The Time To Decide

It’s been almost 10 years ago to the day that I decided to make some important decisions in my life. At the time, I was working in business with a partner named Ron Schara producing and marketing outdoors-oriented calendars throughout the Midwest. Ron’s interests were quickly turning to television where he apparently has achieved success. Unfortunately, our once common goals for the marketing business were quickly bifurcating in two totally different directions.

Ten years ago I went elk hunting in Colorado with my good buddy, Mitch. Not only was this trip a great way to get away from the hassles in life and in business, but also it was my first-ever elk hunting trip. So, needless to say things were special during this outing.

As I spent nearly a week wandering through the mountains of Colorado it cleansed my mind in so many healthy ways. At the time, I didn’t even realize just what a profound effect the experience of getting away to the mountains could have on a person’s soul. I soon discovered that importance when I came back home.

When you walk in the mountains whether hunting or just hiking you obviously put some distance on life’s troubles. For me, the business relationship that I had built with Schara was quickly eroding. Sure, there were plenty of warning signals along the way…but I was younger and much more naive than I am today. Yet, it was on this all-important hunting trip when I decided to purge Schara from my life both socially and professionally. It was not an easy decision to make…but it was necessary for my future health.

When I returned back home and opened the door to my office somehow most of life’s troubles and struggles started pouring back into my life. It was then almost serendipitously I opened a magazine and read a special poem. This poem gave me the strength to make many tough decisions in life possible. But most of all, it reminded me not to forget my experience in the mountains. Take a read:

The Time to Decide
by Bruce Kiskaddon

Did you ever stand on the ledges,
On the brink of the great plateau
And look from their jagged edges
On the country that lay below?

When your vision met no resistance
And nothing to stop your gaze,
Till the mountain peaks in the distance
Stood wrapped in a purple haze.

On the winding water courses
And the trails on the mountain sides,
Where you guided your patient horses
On your long and lonesome rides.

When you saw Earth’s open pages
And you seemed to understand
As you gazed on the work of ages,
Rugged and rough, but grand.

There, the things that you thought were strongest
And the things that you thought were great,
And for which you had striven longest
Seemed to carry but little weight.

While the things that were always nearer,
The things that you thought were small;
Seemed to stand out grander and clearer.
As you looked from the mountain wall.

While you’re gazing on such a vision
And your outlook is clear and wide,
If you have to make a decision,
That’s the time and place to decide

Although you return to the city
And mingle again with the throng;
Though your heart may be softened by pity
Or bitter from strife and wrong.

Though others should laugh in derision,
And the voice of the past grow dim;
Yet, stick to the cool decision
That you made on the mountain’s rim.

There have been many times in life since that day I have used this poem to orient my mind to move forward making important changes in my life. Changes, in fact, that I knew were for the best but that are not always easy to do.

Divorcing myself from the rather toxic relationship I had developed with Schara was one of the toughest, yet most important decisions I’ve had to make thus far in life. But Mr. Kiskaddon, through his insightful cowboy poetry, gave me the strength and the courage to follow through and make it happen. Not only 10 years ago…but almost each and every day since then.

© 2005 Jim Braaten. All Rights Reserved. No Reproduction Without Prior Permission.