Month: November 2024

Thankful for Minding the GAP, Not Driving, & Time for Photos

Day 3,352

Growth:

Life happens, the sooner we choose the mind the gap and intentionally focus on growth, appreciation, and presence the sooner we will be joyful again. Why stress something completely out of our control? Instead focus on controlling what we can – how we will respond.

Appreciation:

This is the first time to Iceland when I have not been the driver of our car and I am LOVING it!!! Of course it’s usually more fun to be a passenger, but I’m really noticing how much more focus I can put towards seeing what’s all around this majestic landscape rather than on the road in front of me. My eyes were constantly shifting from one crazy rock feature to the next. So many pictures taken!

I’m also especially grateful as the roads were awful today due to a storm that had rolled in late last night. Steve did an incredible job of keeping our vehicle between the shoulders when even snowplows were struggling to do so!

Presence:

Being able to pause and focus on the landscape around me also provided the opportunity to take so many photos today! Watching for the right moment, snapping as many pics as possible quickly, and then editing and discerning the hundreds into tens while going through less scenic areas was so enjoyable!

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Less, Breaking Loose, & Sitting on a Ledge

Day 3,351

Growth:

How little we actually need to know true joy. How much of life is wasted on thinking more is needed or on fear of losing what we have. Everything we each need for a joyful life is already within us and it cannot be taken away by anyone.

Appreciation:

What is it about certain places and types of moments which help us unlock more of our true selves? When we’re in our normal routine it becomes easy to just do more of the same and follow through momentum of the “same old”.

When placed in a completely new scenario intentionality kicks into overdrive. We’re more focused, more present, and are not held by the same fetters as normal. We break free from the gravity of the mundane and jettison ourselves with purpose.

This trip has been an incredibly well timed opportunity to step back, zoom out, and reassess.

Presence:

Sitting on a ledge overlooking a glacier, a few mountains, and the ocean. Priceless!

Thanks!!!

Thankful for True Wealth, Iceland, & an Eruption 🌋

Day 3,350

Growth:

This exquisite quote from the book Annapurna:


Man overcomes himself, affirms himself, and realizes himself in the struggle towards the summit, toward the absolute. In the extreme tension of the struggle, on the frontier of death, the universe disappears and drops away beneath us. Space, time, fear, suffering, no longer exist. Everything then becomes quite simple. As on the crest of a wave, or in the heart of a cyclone, we are strangely calm —not the calm of emptiness, but the heart of action itself. Then we know with absolute certainty that there is something indestructible in us, against which nothing shall prevail.

A flame so kindled can never be extinguished. When we have lost everything it is then we find ourselves most rich.

Maurice Herzog

Appreciation:

Iceland has become a part of my being. My travels to the land of fire and ice have fueled my imagination in unprecedented ways while also creating lifelong memories shared with friends and family. Being here a third time is rejuvenating, my soul is at ease and so comfortably at home. So grateful for the opportunity to be here again, I will appreciate every single moment of it!

Presence:

Within hours of arriving in Iceland we saw the eruption! The pics don’t do justice to just how incredible it was to see lava spurting from the Earth!

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Opinions, Memories Created by So Many, & Closing

Day 3,349

Growth:

I am not required to have an opinion. My opinion is 100% optional. I can choose to have an opinion or I can choose to not concern myself with it.

Choose to withhold an opinion at least three times more often than having one, life will be easier, more joyful, and will contain significantly less stress.

Appreciation:

Almost fifty years of life, so many memories that they come crashing in waves. Largely joyful, even the difficult ones provide opportunities for growth and learning. Maybe even they are the milestones markers of past growth.

Throughout the past few days so many memories have gone through my mind. Times as a child, a teenager, a college student, an adult, a parent, and so many other roles and ages in between. I can’t help but smile at how many wonder human beings I’ve been blessed to interact with throughout those years. They’ve all left fingerprints upon my being. Each made their mark in their own special way, I am who I am as a result of their impact. As a rock in a river they have passed by and indelibly made they mark on me.

How fortunate am I to have had such a kaleidoscope of humans touch my life!

Presence:

The moment of seeing a sales deal worked from start to finish has dry ink on it!

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Good to Great, a Whirlwind Month, & Bonus Time with Dominic

Day 3,348

Growth:

Re-reading Good to Great by Jim Collins has been exactly what my brain needed at exactly the right time. While this was the fourth or fifth time I’ve read the book this time sunk in more than the others. For better and for worse the experiences of my past decade or so of work have really helped to re-shape my understanding of the concepts shared. As I continue to grow forward I’m glad to have this information fresh in my brain!

