Day 3,243

Growth:

When I avoid conflict why am I making that decision? What am I choosing to accept by not tackling the conflict straight on? Is that trade off really worth the short term discomfort of the conflict?

Appreciation:

Two things hit at once today. I’m feeling under the weather due to sinus pressure for the first time in a long while and it kept me up last night which has led to being more tired than normal. I’ve also started re-reading Awareness by Anthony de Mello and the timing of the chapters read today were so spot on with what I needed to hear.

I’ve found that sometimes the best lessons sink in a little better when I’m a little less rested. The tiredness seems to open me up a little more, makes me more sensitive to life around me. The combo of these two whirring today really brought a deeper understanding than I’ve had before.

Presence:

My sinuses have been crazy congested over the past couple of days. Last night I sat up awake for over two hours in an attempt to get them to drain a little so I could go to sleep. In doing so I spent more time than ever paying very close attention to the sensations of my sinuses. The feeling of the sinus draining is truly sublime! You can just feel the pressure slowly release as your entire face and head relax.

For sure, I wish it didn’t take feeling like this to realize that, but now that I have I kinda enjoy the feeling of it. Choosing the right mindset really makes all the difference!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,242

Growth:

There’s a tightrope to be walked when helping someone grow. On one side is direction and on the other lies support. Too much or too little of either in conjunction with the other can lead to disaster, but the right balance leads to success. Here’s to continuing to work on building our balance.

Appreciation:

As Gavin wrapped up his driving we happened to notice the dark red sun slowly descending the sky. We made a snap call and drove out to Nelson Park at the north end of the island, a quiet little park with a perfect view to the west over the Mississippi River and across to the bluffs of Minnesota. What got me thinking was just how many times we’ve gone to that spot to soak in beautiful nature sights including sunsets:

Northern Lights:

Thunderstorms rolling in…

And even some crazy ice!

So much beauty in a little park less than three miles from our house.

Presence:

Riding with Gavin as he practiced driving the stick shift was an hour and a half of father son adventures. So many laughs, some good conversations, singing along to some music, and the soaking in an epic sunset. What an awesome experience together!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,241

Growth:

The trouble with people is that they’re busy fixing things they don’t even understand. We’re always fixing things, aren’t we? It never strikes us that things don’t need to be fixed. They really don’t. This is a great illumination. They need to be understood. If you understood them, they’d change.

Anthony de Mello, Awareness

Amen! So simpler said than done.

Appreciation:

Due to Gavin’s final driving lesson he and I left camping before 7am. We had a 90 minute drive ahead of us. Within a few minutes of leaving the campground Gavin and Leia were both out cold. I proceeded to drive silently the entire way.

Having the quiet time to let my mind wander while I savored the morning drive was brilliant. There was no agenda, no audiobook, no podcast, and no music, only quiet and calm thought. Such an entrancing start to the day!

Presence:

The moments in the morning when I am awake while the world sleeps, magnificent!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,240

Short and to the point tonight so I don’t lose some of the magic of today…

Camping has been awesome, so grateful for all the time outdoors and without a screen in front of me. Cheers to quiet, calm, and distraction free time outdoors!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,239

Growth:

Start prepping for rain before the clouds arrive. 😉

Appreciation:

If there’s going to be rain you can’t ask for more than a complete deluge while it is mid 70’s or above. You’re going to get wet in any rain, it is always more fun when it is enjoyable and memorable. As I scrambled to button up our tent I took a moment to just feel the raining pounding down on me. It felt like a crazy massage with the nonstop impact of what seemed to be quart sized rain drops, it was awesome!!! To have another heavy rain during the football game four hours later was wild! Even as I type this less than 30 minutes after the rain the sun is out again already. Awesomely fun weather for sure!

Presence:

Neat moment after the rain dumped on us during the football scrimmage!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,238

Growth:

More technology is definitely not always better. Simplicity is so much more elegant and exquisite than complex, adding tech often multiplies technology.

Appreciation:

Not every day is going to be a +2 day (on my scale of -2 to +2), and that’s okay. When a day is dipping below zero I’m grateful for both the awareness of that fact and for advice from author, Jim Collins. He reminds us that when a day is dipping below zero the best thing we can do is to remember we still have time to change the day, to find a way to get back to positive. That advice helped pull me back up out of negative today.

Presence:

The further one drives into the wilderness the easier presence becomes. Pausing to take in the sight of sandhill cranes crossing the road, watching the six point buck eat grass in an empty campsite. An excellent reminder to watch for similar moments in the ordinary as well.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,237

Growth:

Sometimes we just need to roll with the punches. Sometimes we need to stand our ground. Wisdom is knowing which is called for. Discipline is in following through.

Appreciation:

Day like this remind me of how thankful I am to have ritualized this practice. I initially started blogging and feeling like today was a rather “meh” kind of day for a variety of reasons. In dissecting and reflecting on the day to write my blog my attitude shifted tremendously. So much to be grateful for, I just need to choose to watch for it and remember it! Wonder interactions, progress on projects, working through challenges, exhilarating exercising, time with family, overcoming challenges, a great book, and the list goes on and on. What felt like a -1 day quickly popped back to a +1.

Presence:

Seeing the bright planet right next to a star in the pre-sunrise sky on our morning run…. Beautiful!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,236

Growth:

Not everything can be fixed, nor does everyone want everything fixed all the time. Sometimes we just need to be heard, to be allowed space to vent, and to remember that not being okay all the time is okay some of the time. When someone was in that space today I listened, shared my support for them, and let them vent. I think we both needed that moment, though for two very different reasons. One was to blow off steam, the other was to remember to listen rather than fix.

Appreciation:

This morning a large utility truck pulled out right in front of me on the highway. I was so frustrated and my anger grew hotter s d hotter as I saw that the one driver’s failure to follow right of way pushed me from having no one in front of me to now being behind three large and slow moving trucks with the culprit in the lead.

For ten miles I grew hotter and hotter as the person drove slower and slower at the front of the line. I finally realized how much emotional energy I was wasting and decided to take action – the right action.

At the next road I pulled over, stopped the car, took a deep breath, and let them get a few minutes ahead of me. I used the moment to send a text I’d wanted to send. I drove in silence and let my mind wander while it was calm. It was like I’d completely flipped my attitude and all it took was to pause and breathe. So thankful for that moment!

Presence:

During the quiet time on my drive I was able to process so many thoughts and to just breathe in the quiet. I didn’t realize how badly I needed those moments of quiet to think.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,234

Growth:

I really appreciated this quote from the great John Wooden when I heard it for the first time earlier today:

“Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.”

John Wooden

Appreciation:

Way back in the day Dad gave me the following dating advice:

“When you take a woman out on your first date together be sure to unlock her car door and open it. By the time you walk around the car to your door she should have unlocked it already. If not, the first date should be the last date. You’ll save yourself a lot of time and trouble.”

Please note that this was from the dark ages when cars had to have a key inserted into the door lock in order to unlock the car door.

While the current technology doesn’t quite fit this advice anymore, the logic is incredibly sound. A relationship is a two way street in which both people help each other out and do their best to bring out the best in each other. A relationship in which one person continues to give and give while the other does not is doomed.

Fortunately for me, my first date with Becky almost 25 years ago passed Dad’s advice! My life has been all the better as a result!

Presence:

So many wonderful moments throughout the day today!

• Our Sunday morning walk with Leia
• An intense yet rewarding and memorable driving lesson with Gavin
• A quick conversation with Dominic hearing about his weekend adventures
• Quiet time in the kitchen making supper
• Laughing with the kids before bed
• Taking time to type this blog in quiet and stillness

Thanks!!!