Day 3,841

Growth:

Jim Collins had a succinct and powerful statement which has stayed in my head for years.

“The most treasured gifts in the world are kind words spontaneously tendered.” – Jim Collins

Over the past few days I’ve had reminders of how both sides of this equation as so powerfully accurate. Never hold back words of support, insight, love, or friendship, we never know how meaningful their impact might be.

Appreciation:

When in doubt, get outside and go for a hike in the woods. No question, it is the right answer every single time. Becky and I had the opportunity to get out to the quarry trail this morning with Leia and it was so tranquil having the trails almost completely to ourselves as we had time to talk, relax, and enjoy the views of area. With the whirlwind that has been the past week it felt great to unplug and wander, to not have screens or a deadline, and to just relax. Good stuff for sure!

Presence:

Eating dinner as a family. Planning a vacation as a family. Time together, sharing moments, finding Easter baskets, watching a movie. A wonderful chunk of time together!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,840

Is there much more that needs to be said , so grateful for the friends we would do anything far. That is the why we exist, the people who add the context to all we do, who love us because of our faults, our human-ness. When we are passed, all that is left is the impact we’ve made. That is why we exist, in honor of them.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,839

Way back in the day one of my mentors shared wisdom which has stuck with me for literally decades…

This advice was taken to heart in several different ways today. In each case it was correct. In each of those moments I was grateful.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,837

Growth:

A quote from Digital Minimalism really hit home for me today. As someone who was once scolded on a vacation with friends for “pacing too much and making everyone nervous,” relaxing has sometimes been difficult for me. Reading this quote helped me see that I may still be an odd ball, but there’s at least a few others out there with similar thoughts…

“I never understood the joy of watching other people play sports, can’t stand tourist attractions, don’t sit on the beach unless there’s a really big sand castle that needs to be made, don’t care about what the celebrities and politicians are doing. … Instead of all this, I seem to get satisfaction only from making stuff. Or maybe a better description would be solving problems and making improvements.” – Pete Adeney 

Appreciation:

My drive to work this morning was dominated by the storm that was rolling in from the west. After I dropped off Leia in Holmen the lightning seemed to explode nonstop! In each direction was a bright and clear bolt followed by another and another and another. What added to the spectacular show was the fact that the rain had not yet begun to fall, the clarity across the miles of flat river valley between the bluffs was superb! As the miles ticked away the rain then began to hammer my car in buckets, and then the metallic clinking of hail filled my ears.

While I drove through the pounding of the storm I just kept smiling and enjoying the absolute show Mother Nature was putting on! So much fun catching an early morning storm just as the sun is about to rise. As I turned off towards Arcadia the storm shifted to my rearview mirror and clear skies and the pink hues of the upcoming sunrise shown through my windshield. Such a dazzling dichotomy, a wonderful view!

Presence:

Being fully engaged in conversation with a dear friend, listening with full attentiveness and without judgement. Sharing in the difficult moments of life. The moments when friendships grow stronger, reminding us that difficulty and challenge can lead to growth should we choose to look for it. Reminding us that the most important thing we can do in our lives is to be present for each other.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,836

Growth:

How much discomfort comes as a result of attempting to avoid short term discomfort? As we walked through a variety of different situations at work we went back through some past scenarios – almost all of which could have been avoided with a single difficult conversation at the right time and for the right reasons. Ignore the discomfort, dive right in and get it over with, life is so much easier afterwards!

Appreciation:

Taking time to enjoy silence and calm, relaxing to quiet music. Dreaming, thinking, pausing, breathing. Learning, remembering, growing, staying. Balance. Finding the edge and riding it. Deep thought, surface calm. My mind has been awash in so many thoughts and directions today.

What I am appreciating most is the way I’ve allowed it to work through me, not forcing anything, just being – and being in full honesty and transparency. So freeing, and yet so terrifying at the same time. A complete lack of control, yet in command of my thoughts and actions and decisions.

Adrift, but happily, on seas of uncertainty. Likely towards a destination, though unknown at present. Not forcing, allowing, occasionally lightly guiding. Aware.

Presence:

This was one of the last “normal” habits to get back into since we were in Italy – Monday Yoga Date Night!

The yoga itself was outstanding, one of Lace’s best classes. Spending time on the way to and from with Becky was wonderful, an opportunity to pause all the chaos of real life to be focused on what was most important – presence.

Last bit of regular has snapped back into place and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,834

With so much turbulence (for lack of a better term) in my soul a day like this was what was needed to calm the waters. Very little agenda, not too many tasks, and a lot of extra time and space.

Early in the day Gavin and I knocked out tasks, watched Dominic play rugby thanks to the streaming of Notre Dame, and find a little time to chill. Gavin had plans to watch Project Hail Mary with friends later in the evening so he was in full on crush the audiobook mode for most of the day – volunteering to do all the housework so he had an opportunity to keep busy and moving while he took in the audiobook. This gave me time to knock out some additional things including busting out the grill for its maiden voyage of the season.

Later in the afternoon we headed to Trempleau Wildlife Refuge to knock out some hiking with Leia. Gavin kept his AirPods in and I just enjoyed all that was around me, the fresh air, the wildlife, the scents of spring. All around was the calming of the life of the outdoors – no calls, no distractions, no demands, only calm stillness. In that stillness were muskrat, beavers, and so many birds – including the first ever Wilson’s Snipe I’ve seen in the wild. In those hours of stillness my soul was at ease, relaxed, where it should be. Any and all stress melted away, there was only existence in the moment.

We took our time on the way home, taking the long way, driving slow, enjoying the moment. At home was more calm as we still got housework done, but in a very relaxed way. After Gavin left I confined to read on the couch for quite some time. Soon I’ll be off to bed, well before 10pm on a Saturday evening so I can be up early and off with Leia for some hiking before dawn.

So much calm today, exactly what I needed.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,832

Growth:

No mater how badly I want to change the dynamics of the time space continuum I am unable to have enough time to do all of the things I would like to do. Accept that fact, pause to choose what lives more intentionally into the person you should be, do that, and let go of what cannot be done.

Appreciation:

Interesting how the answers to the most difficult questions in life can often be found all around us, but only when we start to look for them. If we’re fortunate we’ll feel a nudge towards something or a little Universe gravity pulling us towards something, but quite often it’s not going to appear until we take the intentional action of flipping the switch on for our flashlight. As soon as the light turns on we see all the nuggets reflecting the light back towards us, helping us find our way. Quite often this may be through friends, books, ideas, memories, action, and the like. Once we had the illumination we can stay to move forward.

Cheers to the reflectors that drew me today – specifically the books I’ve read recently, the quotes I’ve saved from them, and the time I took to reread them today.

Presence:

Taking time to breathe, to pause the world for a moment. Finding the quotes from a recently read book to jot down for later. Reading other ideas which seem to line up well. Creating space and removing myself from tension. Space to think and reflect.

Thanks!!!