Look Up

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Almost 2 years ago, we planted several Coast Live Oak trees in our yard. We live out in a rural area that has enough space to support these native giants. These Oaks are iconic in Southern California because of the shear mass they can achieve over the course of hundreds of years. It’s awe-inspiring to stand under a 100-year oak tree and dream about what it has been witness to.

The climate in SoCal has been extremely hot and humid the past several weeks. The other day, I was on our back patio and found myself staring at these newly planted Oaks as if my glaring would will them to grow faster. I want the shade and privacy now! The irony is that the reason Coast Live Oaks can live so long is in part because they grow at a slower pace to allow for deep roots and even harder wood. If you have ever thrown a piece of oak in a fire you understand how much longer it will burn as compared to that bundle of Pine you bought at the grocery store. Hardwood is developed during hard times.

Right then and there it dawned on me that you can’t rush the type of growth that will last generations. The type of growth we need is slow, deliberate, and often leads us wondering if we are growing at all. Are we prepared to plant for the next generation? Planting for the future means that we don’t get to enjoy the shade during our time. What we do get to enjoy is the process of feeding, watering, and looking after these young trees to ensure that they grow in an environment that is suitable for 100 years, not the next 100 days.

As your Chief Encouragement Officer, I want to encourage you that we are in a season of planting and pruning. The digging, the watering, and the cutting is not terribly enjoyable, but it is all the while a great privilege. Remember to look up and admire the canopy you sit under because a previous generation did the same for you!

Grab a shovel,

Matt Davenport

C.E.O.

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GOOD JUICE

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Our 15th-month-old daughter recently walked over with a mask in hand grunting as to alarm me that I needed to have it on. It dawned on me that she sees the mask as an important part of my outfit. Like sunglasses, masks have become part of the uniform we carefully pick up before we leave the house.

Newton’s third law states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Wearing a mask makes it hard to read people face to face. We are forced to work overtime observing nuances in the eyes or body language in our everyday interactions. To Newton’s point, maybe these masks will make us better listeners. Maybe just maybe we will come out of this with superpowers that are able to detect even the slightest bit of pain in one another allowing us to become more supportive and sympathetic.

I believe we as a society are being pruned for the betterment of the next generation. Tree pruning is messy, dangerous, and sometimes expensive yet it is necessary to ensure the safety, beauty, and longevity of the tree being cut. As a nation, we have been fruitful for a long time but much of the fruit being produced today is sour and inedible. The only way to generate good-tasting produce for future generations is to cut back and cut out branches that were once deemed beneficial.

As your Chief Encouragement Officer, I’m asking all of us to consider the type and taste of the fruit you are bearing. Today’s note is not a political one it is a personal one. In order for us to mentally move beyond the troubles of today, we need to consider the opportunities of tomorrow. As the Greek proverb states, “Society grows great when old man plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.”

Onward and Upward,

Matt Davenport

C.E.O.

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MISPLACED

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I don’t describe myself as being overly handy. Don’t get me wrong, over the years I have hung pictures, shelves, put cribs and toys together but the experience is not a pleasant one for anyone in my vicinity. I become notably cranky and short-fused.  Most recently, my wife and I were hanging a picture in the house and I felt my patience diminish almost immediately. I started off with, “Who moved my stud finder?” 

The common denominator in my frustration always leads to blaming other people for things that are clearly my problem. Why is that? After some reflection, I’ve landed on the fact that I don’t put things away. It’s kind of like picking up a bag of salt and vinegar chips on one end of the grocery store and realizing you better not on the other side. Full disclosure, I look for a shelf within 5 feet of me and place those chips amongst the produce.

My point in all of this is that I think many of us have simply been misplaced. We have been picked and used by bosses, politicians, and relationships and never been put back where we belong. This disruption has not been all bad, in fact, looking back it was quite good for us. However, we are left with a sense that we don’t provide value or usefulness any longer.

Today, we have an opportunity to stand up and move in a direction that has long been pursuing us. We spend the majority of our lives taking bad advice from people that have an agenda. This agenda includes encouraging you to continue cramming yourself into a round hole when those who love and appreciate you see you as much more than a square peg. Right now, you have an opportunity to stop blaming others for your misplacement and realize you have enabled those lazy shoppers over the years.  

Here’s how:

1- Stop blaming others 

2- Listen to those that don’t benefit from your decisions

3- Ask the question, if I could have one prayer answered what would it be?

Over the years, this thought process has been quite helpful. When we own our station, clear the noise, and identify what is important, our windy road becomes purposeful, enjoyable, and straight.

Go for it!

Matt Davenport

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