys - in the distance - the mysterious and yet approachable Marcaisis. Coaching is important in this event, because you need to understand the relationship between yourself and the environment in order to be successful. In this world of predator and prey, the Keys offer us the ability to see the reality of how the life scenario plays out. If you are a baitfish, your life is wonderful until you get eaten by a Jack. If you are a Jack, you live in paradise until you get eaten by a Cuda. If you are a Cuda, you rule the world until you get eaten by a 9 foot shark. If you are a shark, you are only limited by Man. I believe we all need to understand how the world works in order to be successful, and this was a perfect way to nail down that point. I learned a lot on this trip, about fishing, guiding, coaching, and life.

Envision yourself here!

The fishing part was easy. #1 - My fly casting is good, but needs some finesse if I am interested in catching 120 pound Tarpon!!! However, I am good enough to come close to the dream, and that just motivates me more. My casting was good enough to land numerous Jack Crevalle, Blue Runner, Barracuda, Snapper, and Shark. My goal was to land the monster Tarpon on the fly. This was no easy feat as I learned quickly. Casting distance must be pristine, and presentation is equally important.

Excellent Jack fishing in Key West!

Regarding the guiding, envision with me for a moment a quiet morning on the flats just outside Key West. Coffee is broiling in my stomach, Danish rolls are down, and we are approaching a sunken sailboat where the Tarpon are known to live nearby. “Be very quiet..” Mike said. “They can hear you from 1000 yards away…!!!!” Ok, now I am intrigued. So, we begin our quest to sight fish for the famous Tarpon. Hours and hours go by without a trace, until finally we see a few rolling in the distance. They look like huge prehistoric creatures luring us in with their presence. We are unable to get close enough before they sense us and all goes quiet on the flats. Then, as we are sitting quietly talking about our morning, we are surprised by a pack of 5 Tarpon approaching, the smallest is 100 pounds. “Cast 9 o’clock, NOW!!!!” Mike says. I can’t think straight, I can’t breathe, and I can’t cast. I just watch as the monsters of the flats cruise by. I desperately try to cast to the passersby at 3PM, but to no avail, they are gone. I saw the biggest fish EVER!!! Lesson number 1, listen to your guide and do not hesitate.

We went to a series of islands which create a waterway called the Basin, and came across many Tarpon opportunities. As we approached several rolling Tarpon, I made a perfect cast - two feet in front and two feet beyond the fish!!! They key to that cast was my ability to envision the perfect landing spot for the fly. The fish looked like an entire tree laying in the water. Now the strip and the wait is on. How does one capture the excitement of waiting for a 120 pound Tarpon to hit your fly….let me choose one word …unbelievable!!!! After a number of misses, this time the Tarpon chased my fly and I saw the entire chase end to end, but the smart creature saw me and the boat at the last second and tailed away from my fly. How disappointing.!!! We went on that day to catch many Jacks and Cuda, and only dreamed of nailing the monster Tarpon as the rain and wind were scheduled to pick up the rest of the week. This was sad and invigorating all at once, because I knew this would be a lifelong passion for me. The night ended with a wonderful seafood dinner and some rare bourbon, but left us wondering what would we do tomorrow..??

Nice marina!

Six AM again, here we go. Wind and rain is predicted, no Tarpon fishing, but we did get into some monster Cuda!!! We decided to switch over to spin gear. These Cuda eat everything except the Shark, so they are one of the dominant predators of the flats. We used long red tube lures reeled very fast and were able to land 10+ huge Cuda during the day!

Monster Cuda!

We also witnessed a 8 foot Lemon shark feeding aggressively on the flats in a foot of water and we kept our distance - that was so COOL!!! The next day was reserved for Snapper fishing, and we caught our limit and brought them back to the bar where they were wonderfully prepared and served with pints of beer. EXCELLENT!!!!

Final day, we went way out in to the flats, searching for the best Shark waters…We used Jacks as bait, and rigged a line with a huge hook and whole Jack. As we were able to land several more Jacks and Cuda while waiting, we were starting to get restless for the sharks to hit our bait. Finally, we locked into a 5 footer. It took an hour to bring it in, and it was the most beautiful sight ever! Pound for pound one of the most powerful fish in the sea, it was an honor to catch and release this fish.

NICE!

Careful catch and release!