Appreciation:

This has been a whirlwind of a month! So many changes, so many changes, and so much flexibility needed. It’s also been a month of extreme clarity, focus, and rekindling passion to live into a noble purpose. I am catching myself needing more and more downtime to allow my brain to slow down, yet I am working harder and harder while feeling a greater sense of purpose. An exhausting month in so many ways, a challenging month in even more ways, yet a month I will never forget for its clarity of driving towards the purpose.

Presence:

We had a nice surprise this evening! Dominic was able to leave school a early so we were able to spend some time together this evening. Nothing like getting bonus time with him – even if it is only a couple of hours it is one of the highlights of my entire week!

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Society, How Little We Really Need, & Finding Beauty in the Moment

Day 3,347

Growth:

When in doubt, listen to this song: Society by Eddie Vedder

Appreciation:

How much more do I have than what I need? How much do I want which I truly do not need? How little do I actually need to find joy in life? When do I find myself unhappy due to the lack of something I truly don’t need?

As I am reminded of so many times, there is very little needed to find joy in life, to create a fulfilling life. From my experience I would assume that it only requires intentionality, presence, and gratitude – everything else will take care of itself.

When I find a sadness, an emptiness in my heart, I should remember these lyrics and look inward to see if it is a lack of something that it causing the hurt. If the pain is a longing for what I don’t have I must remember to intentionally choose to be happy without it, to be in the moment, and to choose a mindset of appreciation for what I do have. We cannot be sad and grateful at the same time, choose appreciation.

Oh, it’s a mystery to me
We have a greed, with which we have agreed
And you think you have to want more than you need
Until you have it all you won’t be free

Society, you’re a crazy breed
I hope you’re not lonely without me

When you want more than you have
You think you need
And when you think more than you want
Your thoughts begin to bleed
I think I need to find a bigger place
‘Cause when you have more than you think
You need more space

Society, you’re a crazy breed
I hope you’re not lonely without me
Society, crazy indeed
I hope you’re not lonely without me

There’s those thinking, more or less, less is more
But if less is more, how you keeping score?
Means for every point you make, your level drops
Kinda like you’re starting from the top
You can’t do that

Society, you’re a crazy breed
I hope you’re not lonely without me
Society, crazy indeed
I hope you’re not lonely without me

Society, have mercy on me
I hope you’re not angry if I disagree
Society, crazy indeed
I hope you’re not lonely
Without me

Eddie Vedder, Society – Into the Wild Soundtrack

Presence:

How rarely I pause my mind long enough to notice the bits of beauty hidden in plain sight all around me. This evening in yoga I was in a figure four and my mind was calmed enough to watch the flickering of the candles reflected off the ductwork in the ceiling. There was no pattern to the movement, it flowed and bounced, and it was a perfect focus for my attention in the present.

I was reminded of one the favorite hours of my life in the outdoors. While backpacking I sat in the sun on a rock in the middle of a stream. As I sat still my brain focused on all the magic around me. A giant dragonfly flew in and proceeded to zip around. When I focused closely enough I could see the mosquitoes it was eating as it moved from spot to spot. Without realizing it I spent an entire hour sitting still in that stream enthralled by the spectacle of nature which is always there, but I rarely take the time to observe.

Beauty, true beauty, can be found in any moment so long as we pause and watch for it.

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Using Tech Correctly, the Deck I Built with Dad, & Hiking (again)

Day 3,346

Growth:

Technology can really help us build connections when used correctly. Today we were able to FaceTime with each of the boys, yesterday we did the same with all four of us at the same time, even though we’re in different states and continents currently! Gavin was able to share pictures and jokes via our favorite social media messenger app. Throughout the day Dominic, Gavin, and I shared music we each enjoyed. Gavin sent all of us pics of all the sights he has seen in Germany. Becky and I used technology the right way for us while hiking, we shut it off completely and enjoyed conversation without electronics. When used the right way (and turned off often), what a gift technology is!

Appreciation:

This afternoon I was removing some old boards form our deck. It was build by Dad and I about twenty years ago and one of my projects for next year is to build a new deck. As I started taking it apart this afternoon I couldn’t help but think back often to the time I spent with Dad building it in the first place. I initially felt a little sad about taking apart something we’d built together, but I quickly realized that what we built together many years ago was not what I was taking apart now. This was only the deck, old beaten up and weathered boards. What we’d built back then were poignant memories of working together, of enjoying each other’s company, and of spending time with each other. The boards may be removed, but the memories not be erased.

