Month: February 2022

Day 1,971 – Thankful for Grappling with Control

There are sometimes when I just need to stand back and chuckle. Throughout the day there were a handful of moments in which I could sense my blood pressure rising a little bit. Something would happen which was totally out of my control. In nanoseconds I felt frustration building a bit and shortly there after I would almost have to laugh at myself. My brain would quickly realize that I had no control over the situation which I was grappling to take control of, but I had complete control over my response to the situation which I was letting run rampant with emotion rather than logic. How ridiculous!!!

What made it all the more crazy was the fact that the bigger the issue the more controlled I was while the smaller the issue the more I was letting emotion take control of the wheel. For instance, when my niece’s game was cancelled after we’d driven 75% of the way through crazy wind, snow, and ice I laughed it off and quickly let it go. Something infinitely smaller and less important – I got all bent out of shape and worked up. Again, how ridiculous!

While of course I’d like to have each day go perfectly smooth and without issue, days like today are where some of the most growth happen. I had several opportunities to grapple with my lack of control over events while also remembering to choose the correct response in knowing what I had control over. The Big Teacher Upstairs obviously saw the gap was a little too wide for me today and decided it was time for some lessons. I may have not done my best on the pop quizzes today, but I have learned many lessons which will help me out in my next round of exams. Not a perfect day of responses from me, but it was a wonderful day of practice, reflection, and growth.

Thanks!!!

Day 1,970 – Thankful for the Serenity of Sorting the Gratitudes of the Day

LOL – so I started on my title and ended up writing and re-writing it several times. None of the revisions had quite the right vibe so I’m blowing them all up, deleting the title, and starting with the body. Yes, this is the exact opposite of how writer Carmine Gallo teaches us to start writing a TED talk… thank goodness this is a blog and Carmine won’t be reading this 😉 Forget starting with the point, I’m letting my brain run wild and will come back to the point at the end. {fingers crossed}

Funny, I think I just landed on the topic, it wasn’t at all what I was expecting, but it is spot on. I’m grateful for creating the habit of writing about my gratitude each day. In the past I’ve written similar posts, but it just feels right to focus on it again this evening. As someone once wisely said, “we never step in the same river twice.” Though the topic may have similarities to what I’ve written in the past I am seeing it through a slightly different lens, changed by the perspective of time and experience.

In the past I’ve written about the beauty of having a journal of sorts to go back and rekindle old memories. I’ve also blogged about the peace of having time alone to wrap up the day. This is slightly different, tonight I’m thankful for the ability of writing a daily blog to allow me to sort out my thoughts, emotions, and experiences from throughout the day.

By pausing and reflecting on the day I create an opportunity to let the solids slowly precipitate out of suspension. This is my time to allow my brain to put together the 5,000 piece puzzle of experiences from the day. By writing I’m forced to process the day, think on it, and then translate it into written word. Writing in of itself is difficult, putting words to so many thoughts and ideas can be exhausting. Similar to distance running or weight lifting the exercise strengthens me though it may be uncomfortable at times.

This evening my brain was going to go down so many different paths, but after taking time to pause and reflect there are really only a couple of themes… rekindling and strengthening relationships, creating, moving in the direction of dreams, and pausing to appreciate all the gifts surrounding me – especially life itself. In taking time to process it all today I will be going to bed with a smile and a full heart. My gratitude becomes the lullaby which carries me off to peaceful rest. I sleep with the joy which can only come from thankfulness and stillness.

Thanks!!!

Day 1,969 – Thankful for a Well Stocked Tool Belt and Many Hours of Practice

I am continually reminded of the power of intentionality. By taking time to figure out what I really want in life I’ve been very blessed to see so many opportunities to live into my dreams and goals. Whether it is just my mind seeing more of what I want to look for or if there are truly more opportunities I really don’t know and I don’t really care which is right. Life is better when I spend time focused on what I would really like to focus on and accomplish.

Recently I was selected to give a keynote address at a conference I’d applied to. The funny thing is that I actually put in two applications. The first was with my business owner hat on, focused on recruiting, retention, and the importance of communication between leadership levels during a workforce shortage. I was positive this would be the one selected, it fits the theme of the event and is right in my normal wheelhouse. The second was a bit of a flier. Living into one of my goals for the year I went out on a limb and took a risk. It was something I’ve wanted to do for quite some time but I was nervous about being rejected, I felt very vulnerable. It was on a different topic I am very passionate about, one that I’ve worked on, and one I’ve written about often.

I only convinced myself to do it by convincing myself that it would be okay because the work based proposal would be the only one to be selected. LOL – and now look at how the tables have turned!

While that was fantastic news there’s something I’m much more thankful for today.

After finding out I was selected yesterday I panicked for exactly one breath and immediately moved into confidence. After the initial shock passed over I went into creative mode. I smiled and knew I would be successful in this.

I went back to my tool belt and selected the resources I would nee to start building. There were a couple of books I remembered reading which would help me out. I reached out to a mentor right away to give her a heads up of what was on the horizon. I started jotting notes to myself. I dug into my manuscript and old blogs and started pulling material forward.