Regarding the coaching, I learned that the coach and guide together are paramount and symbiotic. The coach sees the potential in people, and the guide sees potential in the environment. Combined, during any fishing experience, one finds the connection between potential in people and the possibilities offered by the environment. If those two facets of life can be optimized, one can find fishing as an avenue for personal healing, growth, and momentum towards future goals. Catch and release philosophy is a classic example of the need for synergy between man and the environment. Certainly, the majority of the time we practice catch and release because we love our sport and want it to thrive. We also love SEAFOOD!!!! Take care of the fish, let them go 99% of the time. When you want a perfect meal of the freshest seafood ever, keep a few for dinner and enjoy, that’s my policy. The relationship between the coach and guide is also important. They both feed each other with information and valuable stories with life lessons, and thus it helps the learning experience become more applicable to everyday life.

Jack on the fly!!

Life is interesting. When you combine the beauty of nature, the trust of a solid coach, and the skill of an accomplished fishing guide, the result is a magical level of appreciation for the simple pleasures in life. The sunrise can be overwhelming in the Keys because you are at the southern tip of North America and can enjoy the same view the early sailors witnessed. I find that fascinating and inspiring in many ways. The smell of morning coffee can be invigorating. As I reflect on this journey, my mind always drifts back to something Mike said as we were approaching the Tarpon…”You need to SEE yourself making a perfect cast.” That is the technique we should all adopt in life - using visualization (Envisioning) in order to achieve the perfect cast, the perfect job, the perfect balance, and the perfect life. Remember, we are not alone on this earth…

Dolphin cruising...

Please join us on our next adventure and envision yourself landing the big one!!!

Tom Scambilis

CPC, Leadership Development Manager

In the dark morning hours, Freeport is quiet - the hotel, the lobster, the water, and even the fish. We are so excited, and can’t believe we are here. Surf and indigenous waterfowl are kind, mysterious and awakening sounds coming forth. We await our guide to pick us up from the Westin. Plush and inviting, this resort is nothing short of spectacular. However, we are up before dawn and have left our wives behind on this day for one reason, and one reason only – BIG BONES, and whiskey.

Westin - Our Lucaya

We begin with an hour long ride to McLean’s Town by van. To ensure we are prepared for the pace, the driver creeps along at 45 miles per hour, which is fast given the Bahamian way of life, “slow and easy mon”. This is absolutely nothing like speeding down I-35 from Austin, TX to San Antonio on a Saturday morning. We get used to it quickly though, because we actually enjoy the scenery and the conversation with the van driver. As we get further into our winding journey, we notice the damage done by hurricanes past, and the sheer beauty of this island culture. Many local people around us are living off the land, fishing, farming, and raising their children like people from anywhere else. Comparatively, many of these islanders live in poverty, in small huts and cabanas. We notice that all of them are waving, smiling, and greeting us as we cross into their villages. Can you imagine if you saw this type of welcome in NYC? You would think it was a float parade. Generous tips here can make a restaurant owner’s month. But, these people also have a few things to show the world. The real lesson given by the people here comes when you make friends with them. Their true passion for the water, sport, life, relaxation, pride in family, and overall friendliness is unmatched. To give yourself a reward for a decade of work, you come here - or if you want to treat your buddy to a serious sporting event of a lifetime before he gets married. The setting is perfect, the weather is perfect, and the water is gin clear.

Beautiful!!

We begin our fishing day at the docks of McLean’s Town, where we meet our guide, Bernard. He is a crazy character with a lifetime of bonefishing experience. I can only imagine the stories he has locked away in memory, pulling fallen drunk tourists from the water, eating raw snapper caught from his boat, or unleashing the fury of the Bahamas best bones on a first timer. This is a guy whom you trust with your life. He “IS” the Bahamas, live and in person. Young, wild, smart, and dedicated, he claims he will take us to the hottest spots for HUGE schools of bonefish, pole in hand, and Backwoods cigar in mouth. Classic. We are made bonefish believers in no less than a 10 minute boat ride from the dock. Initially, Bernard gave us some coaching on the style of casting that works best in these conditions. I had my 10 wt. Thomas and Thomas ready to unleash hell on these Bones! I’ve done this before. He recommended a delicate casting technique as not to spook the fish in their schools. Before we got serious though, he speared two lobsters for our lunch.

Bernard - Guide and Coach!

