My drive to work started with The Woods by Hollow Coves and led into another handful of their songs. Time alone in my car, my space to breathe and think. As I once explained it to a teammate, my car is sometimes the cave I need to disappear into to reset a bit. Listening to Hollow Coves while driving by newly formed stalactites of ices hanging impossibly off the bluffs with a pinkish hue thrown off by the soon to rise sun was total bliss. The moon slowly setting behind the bluffs over the rolling hills of the cemetery added more beauty and wonder to the drive. Yes, I drive a little ways out of my way most days in Winona to intentionally pass slowly by a cemetery… A wonderful reminder to live in the moment while I am still fortunate to have one.

One of the songs helped get me moving towards a possible theme for me to consider for 2022. My mind has been drifting to next year and thinking about my goals and focus for the upcoming spin around the sun. In the lyrics of the song I heard a line which came so close to summing up my thoughts… so close, but just not quite right. Progress, always an excellent feeling.

Recently my reading list has been full of some pretty dense and thought provoking stuff. I’ve still got my copy of The New Seeds of Contemplation by Thomas Merton on my nightstand, but I realized I could use a little levity. After considering a handful of potential reads from friends I couldn’t help but go back to favorite of mine – Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson. What’s interesting to me is the depth I’m finding in it this second time around. I remember bits but not much of the actual plot and am getting a deeper insight into the characters on this second trip with them. It’s fun, entertaining, and exactly what my brain needs at the moment (along with an early bed time).

Thanks!!!

Once in a while my blog posts are the result of the ongoing rumination of my mind. They start as a seed floating on the wind. Occasionally one of the seeds take root. Today is an awesome example of that.

Sometimes I need contrast in my life to help me see a bigger picture. When it is in focus other aspects of life seem to make more sense. Should I take this path I can expect to see this, otherwise I can see that. The clarity provided through experience of the contrast helps me choose a better path.

In many ways it is similar to the concept of only truly appreciating something when it is gone. The potential paths look so ethereal in concept and so much more concrete when shown specific examples. Contrast can really help push me forward as I more completely understand the potential destinations.

Thanks!!!

After breakfast with our whole family the four of us took off for a walk through the sand dunes surrounding the place we’re staying for our family Christmas in Nekoosa. The views were pretty awesome, I had no idea we had sandy plains like this so close to where we live. The terrain was very unlike what I was expecting.

While walking on the dunes there was something I kept noticing. Due to the wind blowing the tall grass and shrubs around the leaves and stems made beautiful circles in the sand. The geometric patterns that nature traced in the sand with her own creation was spectacular in its simplicity.

There was a pond at the base of the sand dune, right in our backyard. Dominic had found a golf ball and threw it across the pond. It took one bounce off the ice and landed in our backyard. A moment later there was a lovely and magical sound made by the ice. It started at one side of the pond and worked its way across the pond, paused, and then reverberated back across. I can’t even begin to describe the sound, it was so unlike anything I’ve heard before – the sound of beauty in nature.

Great time with family, great time outside. Perfect!

Thanks!!!

As I was checking out from Festival Foods today another couple approached me and started a fun conversation with me as I scanned my groceries. Within moments we were laughing and smiling as if we were all long lost friends. By the time I left all three of us were grinning and chuckling.

So much joy from a simple conversation with strangers.

It is so easy to stay closed up, stare at my phone, and ignore other people around me. There is an appeal to being disconnected from others, but how often have I missed the opportunity to experience the joy of connecting with others?

As I spend more time in thought and listen deeper to the world around me this moment really stuck out. Such an ordinary encounter, yet the meaning rang clearer than a well struck bell in the cold winter air. There was something so extraordinary in that ordinary moment. The presence of something greater.

The connection of strangers in smile and conversation… there’s the voice of Father Mark resonating in my head. Something about “God’s favorite dwelling place inside the souls of others.”

Of all of the moments I’ve experienced today that one fleeting conversation with a couple of strangers has touched me more deeply than it had any right to. Pure joy. Connection. The feeling of love for others. Beauty.

So simple, so complex, and I am so grateful.

Thanks!!!

One of my favorite parts of Saturday Night Live back in the 90’s was Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey. Amongst his many humorous quips was something along the lines of:

“Sometimes the so called experts actually are.”

Jack Handey

After all these years it still makes me chuckle!

While I often like to fix things on my own there are times when it is best to bring in the experts. I was reminded of this today as I reached out for advice on a specific challenge. Prior to the conversation I’d done plenty of homework and thought I already had it all figured out, but I still wanted the expert advice to make sure I wasn’t missing anything.

As luck would have it my assessment was proven to be pretty much spot on. Before I could congratulate myself for my work the expert then else to down an entirely different path that I didn’t even know existed. By the time our conversation was complete I’d quickly realized how improved my thought process could be thanks to the advice I’d just received.

There is a definite cost to expert advice, but it is money well invested. Through one conversation with an expert my outlook has been greatly improved.

Thanks!!!

