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!!!

Day 3,883

What an awesome day spending time with friends and family at the conference track meet! Becky and I met up with Dominic at the track and we watched Gavin put on an excellent performance in pole vaulting, the 4×100, and the 4×200.

Some friends also had kids running today so we all hung out on the bleachers shooting the bull as the kids competed. Afterwards we grabbed an early supper together and shot the bull. From there the boys, Becky, and I played games, went for a walk, and enjoyed some chill time together.

Talk about a perfect day!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,882

Whew!!! Made it to the weekend, this has been a long string of days! Nonstop for the past two plus weeks, tomorrow will be about the most chill day I’ve had since. Work, life, and everything in between has been going at a breakneck pace. I’m so many ways my brain looked to today as the point in which I’d cross a finish line of sorts.

Great day all around, wonderful conversations, catching up with friends, thinking about future endeavors, relaxing at home with Becky and Gavin, watching an old favorite comedy with Gavin, and so many other moments of chill.

Now it’s off to sleep, many hours of recuperation, and a more relaxing day ahead.

Finis line crossed, recharging ahead, another sprint, and then more chill.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,881

Growth:

I really liked this quote for a few different reasons…

“I said that he shouldn’t be scared about that sort of thing. Yes, it could happen at any moment, it’s true, but if we worry about things we can’t control, we start to ruin the things we can control.”

Matt Dinniman, A Parade of Horribles

Appreciation:

In taking time to reflect we can learn so much about ourselves. Why did I act this way? Why did I overeat today? Why did I waste time? How did I do so well on a project? What could I have done differently to make all the difference?

In living without reflection we’re doomed to making the same mistakes or to leaving life up to chance. In reflection we learn.

Presence:

Sharing a heartfelt story, opening up the emotional to share with others. Remembering difficult moments, remembering how much we learned from them. The moment in which you see pain transformed into something beautiful.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,880

Growth:

Sometimes we just have to try it, right? Throw the dyno, launch and trust your skills, and attempt something you’ve never done.

I did just that today, tried something I’d never done before, and had much better results than expected.

Fail forward, try new things, see what happens, learn, and try again!

Appreciation:

There’s a beauty to having the flexibility to adapt a day to fit what needs to be done. Starting extremely early while the endorphins are pumping fresh off a run! Then take some time to pause and breathe and be where I need to be. Get back at it, bust ass, and then take time to breathe where needed as well. The ability to adapt is very helpful to make sure I’m present where I need to be and when it takes the most advantage of my energy levels. Worked well today!

Presence:

Pausing for a moment in the fresh air, savoring the sun on my face, maybe closing my eyes for a moment, and enjoying a perfect moment of stillness. Good stuff!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,879

For sure, no judging for taste here! Last summer Gavin and I crushed this series largely together on our road trips and it’s bringing a dash of nostalgia for those rides.

Nothing quite like ordering something up for the day it comes out, diving in with reckless abandon, and savoring the memories while enjoying the ride!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,878

Growth:

Over the past week I re-read Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. As I’ve felt stress and frustration all it takes is a quick and intentional pause to consider his life in the concentration camps to help me choose a better perspective and mindset.

If you have not read that book I cannot recommend it highly enough. One of the most moving and inspiring books of all time.

Appreciation:

Is there anything type of coaching more rewarding than when you have a player who:

• Actively mines for feedback
• Asks many questions – but never the same one twice, and always in a natural progression of understanding
• Immediately shares what went well and what didn’t in order to learn from the experience
• Zooms out to understand not just the scoreboard but the Why behind the scoreboard
• Who is not afraid to try new things rather than waiting to be pushed

Put those traits together and you have a teammate who reminds us why growing and mentoring teammates is amongst the most purposeful and fulfilling activities we can do.

Presence:

As I sit here and feel my entire body tightening up I can’t help but pause and enjoy the sensation. No, I’m not that sick and twisted, it’s the enjoyment derived from a hard workout in which the stiffness and soreness afterwards is the result of pushing oneself to the point of growth (but not to the point of completely breaking). I’m tired, stiff, sore, and savoring each of those sensations. Progress was made tonight and I’ll enjoy each deliciously uncomfortable moment of it!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,877

Lots of family time this weekend! From Becky’s parents and brother joining us at Gavin’s track meet to Mom and Brad staying at our house to Nick and his family spending time at our house to celebrate our niece’s college graduation to some bonus time with Mom this morning it was a nonstop almost 48 hours or time with family.

Grateful for the time and conversations with all involved, always nice getting time together for sure!

This afternoon has been a very different pace, getting a family hike in, watching Dominic’s rugby matches, and eating dinner with the three of us on the deck. We’re now each wrapping up the evening doing our own things – blogging, studying, relaxing – as we wrap up the weekend.

The next couple of weeks are going to fly by in a blur, it was nice getting in some family time and also a little bit of chill time before life gets all types of busy quickly!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,876

Dominic’s University of Minnesota Gophers were competing in the National Championship tournament for D1AA rugby today (& tomorrow) and he had himself quite the moment, knocking out one of his goals, scoring at Nationals:

Quite the moment for sure! Super proud of all of the hard work he has put into rugby over the past few years, this was a wonderful opportunity to see the benefits of that grit.

I was watching this live from the La Crosse Center as we awaited my niece’s graduation ceremony for her masters degree in nursing – another awesome moment for her and the family! It was excellent being able to share in her moment of celebration after years of hard work.

Two big moments within hours of each other, a great way to spend the day!

Thanks!!!