As we approached the first flats area, I could see shimmering on the surface of the water less than 12 inches deep. Thinking it was only the sun’s first rays and my mind playing tricks on me from at least 6 margaritas the night before, I inquired to Bernard…”That water sure is shiny over there eh mon?”, I said. He replied, “Yeah mon, those bones are 300 or more!” “WOW” is all I could say!!!!!

Gorgeous Flats!!

My first cast was with the brown crab pattern fly (rubber legs) and was horrible due to wind. Of course, it was actually due to the fact that my casts sometimes suck. The second cast was right in the middle of the school, sending approximately 150 fish left and 150 fish right. Not good. The third cast set was better, on the edge of the tailing school, and so then I listened carefully to my guide – “1 o’clock, more left, more left, more left, shoot, strip, strip, pause, strip, stop, wait, wait, …SET. I hooked up on my first big bone of the day. This one took me into my backing in lets say, 18 seconds or so, like UT’s Vince Young running for his final collegiate touchdown against USC in the 2005 National Championship. SEE YA!

What an amazing fight! I felt like I was on the end of a tug of war with a St. Bernard, as guided by Bernard of course. As the fish was tiring and coming near the boat, Bernard said, look, SHARK!!!! The wounded bone had attracted a black tip shark into the flats to feed. Luckily, I landed the bone before it could become breakfast for the shark. As I released the fish into the water, I could only imagine its impending doom knowing the shark would still be nearby waiting to dine on this tasty morsel.

NICE BONE!

My buddy Steve Hilsabeck and I agreed to switch after each fish caught, so this was his turn. Steve is an amazing guy, VP of a bank, and first time flyfisher. He was here in the Bahamas for the first time, to get married. I wanted him to feel the true joy of bonefishing, so he would know it and then come to love it. Bernard gave him some lessons one on one, and Steve got started with a bang. Five casts into his storied career as a flyfishing enthusiast, Steve lands a huge bone. The Thomas and Thomas performed very well paired with a Ross large arbor reel. Steve was giddy, like a school girl on her first day of middle school. He sang praises to Bernard, and to the bone, to me, and even cheered when the bone took him to his backing. This moment was worth all of those shots of whiskey he made me do throughout our long friendship.

GO STEVE!!!

Once he landed the bone, we released it and again it was my turn. After trading off 10-12 times in this fashion, we had to call it a day. More importantly, the lobsters were waiting to be eaten, and of course, we did a few shots to celebrate. So F-town and Hook Em Horns as shown became song material, and the memory will remain forever.

Hook 'em Horns and Freeport Town!

We blew up the bones in Mclean’s Town, Bahamas, but more importantly, we learned a lot about Bahamian life, culture, people, water, wildlife, and fish. We took a grand tour of the Bahamian flats firsthand, led by one of the most sincere and trusted coaching guides on the planet. His skill, coaching approach, humor, and wisdom were amazing. He taught us how to appreciate life again, and how to sing to the fish, how to use stealthy casts, and how to laugh at ourselves. To our good friend Bernard, we love you man!!

Bernard -The man, the myth, the coach!

As the new year has begun, we all are in a new transition. It is very important to learn from yesterday’s lessons, and then move forward. Those who are intent on being stuck in yesterday will become tomorrow’s casualties. The irony is that by taking our time and learning, we can proceed faster when that time comes.

So, what do we know about transition? We know it is certain and we know it is a time for growth and opportunity. Do have a happy new year and transition with gusto.

Here’s to Growth,

Tim

One powerful tool to help people change their reaction to a previously neutral or noxious behavior is to create new experiences. When was the last time you purposely tried to learn a new behavior? We often dislike it because we have inadequate information to judge it appropriately. In fact, most people imagine what the new behavior will be like, and they are often wrong. We are just outright bad at figuring out what would make us happier. Most people believe a $25, 000 increase in annual income would elevate their happiness. They feel equally strong that a 30-minute walk each day would do little or nothing for them. Daniel Gilbert, Ph.D. found that a 30-minute walk was far more likely to produce happiness than the extra money. Research tells us that if most people try new behaviors, they will like them.

Another way to create positive experiences is to make the activity a game. Almost any unpleasant activity can be made pleasant if it involves reasonably challenging goals and clear, frequent feedback. Those elements can turn a chore into a game. As an example, we know that our nation’s teens are out of shape and that obesity is a new problem with the young. Steady exercise would help them immensely. Imagine how successful you would be trying to get a dozen of them to run back and forth on a field for a couple hours at a time. It would be good for them, right? Good luck! But take those same teens and give them something called a football. Now construct a goal at each end of the field. Now establish a competitive point system…you get it.

