Day 3,253

Today is the final of the string of birthdays in our family over the past ten days. Happy Birthday Becky!!!

What a year 44 has been, so many memories created, adventures had, and so many laughs and smiles – and maybe even a little adulting 😂.

Going through the pictures of Becky from the past year was quite the trip! Literally! I had forgotten all the adventures we’ve gone on in the last year. She went to other continents, a handful of states, a bunch of national parks, and everywhere in between for life and work. We’ve seen the Northern Lights and a solar eclipse. She got a puppy, we sold a boat, and we bought a campervan. We moved a kid home and moved him back out. It’s been wild!

I can’t imagine anyone I’d rather share this adventure with than Becky. Having a day like this to celebrate her and her awesomeness is very well deserved.

Happy birthday Becky! Many miles behind, even more miles, smiles, and adventures ahead! Love you!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,252

Growth:

Some days just aren’t +2 kind of days, and that’s okay. No need to panic or for concern. Chillax, be aware of why I felt that way, and see if there are things I can do in the future to make a day like this better.

Appreciation:

I always enjoy watching the boys try something new, tonight it was Gavin’s first few snaps of varsity football! Seeing how jacked he was to get on the field for a kickoff was awesome. The nervous energy he exuded was electric, so cool seeing him that excited.

Presence:

Sitting on a couch listening to the storm roll through, so chill and peaceful in spite of the thunder and lightning.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,251

Growth:

Be yourself, not someone else. Try on different versions of yourself in order to find what fits best and be okay with quickly shedding whatever doesn’t fit. Life is too short to be wasted on living into someone else’s dreams or our perceptions of what the dreams of others may be of us. We’re all uniquely ourselves, live into that uniqueness and see it fit the beauty it is.

Appreciation:

The older I get the more moments I realize I am so similar to my parents. From reliving similar events to using certain phrases to reacting in a certain way to virtually anything there are traces of my parents. They’ve indelibly left their finger prints upon me and have crafted so much of who I am. For sure, I’m my own person and have been shaped by so many, but the two of them on such a different level.

As I passed through many of those moments today I couldn’t help but pause and be so grateful for the awesomely positive impact my parents have had on my life.

Presence:

My rides to and from dropping Dominic off at his new apartment for college were full of engaging conversation. Life is full of potential distractions, driving helps to eliminate most all of them. Super grateful for the presence attained through driving today, it enriched my conversations!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,250

Growth:

Rest up and get healthy. Though it doesn’t feel like it, rest can be the best work you do to reach your goals.

Appreciation:

Whew, the summer is just about done. Tomorrow I take Dominic back up to the Twin Cities for college. Somehow the time with at home flew right by. So many awesome memories created, so many moments shared, and now time to transition back into life without him living at home. This seems harder than last year in some ways, and easier in others. I’m very thankful for the opportunity to share this summer with him!

Presence:

Once a week or so we take Leia to doggy day care so she gets some time to socialize. No question that it is one of her favorite days of the week.

This morning she was looking extra pathetic, but the moment I grabbed her leash she shot out like a lightning bolt! She had a puppy smile from ear to ear as she bounced up to the car. She was smiling in the rearview mirror the entire ride there. So cool seeing pure joy like that!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,249

Funny, there were less pictures of Dominic this year than last year, it is almost like he left for college! 😉

While Dominic moved up to the University of Minnesota for a very successful freshman year he was still very much connected with us, just not how we were used to. Like clockwork he would be on FaceTime with us every Wednesday and Sunday night to catch up and share his adventures. When he came home for the summer everything went right back into our normal routine and it has been awesome having him home.

This past year he’s finished his Eagle Scout, made the dean’s list, joined the rugby team, knocked out his first half marathon, and done a fair amount of traveling – including our trip to Patagonia. When I paused to go back through all the pictures of him from the past year I’m still amazed at how the regularity of our times have shrunk, yet the intensity of our love has grown.

So incredibly proud of the man you continue to grow into! Love you dude!!!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,248

Growth:

Some of the moments when I’m most happy for the boys are the moments when I’m not there. Today they drove to Wisconsin Dells with their girlfriends for some fun in the sun! I’m so grateful for relationship there have, it fills my heart with joy. I love the time I get to share with them, but I’m also so thankful for the times they get together alone to keep growing and strengthening their relationship, just like when Becky does something solo with one it bothers me of them. The stronger each of our bonds are the stronger we are as a family.

