🐔 Unplugging Go Go Go Gary

How one chicken nearly ruined camp—and how I fried him instead.

This past week, I was at Camp Friedlander with our Scout troop. Tent pitched by a lake. Nestled in the woods. It should’ve been peak relaxation.

But on Day One, I heard him.

At first, I listened.

I found myself in the Eagle’s Nest—the only place at camp with Wi-Fi and air conditioning. The perfect excuse to “just get a little work done.”
(In my defense: air conditioning.)

But early in the week, I heard him loud and clear.

The chicken I call Go Go Go Gary.

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Meet Gary

Gary is the voice in your head that says things like:

• “Don’t stop now.”

• “Keep checking your email.”

• “One more task before lunch.”

• “You’re not allowed to relax yet—you haven’t done enough.”

Gary doesn’t nap. Gary doesn’t stroll.
Gary definitely doesn’t believe in glacier breaks (that’s half slushee, half soft-serve, by the way—and yes, it’s a camp favorite).

So there I was: cooling off in the Eagle’s Nest, knocking out tasks, all while Gary clucked in my head. I got a little work done… but I knew what was happening.

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The Busy Bastard Warning

Colin Powell, in his book It Worked for Me: In Life and Leadership, warned about becoming one of the “busy bastards.” He wrote:

“A busy bastard can’t stop finding things to do. He never rests … Be busy, work hard, but don’t become so busy that you cut out other things in life, like family and recreation and hobbies.”

And that was it.

Go Go Go Gary was turning me into a busy bastard.

And I was at an incredible camp.

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So I unplugged—just a little

Here’s what I did instead of letting Gary run the show:

• I had a glacier (slushee + soft-serve = magic).

• I took multiple naps.

• I went on a field trip to a local farmer’s market.

• I played camp trivia.

• And with a crack team of adult leaders, we entered a slushee tasting competition—and won.
  The prize? Another glacier.

On Friday, Gary showed up again—early.

“Hey! You could make your Friday 6:30 a.m. call!”

And I could’ve. I love those calls.

But instead… I slept in.

Later, he chirped again:

“It’s newsletter day! Gotta fry those chickens!”

And sure—it was important to get the newsletter done. But I realized: not every chicken needs to be fried on a deadline.

So I took a walk.
Had more ice cream.
Took a nap in my tent—woods on one side, lake on the other.

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Fireworks and a Marching Moment

That night, we attended Red, White, and BOOM—a Fourth of July celebration with the Cincinnati Pops. It was an incredible night of music, fireworks, and community.

As part of the festivities, there was a Scouting celebration to honor Eagle Scout and Cincinnati Pops Maestro John Morris Russell, who received the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award.

All Scouts in attendance marched through the crowd while the Pops played Sousa’s Boy Scout March.

Then: Rossi fireworks. Music. Applause.

One of those nights you never forget.

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And Gary?

He finally got quiet.

Because the chicken that tells you to do everything isn’t helping.
He’s keeping you too busy to do what really matters.

This week, I didn’t fry my newsletter chicken.
I fried Go Go Go Gary instead.

Or—hear me out—maybe that last glacier froze him.
Either way, I was able to unwind.

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Have you met your own version of Gary?
And if so—what’s your glacier?