So during this great historical metamorphosis let’s make our changes positive rather than negative. Consider striving to make the undesirable desirable through intrinsic satisfaction and by making pain pleasurable. Create new experiences by encouraging people to try something new and then making the new behavior a game.

Here’s to Growth,

Tim

Most of us have heard the adage that practice makes perfect. A refinement of the same adage is that practice doesn’t make perfect. Rather, Perfect practice makes perfect. Ericsson has spent most of his career proving this. His research suggests that excellence is not a matter of genetic gifts; instead it is a matter of knowing how to enhance your skills through deliberate practice. For example, Ericsson describes how dedicated figure skaters practice differently on the ice. Olympic hopefuls work on the skills they have yet to master. Club skaters, in contrast, work on skills they have already mastered. And amateurs tend to spend half of their time at the rink chatting with friends and not practicing at all.

Interestingly, Ericsson’s findings are true for most skills. This includes playing chess, excellence at the violin, other sporting events; and the evidence broadens further into giving speeches, interpersonal relationships, and holding emotional, sensitive, or high-stake conversations.

Isn’t it interesting how many people find little  problem in applying Ericsson’s theory to physical tasks like sports. (Many credit cards have been swiped hiring a golf pro to help with that nasty slice.) However, few people ever think of practicing with a coach to learn how to get along with board members or coworkers, motivate team members to improve their quality measures, emotionally connect with a troubled teen, or talk to a physician about a medical error. Most of us never think about finding a coach to help  improve our interpersonal skill sets.

However, that is precisely what would jettison many towards the personal goals they seek. Consider a common problem. Your very Type-A and dominant boss seems to be making comments which are at face value OK, but show technical imprecision. With time, this problem seems to worsen. You have taken a chance to tactfully correct him on a couple of occasions. Unfortunately, he becomes increasingly defensive as the problem worsens. At this point, you aren’t exactly sure what to say or how to say it. You lack confidence in such situations.  Speaking up to an authority figure requires skill, and skill requires practice.  Interpersonal interactions can be extremely complicated, and most individuals will improve their skills only after receiving concise coaching…which includes deliberate practice.

The good news is that many of the persistent challenges we face stem more from a lack of skill, which stems from a lack of deliberate practice, than from diluted genes, lack of courage, or a character flaw.

Here’s to Growth,

Tim

Obviously, neither coach nor coachee wants to fail.  So, what happened? Well, it could have been any number of things.  However, here are four situations that more often than not lead directly to failed coaching.

Mandatory Coaching:  Knowing how timid many people are to voluntarily elect to be coached, senior management decrees that coaching be a part of the workplace culture.  Such declarations are well meant but more often than not meet with disastrous results.  It is difficult, if not impossible, to legislate development which is what mandatory coaching does.  Development to be most effective must be a natural and evolutionary process encouraged and supported by management, but never mandated or dictated. 

Assigned Coaches:  The same disastrous results holds true for a coaching situation in which an individual is arbitrarily assigned a coach for their personal development.  Seldom is the person being coached given any say in the assignment or whether they desire coaching or not. It is assumed that the recipient eagerly and gladly welcomes the coaching opportunity.  Or, at least, they should! Such an assumption is naïve and without merit.  It is more a formula for coaching rejection and rebellion rather than adherence and acceptance.  Coaching has a greater chance of success when the person being coached is actively involved in the selection of his or her coach.  The more included they are the choosing of their coach the greater the chance the coaching has of being successful.

Crossed Purposes:  Another formula for coaching disaster occurs when coaching purposes are at odds.  Crossed  purposes occur when there is mis-alignment of the reasons for the coaching. That is, the stated reasons for the coaching and the non-stated reasons are different.  As incredible as it may seem, it is not uncommon for the coach to be given a charter by senior leadership that is somewhat different from that which is told to the person being coached. Whenever there is such a mis-match, it is more likely than not to lead to a coaching failure.  People are smart and they “see through” that which isn’t authentic.  Therefore, to insure effectiveness in the coaching relationship it is imperative that there be no hidden agenda for the coaching.  The purposes must be open, honest and above board for all parties to see and hear.

