Tonight I’m thankful for a lesson I’ve learned over the years. It’s okay for my blog posts to be short sometimes. I’ve lived a very full day and am now ready crash. Short and focused, yet staying to the discipline.
Appreciation:
Thank you to Renee for referring a book I’m certain to read again and guaranteed to buy for others… The High 5 Habit by Mel Robbins
So much wisdom shared so intimately. Loved it!
Presence:
Taking time to breathe is so much more centering than it seems it should be! Take 35 deep breaths, hold my breath with empty lungs for 90+ seconds, inhale deeply and hold for 15, and then repeat two more times. So much focus in such a short period of time.
There are so many times when we can see the greatness lying in wait inside another person – even when they don’t quite see it themselves. The greatness is so elusive and shy, it can’t be forced out. Rather, it takes work and coaxing, and even then it has to come out of its own accord. There’s nothing the observer can to do draw it out other than slowly help it see the possibility.
The growth I’m thankful for today is the reminder to not force the issue, telling someone how great they are isn’t the answer. Slow down and help them walk to the conclusion on their own. Provide the opportunities for them to shine, but be wary of pushing too hard.
Appreciation:
Yoga with Becky on a Monday night is just about the perfect way to start a week. With all the different directions we go as a family knowing that we have that time to pause, breathe, re-center, and get a some sweat in to start the week really helps me stay centered throughout the week.
While there were many reasons to thankful today that one is amongst on of the foundational bricks which support the opportunity for those other moments of appreciation. I can’t overstate the importance of taking time to re-charge, focus, breathe, and re-center in my life. Without the calming activities like yoga I am over stressed. Without physical activity I feel flat and not as productive as I should be. Without time outdoors I don’t pause to appreciate the natural world around me. Without some time alone in thought (like when I’m blogging) I don’t have time to focus on dissecting my thoughts and actions. Put all of these together, my yoga practice with Becky, my run outside this morning, and my time blogging right now and I feel so much more full, focused, and on the right track to start the week.
Presence:
My morning run was a bit on the chilly side, but that made it all the more peaceful. There’s nothing quite like running when it’s zero or a little below. The air is so calm and still, it feels more full in some ways. With the new fallen snow there’s also an absence of sound which makes it feel all the more quiet and lonely (in a good way). Runs like this take a little bit to get used to, but once I am ready for them they are amongst the most serene and satisfying runs I ever have. So thankful for the opportunity to enjoy one of those cold runs this morning!
Becky had an awesome idea for today – snowshoeing. While the boys snowboarded the two of us hit Twin Bluffs State Park. There was only one other person on the trail as we explored a spectacularly scenic winter wonderland. The views were so amazing. The snow brought out even more beauty than we’ve previously seen there before.
The serenity of snowshoeing almost alone in the still winter air is beyond words. A fulfilling workout, time outside, shared moments with each other, and a peaceful state of mind. I need to remember to snowshoe more often!
Appreciation:
Even through the busyness our family has had over the past month and change we’ve found time to watch two of our favorite Christmas movies together over the past few nights. As the boys get older they catch more and more if the jokes and we all enjoy the movies just a bit more. Having time together to share in some of these traditions is priceless and I’m grateful for each moment.
Presence:
So, truth be told, I’m not a big sports fan. Every year for the past ten or so had seen a decline in my interest. Nothing against professional & college sports or their fans, I just have other passions which seem to grow each year.
That said, the presence of following today’s World Cup Final from the last 15 minutes of regulation and the conclusion seemed to transcend sports! Nonstop excitement ensued as I found myself quickly drawn in at an almost guttural level. The momentum shifts, the back stories, and the energy of the teams brought to present moment into such sharp clarity. There’s certainly a magic to the ability of sports to harness the present moment, today I basked in it.
The more one thinks about something the more it seems to appear. If my thought is unfocused my mind will drift. If I keep my thoughts intentionally focused my mind will lead me to where I need to go. Stay focused, stay intent, and be ready for opportunity
Appreciation:
Dominic had a test run of his future college experience this morning. He somehow lucked out and landed the infamous 7:45am on Saturday slot for his Calculus 2 final at UWL. He was home before 9am and felt great about how it went.
