Day 3,533

Growth:

It is fascinating to start to tap into all of the ways AI can help assist us. I’m very grateful for a conversation with a friend on this topic today! I’ve been testing and exploring several ways this helps me boost productivity and effectiveness.

Appreciation:

Today was full of so many reminders of what I appreciate about my career path. So many successes shared by teammates, so many opportunities for growth, so many people with shared passion. Fuel for the upcoming busyness, exactly what I needed.

Presence:

Our morning run is such a peaceful moment of chill. This morning the honey locusts were still leaving a magnificent aroma and we saw an opossum slowly waddling into the woods. Total chill while the birds ding, the peaceful time for Becky and I to connect. One of my favorite parts of the day!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,532

Little different direction for tonight as I’m exhausted. Long day of work, many positive interviews, productive conversations, and a couple of client tours. All good stuff, just a lot of it packed into one day. One more very full day tomorrow and then back to a more normal schedule.

What’s really stuck out for me today is how grateful I am for learning from past experiences. There were so many moments today in which I initially thought one thing and then remembered lessons learned from past challenges which got me back on the right track. In the moment some of those lessons were quite difficult, but now with the benefit of hindsight I see how they helped prepare me for the challenges of today.

Tough stuff is difficult to go through, but if we give it enough time, the right perspective, and choose the right attitude it becomes the times we grow most.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,531

Growth:

There was an interesting quote Roald Amundson shared that he’d learned from his father when he was a child. I don’t remember it verbatim, but it was along the lines of “don’t fight if you don’t have to.” This wasn’t fist fighting, rather along the lines of allowing nature and gravity to pull as they will and utilize that force rather going against it.

That nugget stuck in my head all day today and helped me act accordingly in a few situations.

Appreciation:

Making space to work on a home improvement project has been both therapeutic and rewarding. With no more sporting events until the fall it’s nice having the evening to get work done around the home. Throw in the bonus time it creates with Gavin (see below) and it’s been awesome!

Presence:

Working outside with Gavin, sharing some of the same things I learned from Dad back in the day, joking and laughing, and somehow still getting a lot more completed than I’d expected. Moments of work together like tonight are the ones that bring smiles for years and years.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,530

Growth:

Pause and re-collect my thoughts, then take action. Friday was ridiculously busy, so many different directions all going at once! To then stop cold turkey and head back to the office after being out for a few days caused my brain to swell this morning. After fighting through got a little bit I realized I needed to clear my head and set a clear path. So much more productive after taking those moments!

Appreciation:

Gavin’s track season wrapped up today as he narrowly missed reaching Sectionals in pole vaulting. I’m super proud of how he grew through this season, fighting through an early season injury, staying positive, doing whatever his team needed, and working through the challenges of a body type change after crushing powerlifting this year. He kept up his work ethic, stayed positive, and kept learning. Last week Thursday he went on a tear and raised his PR by an entire foot and the matched that height again tonight, an epic high note to end a season on. Super proud of him through this season for so many reasons!

Presence:

The smell of honey locust flowers blooming on our run this morning was amazing! Throw in the little hint of an upcoming light sprinkle and the aroma while running was heavenly.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,529

Growth:

Enjoy all the moments, even the seemingly ordinary ones, you’ll never know when they will they will turn into your last. Eight years ago today I hugged Dad for what turned out to be the last time, so glad it is forever burned into my memory and soul.

Appreciation:

Working on the deck this weekend was an absolute blast – exactly what I needed. A project that was challenging, doable, and requiring teamwork. I was outside most of the weekend, doing physical work, spending time with family, learning new skills, using past lessons, and full of wonderful memories. I’m going to bed tired and sore, but with a smile!

Presence:

Spending time outside laughing at the frustration of working through building the deck together was amazing. While there were some very trying moments each got better thanks to having Becky and Gavin there sharing the moment with me. At least one of us always kept the smiles and laughs going, even when I was ready to scream.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,528

Growth:

Deep breaths, work the problem out logically. Figure out the root cause, attempt to fix, assess, learn, and repeat. it’ll all work out, it’s just a matter of when if the attitude is right.

Appreciation:

It was a busy day for a Sunday, but a very productive and rewarding one. Lots of progress on the deck even if it doesn’t looks like it. Time working with Becky and with Gavin, also time working through the learning curve on my own. A thought provoking homily, one I’m still processing. Time with Becky in conversation while running errands. Hearing about Dominic’s trip this weekend. Watching a movie on the couch with Gavin after a quick road trip for ice cream. Great day all around!

Presence:

My short road trip to Quillens with Gavin for ice cream was fun, engaging, and memorable! Funny how so many of life’s most enjoyable moments are so easily hidden in the seemingly everyday moments filled with intentionality and presence.

Thanks!!!

Say 3,527

Growth:

Even easy projects can turn difficult quickly. Pause, take a deep breath, determine the right course of action, and respond. It really is all good, even when it isn’t.

Appreciation:

Graduation parties are pretty fantastic! Celebrating someone moving into the next chapter of their life, the opportunity to spend time with friends we haven’t seen for a while, and throw in excellent food for good measure. It was a fun day of getting out and celebrating and connecting!

Presence:

Even though things didn’t go as planned I still had a wonderful time working outside on the deck. Time outside in the sun while working with my hands was exactly what I needed today. Fingers crossed for it all to go a little more according to script tomorrow, Regardless, I’m looking forward to more of it tomorrow too.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,526

Surprise! After 25 years together, it’s still fun to catch Becky Kreiling off guard—especially when it’s on her favorite podcast!

She’s listened to all 300+ episodes of National Park After Dark, so imagine her face this morning when she hit play on their newest Trail Tales episode… and suddenly heard a story that sounded very familiar.

Just a hunch, but I think you’ll all appreciate the story that starts at the 52:00 mark. It’s one that’s incredibly close to my heart.

Huge thanks to National Park After Dark for sharing it with the world.

And if you haven’t listened to NPAD and love the outdoors, eerie true stories, or National Parks, you’re missing out—it’s been our family’s favorite road trip companion for years.

#nationalparkafterdark#TrailTales#podcaststory#resurrectionbay#Alaska#FamilyLegacy#ghoststory#NPAD#outdoorlife#SurpriseMoment

Thanks!!!

Day 3,525

This was the scene at the track meet in Whitehall this evening. While waiting for Gavin’s pole vaulting to start I was laying in the sun on a grassy hill looking down on the vault pit and track. Part of me was tempted to work, but fortunately my cell coverage was sketchy. I set an alarm for myself and maybe took a little snooze for a few minutes. Naps outside in the sun might be one of my favorite things ever.

Then watching Gavin launch himself higher than he ever has AND with an epic sunset in the background was absolutely stunning.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,524

Short and quick one tonight! Just got back from the Awards ceremony at Logan High School and caught up with Dominic via FaceTime. Running low on fumes from a nonstop day.

Funny thing, that’s actually what I’m grateful for today. It has been a crazy busy, nonstop, super productive day. Due to the rain we switched our run days for the week so I was up and on my computers working by 5:15am and worked pretty much through 4:15pm with a short break for a doc appt. Having the focused time was a perfect way to knock out a handful of things I needed to get done and to feel like I’m almost back on track.

Now it’s bed time and I know I’m going to crash as soon as my head hits the pillow. That’s the sign of a useful day!

Thanks!!!