Special thanks once again to rojie for today’s prompt. if you haven’t done so already definitely check out her blog justrojie.com
What’s something different or new that you did this month?
I did a few new things this month. Most of them were fun. One of them, not so much—so much so, in fact, that I recommend not trying the latter to anyone who hasn’t had the unfortunate experience of it before.
Over Labor Day weekend, I went kayaking for the first time with Sierra. It’s something she’s really into, and it’s something I’ve really wanted to try for a long time, so I figured, why not? To be honest, I wasn’t very confident, and Sierra apparently read right through it—she has a way better read on me than I care to admit. The first time my kayak tipped shocked me a little, mostly due to the sheer strength of the current. The second time, the water wasn’t running as fast, but it got a lot deeper, and I think I was more shocked by how freezing cold it was than anything else. But after that second spill, it was pure grit all the way through. I was absolutely determined to finish those 12 miles—which is obviously an all-time record for me.
I notched another first, again with Sierra: my first experience with Banana Ball. The league that spawned out of the phenomenon of the Savannah Bananas came to Comerica Park in Detroit a couple of weeks back. I’ve seen the games on TV, heard about them, and watched stories on 60 Minutes, but experiencing a live event is a whole different ballgame.
What stood out most wasn’t just the flashy rules or the music—it was their absolute commitment to the fans. Despite sitting in the pouring rain all night, people stayed until the very end, soaking up the experience of their first Detroit trip. Banana Ball’s dedication permeates every single aspect of what they do: the pregame and postgame parties, players and founder Jesse Cole running right up into the stands and interacting with the crowd, and even little things like charging zero shipping and handling on online purchases because they refuse to nickel-and-dime their supporters. I wouldn’t want to see MLB turning everything into a neon-colored party, but I do think baseball could take a lesson here. MLB needs to both stop taking themselves so seriously and start taking their relationship with the fans a whole lot more seriously.
And, of course, more recently, there was my car accident. I’m not going to rehash all of it here, because I’m still processing what happened. That day brought a few more grim “firsts” I could have lived without: my first ambulance ride, my first trip through the ER on one of those hospital beds, and the surreal experience of hearing a nurse chart me out loud—“patient is a 52-year-old male…”
I don’t recommend getting into an accident to anyone. But seeing the car afterward and realizing how lucky I was to dodge a bullet makes it impossible not to appreciate the kayak trips, the ballgames, and every ordinary, breathing day just a little bit more.
Rebuilding a life takes grit, consistency, and a lot of ‘Option C’ thinking. Having crossed the 1,000-day milestone, I’m now charting the territory beyond. The mission remains the same: No glitz. Just the work. New to the blog? Start your journey here to see the blueprint and the ‘Tricorder’ perspective behind the rebuild.
Today’s post is inspired by the WordPress Daily Prompt. While I’ve taken the topic in my own direction for the Road beyond 1,000 Days, you can find more responses to today’s prompt HERE.
Thanks for stopping by Rebuilding Rob. Be sure to like 👍, comment and subscribe below. It’s greatly appreciated! Also, feel free to follow me on social media and check out my recent posts!
- The victory lap
- What AI thinks of Rebuilding Rob
- The Halloween Pass
- Rob Ranks Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, season 3
- The Best Online Course I Never Wanted to Take
AI art created by Google Gemini
The article “New ground, heard lessons” first appeared on Rebuilding Rob.

Leave a Reply