Happy Thanksgiving

Topic 1 of 7: Thanksgiving, Traditions, and Change

My family loves Thanksgiving. For decades our tradition was to organize a game of touch football with neighbors and friends. During the heydays, we would have 20+ players and an equal number of spectators. It was always a friendly affair, but sometimes spirited. One year, Joe (an ex Wash U football player) was so pleased with a play that I made, he grabbed me in a Heimlich maneuver and enthusiastically shock me up and down. It was a joyful moment followed by pain. Only later was it determined that he broke a few of my ribs. But, that is the risk of a bit of fun. Tyler (my second born), the master of the understatement remarked "Can you imagine the damage he would do if he was on the opposing team?"

Over the years, the tradition evolved with the dispersion of people and the arrival of the next generation. Now the tradition of Thanksgiving Day football exists in our memories. But new traditions have been started. Our current tradition is going for a ruck / trek in the park and recall the days of football and discuss all that we are thankful for. The combination of the memories and the new activities add to the dynamic mosaic of life.

Check out previous newsletters.

Topic 2 of 7: Embracing Wellness Conference

We held our first conference on Enhancing Wellness on 11/11/23. It was an engaging event and we learned a great deal. Our plan is to hold our next conference in Spring/summer of 2024. Hope to see you there. Thanks to all the speakers, attendees, and organizers (Dijana and Laura). You can learn more about the conference and download the PPT slides here.

Topic 3 of 7: Books and a beverage:

'The Parrot and the Igloo' by David Lipsky

Wednesday January 17: 6:00 PM CT.  RSVP here

Join us for an engaging discussion of the ideas from this book. We will meet at 6655 Delmar Blvd, University City, MO 63130. The goal is to share ideas and consider insights that can be draw from the story. Bring your preferred beverage and any snacks. After the book discussion, we plan go to a Delmar loop restaurant for a bite.

It is not necessary to have read the book to participate.

Topic 4 of 7: Hiking / Rucking

Sunday 12/2/2023 at 10 AM

Join us for a hike/ruck in Downtown STL. Hike at your pace and with like-minded people. Engaging discussion and high spirits are the guiding principles for these hikes. Free.

More hikes in December and January- Info and rsvp here

Topic 5 of 7: Upcoming Trips

1. Total solar eclipse -- Southern Missouri

2. Camp Innsbrook Weekend

3. Colorado Alpine Weekend

4. Grand Canyon Trip

   More info

Topic 6 of 7: Member spotlight

Michael Honigfort

Michael is a founding MAC member who spent his work career in engineering-related manufacturing management, and now devotes time to several non-profit positions.  He loves the outdoors (particularly the Southwest canyons), physical activity and travel world-wide, often with his wife, grown daughter and son-in-law.  Michael says his favorite aspect of MAC is getting to know its fascinating and accomplished members.  A fun fact about Michael is that he and his wife this past summer raised over 50 monarch caterpillars and released them as butterflies.  If you are looking for monarch milkweed for your backyard garden, he is the one to see!

Topic 7 of 7: Ikigai: Connecting the concept to life and career progression.

Date: Tuesday 12/12/23

Time: 7 PM Zoom meeting Info and RSVP

We will discuss Ikigai and consider how it applies to life and career trajectories.  

"Ikigai can describe having a sense of purpose in life, as well as being motivated. According to a study by Michiko Kumano, feeling ikigai as described in Japanese usually means the feeling of accomplishment and fulfillment that follows when people pursue their passions. Activities that generate the feeling of ikigai are not forced on an individual; they are perceived as being spontaneous and undertaken willingly, and thus are personal and depend on a person's inner self." Taken from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikigai#:~:text=The%20Oxford%20English%20Dictionary%20defines,that%20brings%20pleasure%20or%20fulfilment. 

It is not necessary to have read the book to participate. Roundtable discussion. More info and register Info and RSVP

About us: MAC is a non-profit learning organization. We help members increase wellbeing with active outdoor exploration, life-time learning, like-minded community, and healthy habit development. It is a whole-person perspective built on the proposition that adventuring happens one step at a time and is most appreciated when done with other like-minded people.

Thanks for your interest in this MAC newsletter. Click here for previous newsletters.

Please let me know if you

• have anything you would like included in the next MAC newsletter

• would like to be added to the newsletter mailing list or you know of someone who would like to be added

I can be reached at Ron@MedallionAdventureClub.com or a text in MAC Slack. 

To Adventure

Ron King

https://www.medallionadventureclub.org