I’m thankful he had the opportunity to experience a final before college to get a feel for what he has in store for him. From the nervous night of sleep before to studying with a friend a couple nights before he git quite the experience!
Presence:
The adrenaline starts pumping through the veins minutes before the wrestling match starts. Everything tenses up and time seems to slow down. The anticipation is palpable…
and then I watch as a Gavin’s match starts. Yup, I was talking about my mental status at his wrestling meet today. High intensity as an observer, 100% focused in the present during that blast of time.
So many reminders of a simple lesson today. There isn’t home life and work life, there is only life. Part of our role as a leader at work is to help our teammates grow in life, not just work life. I cannot imagine a more purposeful life than through brightening the lives of teammates.
Appreciation:
There’s so much you can weather, but there’s even more you can accomplish when you’ve got incredible teammates all around you. We helped each other. Told each other jokes. Pushed each other and disagreed and created better at solutions together as a result. We worked together, shared together, supported each other, and grew together. What a rewarding way to end the week!
Presence:
Maybe a new habit has been started? This morning I woke up, did my breathing exercises, knocked out more push-ups with empty lungs than I think I’ve ever done while breathing, and the went outside to shovel snow… in s T-shirt and shorts. The wind brought the feel of about 10 degrees Fahrenheit, a little brisk but totally invigorating! Working slowly while continuing to breathe through my nose helped to keep my core body temperature up and I was pretty comfortable. The time in the quiet cold of the outdoors was sooooooo peaceful!
Working ahead really paid off today! I am becoming more and more trusting in one of my biggest habit changes for 2023… planning further and further ahead (while also providing some wiggle room). There were a small handful of last minute changes today that I was totally not expecting. Had I not already been ahead for the week I’d be in full blown panic mode and putting things together more with a focus on done than done right. I’m so thankful I’m working ahead of where I need to be, it allowed me additional flexibility today!
Appreciation:
Over the past couple of weeks I’ve been on a fun reading detour. I started with The Wim Hof Method by Wim Hof, moved into Breath by James Nestor, and chased it up with What Doesn’t Kill Us by Scott Carney. For dessert I’ve just started reading Deep by James Nestor. The first three spend a lot of time focused on the healing powers of breath and cold. Last night I utilized a meditation and breathing based treatment to help with a nagging injury and I woke up feeling better than I have in a long time. All are based on reminding ourselves of just how little we know about our bodies and the ways that little changes and practices can make a big difference. Pulling practices from each is already showing some beneficial results on my heart rate.
My reading diet typically consists of a rotation of business / leadership book, a biography / autobiography, and fiction. Mixing in a healthy dose of fitness minded books has helped to remind me that without my health the rest of what I read doesn’t matter nearly as much. Getting on a reading kick like this has been a treat!
Presence:
This snow is so beautiful!!! The way it has stuck to all the trees has made so much of my drive to Winona look like it is a black and white scene in a very unique and spectacular way. Even shoveling felt great today. This morning I was out early in nothing but a tshirt, shorts, sandals, hat, & gloves and I enjoyed every shovel stroke. So peaceful with the snow falling all around me.
So often it is difficult to see the growth from each rep that gets put in. There are seemingly no gains for quite a while when putting in work towards a long term goal. At some point enough momentum is created and the entire wheel seems to turn almost effortlessly. So easy to see the final pushes and credit them for the success, but more accurate to look at each rep that came before it as equals to the last.
This afternoon I was able to see the breakthrough. Honestly, I was quite surprised! Once I realized what had happened I looked back and saw I had taken so many more reps than I thought, they’d all blended together in my memory until I paused to focus on them.
When working towards a long term goal stay on target with the minor details and menial tasks. Stay focused, stay consistent, and trust the process. The breakthrough will come as a result of all the repetitions.
Appreciation:
My task list for the week is extensive but all with end of the week deadlines. I started on one of the larger projects today and cruised right past the finish line I’d set for myself for the day on it. My thought was to hit a certain point and then move on to the next project. Instead I went with the flow I was in and just kept rolling. Rather than switching gears I was able to keep the momentum going and accelerate through the end of the work day. Tomorrow I’ll head back to the other stuff on my list.
What I’m really thankful for is the awareness to know when I’m in the flow and able to keep rolling AND for working ahead on almost all of the other projects so I have the flexibility to stay on one task longer.
