Doing Scary Risky Things

July 05, 2023 by Stephen Hallgren in Life, nonfractional

I’m 43, going on 44. It’s surprising how many of those years I look back on with regret. I’ve been a person, son, husband, dad, friend and employee, each with varying responsibilities, expectations and roles. I have definitely not lived up to who I’ve wanted to be or even who my family has needed me to be. Possibly one of the greatest things I’ve learned in the previous few years is that despite how I feel about my past, none of that dictates my future. Change is possible.

Inferiority, Superiority, Pride and Love

January 17, 2020 by Stephen Hallgren in Life

My first recollection of being being made fun of was in kindergarten. As I was walking up the sidewalk to school a boy came up to me and informed me that my butt wagged back and forth when I walked. He then proceeded to ask me if I wanted a peanut butter and poop sandwich. As a savvy 6 year old, I obviously turned down his generous offer of the sandwich, but no self-respecting 6 year old is gonna let his butt wag. The rest of the way to school I tried my hardest to keep my butt from wagging…

Fostering Thankfulness Through Running

December 27, 2019 by Stephen Hallgren in Life

The wind bites through my clothing, I can feel its sharp teeth pierce my skin. Drips of sweat quickly freeze and create icicles, stalactites of water, off of my face. Every stride crunches into a pile of snow, hopefully not hiding a patch of ice. My extremities are rebelling against the chill of the wind, while my mind wonders if I’m wearing enough clothes to prevent frostbite…

40 & Beyond

December 02, 2019 by Stephen Hallgren in Life

I’m 40. I’ve been told I don’t look 40. I definitely don’t feel 40, in fact, I’m in better health both mentally and physically than I’ve ever been. But, I checked my birth certificate and it does indeed confirm the fact that I am 40. The clothing and hair styles of my parents in my baby photos also confirm that I was born at the end of the 70s. While 40 seems old to some, or that it indicates years of decline, I see something different. I see years of growth from my 20s and 30s that I’m excited about continuing well into the rest of my life...