Day 3,615

How much of life is spent in a state of normal? Caught in the well worn ruts of our usual routine? Stuck in the gravitational pull of the same old?

Sometimes we need to shock the system by getting outside of the routine. Maybe it is travel, a change of scenery, or possibly a moment of deep awareness that awakens something within us. In that moment, the shroud of normalcy lifts and we have a clear vision of what should be or could be.

Throughout my day I’ve had the benefit of getting outside of the normal and it’s help me attain more clarity.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,614

Growth:

Control what I can control. As frustrations and challenges appear remember that they are without context – I determine if they are frustrating or opportunities to learn and grow (or both!). Take a deep breath, zoom out, see the issue as if it were happening to someone else, without emotion, remember that in the big picture it is likely trivial, and act accordingly. Our attitude is the only thing in life we truly have control over, speed bumps are opportunities to exercise that muscle.

Appreciation:

Yoga, beautiful yoga! As life’s pace changes next year the addition of multiple yoga sessions each week will definitely be life changing! No matter where my mind is prior, during yoga the self eventually gets blown up, replaced only by the present. In that moment of breathing, sweating, twisting, stretching, and holding there is no space for stressors, no space for distraction. As the practice goes on the self slowly fades to the background, replaced by breath. Such a wonderful way to work out the mind, body, & soul!

Presence:

The feeling of total absorption on a project for a client, working through the best possible solution based on their unique challenges and a unique combination of strategies. Turning off the outside world to stay focused in that one singular task, getting into a state of flow.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,613

Growth:

Be clear on expectations, know what you are willing to accept and what you choose not to. When all else fails choose positivity and optimism, control what you can control.

Appreciation:

This may seem a little off or like a backhanded gratitude, but it is really not. I’m reminded today of how grateful I am to not drive 90+ minutes to work each way more than once a week. Just thinking back to how I used to drive 17 hours each week to and from my offices exhausts me! My life is so improved in so many ways by eliminating the wasted time on the road. Even when used for reading and calls it still never was an equal hour for hour comparison to working in the office and it chewed up so many hours of my home life. Glad I figured it out and made the shift!

Presence:

Running in the rain well before sunrise with Becky. Playing a game of cards with Gavin while winding down the day. Wonderful bookends to the day!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,612

Growth:

Travel is great, but a healthy dose of time at home feels pretty outstanding too! On our walk this morning Becky pointed out that this was the first weekend in about a month and a half that I was home the entire weekend. No travel, no commitments, just time at home. While I kept myself plenty busy during that time (more on that in a sec) it was very rejuvenating to be here all weekend.

Appreciation:

Nothing like finishing up a project to help boost joy and satisfaction! Sitting on the deck having a cold beverage with supper felt all the better after finishing up the deck this weekend. All that’s left is the clean up of the removed materials and a little caulk once the weather will be dry for a while. Today I was able to wrap up the railing and the last of the trim, nice seeing the finished project!

Presence:

I totally got lost in the moment while I was working on the trim piece of the deck today. Based on the odd angles of a few different components there was a lot to work around as I cut the final trim board. All those cuts really kept my mind right there in the moment focused on what needed to happen. One mistake would have been rough! There were also moments of focus like that as I worked on trouble shooting a couple of components on the railings that didn’t go quite as smoothly as planned. Regardless, it was a very gratifying feeling to work through those challenges and to engage my brain in that way!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,611

Growth:

When in doubt, just get started. While I was kind of wanting to chill today I realized I had a lot I wanted to get done. After eating lunch I decided to just get started and at least make a little progress. Next thing I knew several hours had sped by and I had accomplished more than I was planning on accomplishing all weekend – and it felt great!

Just get started, you never know where it will end up!

Appreciation and Presence:

This morning at Stand Up Paddleboard Yoga the entire ninety plus minutes was a study in presence. Fish were jumping incessantly from the glass like surface of the water. Birds were singing and making noises all around. The clouds were moving quickly across the sky and thunder rumbled in the distance (a very safe distance away from where we were). During final rest I laid with my head turned to my left, facing north, and I took in the seemingly perfectly straight line of the water leading across the lake to the shore, then followed the shore line up and into the spectacular wall of clouds drifting across the sky. So stunning, so chill.

Literally seconds after we ended our session and pulled up our anchors the wind picked up and the storm-front slammed right into us leaving us paddling fast to make headway into the wind.

Engaging conversation with our yoga friends – old and new – as we loaded up the boards while the winds receded.

So many moments of presence and intentionality, such a wonderful experience! Sharing it with Becky made it all the better!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,610

Growth:

Very clear goals can make seemingly difficult decisions very clear and simple. One of my three goals for this year is complete, another is set up for success, and the other is making progress. Clarity simplifies life!