Personality Differences: Likely, the most common reason for coach and coachee to disconnect is personality mis-alignment.  For coaching to be successful there must be a high degree of personal compatibility. If it is not there, the “glue” that bonds is missing.  Coaching depends on mutuality and the ability for two people to relate to each other.  If similar values, common understandings, and mutual regard are well aligned in both parties then there is a greater willingness to communicate and to accept more easily. And, it follows that there is a stronger common bond from which coaching can thrive. 

As shocking as it may be, these four obstacles to successful coaching are “alive and well” today as they have been in years’ past.  Persons who subscribe to these approaches likely mean well but lack a true understanding of human development.  They fail to recognize coaching as being an engaging, collaborative process driven by the desire of the person being coached, not by the authority of the coach. Further, they see coaching as something that’s done to the person, not something that’s done with the person. Coaching to be effective must be recognized as a helping relationship in which the coach continually must “earn the right to coach” before coaching can take place.

Gary Entwistle

Likewise, it would have been easy for the young 23 year old kid from Baltimore with ADHD to have quit many times before. The bullying wasn’t fun. He must have hated having his over-sized ears flicked by guys twice his size. Having a couple of guys much larger than himself throw his favorite cap out the bus window was no cake walk. Who would have blamed that skinny kid from becoming angry and giving up on the cruel life which left him and his two sisters to be raised alone by their mother, Debbie. By all rights Michael Phelps should have been content with a life of stimulants and excuses. He should have joined the ranks of complicity. But as history will remember, Michael hasn’t used anything as an excuse.

For those who watched his performance in the 200 Meter Butterfly we became spellbound with yet another win from this amazing young man. The real amazement came, however, after the race began when we learned that shortly as the race began his goggles began to leak water. As he continued swimming they leaked worse and worse. Then, when with about 75 meters to go the goggles were completely filled. Michael was at that point essentially blind. His entire field of vision was blurry. He reported that the only way he knew where he was in the race was by counting his strokes. Again, who would have blamed Michael for losing the race.

But a person who wins eight consecutive Olympic gold medals doesn’t just learn to leave the excuses behind while at the Olympics. It was in his youth that Michael learned to leave the excuses behind. Being bullied in school or by other older swimmers could have provided ample excuse for mediocrity or worse. Somehow, he learned early that excuses simply wouldn’t do. Do you suppose his mother and coach had anything to do with it?

There are actually two types of excuses. External excuses are used to provide rationale to those around us for our poor performance. These are used in ample abundance. However, perhaps the more debilitating excuses are the internal excuses or rationalizations we tell ourselves. One might call these internal excuses or stories, our personal myths. Personal myth, is not as some might guess, a false or fairy tale belief. Rather personal myth is our understanding of reality put into the stories we tell ourselves. Rarely do we know that our reality is twisted. It is often not until we take a look at ourselves through the eyes of others that we even begin to understand our own reality. Hence the great value in having a caring mentor/coach.

Perhaps one of the most impressive parts of the Michael Phelps story is beyond his winning 8 gold medals. It is what he did with adversity. Time after time he has used adversity to spur him on to even greater performance. Even though we may be past the developmental mile posts of preadolescence, it is not too late to continue our personal life training. With the help of a trusted adviser we too can leave our excuses behind.

Here’s to Growth,

Tim

Have you ever found yourself arguing with a boss, co-worker, or relative, and can’t seem to come to agreement? What are the root causes of the disagreement? Whose fault is it? Why can’t we just get along? Well, the concept of Conflict Resolution is well researched and provides us some relief to this lifelong dilemma. It also helps us to catch more fish!!! Hmmmm…..let me explain.

Interpersonal conflicts occur when two or more parties are discussing a subject and they have incompatible styles, conversation goals, and/or personal opinions related to the facts of the issue. Conflict can be generated by differences in a specific factor, or compounded by all of these factors combined. So where does this lead us? It leads us to the notion that understanding these factors is critical when trying to resolve any conflict, including those with people or fish. I know, it’s pretty hard to have a conflict with a 22 inch German Brown trout, but hey…I’ve done it!!! She looks at me with those “please release me” eyes and I just crumble as always. Remember to consider Styles, Goals, and Opinions. This will help put you in a better position to resolve conflicts. Conflict resolution behaviors, according to Linda Putnam (PhD), occur in three common interpersonal styles noted below:

· Non-confrontational - Indirect strategies used for handling a conflict; chooses to avoid or withdraw from a disagreement; uses communicative behaviors such as silence, glossing over differences, and concealing ill feelings.

