I'm Having Trouble Getting Into the Christmas Spirit

I can’t exactly pinpoint it. I’d like to blame it on the recent events in San Bernardino, but I don’t think that’s it. It would be easy to blame it on my busy work schedule, and the disproportionately high number of major decisions I’m balancing at the moment, but I don’t think that’s the lion’s share of it either.

It’s not that our house doesn’t look Christmas-y; we put up the tree and the Christmas lights the day after Thanksgiving, bought most of our presents before December 1st, and have them wrapped and displayed under the tree already.

Family, Being PresentNathan WestwickDecember 16, 2015Christmas Comments

Joy Comes in the Morning???

If you’re mornings are anything like mine, they look something like this:

Alarm goes off; hit snooze; feel guilty for hitting snooze; peel yourself out of bed; make coffee in a quiet house; savor first sip of coffee in a quiet house; smell of coffee wakes children up; kiss them good morning; stare blankly into space until caffeine takes effect; caffeine kicks in just in time to feebly attempt to keep brothers’ hands and feet off each other in the living room; attempts fail; brothers fight over blanket; brothers fight over couch space; brothers fight over who can breathe who’s air; use “getting the paper” as an excuse to escape the noise

Family, FaithNathan WestwickDecember 9, 2015Crazy Life, Finding Joy Comment

Living Life in 3-D

The other day I came this close to giving up technology altogether…

There are two reasons I was about to call it quits:

The first is the addictive quality of being needed.

Being Present, FamilyNathan WestwickNovember 18, 2015Technology, Family Time, AddictionsComment

We're All a Little Kid Sometimes...

This was originally written 7 years ago, but I felt it worthwhile to post it today. You see, I often feel like young Garrett in this story - sometimes reluctant to take risks, yet letting the sense of adventure take over, enjoying the thrill that comes with it. Until, that is, I feel in danger and/or scared that I might not make it through. Like Garrett, I often end up with scrapes and bruises, but I can relate to the young bloke in so many ways...

Enjoy the read; I know as a father I sure enjoyed the moment:

Overcoming Fears, Faith, FamilyNathan WestwickOctober 28, 2015Adventure, Risk-Taking, Growing Up Comment

Celebrated...

I had the opportunity to celebrate my birthday over the weekend, and I was genuinely humbled by all of the love shown me by family, friends, and even those I don’t know particularly well.

It was such a contrast to a birthday I had a few years ago…

Relationships, Faith, FamilyNathan WestwickOctober 14, 2015Birthday, LoveComment

Confessions of an Addict

I had no idea when I started this that so much space would be taken up with confessionals, but apparently there has been a need to get a lot of stuff off my chest lately. I’ve struggled with my role as a Christian businessman, I’ve admitted my fears, and now it’s time for me to confess a deep, piercing addiction…

Faith, FamilyNathan WestwickSeptember 9, 2015Busyness, Rest, Family Time, AddictionsComment

When a Loved One Moves Away

I hate saying goodbye. I mean, I’ve learned to be really good at it, almost to the point where I shut off my emotions and just say a warm, but heart-guarded adieu, but last week I had the opportunity to watch my brother pull off in his moving van as he headed two states east and by most measures, I didn’t handle it well…

Relationships, Family, BusinessNathan WestwickAugust 12, 2015Brothers, Relationships Comments

Proverbs From a Road Trip

We just got back from a two-week road trip which included four nights tent camping in the Rockies. I figured I might share some of my observations about the experience; including some of the things I’ve come to appreciate after four nights with nothing but a thin nylon wall separating me from Mother Nature…

Family, The JourneyNathan WestwickJuly 22, 2015Family Time, Vacation, NatureComment

On Superheroes - Not Just for Kids Anymore

used to think that the fascination with superheroes was reserved for those under the age of 12—where children dress up as Spiderman for Halloween, they play Superman in their backyards, or wield their light sabers around the house in hot pursuit of their villain father as he comes home from work (or is my household the only one where that happens)?

But a look at some of the summer blockbusters over recent years seems to suggest that as an adult society, we are quite taken by the Superhero theme—those characters who, on the outside, appear just like you and I, but on the inside know down deep that they possess some otherworldly power; a power that carries with it the darker temptation to use it for one’s own devices, but yet is intended for the good of a society in desperate need of rescuing.

Why, I wonder, the recent resurgence of the superhero stories?

The Journey, Relationships, FamilyNathan WestwickJuly 8, 2015SuperheroesComment

On How Fatigue Changes My Outlook on Everything

Growing up, as my father would tuck me in at night, he would often avail himself to hearing the frustrations of my day. I’m sure it was an act of loving patience for him as he would listen to the angst of a ten year old boy Billy said I was a bad basketball player, which would then morph into the insecurities of a young teenager I don’t know how to ask Jamie to the dance, to the late teenage I don’t know how to confront so-and-so on this issue. After listening intently and compassionately, he would then often quote the legendary Vince Lombardi:

“Fatigue makes cowards of us all.”

Relationships, FamilyNathan WestwickJuly 1, 2015Fatigue, PerformanceComment

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