Appreciation:

That was a wild week! Nonstop thrill ride, very thankful for a weekend to kick back and chill a bit. There was a lot going on, long days, but a feeling of deep satisfaction as I look back at it. Here’s to the weeks of productivity!

Presence:

For as rough as the run was on Wednesday it felt so much better this morning! Becky and I had a fun run while watching the storm roll in, though it was a nice warm rain reminiscent of Hawaii. Nice change of pace to get back a great run!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,609

Growth:

We are where we put our focus. If I choose to put my energy and focus into the negative aspects of someone or some experience my attitude will also be negative. If I choose to not focus on the negative, to glance past it, my attitude is much lighter. If I instead choose to focus on how my life is better as a result of knowing the person – regardless of the reason how – my attitude is much more positive.

The person and their actual impact on me is the same, it is my response and focus that shifts my attitude and view. Choose wisely.

Appreciation:

My bucket list includes traveling on each calendar day of the year, kind of a silly one, but one that is fun to track. As of my most recent update (I usually update is about every 18 months or so) I hit a pretty cool milestone – I’ve been traveling on just over two thirds of the calendar days in the year! There are a couple of months that have been lighter than others – September has been light on travel due to school – while other months are almost completely crossed out – almost have July covered!

Travel is one of my all time favorite hobbies, fun hitting a sizable milestone!

Presence:

Getting an early morning walk in, drinking coffee on my drive up the river. Taking time to enjoy the view of swans on the backwater and slowing the car slightly to avoid hitting the low flying great blue heron. Quiet, stillness, and calm.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,608

Yessir, I am actually grateful for what was one of the worst runs I’ve had in quite some time this morning. My legs were sore and flat. I was tired and hadn’t slept the greatest. As I started running I had some pretty sharp pain in my right ankle. At about the furthest point from home I started cramping up from needing to make a pit stop. I ran, I walked, I bend over, I walked more, and then ran. All in all, it was an awful run.

All that said, I did it. I still ran. Even though it sucked I still went out and got moving. That part felt good afterwards.

This put into perspective how much more I should appreciate each of my normal runs that are less eventful and less painful. Each of those runs sometimes can be a bit unpleasant, but they all pale in comparison to this one. The next subpar run I have I’ll think back to this one and think, “whew, at least it wasn’t THAT run!” My run on Friday will likely feel divine!

Last, I’m grateful that I was taking in oxygen and able to run today. Even though it wasn’t pleasant I was still alive to do it. I wasn’t sidelined due to injury, I was able to get out of bed and get moving. That in of itself is something to be grateful for, something I often take for granted.

Funny how we sometimes remember the challenging times, we reset our gratitude levels after difficulty. Today’s run was awful, but it was one I can be thankful for!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,607

Growth:

The essence of philosophy is that a man should so live that his happiness shall depend as little as possible on external things.

– Epictetus

Appreciation:

Wow, I am sore today! The workout from yesterday was fantastic, I’m still feeling the after effects of it today. Many sore muscles, but all in a very positive way. The feeling of a solid workout like that is quite the sense of positive suffering. That is the sensation of growth, of a body being pushed and then growing stronger than it was. Uncomfortable, but in a very positive way.

As our priest used to say, joy is not the same as comfort. Tonight I’m not comfortable, but I am joyful.

Presence:

Nothing like driving to Menards with Gavin to remind me of all the time I’d go there with Dad back in the day. So many laughs, some actual life lessons, and a lot of good old fashioned fun. A wonderful opportunity to spend time together doing something extraordinarily mundane.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,606

Growth:

When I was younger I always wanted to be right. Now I would rather do right, even if it means admitting I was wrong. Set the ego aside, listen with the intention of learning rather than verifying what I already “know.” That’s where wisdom can start to sink in.

Appreciation:

Tonight I’m very grateful for living in an era of unprecedented change and growth. While working through my day I had an idea pop up and it led me down a short but wildly productive path along which I never would have imagined even three months ago. The lightbulb flipped on and I realized I needed to ask for the help in how to ask for the right type of help, and it appeared! Next thing I knew I had created a resource I will likely be utilizing each week to keep me focused in the right direction while also preparing for challenges I never would have expected.

Presence:

Going from yoga to High Intensity Interval Training in one session was amazing! For sure, I am a total wreck, but it was awesome. The blood was pumping, I maybe got a little woozy for a few minutes, but that session was a doozy! Very grateful for Becky signing us up for this one a while back, it hurt in a very positive way.

Thanks!!!