Thankful for Walking Away, Clarity, & a Difficult Yoga

Day 3,801

Growth:

Interesting to experience a situation in which we already know what our BATNA (Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement) is and are able to keep both ego and competitiveness in check to reach for the logical outcome. When that cannot be reached, it is often best to walk away. So often we get drug into a poor decision due to the gravity of ego and competitiveness pulling us in. If you doubt that, watch the last moments of an eBay auction and observe a “deal” quickly transformed into a poor choice.

Today we went into a conversation knowing what we were willing to do and what we were not. When it was made clear there would not be an agreement we walked away, quite possibly one of the best business choices we’ve made in a long while!

Appreciation:

With clarity of purpose and clarity of values comes clarity in life. When we take time to discern what is really important to us we seem to attract more of that similar energy and repel that which doesn’t match. The difficult becomes so much easier to do as the clarity helps to understand the why behind the difficult action. When we know the why the how becomes so much easier to tackle, even when it may seem hard.

Life was not easy today, in fact, it was exceedingly difficult, yet it was exceedingly easy as a result of clarity. Things may not have gone as I would have preferred, but they went exactly as they needed to. The actions which normally would have been difficult were much easier due to the clarity of purpose and values.

Presence:

Yoga this evening as outstanding! It echoed a quote from The Snow Leopard by Peter Matthiessen, “tough enough so that we feel we have really accomplished something, but not so tough that it wiped us out entirely.” So centering, so stretching, so invigorating, and so calming all at once!

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Reading and Re-Reading, Deeper Perspectives, & a Happy Pup

Thankful for Reading and Re-Reading, Deeper Perspectives, & a Happy Pup

Day 3,800

Growth:

There is so much depth to some of the best books, be sure to read, re-read, and re-re-read them to start to really dive into them. Each re-reading should shine light in slightly different ways. Combine that with the changes in perspective we each bring to future readings and the experience should multiply each time through the pages.

Appreciation:

Throughout the past few days I’ve been very thankful for some of the ways I’ve read each book a little differently upon the second reading.

In The Snow Leopard I was struck by how differently he wrote as he started on his journey as compared to in the depth of his solitude and simplicity and as compared to he re-entry into the “civilized life.” The first reading was all an out the journey itself for me, but this next time through was seeing how he had transformed at a very deep level before being shocked back into his former life. This is a sensation I am well aware of to a much lesser extent from some of my experiences.

Of Mice and Men was a beautiful yet tragic story the first time through, a story of friends and dreams that don’t always end as hoped. This time I was more caught up in how lonely each person was, how the wanted desperately to hold onto a dream, and yet pushed others away and were pushed away at every turn. Still beautiful, but significantly more tragic and heartbreaking.

All of this, all of these levels, from the same books. All I needed to was to read them, set them aside, and read them again.

Presence:

Watching this pup live her absolute best life bounding through the snow! There was no way to not enjoy the moment as she ran all over in the snow.

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Sleeping, Snowshoeing, Rugby, and Road Tripping

Day 3,799

Very full day, started off with waking up after eight and a half hours of sleep! Best way to start a Saturday is being fully rested.

Becky and I busted out the snowshoes and got a couple of hours of sunny outdoor time while Leia was bounding through the snow. Felt invigorating to get fresh air this morning!

We then road tripped three and a half hours to watch Dominic play rugby. He had a great game including a handful of tackles and a couple of scores! So much fun watching him do the things he enjoys, even if it makes for a long day of driving.

The driving itself as a perfect opportunity for Becky and I to get some chill time in the car. Yeah, driving can get old, but road tripping is well worth it! Had a blast in our almost eight total hours of drive time together!

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Acceptance, My Mentors and Coaches, & Walking in a Shaken Snow Globe

Day 3,798

Growth:

The acceptance of what is, a trait to be cultivated and grown. In The Snow Leopard this exchange really gets at the heart of the matter:

“The Lama of the Crystal Monastery appears to be a very happy man, and yet I wonder how he feels about his isolation in the silences of Tsakang, which he has not left in eight years now and, because of his legs, may never leave again. Since Jang-bu seems uncomfortable with the Lama or with himself or perhaps with us, I tell him not to inquire on this point if it seems to him impertinent, but after a moment Jang-bu does so. And this holy man of great directness and simplicity, big white teeth shining, laughs out loud in an infectious way at Jang-bu’s question. Indicating his twisted legs without a trace of self-pity or bitterness, as if they belonged to all of us, he casts his arms wide to the sky and the snow mountains, the high sun and dancing sheep, and cries, “Of course I am happy here! It’s wonderful! Especially when I have no choice!”

In its wholehearted acceptance of what is, this is just what Soen Roshi might have said: I feel as if he had struck me in the chest. I thank him, bow, go softly down the mountain: under my parka, the folded prayer flag glows. Butter tea and wind pictures, the Crystal Mountain, and blue sheep dancing on the snow—it’s quite enough!

Have you seen the snow leopard?

No! Isn’t that wonderful?”

~ Peter Matthiessen, The Snow Leopard

Appreciation:

I’ve been fortunate to have many positive influences in my life, people who’ve helped to change my perspective, challenged my thinking, and have led to so much more growth than I would have been capable of on my own. These guides have been present throughout all stages of my life, leading me from above / below / within, and often seem to appear when not expected or just as likely when I’m realizing I’m in need of guidance. They’ve led me to both joy and discomfort, they’ve built up my confidence and humbled me. Throughout they’ve always helped me. Tonight I’m grateful for each and every single one of them for their coaching, their patience, and the positive impact they’ve had on me.