So many moments of learning to work together as we built that deck! We learned about how much wood we could actually load into his pickup. We then found out that there was a weird policy at the store we bought it from and one of us had to stay with half the load while the other delivered the first load, unloaded it at the house, and then drove back. I personally learned why it is not a good idea to pull out too rapidly with a truck bed full of decking materials. Dad learned how much he would have appreciated having a cell phone to figure out what was taking me so long to come back for the second load as I was re-loading the lumber into the truck from off the pavement in a somewhat busy road. As you can imagine, as we traded stories afterwards we laughed and laughed! What wonderful memories the entire project was!

The things we build with our hands will eventually age and turn into dust and ash. The time we spend with loved ones making memories will burn in our souls forever.

Presence:

I kind of feel like this is becoming a bit of a broken record, but getting outside and hiking the trails with Becky to start off the day is pretty epic! Nothing quite like the fresh air and exercise while enjoying the views from the bluffs. Certainly my happy place, the trails. A couple of specific moments really stuck out. Standing atop Miller’s Bluff and taking in the view of the city below and river, woods, and bluff surrounding. Catching a spectacular fall scent form the leaves, almost a spicy old cigar box kind of smell (you gotta trust me, it is a wonderful aroma!). Throw in focused time with Becky and I talking as we hike and I couldn’t ask for much more than that!

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Rewarding Days, an Awesome Partner, & Living Vicariously Through the Boys

Day 3,345

Growth:

Some of the most rewarding days are the ones in which I keep busy from start to finish with little pockets of relaxation in between. Today was a wonderful balance of 75% busy to 25% chill.

Appreciation:

With that that was knocked off the task list already today I’m feeling very positive for tomorrow. What’s been all the better are the pockets of time spent with Becky! We’ve often been going in very different directions, but there were also many ones in which we were shooting the bull, joking around, or enjoying each other’s company. There was much gratitude from each to the other which also seemed to make it easier to keep working diligently on our tasks. Beyond grateful for a partner I positively enjoy spending time with AND puts up with me in all of my idiosyncratic glory! 😉

Presence:

Nothing quite like living vicariously through our boys! Spending time with them on FaceTime and texting was amazing today!

Gavin shared all the fun he’s been having in his first couple of days in Germany. Dominic was all about the Gophers football game and his seat in the second row. Both having the times of their lives, smiling, laughing, and experiencing life in the present moment.

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Repetitive Clarity, Morning Runs, & Engaging with Engaged People

Day 3,344

Growth:

Clarity and repetition. Get clear on what is most important. Focus on it over and over and over. Just when you start getting bored it is likely just starting to sink in.

Appreciation:

Our morning runs are such an invigorating start to the day. Getting the blood pumping, the lungs expanding, and the body moving – and that’s just the physical part! My brain functions better and faster after our run, there’s much more clarity. In spending time with Becky without distractions we are able connect right away in the day (especially when we are not running into a 15+ mph headwind 😉). It’s also great for my soul, starting with discipline and accomplishment, foreshadowing what is possible for the rest of the day.

Presence:

Is there anything better than spending one on one time engaged with teammates who get it, see the vision, and are ready to run through brick walls to get there? In those moments virtually everything feels possible.

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Choosing Growth, a Leadership Lesson, & a Gavin Good Morning

Day 3,343

Growth:


“Pleasant experiences make life delightful.  Painful experiences lead to growth…  Suffering points out an area in which you have not yet grown, where you need to grow and be transformed and change.  If you knew how to use that suffering, oh, how you would grow!”

Anthony de Mello, Awareness

So easy to be happy when times are good. So tempting to wish for ease and happiness when we are struggling rather than accepting the pain.

Intentional action and focus are needed to remember to be present in moments of suffering, our natural tendency is to avoid the suffering, but we must choose to face it head on, accept it, AND maintain the unwavering faith that it will lead us to growth.

Choose to mind the GAP, choose Growth, Appreciation, and Presence.

Appreciation:

While this likely could slide into the Growth section just as easily it feels right settling into this place as the focus of my gratitude today.

Leading others isn’t about telling others what to do. It lies in laying out a vision, finding people with similar values and passions, and the providing the resources they need to accomplish great things.

The more I’ve pushed, managed, and directed the worse I’ve led. The more I’ve equipped, opened up, shared a vision, emboldened, and set free the more great things my teammates have done and created.

So many reminders today that my teammates can accomplish so many amazing things so long as I remember when to step back and allow them the space to grow.

Presence:

This moment from so many years ago still maintains clarity even after more than a decade. Pure joy, excitement to be alive, gratitude for the new day. If I ever need a smile this clip nails it!

Thanks!!!