Day 3,509

Growth:

This little gem from Epictetus really hit me between the eyes today. Throughout the day my mind kept pulling back to this concept, it filtered my seemingly every one of my thoughts differently.

“If you wish to improve be content to appear clueless or stupid in extraneous matters.”

Epictetus

What really matters? The little bit of news that doesn’t make a true difference? The highlights of last night’s sporting events? The reels on Instagram? That stat about something that you don’t always need?

Focus on what truly matters… our purpose, our values, our actions, and this present moment.

Appreciation:

This morning I took Leia out for a very early morning hike, hitting the trails before 4:45am. As the world slept we wandered the woods and the bluff top ridges. We watched a barge slowly slide up the river in the dark as the birds began to sing. Dropping in the valley we had the sensation of being watched so I fired up my flashlight and there was a group of five deer jurors looking down at us from the hilltop, judging our intentions and actions. Leia jumped in terror at the most horrifying sound it seemed she had ever heard… the gobble of a turkey from across a valley. So many birds were talking to us, singing us their morning songs. The sky slowly glowed brighter and brighter. The smell of pollen and woods and fresh soil saturated my nose as my breathing increased going up hills with my pack on. All around us was a paradox of both total stillness and complete action.

What an invigorating start to the day!

Presence:

On my drive to work I had an awesome experience. As I drove past the pullout to view Brady’s Bluff in Perot State Park I saw a car pulled over. The driver was standing with his hands on his hips, looking at the bluffs glowing in the bright morning sun, a complete look of awe on his face as he took in the wondrous site across the Mississippi River.

I couldn’t help but smile and feel joy at seeing his state of awe and wonder, taking in the same view which has left me the same way so many times before.

I don’t know his beliefs, his politics, his history, his career, his class, or anything about him – but I know he is my brother as all humankind are, and that only added to my sense of joy.

Thanks!!!