Day 3,893

Woo hoo – at least one more high school sporting event to go! Gavin qualified for Sectionals in Pole Vault while his 4×100 and 4×200 relay teams also both qualified. I was pretty nervous, so much fun watching him nail his jumps to punch his ticket!

Several other moments of learning and growth today from a work perspective. No need to elaborate, just a gentle reminder for myself to see clearly, to ask questions with the intent of learning, and remembering how important it is to lean into what we are truly encoded to do.

One last bonus – re-reading The Book of Joy has been amazing! This read has me viewing from a slightly different perspective and remembering to give myself a little grace.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,892

What a wild couple of weeks it has been!!!

Gavin’s graduation and party combined with the end of year school events and the last few track meets have been quite the crazy busy experience!!! Well worth every moment, no question, but it was certainly a lot of a lot.

This afternoon it took a little bit to settle in, but I was able to totally chill and decompress by picking up the graphic novel edition of on of my all time favorite books, American Gods. The hours melted away as I devoured the book, losing myself with the layers and layers of the masterful storytelling.

Taking this time to relax and head off to bed soon were exactly what I needed to help reset my brain.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,891

Gavin’s graduation party this evening was a total blast!!! Nonstop streams of friends and family joining us to celebrate Gavin’s completion of high school, it was almost dizzying trying to keep up with so many people in a short period of time. In so many ways it reminded me of our wedding reception in which we wish that we could slow down time and get to spend more time with each individual person in personal conversation. We had so many laughs, shared all the positive emotions, and enjoyed spending time with each other.

To everyone who helped make today such an awesomely memorable day for Gavin ad our family – thank you!!!

Huge bonus kudos to several people who totally overachieved and helped us out with preparation, set up, and clean up today! Phil and Nikki were amazing, helping out as we got things set up in the morning, cutting up veggies, moving stuff into the community center, and Nikki kept all the food filled up and ready throughout the party. Dominic’s buddy Rennick was also a huge help throughout, he was hustling his butt off in tear down and clean up and did an incredible packing job.

Today was so positively impacted by so many people in so many ways – thank you to each of you!!!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,890

LOL – another graduation week of chaos fueled blog post as I’m exhausted and ready to crash! This is definitely endemic of this type of family fueled chaos event, a sprint towards a goal. For sure, so many moving parts, but so much fun and so rewarding at the same time. I’m reminded that there will also likely be emotions to work through once the craziness is past.

Today was another day focused on prepping for Gavin’s graduation with a side of time with family from out of town. I also had an arts and crafts project, making the card box for Gavin’s graduation party as well as wrapping up the photo boards. So many photos, so many memories!

The time today flew by at breakneck pace, but it was truly full of so many wonderful moments! Great conversation, wonderful time spent with family, many memories of the past.

A nonstop day, but one that I would do over and over again as it totally filled my heart!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,889

Big day for Gavin today!!!

Very proud of all he’s accomplished and the wonderful human he keeps growing into!

Sharing in this special moment for him with so many family members was all the more excellent!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,888

This view during my morning run…

Knocking out a four mile run at a pace I haven’t run in many years felt amazing this morning! If I can keep improving my fitness as I get older I’ll be doing well and a ton of hiking!

Getting in a couple of hours long road trip with Dominic to watch Gavin’s track meet was a wonderful way to get some much appreciated one on one time with Dominic while also enjoying one of the last high school sporting events we have left on our calendar. Crazy to see how quickly it’s all wrapping up, yet rewarding to see how our relationship with Dominic has only grown and improved as he’s grown older.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,887

Slightly different directions today, still a triad of gratitude, but a little more scatter shot.

My alarm went off a little before 2am to watch The Boys with my boys when the series finale dropped for streaming. Yes, it was a ridiculous thing to do, but 100% something we will all remember forever. A moment of memory magic etched into our minds. I went right back to sleep afterwards, and it was worth every missed wink of sleep, no question!

Work today was largely focused on thought and larger projects. The previous days were people focused as tomorrow will be as well, the time focused on thought was exactly what my brain needed in order to be at max effectiveness tomorrow.

This quote from The Book of Joy…. so true.

“And, in a kind of paradoxical way,” the Archbishop continued, “it is how we face all of the things that seem to be negative in our lives that determines the kind of person we become. If we regard all of this as frustrating, we’re going to come out squeezed and tight and just angry and wishing to smash everything.”

Archbishop Tutu, The Book of Joy

Thanks!!!

Day 3,886

Interesting thing I learned as I was keeping my daily scorecard last night… while I want to help save teammates from discomfort in many ways that can lead to an undesirable outcome.

So often our growth and learning comes as a direct result of facing challenges and obstacles. By “protecting” them from difficulties I’m actually stagnating their development. By trying to keep them sheltered I do the exact harm I mentally mean to protect them from.

Over the past two days we’ve had several very direct conversations, worked through differences of opinion, talked about the difficult things that cause discomfort…

…and I’ve gotten more positive feedback than ever from those same teammates. “That meeting was the most successful we’ve ever had.” “That changed my entire mindset, I walked away feeling positive.”

Clarity > Comfort every single time.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,885

I’m most grateful for the timing of this blog, or, more accurately, for the reasons behind this late blog.

Becky and I had an extremely invigorating run in the rain well before sunrise, the warm temperatures leading to a very refreshing start to the day!

A bonkers day at work in which we all came to a similar realization that will help us grow more than expected.

After work was a dinner on the grill with the boys, Dominic doing the grilling, Gavin doing the dishes, and the three of us shooting the bull on the deck as we ate.

A brutal but positively powerful yoga session followed, leaving me a dripping puddle.

I wrapped up and ordered Gavin’s graduation party photo board pics, many memories relived with Gavin while doing so.

The boys talked me into a game of Catan, we had an epically close battle that was loaded with all the things we love about Catan.

I’m now exhausted and going to bed late, but with a huge smile on my face!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,884

In preparation for Gavin’s graduation party, we’ve been compiling photos of him through the years to display. As I’ve gone through our photos, I’ve found somewhere around a thousand featuring Gavin either as the sole focus or as part of a small group.

The project has taken considerable time, but talk about a blast of memories from the past eighteen-ish years!!!

So many moments of joy, happiness, love, friendship, chaotic high energy, smiles, and laughter. Each pic brings back emotions and memories. A breadcrumb left by “Mike of Years Gone By” for me today, reminding me of the journey we’ve made thus far with Gavin.

Yes, life will change, but it always does.

While these photos remind me of the changes, they also remind me of the resilience of joy. Through every change comes a choice, an opportunity to find the joy, soul, and love in each moment, regardless of the shifts.

Cheers to the photos that warm my soul with memories from the past while helping stoke the fire for today and each of its eventual tomorrows.

Thanks!!!