Category Archives: Randomness

Happy New Year!!!

  By John Rea-Hedrick | January 1, 2013 - 9:00 am |
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Believe: Truffula Tree (Lorax)

I snapped this picture at the Garfield Park Conservatory just before New Year’s Eve. I actually found this lone pink “tuft” lying by itself on the path, but I set it in a shaft of sunlight on this bed of green leaves to contract the colors. The plant it came from was nowhere around. While I was tempted to walk the conservatory looking for the sign to learn the plant’s name, I decided instead to believe it was the tuft from a Truffula tree…The last one of all.

All I need now is to find the courage to help it to grow.

I hope your 2013 is filled with many new opportunities to choose to believe!

Tom Sawyer: Cast Party Video

  By John Rea-Hedrick | December 14, 2012 - 8:45 am |
2 Comments

I just learned Denise Wilson, Area Instructor for CYT Indy Southside, has posted the video from the cast party for CYT Indy Southside’s performance of Tom Sawyer!  All four of my children crop up in the stills (:10, 1:07, 1:13-1:18), but I recommend paying close attention beginning around 7:04 where my youngest is interviewed by another member of the cast. My favorite part is when she’s asked which scene she liked best. Her answer made me laugh out loud!  :)

I hope you enjoy it!

On The Milking Of Bears

  By John Rea-Hedrick | December 5, 2012 - 5:55 pm |
4 Comments

Boromir: One Does Not Simply Milk A Bear

One of my children recently asked the question, “Can you milk a bear?”

At first, this sounded like a funny thing to ask. Ridiculous, really. But funny as it was, the question wasn’t intended for laughs.  It was asked with a sincere desire to know the answer. Of course there’s quite a difference between “can” and “should” when it comes to something like the matter of milking bears. Even so, the boldness behind risking to ask the “unaskable” started me thinking.

At a certain point in life (for some reason we call this growing up) we tend lose touch with our childlike wonder of the world. We have responsibilities. We have deadlines. We have bills to pay. And soon we’re focusing so much on the tasks before us we begin to just accept things as they are instead of taking time to question why they are the way they are in the first place.  And whether they could be any different. Or whether, perhaps, they should be different.

So take a risk! Be bold! Think outside the box. Reclaim your childlike wonder, and ask the unaskable! See what happens. Who know? What if it turned out bear’s milk has an enzyme that cures cancer? It’s often the unaskable that has the potential to make all the difference. It can be a game changer. A life changer. A world changer.

So ask.

I’d love to know what you think.

Make a Dent in Your Reading Pile

  By John Rea-Hedrick | November 8, 2012 - 12:56 pm |
9 Comments

Reading PileI have a confession to make.  Until a few years ago…
I didn’t like to read.

In school, I often stressed over long reading assignments and I rarely ever read for pleasure.  Why?  Because I was a slow reader.

For me, slow reading had nothing to do with any difficulty decoding writing.  I actually learned to read quite early, and I never particularly struggled with the mechanics of the process.  I also didn’t have any problems with reading comprehension.  I made the Honor Roll nearly every semester and I graduated college with a 3.42 GPA.  It was just that reading just always seemed to take me SO MUCH TIME.  I felt secretly embarrassed ashamed that others could do the same about of reading I did in half the time.

This simple 3:36 instructional video changed everything.

It turns out my problem was that I had somehow learned the habit of reading at a speaking pace.  I would actually “say” the words in my head as I read them.  I never recognized I was doing it, and I didn’t know that most people (apparently) don’t.  I was not only able to break my slow reading habit, but I learned some excellent techniques for improving my reading overall.  What a difference!

As a reader and as a writer this has been one of the most valuable pieces of self-improvement I’ve ever done.

I now have stacks of titles in my “to be read” pile that I’m happily looking forward to reading.  Even if you’re comfortable with your own reading pace, I’d encourage you to consider investing the few minutes of your time to watch this video.

You may be surprised by the result.

I’d love to hear from you in the comments.

More DIY videos at 5min.com

Healthy Halloween Treats For Kids…With Vodka?

  By John Rea-Hedrick | October 21, 2012 - 7:51 pm |
3 Comments


I found this recipe in my local paper recently. It’s for making a healthy Halloween snack for kids. While reading through the steps I found something quite interesting.

