In light of reviews, new years resolutions, new hairstyles, or whatever new is going on in your life as 2017 is off to a start, I thought I'd share some thoughts on how to take feedback like a champ. These tips are from an original article by The Muse entitled "How to Take Constructive Criticism Like a Champ," but I prefer the term feedback. Keep these tips in mind during your review, or anytime you receive feedback from anyone in your life that your knee-jerk reaction may be unpleasant to at first:

1. Stop your first reaction: In fact, try not to react at all. Give yourself a few seconds to remain calm and process the words being said.

2. Remember the benefit of getting feedback: whether the situation warrants to improve skills, working habits, relationships, etc. 

3. Listen: Now that you're "calm and cool as a cucumber"(as my mother would say. Don't ask where it came from because I don't know) you can receive and process the words being said without going into defense mode by instantly mapping out a plan of rebuttal. 

4. Say thank you: And this is important! If you react badly to feedback, others may not be willing to give you anymore down the road, and as tough as it may be to take sometimes, I think we can all agree that in most instances we can gain something good from it. Also, remember that a lot of times feedback is as difficult to give as it is to take.

5. Ask Questions: Deconstruct the feedback you're receiving by repeating it back to the giver, and ask questions to clarify: "I hear that I need to be writing more detailed emails, could we discuss how I might go about this in the future?"

Coffee in Desolation

It was late spring when we made it to the lake. The drive up US 50 was beautiful as city gently faded into treeline. The hike up was grueling but what I have found is the more difficult the hike, the more peaceful it is. There is something about the quiet that comes with an exhausted mind. The only thought we could hold was taking the next step. But the landscape and views were more than enough to keep us going.

The memory of our father telling us stories of adventure was the spark behind the trip. My brother and I longed to connect with those stories of hardship and danger that we heard as young children. We chose this backcountry hike on a whim; it hit a few peaks and promised some spectacular views, much like the ones from our father’s tales.

As in any multi-day hike, we packed simple foods, weight being more of an issue than flavor, but there is one item I find worth the weight: Coffee. As we neared the first peak our pace quickened until the surprise of snow hit us. Our paced dragged to a crawl. Snowshoes would have been a good idea but being so close to summer, it never crossed our minds. And as we struggled on the snow made the trails fainter and fainter.

Stopping our trek at around 9,000 ft. The more I “adventure” the more I realize that I often find myself wildly unprepared, and at times a bit lost, but this is what adventure is. It’s not the plan we make, nor the ideal experience, but rather the story that comes with every surprise you encounter.

Through these adventures, I haven’t yet run into a problem that good company and a great cup of coffee couldn’t fix. As we drank the warm beverage, our cold bodies sat in silence. But as the reviving nature of the coffee began to do its work, laughter and good conversation followed.

Although we didn’t get as far as we had hoped; we camped near a beautiful snow-covered peak somewhere in Desolation National Forest.