The scent of the old books at Pearl Street Books is sublime, probably one of my top ten favorite smells in the world. It smells like knowledge, calm, serenity, and joy. Books are one of the items that grow better with age.
Appreciation:
Becky being back home after a week of travel for work…. Nice to have my hiking partner back!
Presence:
This weather, especially while we were hiking today! The sun on my face. Perfect temperature. Sounds of birds surround. Feeling the texture of the hickory bark on my palm. So many smells of flowers, trees, and soil. Spectacular!
Sometimes the most important work to be done is sharpening the saw rather than cutting. it never quite feels as important but it has an outsized impact on the entire project.
Appreciation:
I’m very grateful for finally picking this book up after so many years. My mind is still reeling from the story and its implications, will definitely reread this one! There were so many layers upon layers, all woven together perfectly. My mind has strayed back to it, I couldn’t stop reading it, and it’s helping me see a little more clearly. Incredible masterpiece!
Presence:
Another day, another pre-sunrise pic of Leia on our run. This was shortly after a pair of sandhill cranes flew directly over us. Perfect weather for running this morning for both of us!
In his book, Awareness, Anthony de Mello stresses the importance of being aware of our thoughts and feelings and NOT trying to fix them constantly. Rather than trying to FIX everything we sometimes just need to be aware of the action, reaction, or feeling. Today those words rang in my mind f and I heeded them, and it helped.
Appreciation:
I have a huge dream list. I have a ton of goals. There is so much I want to accomplish, so much do that I could almost fill my entire life doing nothing but making lists of what I would like to do. After almost half a century of life I’m finally realizing I will not be able to do all of it and I’m working on being okay with that. Constraint is one of my best frenemies, but we seem to be getting along better more and more often.
Presence:
Sneaking in a post supper walk with these two and the pup.
Our perspective on some aspects of life change greatly as we grow, age, and experience more and more of what life has to offer. There have been a few books recently I know I would not have enjoyed as a kid, but as a middle aged dude I can totally appreciate now. I need to remember to not let my past experiences of books read long ago cloud my judgement too much and give more of them a try now. No one steps in the same river twice, no one reads the same book twice. In the case of the river both have changed, the book remains but the person reading it is different than the one who read it before.
Appreciation:
Going for a run and seeing this smile was a pretty epic start to the day!
Presence:
The beginning of Fahrenheit 451 really struck a chord with me this morning! I just started reading it as I’d somehow dodged reading it as a student. For some reason the beginning of the chapter hit me between the eyes and had me totally hooked! I even went back and re-read a portion of it just to make sure I had read it all correctly, I was so intent on getting all of it that the second reading seemed like the right move.
Interesting how different senses can trigger memories! Today it was a song bringing back some favorite memories from over two decades ago. Earlier it was the cool breeze in the pre-sunrise air that transported me back.
The best way to help those triggers happen is by being present – present in the moment the memory was made and present in the moment it is remembered. Be here now, remember now forever.
Appreciation:
Gotta love the Olympics! The boys and I had an awesome time watching more track and field this evening for about an hour. Seeing the comebacks, the grit, the hardworking, the adversity faced, and the celebration of incredible effort was quite the entertainment. We don’t watch much TV, but catching these events the past couple of nights has led you to some great bonding.
Presence:
My drive to Eau Claire was especially peaceful this morning. It started under dark slate gray skies in La Crosse and ended in a perfectly clear blue sky in Eau Claire. The changing of cloud cover and light caused the greens to be more vibrant than normal. North of Arcadia I drove past a postcard view of a handful of cows grazing atop a small bluff almost surrounded by a small line of trees with white fluffy clouds breaking up the increasingly blue sky.
Stretch the brain! It’s a muscle (metaphorically speaking) that gets stronger from being worked. Sometimes this includes working on things we don’t necessarily enjoy, but it helps us grow stronger.
