Rebel Talk: The Things We Take for Granted

There are moments in life that burn themselves into our memories—not because they were loud or grand, but because they were real. The car rides to the cabin with my dad. The sound of gravel under the tires. The smell of pine as we got closer to the woods. The music humming through the speakers—songs that, even now, can bring me right back to those days.

Those moments seemed small then. Just another weekend. Just another trip. But now, I realize they were everything.

This weekend, it’s youth deer hunting season here in Minnesota. My oldest boy is finally old enough to join me in the stand. He’s got his gun safety done, he’s practiced, and he’s ready. He’s got that same excitement I once had—the kind you can’t fake. The kind that runs deep in your blood when you grow up loving the outdoors.

It’s a lot of work to get ready. The land, the stand, the travel, the gear, the cabin—it’s not a simple “grab your stuff and go” operation. Especially as a dad doing it on my time, with the boys half the week. There are logistics, planning, and the constant juggling act of life. But man, is it worth it.

Two moments have already stuck out.
The first—my youngest, who I honestly didn’t think would want to come, looked at me and said, “Dad, can I go too?”
You want to talk about a proud moment? That one hit me. Hard.
Because sometimes, as parents, we think they’re not paying attention. That they’re lost in their own world. But when they show up and want to be part of yours, that’s a feeling you can’t describe.

The second—yesterday, out in the stand. No deer on the ground. But we had chances, we saw plenty, and we were in it together. The silence, the whispering between us, the crunch of leaves when a deer passed through. Just being there—side by side—watching the woods wake up and wind down. That was the win.

I realized something sitting there, staring out over that ridge:
So many of the best moments in life aren’t about what happens. They’re about who you’re with when it happens.

We all get caught up in the grind—the work, the goals, the noise. I get it. I’m guilty of it too. But the truth is, life doesn’t stop for your schedule. The world doesn’t pause until you’re “caught up.” And those small moments—the ones that become lifelong memories—don’t wait around.

Whether it’s a hunting trip, a car ride, a fishing pole on the dock, or just sitting on the couch talking—it’s not the activity that matters. It’s the presence. The willingness to be there, fully, even when life pulls you a thousand different directions.

Someday, my boys will talk about these weekends the same way I talk about mine with my dad. They’ll remember the drives, the music, the smell of the cabin, the laughter when we missed, and the pride when we didn’t.

And maybe, when I’m gone, they’ll look back and say, “Man, Dad made sure we had those moments.”

So here’s my message to you—whoever you are, wherever you’re at:
Don’t take it for granted. Don’t wait for the “perfect” time to make memories. Life isn’t about chasing comfort—it’s about chasing connection. Go make the memories that will outlive you. Go do the work that leads to the moments that matter.

Because one day, you’ll realize it wasn’t the trophies, the money, or the things that made life rich. It was the people. The laughter. The stories.

The moments in the stand, when no deer showed—but everything else did.

That’s what it means to live The Relentless Rebel Way.

It’s not about having it all. It’s about appreciating it all.
Right here. Right now.

Enjoy a Listen: The Things I Take for Granted

Stay Relentless,

Ryan