Each of these tools were available so readily as I’d worked on preparing them long before they were needed. All the books I’ve read, the coaching I’ve received, the writing I’ve done – they all were at the ready. My confidence soared as I realized I had everything I need to be successful.

Additionally, my confidence was growing stronger as I have practiced for this many, many times. I’ve put in so many reps, so many hours. Between trainings, speeches, meetings, and the like I’ve honed my craft for hours and hours. All that practice will come in to help spring me forward into this project. Without all those hours and all that practice I would have so much further to go, so much more work to do.

In many ways it is the confidence I’ve felt when running a marathon. I’ve put my practice miles in and now it is time to perform. Knowing I’ve put in the work needed to get to the starting line helps my mind see that this is doable, a project I’m excited to dive into.

I am so thankful for prepping my tool belt early, for putting in the hours. Time to put them all to work to create something awesome!

Thanks!!!

Day 1,968 – Thankful for Yoga Opening My Mind for Five Words of Wisdom

There are so many reasons I enjoy yoga tremendously. Throughout the day many of those benefits were in my thoughts. My body was very loose even though I was in the car a lot today. I felt incredibly well rested when I woke up this morning, the workout last night helped my drift off to sleep quickly and deeply. The calm and stillness from the focus of the practice last night rolled right into this morning and has stuck around all day. Those benefits were awesome, but there was another reason I was thankful for yoga last night.

Five simple words which have been turning in my head since the last third of last night’s practice…

Nick, our instructor, was pushing us hard yesterday in a very good way. He kept encouraging us to go just a little further, to hold our breath a little longer, to move into a slightly more difficult position than the one we’d chosen. Long story short, he was helping us find our edge and push right up against it in a highly supportive environment.

At one point after we finished a difficult pose he shared five words he’d learned from a past teacher. When Nick shared the coaching I was completely present, my breathing focused, my mind cleared of any thought other than my breath. He spoke and I listened intently. The words struck me powerfully, such a juxtaposition to the deeply quiet calm I’d slipped into throughout yoga.

Since sharing the words of wisdom they’ve been reverberating in my mind for so many reasons. They seemed to unlock something I’ve been unknowingly struggling with. With those five words in mind I handled several things differently today than I ever would have.

Yoga helped me get to a quiet place in which I was ready to truly hear the coaching and let it sink in completely. One more reasons to love yoga, it helps me quiet my brain and my soul so I can listen completely.

The words of wisdom?

“See your students as powerful.“

Thanks!!!

Day 1,967 – Thankful for Yoga and Bison Date Night for Valentine’s Day

We’re not really a house of Valentine’s Day celebrants. The importance of the day is pretty much lost on us. Rather than the usual dinner and flowers we opted for something that was almost 100% our style. The only thing missing was outdoor activity, but we got that early in the morning in our pre-dawn run.

Yesterday we picked up some bison steaks to grill up tonight. As luck would have it our gas ran out just as I was about to put the steaks on the grill. Thank goodness a couple of my teammates had recently told me about broiling steaks instead so I had a backup plan.

After eating we headed out to yoga to get all namaste and shit – and it was awesome! Excellent workout, very chill and relaxing, and I even got a couple of strong ideas for work based on Nick’s coaching.

Now I’ve showered up and will be off for an early bed. Not the most exciting of nights, but 100% a positive day all around. Forget the restaurants and flowers, yoga and bison at home sounds perfect to me!

Thanks!!!

Day 1,966 – Thankful for Camping with My Boys and Sleeping Outdoors, Even When It’s -5f

The temperature yesterday was a little chilly. The lowest I saw was -5 degrees with the windchill dropping the feel to about -16. A little cool, but nothing to get in the way of having a great time in the woods with my boys. We went for an outing with Scouts and the cold air only added to the fun and memorableness. We also learned a few lessons along the way, like the fact that butane tanks don’t like to stay pressurized in the extreme cold… and that the tanks can be warmed up to the right temperature by putting them against your chest inside a pair of bibs and jacket with a couple of hand warmers for about 15-20 minutes.

I’m always grateful for time in the woods with my family. Sharing my happy place with those I love is amongst my favorite activities. Whether camping, hiking, traveling, snowshoeing, running, or anything – time outside in nature with my family is always rewarding, even when the weather doesn’t cooperate or is less than ideal.

Last night we laughed, enjoyed time together, and stayed warm. While I rested in my solo tent with a double layer of tarps and a triple sleeping bag set up I kept smiling while listening to the laughing coming from the boys’ tent next to me. They were joking around and goofing off just the way kids are supposed to. Doing it outside in crazy weather made it all the more perfect. Times together like this will hopefully continue to instill a passion for time in the wilderness for both of them.

Not gonna lie, at one point it got so warm I had to unzip my sleeping bags and cool off!

Thanks!!!

