Gustavus Blogs

Author: nhagberg

  • Steve Wilkinson Slipped Away Quietly Eight Years Ago

    —

    by

    nhagberg

    Steve Wilkinson died eight years ago last week, on January 21, 2015. Eight years is a long time and the blink of an eye. People, when they found out he was in home hospice, all wanted to see him. TLC campers, instructors, former Gustavus players, friends, family. They lined up for a chance to say…

  • Ten Questions About Light for You and Your Family

    —

    by

    nhagberg

    Today is Winter Solstice. The longest night of the year. OR the day the light begins to return in greater chunks each day for the next six months. Depends on how you look at it. It is the season of light. Hannukah. Christmas. Kwanzaa. Solstice. St. Lucia. All celebrate bringing light into the dark world.…

  • TLC Thanksgiving Blog – The Three Crowns According to My Dog

    —

    by

    nhagberg

    I’m not a huge dog fan. You have to feed them, let them out, pick up their poop, listen to them howl or bark at things that pose no danger, and then watch them sit silently when an actual threat appears. They are like babies that never grow up. So, not a huge fan. Until…

  • At What Cost?

    —

    by

    nhagberg

    One of our campers shared a story this summer in an off-court classroom session that still haunts me.  It didn’t have to be this way.  He is the greatest kid.  He was courageous to share his experience.  And everyone in the room left thinking more deeply about what is important to them, and what should…

  • The Power of “We”

    —

    by

    nhagberg

    When she crossed the finish line and collapsed, after a lifetime of training, brutal workouts, and a grueling finish, she said, “We did it!” Wait, this was an individual event.  Jessie Diggins had just won a bronze medal at the Winter Olympics, the first individual medal by a U.S. Olympian in women’s cross country ski…

  • Seven Years Gone, And Still Changing Lives

    —

    by

    nhagberg

    I was snuck up on yesterday.  By sadness.   I had been going along at a lovely pace of “accept what you cannot change and work towards changing what you can” for the past three months.  Pretty content.  Envisioning the future of TLC and the wonderful things unfolding, as well as the challenges we face…

  • The Season of and Secret of Delight

    —

    by

    nhagberg

    Our daughter Madeline’s piano teacher, Mrs. McGuire, started teaching Madeline when she was four.  She made it clear from the start that her goal was not to turn our daughter into Rachmaninov.  Her goal was for Madeline to love playing piano for the rest of her life.  Because students who are cajoled/pushed/dragged to the piano,…

  • The Shortest TLC Thanksgiving Blog Ever

    —

    by

    nhagberg

      Each year I have written a Thanksgiving blog. This year I wrote two long potential Thanksgiving blogs.  I worked very hard on them to make them “meaningful”.   I woke up this morning and tossed them.   What I really want to say is it is not as complicated as we make it.  …

  • The Gift of Trust

    —

    by

    nhagberg

        When you give, if you trust, you give freely.  You don’t ask in return.  You just give.  This is a rare thing.   I witness it all the time in people like you at TLC.  A kind gesture without ulterior motive; a belief that if you reveal your vulnerability, you will not be…

  • What Do You Do When There is No Tomorrow?

    —

    by

    nhagberg

    TLC Blog – What Do You Do When There is No Tomorrow? That day in college, I was at the pool for one reason and one reason only.  To impress a sophomore.  Make her notice me.  So she would then go out with me.  I had my dive planned perfectly.  Push off the springboard with…