Presence:
I got myself a new office “toy” for my standing desk. My balance board arrived today and I’m already in love! Standing on it and attempting to balance brought me 100% into the present moment as I felt all of my foot, leg, and core muscles working and twitching to keep myself upright. Talk about a great sensation! My right achilles has been bothering my a little lately and the time on the board helped loosen it right up.
Remember to focus on the why rather than just following a habit. Don’t let routine get in the way of purpose. Tonight’s blog is short as a result and my heart is more full because of it.
Appreciation:
One of the Top 3 Questions to Ask Myself Daily for 2023 is this:
Was I present with my family today?
Tonight I was and it had a lot to do with asking myself that question two times per day over almost a week.
Presence:
Sharing time with the boys while playing a game and joking around was amazing. These moments are fewer and further between as they get older and busier and I’ll soak them each up as best I can.
One of my favorite books from this year shared the story of a photography class. The class was split in half and were given different instructions on how they would be graded. The first half were told they would be graded on the single best photo they took. The second group was told that their grade would be based purely on the sheer number of photos they took. At the end of the semester the teacher graded each student’s single best photo. The second half – the half focused on QUANTITY – overwhelmingly outscored the QUALITY focused group. While the quality group took time to line up one perfect shot the quantity group took pictures of everything from all angles and learned and grew as a result of the staggering amount of activity they did. Success is like that, it is all about getting in the reps and learning from them.
Habits are all about momentum. Once the first action is taken the second becomes easier, as does the third, the fourth, and so on. The most difficult actions are the first and the one that comes next. Breathe, plan, trust, and take action. Learn, adapt, and take action again. Repeat.
Appreciation:
Throughout the day my mind kept going back to an interesting fact. Becky and I started our day waking up together. We then went on our morning run together before the world was awake and had an opportunity to talk and connect. After work and dinner with Dominic we went to yoga and stretched and sweated together. Once I’m done blogging I’ll end the day in the exact opposite of how the day started, by falling asleep next to Becky.
I am so fortunate to have someone who enjoys the same types of activities, who’s on pretty much the same schedule, and who is there to bookend each day with me. Days like this are amongst my favorites.
Presence:
This morning the alarm went off way earlier than I wanted (even though I set it myself). What really got me going was the incredible weather outside on our run. The temperature was warm enough that I had to take off my light jacket and run in just a sleeveless t-shirt for a few miles to cool back down a bit. The cool air going into my lungs was amazing – so crisp & fresh, it was a wonderful way to kick off the morning.
I can’t begin to count how many times I’ve watched the movie It’s a Wonderful Life. Sometime around the holidays it ends up getting played in our house, just like clockwork. Each time I start to watch I kind of groan a bit and halfheartedly look for a distraction. Tonight Becky fired it up and I found myself gravitationally pulled towards the living room to watch it with her. Even though we didn’t finish the movie tonight due to a band concert it seemed worthy to write my blog tonight around the theme of It’s a Wonderful Life.
Growth:
No one steps in the same river twice. Today I was reminded of how the same concepts land differently with the changes lived through life. There were different spots resonating more deeply than ever before, just as other things had done in each of the past viewings. What I’m impressed by most is the ability of the movie to capture so many common emotions at so many different levels. Each time watching it is like a whole new experience
Appreciation:
As mentioned above there’s always something a little different that hits home each time I watch It’s a Wonderful Life. Based on a handful of reasons I’ll keep to myself on this one I was almost sobbing she I caught this short scene…
What incredibly powerful words those are below the picture of Pa Bailey. The words are never spoken, just shown in the bottom corner of the screen for only a few seconds, and can be so easily missed. Blended with emotions building over the past couple of weeks and my mind and heart have been stuck on this concept all night. What a gift this movie still gives after more than 75 years. A dozen words, a lifetime of wisdom.
All you can take with you is that which you give away.
Presence:
There’s something special about sharing emotions and tears with a spouse / significant other / loved one. More than once we both sniffled together and caught each other looking to the other for emotional support and validation of our shared feelings. Knowing that we are in tune with each other at such a deep emotional level is a profoundly powerful sensation.
Thankful for Forty 