Day 1,965 – Thankful for Planning Ahead & Blogging While I Can Still Feel My Fingers

Gotta love how timing works sometimes, right? The rest of this week has been relatively warm, why wouldn’t the coldest part of the week hit when we’re outside camping for Scouts? 😉

Yessir, here’s the forecast for tomorrow morning when we wake up:

We’ve got everything packed up and will be heading out soon, I’m glad I was thinking ahead and wanted to type my blog while I still had feeling in my fingers! Yes, it’s a goofy one to be thankful for today, but at about 8:00pm tonight I’ll be thinking about how I wrote this now and will be thanking myself for planning ahead.

Time to enjoy some fresh air!

Thanks!!!

Day 1,964 – Thankful for Finding Ways to Enjoy the Edges

Our run this morning was warm but one of the most brutal in quite some time. It’s been quite a while since I’d last run on very icy roads. My feet would find solid purchase for a dozen steps or so only to then almost shoot right out from under me on the next steps. I’d move a little ways to the left and then a little to the right with no luck, everywhere I put my feet there seemed to be ice.

There wasn’t anything I could do to change the ice so I chose to roll with it. I shifted my posture to keep my center of gravity perfectly over my feet. My strides where greatly condensed as I went with shorter steps in order to keep myself from getting to out of balance. Due to the combination of clean blacktop, packed snow, ice, and potholes each step was an adventure and very rarely did more than three straight steps feel the same.

This was an opportunity for me to push the edge. I would rather not run on conditions like this, but what an opportunity to push my boundaries a bit. By running on this edge I was able to work on my balance, my focus, adjusting my steps, my breathing, and strengthening the little stabilizing muscles in my legs and feet. Before I knew it I was actually enjoying this run on the edge. For sure, it still hurt, but there was something fun in pushing the boundaries of what I feel comfortable doing.

When considering the past few weeks, possibly months, in much of life I’m seeing where I’ve pushed the edges. I’ve moved right to the boundary of comfort and ridden the line between there and discomfort. On that edge I’ve found growth. There’s more room to push that edge further and further out. The stretching doesn’t always feel good, it often starts off as the opposite, but the end result is positive. Not only that, but I’m finding that if I keep asking myself the right questions and choosing the right mindset I actually enjoy pushing the edge. Despite the discomfort I know I’m moving forward. Kind of like increasing the weights while lifting, it’s a good discomfort. If I do it right I have the opportunity to enjoy both the destination (joy) and the journey (suffering).

This might be one of those nights when I start to explore and idea to come back to a little later. I feel like there’s a lot more to pull apart and extract to this concept, but I want to let this ferment further. May this blog be a future thought seed.

Thanks!!!

Day 1,963 – Thankful for Chipping Away On a Sizable Task List

I am a huge fan of the sensation that comes when crossing off the last of the items on a To Do list. That profound level of satisfaction was not to be found today and will most likely not come tomorrow either. The past couple of weeks have been rather stacked and it’s going to take some extra time to slug my way back to breaking even. No worries, I’ve got it under control and it will all be done in time.

While I may not have scratched them all off I made some serious progress today. Rather than feel overwhelmed by what’s ahead I’ve realized I need to savor the knowledge that I’ve chipped away at the list today. By knocking out what I did today I’ve made room to take on two of the bigger projects tomorrow. Get those finished and then I have time to work on another couple. All in time, one step at a time. Slowly but surely I’ll catch up and get back ahead.

One side note, it has been an awesome experience in another way as well. In order to get everything done I’ve got to stay focused on what’s truly essential. Everything else is getting pushed away. It’s also been an excellent opportunity to remember the power of getting other people involved and allowing them the space they need to be successful. Both are very valuable lessons for me to continue to learn and re-learn.

Back to chipping away tomorrow morning!

Thanks!!!

Day 1,962 – Thankful for Friends Who Tell Us When We’re Wrong Even When It’s Difficult for Numerous Reasons

Without going into a ton of details today let’s just say that I got all types of frustrated with something I was working on. I get working on chilling out and calming down, but it just kept bubbling up for various reasons. After a while I thought I had it all figured out and was going to keep my blood pressure down.

I started talking with a teammate and the emotion boiled back up and let it all out. I was frustrated and did not live into the stoic mindset I’ve worked on.

Once I was out of gas my teammate calmly looked at me and proceeded to walk me off the ledge. They very politely helped me see both the solution to the challenge and how my frustration was not benefiting me in the least. There was no sense of anger, disappointment, or anything like that, only understanding and a desire to truly help me through the situation. They listened intently while I spoke, they showed me they cared, they walked me down the right path, and they didn’t pass judgement on my poor reaction.

I will continue to work on my composure when my emotions and frustrations get the best of me. I’d done so well over the past month and change, this was frustrating and humbling – but a wonderful learning opportunity. I learned how important it is to stay calm and collected, especially when the pressure is on. I was also reminded of how important it is to be surrounded by friends who care for me and are willing to have the very difficult conversations I need to hear… especially when I find out afterwards the additional struggles they may have in their lives.

A friend who sets their personal struggle aside to help you through your struggle first – what an incredible gift that is.

Thanks!!!