(It’s quite possible someone needs a proofreader.)

Healthy Kids' Halloween Treats...with Vodka?

Nevertheless, It’s got me wondering which way is healthier: vodka in, or vodka out…whether your kids are “using” or not.

 

Tom Sawyer: Presented by CYT Indy

  By John Rea-Hedrick | October 8, 2012 - 8:43 am |
5 Comments

Tom SawyerMark Twain’s classic story comes to exuberant musical life in this Broadway adaptation of America’s favorite book. The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer is the irresistible story of a fourteen-year-old boy growing up in the heartland of America. This Broadway musical version of Mark Twain’s immortal novel is set in 1840 in St. Petersburg, Missouri, a bustling town on the banks of the Mississippi River. In the course of the story, Tom matches wits with his stern Aunt Polly, falls in love with the beautiful, feisty Becky Thatcher, and goes on the adventure of his life with Becky and that irresistible renegade, Huckleberry Finn. Along the way we meet a terrifying villain named Injun Joe, Tom’s bratty half-brother Sid, and all the other boys and girls in the village – providing one scene-stealing children’s role after the other.

Come see this classic tale! Great for Class Field Trips!

***********************************************

Okay, so why exactly am I posting something about Tom Sawyer?  Because ALL MY KIDS ARE IN IT!!!  And because tickets are on sale now. :)

Seriously, CYT has been around since 1981 and has become the largest children’s theater organization in the country.  They’ve recently launched a south-side Indianapolis campus and “Tom Sawyer” will be their first full-scale theater production.  We’re not big into sports at my house.  We’re more a part of the arts and theater crowd when it comes to extracurricular activity.  All four of my children braved the audition process.  Since my wife, Kyrmen, is the Assistant Director, she wasn’t allowed to be present when they auditioned.  Based on their auditions, they made it to callbacks and were all cast in the show!  This is a really big deal for us.

Everyone has been working really hard on this performance from the CYT staff, to the parents, and especially all 32 of the children.  They’ll be doing six (that’s right) SIX shows at the spectacular Franklin Performing Arts Center in Franklin, Indiana.  So, if you live in the central or south-central Indiana area (or are willing to drive anywhere for some great children’s theater!) please consider coming to one of our shows.  You won’t be sorry.

I’ve posted ticket prices and show times below along with a handy button that will take you right to the CYT website to reserve seats.  Incidentally, if you decide to buy tickets in advance on-line, you’ll be asked to choose a cast member’s name for the ticket referral. Please choose “Kidron Rea-Hedrick“.  Thanks!

My children have been cast in the following roles:

Performance Details:

SHOW TIMES: Thursday, Nov 15th – 9:30am & 12:00pm
Friday, Nov 16th – 7:00pm
Saturday, Nov 17th – 2:00pm & 7:00pm
Sunday, Nov 18th – 2:00pm
VENUE: Franklin Performing Arts Center
2600 Cumberland Drive
Franklin, IN 46131
(click here for a map)
PRICES: $11 – Individual Online
$13 – At-the-Door Price
$9 – Group Discount (10 ticket minimum)
$9 – Child Discount (Age Limit: 19)
$9 – Student Discount (ID Required)
$9 – Senior Discount (Age Minimum: 65)

Tom Sawyer

Leave a comment or drop me an email me if you’re thinking about coming!

Reason #43 Why I Love Dan Fogelberg

  By John Rea-Hedrick | April 10, 2012 - 4:45 pm |
3 Comments

Dan Fogelberg Nether Lands
From Dan Fogelberg’s fourth album,
Nether Lands, released in 1977.

Many writers have a variety playlists for each of their WIPs.  Some even for each chapter.  Not me.  For me, Dan Fogelberg is ALWAYS my writing music of choice.

I mean, who even writes songs like this anymore???  This is the kind of music that never fails to make me feel alive.  #love

Nether Lands

High on this mountain
The clouds down below
I`m feeling so strong and alive.
From this rocky perch
I`ll continue to search
For the wind
And the snow
And the sky.
I want a lover,
I want some friends,
And I want to live in the sun.
And I want to do all the things that I
never have done.

