I was having a conversation with my brother Dave about a man on a park bench. The man looked relaxed, in his element, enjoying nature, no stress.

Dave said to me, “I want to be THAT guy.” (he pointed to the man on the park bench, who was indeed enjoying life)

This started a discussion between the two of us. I began talking about how ‘THAT’ place, on ‘THAT’ park bench was something that I really believe (has to be earned) in order to truly appreciate it. To be able to enjoy the relaxation, the zero stress, nature, to be in one’s element, is an earned accolade. I believe to become ‘THAT’ man we have to know stress, we have to work through life, we have to know dedication, work, perseverance, we have to taste both defeat and victory.

You may ask, “Why?”

I believe that until you experience and taste life, you can’t appreciate nature, you can’t appreciate what it really means to ‘be in your element’, you can’t understand what it means to be stress free-You really can’t appreciate the park bench.