THURSDAY COMMENTARY – THANK A FARMER
(Listen daily for the Rod Pedersen Commentary on Cat Country 98 FM & Rock 98.5 FM)
ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER DOLLAR.
IF YOU’VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE COMMENTARY, I’M IN CALGARY FOR A CORPORATE SPEAKING EVENT THIS WEEK.
IT WAS FOR FMC GROUP, AN AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE, FOOD PRODUCTION GLOBAL OUTFIT WHICH ASSEMBLED ITS SALES TEAM IN COWTOWN FOR MEETINGS.
IT WAS A TRIP.
THEY BROUGHT ME IN TO TELL HOCKEY AND FOOTBALL STORIES, PLUS TALK ABOUT MY BACKGROUND IN AG AND ROLE AS A MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATE.
IT WAS EYE-OPENING, AND A TREAT. THERE WERE THE USUAL QUIRIES ABOUT THE 13TH MAN INCIDENT, MY FEUD WITH STAMPEDERS QUARTERBACK BO LEVI MITCHELL, TALES OF GREY CUPS PAST, AND OF COURSE PEOPLE CAN’T GET ENOUGH HOCKEY STORIES.
BUT BEFORE LONG IT SHIFTED QUITE A WAYS AWAY FROM SPORTS. I FELT LIKE I WAS THE ONE WHO CAME AWAY WITH MORE, GETTING AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE NEW AGE OF CROP PRODUCTION AND REFLECTING ON THIS PAST CROP YEAR.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
THE VAST MAJORITY OF TIME WAS SPENT ON MENTAL HEALTH; COPING WITH THE STRAINS ON THE FARM CAUSED BY THE PANDEMIC, THE ALWAYS-PRESENT DANGER OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE, AND TOOLS TO COPE IN AN INCREASINGLY STRESSFUL SOCIETY.
I’VE BEEN AT THIS GAME FOR A FEW YEARS NOW AND EVEN WHEN I STARTED, THE TOPIC OF MENTAL HEALTH WAS PRETTY MUCH TABOO. PEOPLE SEEMED CONTENT TO LEAVE IT IN THE SHADOWS.
HOWEVER JUST OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS THE TOPIC OF MENTAL HEALTH HAS BECOME MUCH MORE MAINSTREAM. I THINK I’LL SPEND A FEW DAYS EXAMINING WHY THAT IS, AND WHAT CAUSED THE SHIFT.
THESE AG PEOPLE WERE LARGELY YOUNG – AT LEAST YOUNGER THAN ME – AND THE SPORTS DISCUSSION DIDN’T SEEM AS IMPORTANT AS ADVANCING THE WORLD AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
SOMETIMES WE FORGET, THERE’S MORE TO LIFE THAN SPORTS.
AND IF YOU EAT TODAY, THANK A FARMER.
THAT’S TODAY’S ROD PEDERSEN COMMENTARY
I really enjoy these commentaries. Sports and life. If you recall a former Regina Pat during the Bob Lowes era opened a beginner’s gym called The Blitz. I was in my late 20s and he along with a veteran hockey guy who worked for him got me on a path to losing 30 lbs, and from there fitness was not only a habit it was a passion. It behooved me to think how other things could go off track. This is when I learned the valuable concept of Boundaries. Boundaries apply to protective fences around our Physical, Mental, Social, Emotional… Read more »
Sounds like the book I just started yesterday! BOUNDARIES – “Where I End And You Begin”. Or something like that!
Rod. GAME CHANGER!!!!! Henry Cloud and Townsend wrote that in 1992. It was given to me when as you’ll recall being in the midst of hell 5 years ago. In 1992 had I read that when I was 18….oh well……I was blessed to find it at 42. He has an entire series on Boundaries applying to leadership, marriage, child raising, friends, etc. He has one on Necessary Endings and when it’s time to cut the cord. That Necessary Endings book. The visual is people get a couple chances and then using the principal of “if there is no past precedent… Read more »
after we discover Dr. Cloud.
Jack it up a few notches and check out former Navy Seal David Goggins. Dr. Henry Cloud is pleasant when describing Boundary enforcement.
People should try to pull stuff on Dave Goggins and see what happens…..I dare them lol, he’s a nice man so go ahead.
Safe travels.