Appreciation:
Today was the last day of Gavin’s landscaping duties at our office, and I kind of want to find more for him to do. Getting all this bonus time with along with so many coaching opportunities has been fantastic. We’ve gotten into more conversations, bonded over books and work, and had so many laughs. While this round of work may be done I’m grateful for the bonus time we’ve had to bond!
Presence:
Watching the new pole vaulting world record get set with Gavin was awesome! Hearing his yell for joy was a moment I’ll cherish.
When it feels uncomfortable it means I’m growing, especially when working through a project that I don’t necessarily enjoy, but one that needs to be done regardless. Much of today was a study in staying focused and tenacious on a very detailed project, the success of seeing the progress made throughout the day made it all worthwhile. I still have a long way to go, but closing in fit sure!
Appreciation:
The project Dominic was working on this evening filled my heart. He was curating his dream list, complete with the old notebook I gave him for just that purpose several years ago. Seeing him clarify what he wants to grow into and do, living life proactively, has me smiling from ear to ear! Throw in conversation on what he had in there and it was an awesome experience.
Presence:
Dominic I took a pause during supper to watch the replay of the Olympic Women’s Rugby Finals. The entire bronze medal match with the US vs Australia was intense!!! Couldn’t help but be 100% present watching that one!
There’s something about the sound of Paradise by Coldplay that hooks me and brings me along for the ride. By the end of the song I’m pulled along by the undertow. Somehow I missed the following line through all these years of listening to it…
And so lying underneath those stormy skies she’d say, “I know the sun must set to rise.”
What a beautifully useful lyric!
Appreciation:
This evening saw eight of us sitting around the kitchen table for dinner – the four of us, the boys’ girlfriends, and my niece and her boyfriend. So much fun talking, joking, eating, and relaxing together!
Presence:
Gavin and I took off for an hour to get him done additional practice driving a manual transmission. Throughout our time we laughed, we talked, and he learned. I was so impressed with his ability to give himself some grace and continue to learn through practice. That was an hour I’ll remember forever with him – such presence in that collection of moments with him!
There’s a peace to be found in simple activities like doing the dishes. When a task must be done remember it is a blessing to have the opportunity to do it, enjoy it. Doing the dishes while listening to the recording of a Coldplay concert was one of the most calming experiences of my day.
Appreciation:
Gavin was working at the office again today and the number of moments we laughed before and after work were priceless! Very thankful for him taking on the yard work, the bonus time on our half hour commute to and from Winona has been awesome!
Presence:
The stillness of sitting on the back deck is so refreshing and satisfying! Last night it was playing games as a family as the sunset painted the sky. Tonight it was reading my book while sitting next to Becky. Time on the deck is so therapeutic!
I wrote my blog completely backwards today! This process has led me to adjust my Growth based gratitude to the mindset of being alone.
In the book Oh, the Places You’ll Go Dr. Seuss writes:
All Alone! Whether you like it or not, Alone will be something you’ll be quite a lot.
Spending time alone is something I quite enjoy from time to time. As I grow older I find that quiet time by myself, especially out in nature, helps still my mind and feeds my soul. I love time with family and friends, no question, but I also need to find the balance of together time and alone time in order to be at my best.
Today my balance felt like it was exactly what I needed, and it really came through in my next two sections.
Appreciation:
This morning was in the office long before everyone else and had the entire building to myself. I love my teams, but there’s something about the quiet stillness of an empty office that leads to some of my most productive work. Being able to work without any distraction on a thought based project with some of my favorite music playing as loudly or quietly as I’d like leads to such an easily accessible state of flow.
My entire day was productive, purposeful, and rewarding, the serenity of my soul while working in the quiet was glorious.
Presence:
Last night I wrapped up my evening by pulling up a couple of music videos. When the house is quiet and I’m the only one awake I enjoy diving into a pool of heartfelt and thought provoking tunes.
My musical drifts and tides brought me to this absolute masterpiece. Not only was the music amazing and the crowd of 100+ thousand electrifying, but the addition of a special guest led me to some serious emotion.
Thankful for Forty 