Presence:

The snow this morning in La Crosse was ridiculous!!! Becky and I swapped out our morning run for a walking in the snow slog in the 10+” of fresh packy snow – pretty sure I burned more calories than the run normally would! There was a peace to be found in the stillness, a quiet calm, an opportunity to talk without distraction. So calming in it’s own special shaken snow globe kind of way.

Thanks!!!

Thankful for an Early Start, a Long Middle, and an Early End

Day 3,797

Today started off early and in an excellent way and then sprinted along at a breakneck pace for the next 10+ hours. It finally slowed a bit, provided a couple of twists and turns, launched into a game of chess, and is now off for an early bed.

So much happened throughout the day that I’d say my head is spinning, but it’s too full to move. A great night of sleep will clear it all out and help me to start anew tomorrow, to wrap up all that was started today.

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Choosing Perspective, Living Into a Lesson, & Staying Present

Day 3,796

Growth:

Our days are full of where we are in the present moment, they are what we focus on throughout the day, they are where we let our minds and attention wander. We can either look to the frustrations, to the joys, or to a combination of both. Choose where we should be focused, trust our ability to learn from the difficulty and move on. Today I’m choosing to stay focused in the positive, to accept the frustrations and work through them, and to be present where I should be.

Appreciation:

Nothing quite like finding a way to combine a handful of things that bring me energy! One of my Top 3 Lessons to Remember this year is “I thrive when combining purpose, outdoors, & people,” and I was able to create a way to live into that today. The results was better than expected and I’m excited to keep growing into it more and more as the months go by.

Presence:

Pausing to breathe, think, and intentionally choose where to be, to be present in the moment. Shutting out distractions, outside thoughts, and that which is not needed at this very moment. There will be a time for those challenges to be dealt with, deal with them then, don’t allow them to pry my hands from the present moment.

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Learning Through Fiction, Firmness, & Chess with Gavin

Day 3,795

Growth:

Biographies and autobiographies provide wonderful learning opportunities, as do many nonfiction. Fictions can be just as enlightening from a learning standpoint, their ability to work within a sandbox and craft directly from the aether lead to eye opening ideas. Their focus on stepping outside of reality to help us see something very similar but in a different light and from a different perspective can shock our systems into a different understanding. As I wrapped up Operation Bounce House by Matt Dinniman this evening I just paused for a moment to appreciate the ability of fiction to shift our brains in the right direction.

Appreciation:

There were a handful of moments today in which I needed to speak up to re-direct. This isn’t my default, I prefer to go with the flow and allow some flexibility. Over the past few years I’ve been finding more and more how important it is to stay flexible in some ways while at the same time becoming much more rigid in others. By the end of the work day I realized just how much I had to vacillate between those two extremes, often in the same conversation, and see how much I’ve been able to grow that muscle over the past two years. I remember this time last year it felt like I needed to put in so much more effort to stay firm, now it is almost as if I’ve developed the reflex and can hear my brain click into that mode.

Today I’m grateful for that growth, the confidence that keeps building, and all of the experiences – good and frustrating – that led me to here.

Presence:

Playing a game of chess with Gavin after dinner was very engaging and a lot of fun! He’s a fan of the game and I’m very much a beginner, but regardless it was a great time learning from what he was doing, asking questions, and taking time to appreciate the experience of figuring it out. Throw in that it was time for the two of us to chillax together and it was a great way to spend an hour of a Tuesday night.

Thanks!!!

Thankful for React or Respond, a Full Tilt Monday, & Spring Moments in February

Day 3,794

Growth:

Yesterday’s homily included the phrase – “should we react or respond?” Throughout the day this echoed in my mind as different situations arose. Very rarely is reaction necessary, usually a response is more fitting. Intentionality, phrased differently. A reminder to work through thought and logic rather than immediate reaction.

Appreciation:

Is there much better in a workweek than a Monday that starts off running full bore, provides about 15 minutes to breathe, and proceeds to go full tilt until after work hours? The day was gone in a flash, the level of productivity was high, most things went very well and the things that didn’t provided excellent learning opportunities. A nonstop thrill ride of fun and excitement for sure!

Presence:

Running in 40 degree weather in the pre-sunrise hours in mid-February, working with my office windows open, enjoying the crisp cool air after a session of hot yoga. All moments to enjoy and savor today!

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Enthusiastic Speakers, Becky’s Homemade Lasagna, & a Perfect Weather Hiking Day

Day 3,793

Growth:

The level of enthusiasm of an individual can have an outsized impact on the impact of the message they are sharing. The more excited the speaker is the more energized the audience likely is as well. Here’s to the speakers and leaders who live into this with regularity!

Appreciation:

Many great things today, so many reasons to be thankful. Of all of them, the top of my list was definitely Becky’s homemade lasagna! So delicious!!! My favorite meal by far, I was very thankful for Becky making it for us. It takes a ton of work, but it is well worth every tasty bite!!!

Presence:

The weather today – OMG!!! So beautiful outside today, the sun, the temperature, and there was almost no wind at all. What a wonderful late Spring day in the midst of Winter! Super grateful for the time we had hiking as a family this afternoon!

Thanks!!!