Sunny bright mornings
And pale moonlit nights
Keep me from feeling alone.
Now, I`m learning to fly
And this freedom is like
Nothing that I`ve ever known.
I`ve seen the bottom
And I`ve been on top
But mostly I`ve lived in between,
And where do you go
When you get to the end of
your dream?

Off in the nether lands
I heard a sound
Like the beating of heavenly wings.
And deep in my brain
I can hear a refrain
Of my soul as she rises and sings.
Anthems to glory and
Anthems to love and
Hymns filled with Earthly delight,
Like the songs that the darkness
Composes to worship the light.

Once in a vision
I came on some woods
And stood at a fork in the road.
My choices were clear
Yet I froze with the fear
Of not knowing which way to go.
One road was simple;
Acceptance of life.
The other road offered sweet peace
When I made my decision
My vision became my release.

~ Dan Fogelberg

40 Things At Age 40

  By John Rea-Hedrick | April 11, 2011 - 8:00 am |
4 Comments

Tragedy Comedy MasksI’m feeling reflective today.

Actually, I’ve been feeling reflective for a while now. It’s not like this date hasn’t been on the calendar for the last 40 years, but it’s only been within the last few weeks I’ve really given myself over to any serious contemplation about it.

The result of all my intense brooding thinking is a list.

Two, actually.

I’ll begin by acknowledging I’ve made my share of mistakes in life. Some I would give almost anything to undo. Others, I wouldn’t trade for the world because they’ve helped to make me who I am today. I can also own I’ve done a lot of good in my life, including making the right calls on some difficult decisions which continue to be a source of joy and happiness in my life.

So, in the spirit of Dear Teen Me, I’ve written these 40 Things as a birthday gift to my 40-year-old self.

Today: April 11, 2011

However, unlike Dear Teen Me I’ve not written these to a past me from the present. I’ve written them to the present me from the future. One list is a list of 20 things to watch out for or to stop doing. The other is a list of 20 things to start doing or to do better. My intention is to make these 40 Things stand as my own personal guide for living my next 40+ years to the fullest.

So here they are.

20 Things Not To Do:

1) Don’t Be Afraid To Take Risks
2) Don’t Miss Opportunities To Show The People You Love That You Love Them
3) Don’t Lose Sight Of What’s Most Important To YOU
4) Don’t Give Up
5) Don’t Be Afraid To Try Something New
6) Don’t Mistake Being Right For Doing Right
7) Don’t Assume, ASK!
8) Don’t Do It If You Already Know You’ll Regret It Later
9) Don’t Expect More From Others Than You Do From Yourself
10) Don’t Ignore The Counsel Of A True Friend
11) Don’t Assume You Understand Anyone You’ve Never Spent Time Really Listening To
12) Don’t Offer Unsolicited Advice
13) Don’t Refuse To Give Advice When Someone Who Trusts You Asks For It
14) Don’t Simply Assume Everything Will Turn Out Fine If You Don’t Act
15) Don’t Forget The Lessons Of The Past
16) Don’t Nurse Resentment
17) Don’t Wait To Be Asked Before Deciding to Forgive
18) Don’t Try To Solve Anyone’s Problems But Your Own
19) Don’t Waste Time Trying To Change Other People
20) Don’t Blame Others For Anything That Happens To You

20 Things To Do:

1) Listen More Often Than You Speak
2) Say ‘YES’ More Often Than You Say ‘No’
3) Do What You Can To Help Those You Love To Find Their Own Answers
4) Stand Outside Alone In The Moonlight
5) Look For Opportunities To Show Those You Love How Important They Are
6) Look For The Good In Everything, Especially In Everyone
7) Decide What Is Truly Important To You And Focus On That
8) Put First Things First, But Remember To Make Time For Second And Third Things
9) Live For Today With One Eye To Tomorrow, Not Both
10) Fix What Is Broken
11) Finish Writing Your Book (Then Start Another)
12) Walk The Dog
13) Remember That The Best Things In Life Really ARE Free
14) Invest More In People Than In Things
15) Only Put Off Until Tomorrow What Can’t Wait Until The Day After That
16) Be Honest With Yourself
17) Don’t Take Yourself Too Seriously
18) Play
19) Seek To Understand More Than To Be Understood
20) Love. Love. Love