Author: David White MD
I’m not sure where we found it but Dan, Gary, and I dragged the old broken-down sliding board across the yard. It’s weight and curvy shape made for an awkward carry as we also struggled to avoid touching the sun-scorched, shiny metallic surface— a mistake already made when we first discovered this treasure. With an […]
The first time I ever hiked into the backcountry of Arizona’s Grand Canyon, I was struck by what seemed to be an oddly placed, though prominent sign at the trailhead. The sign was dominated by a photograph of a smiling young woman in athletic clothing. Below the picture was an ominous warning to be prepared […]
It was a long climb up out of the valley and my legs ached under the weight of my backpack. Though I still had plenty of water, “topping off” my containers at the stream crossing provided the perfect excuse to rest. I squatted at the stream’s edge and tossed the end of the filter tube […]
The canopy of tree branches and leaf buds faded as the sky darkened, and faint sparkles sharpened into distinct lights revealing familiar patterns. Nate broke the silence speaking softly, “There’s the Big Dipper.” My eyes traced outward from the forward rim of the dipper-pan, “And that is the North Star,” I responded lazily, pointing invisibly […]
In one of William Shakespeare’s most famous monologues, Henry V calls his war-fighting men to take courage as they prepare to face the overwhelming French army on the battlefield. It is not merely a call to overcome fear but rather to taste of one of life’s most exquisite delights; the relational intimacy of shared identity […]
Rocky Balboa was a likable young man who grew up on the streets of Philadelphia in poverty and brokenness. He dreamed of becoming a professional boxer and immersed himself in the now decaying local gym where the fading images of past greats loomed in the shadows inspiring those who now sought their chance to “make […]
One of the great relationships of modern history is the friendship between Charlie Brown and his trusted beagle Snoopy. In many ways, Charlie Brown is a comic strip representation of each of us, stripped of any pretense we may be tempted to display. We can often see our own clumsy strivings and disappointments displayed in […]
“I can’t stand all the drama!” In the 10 years that AspireCARE has been in business, we have interviewed hundreds of individuals for various positions, and this is far and away the most common response to the question, “Why are you looking to leave your current position?” I have also heard this disdain for drama […]
Finding the Way to Our Highest Self I had no idea which way was up. I was pumping my arms and legs, hoping to break the surface of the water. The breath I had taken before plunging into the cold waters of the Pacific Ocean felt as if it was slamming against my closed throat […]
I closed my eyes to savor the crisp air as I drew a large, calming breath into my lungs. It reminded me of the cool fall nights of my childhood, where we would play capture-the-flag or ghost-in-the-graveyard until beckoned home by our parents. My eyes snapped open as I heard the first explosion. This was […]
Blue Mountain Resort in Palmerton, Pennsylvania plays host to one of the toughest “Spartan Races” in the country. A Spartan Race is a particular brand of outdoor obstacle course racing (OCR). These OCRs are typically 4, 8 or 12 miles of a combined running, walking, scrambling, crawling, climbing, carrying, wading, throwing… and unless you are […]
A friend recently recommended that I watch the Amazon Prime series “Alone.” As a closet introvert, I found the premise of the show immediately compelling. The idea is that 10 individuals are simultaneously dropped off on totally isolated locations within the predator rich Vancouver Islands during the cold and wet fall conditions. Each of these […]