Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Today, by far, was the coldest day I've experienced at Taft Camp. Temperatures hovered 35 degrees with a steady 15 mile an hour wind. The frigid conditions kept most guys inside. I also considered staying in. I was uncomfortable. I decided to stick to my regular routine and I'm glad I did. With almost 8 months in the books, I've sort of become programmed. I can pretty much guarantee where I'll be at any time. This steady routine keeps me focused and driven, while helping pass the time. Some days I still can't believe I'll be home in five months. It feels as if I just got here.
After running 11 miles, I spent an hour or so helping my fellow dorm orderlies decorate the dorm with Christmas decorations. My primary job was painting Santa and Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. I'm an excellent painter. I asked my counselor where the Hanukkah decorations were, but she just smiled and walked away. After that I called my mother to confirm she's visiting Friday. I love visits. My mother said she'll be here at 10:00 A.M., which means 11:30 A.M. Then I showered (we had hot water for a change), made a cup of hot chocolate, threw on some sweats and finished reading the powerful book, A Man's Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl.
In Victor Frankl's book, A Man's Search for Meaning, I learned a little something about coping with difficult situations. Victor Frankl had been a prisoner in Hitler's concentration camps, and he suffered unfathomable losses, He watched Nazi officers summarily execute his immediate family and never knew whether they would extinguish his own life. Despite the traumatic conditions, Frankl said that he learned that men could adjust by embracing activities that brought meaning to their lives.
I recommend this wonderful book to anyone who's looking for a different perspective on life. I hope it helps you as much as me.
