Day 3,553

We can either get frustrated and complain, or we can take action and work to be a part of the solution.

While the step I took today was rather small, it was a step forward. Tomorrow I plan to take another step forward, and another step after that, and another step after that. Eventually I’ll be making more and more progress – god willing.

Our public lands are at risk.

The Senate is considering a bill that would force the sale of up to 3.3 million acres of public land — lands that support wildlife, recreation, and local economies.

I just called Senator Ron Johnson to ask him to vote NO on this. Here’s the voicemail I left.

🟢 These lands belong to all of us — not private developers.

📞 Call Senator Johnson: (202) 224-5323

📞 Call Senator Baldwin: (202) 224-5653

Use your voice. It matters.

#ProtectPublicLands #CallToAction #WisconsinVoices #PublicLandsBelongToEveryone #KeepItPublic #NatureForAll #ConservationMatters

Please take action – small steps lead to big change.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,552

Growth:

Sometimes routine can be boring, other times it feels like a comfy sweatshirt on a cool day. Today I’m grateful for the latter!

Appreciation:

I probably take way more photos than I need to while traveling, but tonight I’m reminded of how grateful I am for taking so many. Much of the evening was spent curating the pictures from this vacation. As is the norm, I found myself smiling at all the little memories of the past week and a half! Nothing like rekindling the vacation fire like going through pics!

Presence:

Those little moments out of the blue that shock us into the present are exactly what we need, even when we didn’t know we needed them. Today that took the form of this little guy outside my office window.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,551

Here are some fun facts and stats about our family vacation that gave me smoking as I’m about to go back to “real life” tomorrow:

• Over 3,000 miles driven across five states
• Reached National Parks #36 (Great Sand Dunes), #37 (Mesa Verde), & #38 (Black Canyon of the Gunnison)
• Took over 500 pictures and videos
• Created countless new memories together!
• Knocked out a couple of bucket list items while working towards a couple of bigger ones

Total it all up and it was an awesome experience shared with my family – and our first big adventure together in our camper van!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,550

Late night, on the road heading home. Nothing like having shared driving duties to make a long distance road trip a little easier!

Knowing we each have only a four hour driving slot really helps to lighten the load!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,549

Growth:

Sometimes dreams aren’t realized until much later in life – or even afterwards. Share our dreams either those we love, you never know how and when they’ll come true!

Appreciation:

Watching Dominic and Gavin peel off from Becky and I to bag a mountain summit they’ve wanted for a few years was epic! They went off as brothers, they reached the top in the most technical climb they’ve done, and shared some awesome pics and vids afterwards.

Meanwhile, Becky and I chilled in the chairs of packed up to the mountain pass, relaxed, enjoyed the view, and occasionally checked out the boys progress via binoculars. Super chill. Such s peaceful way to take in all around us!

Presence:

Spending Father’s Day with my family doing what we all enjoy most, hiking, spending time outside, and enjoying each others company. Hard to not stay present in a full day like that!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,548

Growth:

Once we have the bare minimum we need for survival, always bet on experiences over stuff, every time, no question. The number of times we spoke of shared and individual experiences over the past week has dwarfed the seemingly zero conversation about stuff we have bought. Experiences create joy, stuff creates a fear of loss and an ongoing sense of needing more.

Appreciation:

While hiking today the boys started making plans for their own Colorado adventure for next summer with a couple of their friends. Approximately 3 of the 4+ miles were spent conspiring on the duration, specific mountains, costs of campsites, and so on.

For sure, a part of me longs to join them on the adventure, but I know that they need to take on experiences like this without the old man tagging along. While I’ll miss going with them my heart is so much more full of joy for the memories they will create together and for the fact that they see this as something they want to do. I’m over the moon happy for them and feel like part of our parenting has helped lead them in this direction.

So thankful for all the experiences and adventures they will have together!

Presence:

Nothing like taking a short and relatively unknown hike, turning a corner, and suddenly staring at a 500’ tall dam! The hike we took also included an awesome mixing point of two rivers, one dirty from the turbidity and the other pristinely blue. A pretty sweet surprise hike!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,547

Growth:

In vacation we don’t always have to go a thousand miles per hour, sometimes chilling is exactly what the doctor ordered.  Today we all thoroughly enjoyed pausing everything for an hour and a half while some of us napped and others read.  We then had another moment of stillness after dinner when we were all sitting by the campfire reading.

Appreciation:

This was one of the all time most Kreiling vacation days.  Woke up, knocked out a scenic hike, found another hike and did that one too.  We then had lunch, chilled and napped for 90 minutes, and then hit every possible overlook.  Back to the campsite for supper, chilled for an hour, drove out for the sunset early, played games in the van, took in an epic sunset, and then more games in the van until the stars came out.  After taking our fill of the stars we called it a day.

Busy, but plenty of downtime, full of adventure and time together.  Perfect!

Presence:

Staring up at the infinite blanket of stars and blackness, realizing just how tiny I am in the big picture of life.  Sharing that moment with Becky and the boys as we all lay silently upon the rock structures on the two thousand feet tall cliffs and soak in the vastness and beauty of the night sky.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,546

Growth:

“By a moment to moment contact to reality, that’s where you find god, that’s where you find happiness.” de Mello

Appreciation:

Experiencing a moment of awe is profoundly joyful.  Experiencing a moment of awe with loved ones is exponentially more joyful.  This happened as we saw the million dollar view on 550 outside of Ouray and again as we took in the sheer vastness and depth of the black Canyon of the Gunnison.

Presence:

A little star watching as a family was s perfect way to wrap up the day!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,545

Growth:

Remember what is important to you, do not be distracted in your pursuit of it. Keep your mind open and flexible yet remain focused and determined in pursuing purpose. Little nudges from above will always seem to guide you.

Appreciation:

National Park #37 for Becky and I was significantly cooler than I was anticipating. Around almost every corner was a stunning vista or several almost invisible cities carved out of stone almost one thousand years ago. The combination of natural beauty and intriguing architecture and culture of a people from so long ago was much more impressive than I ever would have imagined. It may not be the biggest or most popular, but Mesa Verde was an excellent experience!

Presence:

Walking into this ancient city…. Awesome!!!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,544

Growth:

I have a very difficult time letting go of control at times (or my perceived level of control). Driving is one of those things I struggle with, I have a difficult time relaxing and letting go when someone else is driving. Having the boys pop in to take their turns has been a very helpful practice for me on this trip.

Appreciation:

More time with family, more opportunity to share what we all live. More conversation of life, more shared experiences in nature created. More laughs, more chill. More family time.

Presence:

Being inside the dwelling of a people from almost 1,000 years ago was surreal. Realizing we were just viewing a monument, we were visiting the home of someone so long before our time was difficult to fully comprehend.

Thanks!!!