The weather today has been ridiculous! On my drive home from work today my car’s thermometer read 67 degrees. I’d usually be ecstatic to see a number starting with a 4 at this time of the year. Due to the quickly melting snow and ice the fog was about the thickest I’ve ever seen. There was one spot in Winona in between the two lakes where visibility dropped to almost 15 feet!

Fingers crossed that the approaching storms aren’t too crazy, there’s a sharp line moving forward as the front pushes north and east. If this was happening during the day I’d most likely be figuring out the safest place to observe it from. Instead, I’ll be…

…going to bed extremely early. Yessir, this old dude is heading to bed before 7pm. I’m not sick or under the weather, I’m just wore out from quite a bit of busy-ness over the past few days and I’ve got another busy string of 7+ days ahead of me. If I take advantage of relaxing and heading to bed early tonight I can pre-charge my batteries a little extra. Sure, I’d like to do some other stuff tonight, but it seems like some good self care through sleeping is exactly what my body is requesting. Will do body, off to bed!

Thanks!!!

I have to admit, once in a while my old man actually knew what he was talking about. Of course I admitted that to him many times while he was alive. There were countless phone calls in which I apologized to him for things I’d done as I realized how frustrating they were because my boys had just done the same to me. Those were some of my favorite conversations with him. I still chuckle when thinking of some of them.

Today I followed through on something Dad role modeled for me many years ago. Back in the day I always thought it was neat but I also didn’t quite get it. As I’ve gotten older and possibly a little wiser I’m starting to see why he did what he did. Not gonna lie, Dad knew what he was doing. I’m so thankful I had the opportunity to learn from him.

Dad may be gone, but I was sure to let him know how grateful I was to have had him as an example to follow.

Thanks!!!

One of my favorite parts of yoga is the focused awareness on my body. The entire exercise is moving from one specific position to another while pushing the muscles and structures just past the point of comfort. In doing so the entire focus of my being is on my body and its position.

One of my favorite books is a American Gods by Neil Gaiman. one of the characters dies and comes back from the grave. They mention how one of the things they miss most about being alive is something they didn’t really notice until it was gone – the warmth of blood pulsing through the body from the heart. For whatever reason that line has stuck with me over the last several years.

While laying in final rest tonight I focused all my feeling on the pumping of my heart. From there I traced and followed the warm surges of blood flowing through my body. First I focused on the blood working it’s way through my chest and arms to my fingers and then all the way to my toes.

I know this is going to sound kinda crazy, but it was one of the most exhilarating sensations ever! Something which happens all the time became the source of incredible joy and happiness. It was awesome!

Bringing awareness to my body is something I will continue to focus on, the results are wild!

Thanks!!!

Over the past few months I’ve had a handful of seemingly unrelated experiences which seemed rather profound for unknown reasons. They each really hit me hard in positive ways and positively impacted how I acted after each.

Also over the past months I’ve read a plethora of materials which have been all going in slightly different directions. They were all relatively unrelated but deep down there seemed to be common direction.

Between the experiences and reading I’ve also conducted some interesting thought experiments to help me put more thoughts together. Spending time thinking through these experiments helped me focus on, work on, and play with the experiences and readings.

Over the past few days there’s been a confluence of these thoughts, readings, and experiences. Like the meeting of small streams the flow of the river grows as they all come together. Individually they are small and weak, united they become a force of nature.

I am exited to jump in this river and see where it flows.

Thanks!!!

With all the snow we got last night one of the first things on my agenda today was snow blowing.

Way back in the day I still remember wondering why Dad would sometimes seem to enjoy snow blowing as much as he did. It was somewhat physical work. It was outside. It was cold. It was a menial task. And yet he often seemed to be smiling when he did it.

This morning? I was borderline giddy with the thought of snow blowing. It would be a great way to start the day with some physical work. It would be an awesome opportunity to get outside and enjoy some fresh air. It was a little cold out due to the wind, but that made it feel like an accomplishment. While it was menial work I was able to accomplish something and just let me mind focus on my senses in the moment. I soaked up each and every second of it I could and was joyful the entire time. Strange as it was I even caught myself slipping in and out of a state of flow while doing it. What a glorious way to start the day!

Shortly after lunch Becky and I loaded up our snowshoes and hit one of our favorite state parks. Once on the trail it was clear to see there had only been three people on the trail before us, two skiers and one hiker. The majority of our time was spent listening to the sounds of nature and savoring the winter wonderland all around us. The views of the Mississippi River and all of its backwaters from atop the bluffs was wild – ice, blue water, and so much snow, all lit up by the sunlight. The time spent in the outdoors was a perfect way to unwind from another busy week of life. All of that was set aside as my world shrank to the simplicity of nature and the task of putting one foot in front of the other.

Winter used to frustrate me, now I’ve learned to really lean into it and enjoy the magical moments it can provide. Winter itself is beautiful, but it is up to me to look for the beauty rather than the bitter cold.

Thanks!!!