Day 3,519

Growth:

My goal for this hiking trip was to put on as many miles as I could in two days.  I did just that.  What I’ve learned is that I prefer trips either more space for chill.  I think the sweet spot for backpacking for me is 6 to 12 miles a day.  This was a bit bonkers, well worth the learning experience!

Appreciation:

This trip was the part of a trifecta from the past few weekends, a weekend with family, a weekend with friends, and a weekend alone.  It’s been quite a while since I’ve had quiet time in the woods like this, it certainly brings out deeper thoughts and feelings, no question.  Intentionally not having nonstop engagement my mind is forced to deal with itself, to think rather than react.

The first hours are a bit difficult, it is uncomfortable to be alone when we are not used to it.  That discomfort slowly fades out while the inner monologue starts using the time to put everything in order that there hasn’t been time to do.  After a while this also disappears and you’re left with you, thinking, being in the moment, stripped down to the essence of who we are, without distraction.

I added another level to this with the ongoing physical activity.  Walking with a pack almost incessantly also lulled my brain into a state of even deeper quiet and calm.  All that existed was each footstep and the sensations of the world around me in that moment.  It was awesome!

Tonight I type this as I’m in bed, ready to pass out for a day or two as I rest up.  I’m calm, I’m at peace.

Presence:

This sunrise, right here…

Completely unplanned, I was 100% lucky on the timing!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,518

Growth:

Remember the comments about learning from past experience?  Well, I realized the lesson to be learned this time…. When you have packed a hiking pole be sure to use it when rock hopping to avoid having to take your shoes off.  Lesson learned after I splashed into the river today!

Appreciation:

I cannot begin to state just how grateful I am for the day filled largely with silence in the church of the outdoors.  Over 27 miles of hiking and I encountered only ONE other person the entire hike.  So often it felt as if I were the all alone for miles and miles (which I likely was).  All that quiet, all that space, opportunities to let my mind and soul be at ease.  

Presence:

There’s something  viscerally prehistoric about hearing a pair of Sandhills cranes letting loose their cry on a lake in a valley surrounded by rock.  Outstanding!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,517

Growth:

The more mistakes I’ve made, the more opportunities I have to learn, thus freeing me up to make more new mistakes!  Today, I remembered to leave my itinerary, update others when I changed it, and remembered to cross-reference a real paper map with AllTrails (and saved a few miles!).  Not sure what new mistakes I’ve made this time, but I’m excited to see what they are and what I can learn from them!

Appreciation:

Outside time, what a treat!  Spending pretty much the entire day outdoors, much of it while exploring the Porcupine Mountains is exactly what the doctor ordered!  Today felt like the “transition” day as I still communicate with others a little.  Tomorrow begins monk mode.  Looking forward to the chill and quiet!

Presence:

Laying in a tent listening to a storm slowly roll by.  Feeling the wind increase in speed while simultaneously cooling off.  Watching the clouds shift and transform.  Awesome!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,516

Growth:

Remember to thank the people who make a positive impact in your life, often.  I highly doubt there is such a thing as appreciating someone too much.  During a conversation with a friend today I was reminded of how much they brighten my spirits in conversation.

Appreciation:

There is some crazy magic about the UP (the Upper Peninsula of Michigan).  Each time I drive up I feel an overwhelming sense of home.  The landscape, the dark brown and red rocks, the thick forest, Lake Superior, the eternally UP smell of the woods, each component weaving together to create.a tapestry of home all around me.  I have not lived up here other than a yer of college, yet this area feels more like home than my hometown.  

My soul is at peace, my attention in the present, my thoughts on the gifts from God surrounding me.  There are many places in the world I want to travel back to and possibly live in for longer periods of time, but this is not one of them.  This is a temple which I am blessed to visit, the opportunity to take it in a moment o holiness not to be consumed, better tasted in small doses to appreciate more.

More clearly, I feel that the UP is my church, the place to be forgiven of my sins, to free my soul, to remember to pause and appreciate all that has been given.  A place to free my heart, to quiet my mind, to fill with joy.

Presence:

The moment I saw the first large rolling hill, the sun almost setting, the clouds basking in the orange and pink light of the sun.  Getting to the shore of Lake Superior use as the sun kissed the horizon, taking in the fading light, and being here completely alone.  A moment I will never forget!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,523

Growth:

What’s the old saying about counting your chickens? Rough reminder of that one today, but an opportunity to remember to expect the best, plan for the worst, and make the most of what comes.

Appreciation:

Today was an opportunity to experience a situation and solution I’d learned from a mentor many years ago. In that moment it was such a twist to see how the roles had changed and how I was sharing his lessons with someone else. So grateful for the learning opportunities I’ve been blessed to experience with one of my mentors, Mark Glahn. His wisdom continues to aid the growth of my teams and I many years after we’ve last worked together.

