Day 3,012

Growth:

Get the workout in while the muscles are fresh! After our run this morning I headed into the gym to get my leg workout in. My legs were still feeling pretty good off the early morning run so I thought I’d hit it right away. No need for an additional warm up or stretch, I was ready to dive in right off the bat.

I think what’s possibly the more important lesson for myself was this – just get the work in right away as opposed to waiting until later. Later will always fill up with busy-ness, excuses, and reasons not to get the work in. Just knock it out first. Not only does this ensure that it will happen, but it also has such a positive impact on the rest of the activities throughout the day.

Appreciation:

One of my passions is travel. Hitting the road (or air, ocean, ice, or whatnot) to experience new environments and types of wildlife are some of the moments when I feel a profoundly deep sense of presence and awareness. Travel helps to make all of life seem to make a little more sense. As a travel magazine in a hotel in San Francisco once taught me:

Travel lets us see ourselves in a new way. With our minds free to dream, goals become clearer, moments grow richer, and we return home fuller than when we left.

– Unknown, from a Travel Magazine in a San Francisco Hotel

Over the past few days I’ve had the opportunity to line up the next small handful of adventures and I am so excited!!! Having travel on the calendar and the resulting anticipation is almost as exciting as the travel itself. Taking time to get everything lined up and in the books feels AMAZING!!!

Presence:

Getting out for a hike with Becky, Gavin, and Leia this afternoon was sublime! The weather was perfect, there were little spurts of sun through the clouds near us, and being on a weekday afternoon felt like we were getting away with something. ;)

That entire hike was an exercise in presence. We had engaging conversation, got a great sweat in, and enjoyed so many of the sights, smells, and sensations of the woods. At the end of the trail we paused and took in the view of the valley below us. Mount La Crosse lay all the way across, its two lonely snow covered paths the only swathes of white. Off to our right was an epic view of the Mississippi River Valley below the slowly setting sun. The picture below doesn’t begin to do justice to the majesty all around us.

Such an awesome way to spend an afternoon together!

Thanks!!!