· Solution-Orientation - Direct communication about the conflict; behaviors that aim to find a solution to integrate the needs of both parties; and to give in or compromise on issues.

· Control - Direct communication about the disagreement; arguing persistently for one’s position; taking control of the interaction; and advocating one’s position.

If you believe your style is more Non-confrontational, and your boss is using the Control style, there is likely going to be some conflict generated just by the mere difference in style regardless of the content of the discussion. If both parties have the Control style, you can see how that conflict could escalate to blows. If both parties have the Non-confrontational style, then you will find the conflict will typically dissipate quickly with out resolution. Generally, Solution-orientation is the recommended style and approach for solving conflicts professionally. Conversational goals should be aligned with solving the conflict fairly (win-win), rather than displaying a “win-lose” attitude. Personal opinions are always present in a conversation, but the parties need to differentiate their opinions from the facts. Everyone knows a person (or two) who sincerely believes his/her opinion is fact… Knowing when to speak and when to listen is also a critical communication element. By understanding these components (Styles, Goals, and Opinions) and working to clearly define them during the discussion, people can find better success in resolving conflicts.

As we scoured the waters of the Madison River near Ennis, MT, for trophy Brown trout, we reflected on the critical factors of conflict resolution (Styles, Goals, and Opinions) and applied them to our fishing. What styles were we using to attract and catch these fish (dry fly Hopper on top or Copper John and Midge under an indicator)? Were our goals to catch little fish or big fish (using a 4 inch Sculpin pattern)? Did our opinions of the approach or environment come into play (wade vs. drift boat)? Overall, once we covered the basics in theory, we talked a lot about questions in resolving conflicts that are more in the grey area. What if the conflict is with a potential client or police officer? How do we adopt a Solution-orientation stance when we are in an emotional conflict with our children or parents? I’ll leave these answers untold here to protect the privacy of our members, but please understand that by confirming Styles, Goals, and Opinions as part of the discussion, people can definitely have a better chance of resolving conflict peacefully and professionally. As proof of the effective application to flyfishing, please see our photo gallery. We hope you can join us on future CPC flyfishing adventures.

Tight lines!!!

Tom Scambilis

To a fly fishers delight, the morning hatch of bugs had begun. The bugs du jour that morning were chironomids, or better known as midges. The midge starts its life as an egg, transitions into a larva, then into a pupa. When nature calls, the pupa rises to the surface encapsulated is a bubble of gas which provides the buoyancy for the ride to the surface. Once the pupa breaks through the under-surface of the water, it begins yet another transition. At that point, this mosquito-like insect crawls out of its shuck. It sits atop of the floating shuck for a few seconds drying its wings. Then, the adult insect begins its first flight into a new life doing what insects do — making more insects. It is during these transitional phases and especially the emergence to the surface, that the insects are the most vulnerable to trout. I found it interesting that the midges in this lake were exceptionally large.

I literally had a front row seat sitting there on my pontoon boat watching this spectacle of nature. One particularly large midge emerged in the water between my feet. It was great watching it pop to the surface extracting itself from its shuck. Soon it began its slow flight up and a little towards me. It literally flew about two feet in front of my face so that I could examine the fine points of its wings and body. Engrossed in my face to face nature lesson … bang, unbeknownst to me, a purple martin flew at what seemed to be mach speed from my right side and inhailed the new born! Both were gone in an instant…

While no stranger to this cycle of life, I must admit that this event made an impression on me. Sure, adolescents are accused of living with invincibility and immortality. But you know, so do we adults. I recently heard a woman comment that she can’t image the world without me in it. It don’t believe her notion is so much a statement of her arrogance, as much as it is her detachment from her place in the natural world. The human race has a long history of neglecting our place in nature. Historically, we have so elevated ourselves that if we are not very careful, we too, like the small midge, may rise to a level of annihilation. Each of us have a decision to make. Do we live as stewards or consumers of our earth? A client of mine just last week was lamenting how “something is happening”. He went on to provide a long list of critters which are missing from his property this year. On this list were various birds, frogs, and mammals. Granted, his may be an isolated case. Or perhaps it is not. On a broader scope, the states of Oregon and California have closed down the salmon fishery on their coastal waters due to depressed numbers of fish.

It is everyone’s role to provide good stewardship. If not we too may experience the plight of the midge. Swoop…GULP!

Here’s to Growth,

Tim