Presence:

This afternoon there were things coming at me from all angles at once. The pressure was real, the nervousness coupled with stress was frustrating. I set a timer for two minutes, took a deep breath, focused only on my breathing, let go, and then was in much better shape when my alarm went off. Great reminder to pause and breathe.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,522

Growth:

Sometimes things just take a little time. While I would like to take action and make things happen immediately it is just not the way things work sometimes. Some things need time and space to grow, an opportunity for inertia to build. Just as we’re frustrated and about to quit we see these little seeds of growth appear from seemingly nowhere. Pause, give it time, let it all work out.

Appreciation:

Several years ago my friend Jenn taught me a sweet smelling trick to use in the month of May. As soon as the lilacs bloom she would go outside, clip a few sprigs, place them in a cup of water, and have a scent-sationally smelling office!

Today I followed her lead for my office as well as each of my teammates. Talk about an easy way to bring a little extra joy to a Monday!

Presence:

Oof, my legs were definitely feeling it on my run this morning! Everything felt off, tight, stiff, and just not quite right. I pushed through for a while and then realized I needed to give myself a little grace. With all I did last week it was time to rest a bit and take a little break, yet I still benefited from getting movement in. I took a break from running, walked for a bit, and then ran back with Becky on a good chunk of the back half.

In that moment I was reminded of how much I appreciated the amount of exercise I got over the past weekend. Sure, it was a little rough going today, but that was because of how awesome the activity was before. Great reminders of the joy through work and suffering of last week!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,521

Growth:

Remember to control what I can control. There is so much outside of what I have the ability to control or fix, be cognizant of it and remember that while I can’t control it I can control how I respond to it.

Appreciation:

Our priest shared a thought provoking sermon this morning that hit home for me, a reminder of the importance of love. The reminder of how we are called to love everyone, to act with love, to be a source of abundance for others, to make a gift of the life we’ve been blessed to have. Of all that Jesus shared as to what was most important this was the point He seemed to have wanted the most – to love all others as He loves us. My soul needed to hear that today, and I was very grateful for the message.

Presence:

Quiet moments of nothing exciting are sometimes some of the best. This evening Gavin and I switched out an outlet, a nice and quick project, a moment of shared conversation and focus.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,520

Growth:

One of the reasons I most appreciate travel and old trips like I just took is the fresh insight I am able to bring back to normal life. Everything seems a little more clear, more simple, with that refreshed perspective.

Appreciation:

As one of my favorite quotes goes, “you haven’t been anywhere until you come back home.” Today was a reminder of how much I appreciate being home, being with family (in person or over the phone), and getting back to “real life” with the benefit of the insights and perspectives learned from the time away.

Presence:

Driving down a country road surrounded by old growth pine as the sun is rising, no other vehicles in either direction, and slowing to miss a porcupine waddling across the road. So chill, so calming.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,515

Growth:

As a friend put it today, “glad to hear you had an awesome weekend, it is nice to see you as a human being rather than a human doing like you usually are.” Amen!

Appreciation:

On my drive home my brother and I had a very fun and engaging conversation. We poked and prodded each other on various things, laughed, joked, talked about dad-life, and caught up on some of the goings ons we have. There were also bits of political based conversation, followed up by research from both of us, not to see who was right, rather to help us both find truth. Talks as normal about everything and nothing, a conversation that left my stomach sore from the laughing. What a perfect way to transition from work to home.

Presence:

Getting our run in this morning in the unseasonably warm weather while watching the sun slowly rise was a wonderful way to get some solo time with Becky today to help catch us up from this past weekend. I’m always a fan of getting outside and exercising with her, especially pre-sunrise!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,514

Growth:

It is okay to be away from home sometimes, even if the sometimes seems to be kind of piled up on each other. The time I spend with friends, the time I spend alone, when used properly becomes fuel to live into the best me possible for the overwhelming majority of time I spend with my family.

Appreciation:

One of the things I’m most grateful for today is taking advantage of downtime. Over the past few days I’ve found some downtime to transform from nonproductive to hyper productive. In doing so I was able to take a potentially overwhelming couple of days and transform them into calm within the storm. This afternoon my camping gear was almost prepped and ready on its own thanks to the list and details I had prepped yesterday. Getting some final details worked out was possible as a result of the preparation during the quiet time. Some of our biggest smiles today were the result of a handful of chunks of time I was able to utilize to work on a very large project in bits and pieces. So grateful for using that time effectively!

Presence:

Spending a eight minutes with Becky and the boys watching a collection of photos and memories from the past 19 years combined into one video was fantastic. Each picture as a trip down memory lane, reminders of all the time we’ve spent together. Fantastic!

Thanks!!!