Appreciation:

The dog park Dominic created for his Eagle Scout project was officially opened today! There was an awesomely well attended ceremony including the family and friends of the woman and dog the park are named for. Watching the dozen or so dogs head out for the first time in the park was wonderful, such an amazing moment!

I’m so grateful for this two plus year journey for Dominic, so many life experiences, memories and lessons for him!

Presence:

Hiking with Becky early this morning was hot, sweaty, and full of bugs… but I was spending time outdoors with her, there was nothing more I could ask for! Those moments of quiet and calm in the woods are some of the best moments of my life.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,247

From dream…

…to reality!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,246

Whew, I’m switching up tonight as this has been an interesting day. My sinus infection is totally kicking my butt. After getting better for the past few days it took a turn and I’ve spent more of the day with complete sinus congestion and blockage than I think I’ve had in total over the past decade. All types of uncomfortable. Concentration has been almost impossible, I’m spending more time trying to remedy it than I am not, it’s been a day on the struggle bus for sure.

All that said, it’s really not that bad. Lots of discomfort and pressure, but no pain. I know it is temporary, nothing terminal or long lasting. The rest of my body is totally fine, just the nonstop sinus pressure and having to breathe through my mouth.

Over the past handful of years I’ve really done a lot of work on my breath. From breathing techniques for health to a stronger focus on nose breathing to stunts of training to run while only breathing through my nose to taping my mouth shut each night for the past almost two years (which I swear has helped more than any of the previous). Throw in all the breath work from yoga and it’s something I try to focus on doing well. What’s wild is that up until I can’t I didn’t realize how much I still take breathing well for granted.

This past week has really helped me see just how important breathing is to living the life I want to live. The sinus infection has impacted my sleep big time. Trying to focus on work today was next to impossible. I haven’t been able to do all the things with my family that I would have liked to due to this. My overall attitude has had a dip.

When I’m breathing fine, none of this is an issue and rarely thought about.

Even during illness and discomfort there’s always something to learn, a way for us to grow. For me, this has inspired me to go even more intense into working on my breathing!

One other caveat, timing is truly spectacular sometimes, isn’t it? In re-reading Awareness by Anthony de Mello there was a section that really hit home talking about being appreciative for all the little things, the little moments, to be aware of the bits of magic all around us rather than being distracted by our attachments. In so many ways I’ve been much more aware of something that I do so often each day, often taking time today to appreciate that sensation of fresh air slowly being drawn through my nose in those fleeting moments when it has happened.

Off to bed… until I wake myself up due to breathing through my mouth and fire up a home remedy regimen to get my nose a little open again. 😉

Thanks!!!

Day 3,245

Growth:

All of the stress in my life is created by myself. It is either as a result of my actions or due to my mindset towards attachments. The natural state of man is happiness, the obstacle to that is ourselves. Release my attachments, open myself to joy.

Appreciation:

All around us are miracles, lessons, reminders, opportunities for growth, and moments of connection with others. We need only keep our hearts open and our souls grateful. Thanks to my morning mental diet I did a better job of doing that than usual today and it made a tremendously positive impact on my day.

Presence:

Laying on my back on a standup paddle board in the middle of a still and serene lake, listening to the sounds of birds all around, watching the reflections of the sun off the lightly rippling water dance atop the purple flowers amongst the trees, and all as the sun slowly warms the right reside of my face. Heaven.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,244

Another spin around the sun with Gavin has now wrapped up! He celebrated his birthday by taking his driving test, crushing it, and earning his license. Gavin is now off to hang out with his girlfriend and likely savoring the newfound taste of freedom that comes with having a driver’s license. One huge step towards adulthood has been taken, he’s now got wheels. So happy for him!

While he’s off exploring his new freedoms I’m here at home going through old photos of him from throughout the past year. We went through them earlier as a family over dinner and enjoyed the time capsule of the past twelve months in my iPhone. It has been a year of epic adventures, life lessons learned, new experiences tried, a fear or two being conquered, and so much love and laughter.

Birthdays do such a wonderful job of reminding us to slow down the crazy for a moment to pause and enjoy the ride. This past year with Gavin has been a hell of a ride! Each year somehow seems to get better than the last with him!

So proud of the young man he continues to grow into, so thankful for the way he inspires me to be my best me, and for all of the laughter, love, and joy he brings into our lives! Love you Bud!

Thanks!!!