Day 3,749

Growth:

When you renounce something, you are tied to it. The only way to get out of this is to see through it. Don’t renounce it, see through it. Understand it’s true value and you won’t need to renounce it; it will just drop from your hands.

Anthony de Mello, Awareness

Appreciation:

Definitely nice to have someone in life who understands us well! As I was getting frustrated trying to figure out some college financial planning Becky realized I’d reached my fun limit. She knew exactly what I needed in the moment – a chill two mile hike! Within minutes of hitting the trail I felt like a brand new person. Super grateful for Becky knowing me better that I knew myself!

Presence:

Kneeling in the snow, getting close to the piles of individual snowflakes shimmering and sparking in the winter sun. Each side of each flake was perfectly clear, a work of art from falling out of the sky, incredible!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,748

Growth:

It’s okay to relax, it’s necessary to relax and recharge. Taking time to pause, relax, not have an agenda, and chill is one of the most important things I can spend time doing once in a while.

Appreciation:

What a wonderfully chill day! I finished my first book of the year, got two thirds of the way through the next. Slept in. Went to yoga and got a nice walk in. Played a board game with Becky and Gavin. Started the year living into my 2026 goals. Pretty epic start to the year!

Presence:

Relaxing, getting lost in a good book. Breathing, pausing to intentionally breathe prior to yoga. Walking, getting into the snowy outdoors with family. A wonderfully chill day full of moments of presence.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,747

Growth:

Existence on a mountain is simple. Seldom in life does it come any simpler: survival, plus the striving toward a summit. The goal is solidly, three-dimensionally there-you can see it, touch it, stand upon it—the way to reach it well defined, the energy of all directed toward its achievement. It is this simplicity that strips the veneer off civilization and makes that which is meaningful easier to come by-the pleasure of deep companionship, moments of uninhibited humor, the tasting of hardship, sorrow, beauty, joy. But it is this very simplicity that may prevent finding answers to the questions I had asked as we approached the mountain.

Thomas F. Hornbein, Everest: The West Ridge

Appreciation:

What an excellent day with my teams today! We closed up our offices to focus on training and walking through our plans for 2026. Throughout we laughed, asked questions, grew, bonded, and took time to appreciate just how much we’ve grown throughout the past year. 2024 closed up with a reckoning, the forests were clear cut and burned in early 2025, and now the seedlings have begun to sprout in the second half of 2025. Pausing to savor how much better it feels with a team of highly driven individuals who clearly live each and every one of our values was a mini victory lap, an opportunity to appreciate just how much we grew as a team and how much we’ve grown together. An excellent last work day of the year!

Presence:

Wrapping up the year on the couch, reading a book (finishing one and then starting another), relaxing with Becky, listening to the sounds of Gavin and his friends playing games downstairs, and while also getting the occasional text from Dominic of his adventure in Alaska. Is there any better way to close out one yeaar and prepare to bring in the next?

Thanks!!!