Awake AND Intentional

Be Present, Be Purposeful, Be You

This is how it all started…

Many times, I feel like I’m just coasting through life, somewhere in the middle. Life is generally good for me—there are great days, not-so-great days, but overall, things are okay. I often think I shouldn’t complain, yet many days I find myself frustrated by the mediocrity that seems to permeate my daily existence.

Do you sometimes feel stuck or stalled, yet not knowing exactly why? It’s as if there’s an invisible barrier keeping you from moving forward, and it can be incredibly frustrating. On top of that, do you occasionally feel a deep sense of isolation in these thoughts, despite being surrounded by people?

I know I often wonder if anyone else feels the same way.

If any of the above sounds or feel familiar, I am writing for us. My writing comes from two places: either my experiences/questions/frustrations or the experiences of someone I know. My intent is to create a space where we can find solace in knowing we’re not alone in these feelings. Here, I explore the common struggles and small triumphs of being an average person, navigating the ups and downs of life. Together, we’ll find ways to break through that sense of being stuck and embrace the journey with all its imperfections.

L. Mason Van Dyke

Ordinary, Yet Searching

  • How have you Should on Yourself today?

    I was talking with a friend recently. During that conversation he told me of an interesting comment from one of his college advisers. The comment was “How have you “SHOULD” on yourself today?” There are so many things that we “Should” do. We SHOULD: This list goes on and on. But the real question is…

  • Your Words Matter…To You

    “If I talked to you the way you talked to yourself, would you still be my friend?”   Dave Blanchard, The Chair What would you do if you had someone following you around all day screaming something negative at you every 12 seconds?  Every 12 seconds all day, every day. Guess what???  You Do!!!  And in…

  • What’s below your waterline?

    I have a friend in Florida who has a sailboat. It is a Seaward 32′ retractable keel sailboat- a thing of beauty. Recently, we were talking. He was telling me he was going down to check the work of a guy who was cleaning the bottom of his boat.  Periodically he has someone do this…

  • Two Wolves… A Cherokee Indian legend

    “An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. “A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy. “It is a terrible fight, and it is between two wolves. One is evil – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.” He…

  • Who is Your Starfish?

    The Starfish Story  by Loren Eisley A young man is walking along the ocean and sees a beach on which thousands and thousands of starfish have washed ashore. Further along he sees an old man, walking slowly and stooping often, picking up one starfish after another and tossing each one gently into the ocean. “Why…