|
|
|
|
ISSUE 10, 16 DECEMBER 2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Welcome back to The Bend!
|
|
The Bend follows a simple rhythm each week. The Eddy Line opens with a one-line thought or
observation, something short enough to remember but worth thinking
about. What the Current Pulled Toward dives a
little deeper into where the previous week’s energy went, whether that’s
a project, a partnership, or a personal lesson learned. Signal Fire highlights a person, place, or initiative
that deserves some attention. And One Thought Worth
Sitting With closes things out with a brief reflection or quote
that will hopefully help guide you through whatever you may be dealing
with.
It’s part journal, part field note, and hopefully
something that makes you pause for a moment before diving back into the
current.
|
|
|
|
|
|
As the holiday season approaches, I want to wish you
all a restful and meaningful end to the year. I’ll be taking a few weeks
to reflect on 2025 and prepare for what’s ahead in 2026.
The Bend will return in January.
Thank you, sincerely, for the continued support, the
conversations, and the trust along the way.
|
|
|
|
|
|
“Conflict isn’t the problem. How we deal with it
is.“
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
What the Current Pulled Toward
|
This week the current pulled toward
conflict.
Oftentimes, conflict isn’t the loud, headline-grabbing kind,
but the quieter, more persistent tension that shows up when people care
deeply but just see the world differently. Conflict is inevitable in
work, leadership, and relationships.
Avoiding it doesn’t make it disappear, while charging into
it without reflection rarely helps either. Over time, I’ve learned that
how we engage matters far
more than whether conflict exists at all.
For me, the anchor has become what I call
the Three A’s: acknowledge, assess, then
address.
First, acknowledge the conflict without minimizing it or
inflating it. I find it’s important to value and appreciate the feelings
involved and avoid the temptation to immediately dismiss them or start
in on why you think you’re right.
Then
assess what’s really at stake: values, expectations, communication, or
fear. As I’ve stated several times in previous issues, I’m a
values-driven person and I rely on those values to guide my
decision-making.
Only then does it
make sense to address it directly and honestly. Even with that approach,
I’ve had to accept a hard truth: not everyone will be happy with the
outcome. And that’s okay. I saw a quote recently that said “You may be
the sweetest peach on the tree but some folks just don’t like
peaches.”
Leadership grounded in
values requires consistency, not consensus. I’ve reached a point in my
life and my career where I’d rather be misunderstood or even disliked
for being firm and authentic than applauded for being agreeable and
inconsistent. When decisions align with your values and you show up the
same way each time, conflict becomes less about winning and more about
clarity.
- Mike.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The VA MTNS Outdoor Collective exists at the intersection of collaboration and challenge.
As a regional outdoor industry alliance, VA MTNS brings together
businesses, nonprofits, and community partners who don’t always see eye
to eye, but share a belief that the outdoor economy can be a force for
good across the Commonwealth.
The work isn’t always easy (alignment rarely is) but that’s
exactly why it matters.
VA MTNS
focuses on building relationships, advocating for outdoor recreation and
conservation, and strengthening the systems that support outdoor
businesses and communities. Progress requires honest conversations,
patience, and sometimes navigating disagreement without losing sight of
the bigger picture. It’s a reminder that conflict, when handled well,
doesn’t divide - it clarifies.
The
website and 2026 engagement calendar is currently being worked on and
will be available soon. In the meantime, you can follow VA MTNS on
Facebook,
Instagram,
and
LinkedIn.
Follow these links if
you’re interested in donating
or becoming a member.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
One Thought Worth Sitting With
|
|
This week’s theme: Conflict.
“If you avoid conflict to keep the peace, you start a
war inside yourself.”
-
Cheryl
Richardson
|
|
|
|
|
|
Let’s Go to Germany and Austria!
|
|
This time next year, Oxbow is heading overseas, and
you’re invited. We’re partnering with
EF Adventures for a guided
multi-adventure journey
through Germany and Austria, exploring Bavaria, Tyrol, and Salzburg
by foot, bike, paddle, and rail.
It’s part cultural immersion and part active escape,
with alpine trails, lakeside yoga, village cafés, and the kind of views
that make you forget your phone exists. This isn’t a tour bus vacation;
it’s a chance to travel intentionally, move through landscapes at a
human pace, and connect with a group that values
curiosity
as much as comfort.
If you’ve ever wanted to explore Europe beyond the
postcards, this is your moment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Follow Oxbow on Social Media
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
