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ISSUE 12, 13 JANUARY 2026
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Welcome back to The Bend!
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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.
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“Mindfulness begins the moment you realize you’re not
being mindful.”
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What the Current Pulled Toward
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This week the current pulled
toward what we carry.
Beyond the
obvious things like schedules, responsibilities, expectations, etc., we
all carry emotional and mental weight like old experiences, unresolved
moments, and grudges that all linger longer than they probably
should.
I didn’t start the week
intending to think about grudges. It began with a tongue-in-cheek post I
made on social media about a coat and vest being handed down from my
oldest daughters to my youngest. In the caption, I joked that it turns
out petty grudges aren’t the only things I selectively hold on to. It
was meant to be light but (like many other things in my life) as the
comments came in and the likes and loves started to add up, I began
perseverating about all the small (and yes, silly) grudges I hold. It’s
funny (pun intended) how humor tends to point directly at something true
well before you’ve decided you’re ready to examine it. I know I wasn’t
ready.
One of the many things I
thought about was a professional experience from more than a decade ago.
I interviewed for an executive-level position with an organization I
respected, however, the interview process itself was deeply
disrespectful: people talked to each other while I was answering
questions, someone left the room mid-response, phones were checked
instead of eyes meeting mine. I walked out knowing I’d been treated like
an interruption rather than a candidate. Even now, I still catch myself
begrudging that organization, despite the fact that nearly everyone
involved is long gone. I know holding onto it doesn’t make much sense.
And yet, I still do.
That experience in particular helps me think about the
difference between remembering and carrying. Some things, like a child’s coat and vest, are worth
holding onto because they still serve a purpose, like teaching us what
we won’t tolerate or how we want to show up differently. That situation
in particular ultimately made me a more present leader and a more
intentional interviewer so maybe that one is worth
carrying.
But other things
linger past their usefulness. When a grudge stops protecting you and
starts weighing you down, it turns into baggage. And making the decision
to let go isn’t the same as excusing what happened or pretending it
didn’t matter. Rather, it means allowing the lesson to stay while
telling the resentment to hit the road.
- Mike.
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The Valley Outdoor Infrastructure
Committee, known as VOICe, is a local political
advocacy group focused on ensuring investment in outdoor infrastructure
in the Roanoke Valley.
Their mission
includes identifying and supporting political leaders who prioritize
parks, trails, greenways, and outdoor amenities so residents can enjoy
quality outdoor spaces and a vibrant community. Their two signature
projects are reopening the former Roanoke Mountain Campground and fully
completing the Roanoke River Greenway.
This organization believes strongly that outdoor
infrastructure is more than just a “nice to have” amenity. Parks and
other comparable public spaces enhance quality of life, support active
lifestyles, and strengthen community bonds. VOICe’s vision is to secure
adequate public funding for these resources and advocate for long-term
investment so green spaces aren’t an afterthought but a priority. Rather
than leaning on the private sector to maintain and improve upon our
outdoor amenities, VOICe feels it’s the public sector’s responsibility
to ensure their long-term care and sustainability.
Standing firm in advocacy often means navigating
conflict, whether that’s with policymakers, with budgets, or with
competing interests, but the folks with VOICe understand that conflict
can be a catalyst for action. Their work highlights how we can channel
disagreement into collective progress, not division.
To learn more about VOICe, click
here.
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One Thought Worth Sitting With
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This week’s theme: What We Carry.
“Holding onto anger is like drinking
poison and expecting the other person to die.“
-Buddha
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Let’s Go to Germany and Austria!
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In less than 10 months, 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.
Monthly payment plans are available.
If you’ve ever wanted to explore Europe beyond the
postcards, this is your moment.
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Follow Oxbow on Social Media
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