Day 2,362

Growth:

Once again I’m reminded of the importance of building slack into a schedule. As my week has been a bit more interesting than expected I find myself with a monstrously large task list. Fortunately I’ve stuck with my plan of building slack into my week for occasions like this.

The plan is always to have extra time to get ahead on another project but more often than not it’s used as the stop gap to get everything done. Sooooooooo glad I added it in this week!!!

Appreciation:

Many years ago Dad and I had a conversation about the struggle to find the right between being a dad and being a friend. So easy to slip too far one way or the other, so easy to forget the fulcrum shifts from being almost entirely on the dad side to slowly closing in on the halfway point during adulthood. When Dad shared his thoughts he helped me see s couple examples of bring out of balance in either direction and it stuck.

I still need to better find the balance, but I’m better than I would have been without his coaching to help me start.

Presence:

Time in the woods, what a gift, even if just for a short time. LuLu and I were able to sneak her walk in after work and in between rainfalls. The time in the woods is more therapeutic than almost anything. The perfect place to recharge!

Thanks!!!

Day 2,361

Growth:

Sometimes we need to shift direction and go with whatever direction life takes us. There’s an interesting dichotomy to recognize – we can’t afford to waste our life drifting along wherever it takes us but we also need to let go and roll with whatever life throws us. Maybe wisdom lies in discerning the difference?

Today I realized early it was time to pull up the anchor and roll with each wave without regard to where it was going. Honestly, it has been a largely positive and rewarding day in spite of a couple of unexpected twists and a large challenge. Had I fought to force the day to go where I wanted I’d feel crushed and defeated. Instead I feel confident, optimistic, and satisfied.

Tomorrow looks to be a day in which focus will help me re-gain any losses and move further ahead… but we will see what it actually brings and make the most of it.

Appreciation:

So blessed to have so many of the right, positive, and supportive people around me all day and in seemingly just the right spots. From family to teammates to auto service people to teachers to friends to an entire team of awesomely positive Jimmy John’s workers I almost couldn’t avoid someone lifting me up when I faltered. I am beyond grateful for all of the perfectly timed smiles, the caring words, and the positivity.

So many people helped make today a great day. It was off kilter and off the rails since I woke up. I was basically busy from 5am until 8pm and by all tights I should be a mess. Instead – thanks to all those who brightened my day – I wrapped up my night in a wonderful conversation with my oldest son and was 100% present with him. What a gift!!!

To each and every single person who brightened my life and gave me strength and joy today – thank you, thank you, thank you.

Presence:

So many moments I’m grateful for today, but I’m most appreciative for this moment right now. In this moment taking time to realize how blessed I have been today, what a wonderful moment. So thankful for taking time to intentionally choose appreciation. My heart is full.

Thanks!!!

Day 2,360

Growth:

Happiness is already ours, it is our natural state. It is our lack of appreciation that gets in the way. If we pause, appreciate the present moment, and are thankful for the breath we are taking there is joy. We need only remember appreciation.

Appreciation:

Even though my car’s thermometer read -8 (f) I couldn’t help but utilize one of my favorite hacks. I love being outdoors. There’s little better in life than fresh air. Rather than be “inside” my car I turned up the heat and opened my moon roof. It was glorious!!!

A frosty sunrise AND some fresh air? AMAZING start to the day!!!

Nothing like getting fresh air and feeling like I was outside while actually being. This morning reminded me of why I hope to only own vehicles with moonroofs moving forward.

Presence:

That frosty sunrise I mentioned in the last section? So picturesque! The drive to Eau Claire this morning was amplified by both the timing of the sunrise and the sudden drop in temperature. The air was so clear and still. There was a layer of frost on all the trees and plants from the mist rising from the unfrozen stream. Throw in some wildly vibrant first rays of sunshine and it was EPIC!!!

Thanks!!!

Day 2,359

Growth:

Remember to pause and breathe rather than react. This morning I had a wonderful non-work related opportunity to remember this rather than taking action in the heat of emotion. While I could certainly justify the reason for my frustration and potential action it is better put on hold for a day or two, put into a more structured format, and then act swiftly with logic rather than emotion.

I can’t remember where I saw the quote recently, but it’s really grown on me. It was something along the lines of we can always say something but we can’t unsay something. Better to think it through first.

Appreciation:

Very proud papa moment today! Both of the boys were elected their peers to their track team’s advisory council for their respective classes. Pretty cool to see them both continuing to grow as leaders, what an awesome extra set of responsibilities they will be soaking up over the next few months.

Presence:

Ahh… another Monday blog post, another yoga mention! Tonight’s class was fantastic for a slightly different reason. For some reason it took me a long time to get settled in and in the flow for the practice. Starting in child’s pose was brutal, my feet kept cramping, I couldn’t sit still, and my brain was going way to fast. It was rough! After a while and a great deal of focusing on my breathing I was slowly able to get my brain back in the right place for yoga and proceeded to sweat my butt off in a very good way. During final rest I found that I was so relaxed that I caught myself dreaming before it was over.

Nothing like a good sweat and some focused breathing to get back into the present moment and relaxed!

Thanks!!!

Day 2,358

Growth:

There were a few lessons / reminders I am thankful for today.

• Beware of ego, it can slowly creep in when we least expect it
• Get outside, life is more joyful when spent in nature
• Enjoy the little moments, the rides to Menards with either of the boys
• Life is so much more satisfying when we say yes
• Remember that I’ll never know the perspective and intentions of others

Appreciation:

The workshop is such a happy place for me. I love creating in it, working with wood, and taking ideas out of the aether and creating reality of them. So rewarding and fulfilling.

Sharing my workshop is a blessing in so many other ways. Time bonding with my sons while teaching them skills learned from my dad. Allowing others to use my shop and offering an opportunity to spark a new passion for them. There’s something deeply satisfying about sharing time with others in my workshop, so fortunate for the opportunity to do so.

Presence:

Walking LuLu through the almost untouched snow in the woods was awesome. In some spots we left the only set of footprints and in the rest of the trails there were only mine, Becky’s, and one other person’s.

So many bald eagles all around, they are talking much of the time. A pair of trumpeter swans also flew over. The entire scene was so peaceful and serene. What a soul warming walk in the woods.

Thanks!!!

Day 2,357

Growth:

How often do I let fear or anxiety or worry get the better of me? Climbing today was a bit of a rocky start as my nerves were not big fans of being up high. It took a lot of work and convincing to get that inner voice of fear to shut up. Once I did I had a blast!

Fear, you are no friend of mine. When we run into each other next time I will be sure to see through you more quickly.

Appreciation:

Nothing quite like a family adventure day! After Becky and I hit our yoga date and the boys completed their long track workout we all loaded up and drove to Rochester. A while back we’d won some day passes to the climbing wall and decided it was time to cash them in.

What a blast!!! We had so much fun climbing up the crazy walls! It was an experience we’ll definitely remember. Nothing quite like knocking out an adventure based activity as a family on a Saturday.

Presence:

For reals, the split second of jumping off the wall before the auto belay catches you. Wowza!!! talk about being so present in a moment that the split second feels like an eternity.

Thanks!!!

Day 2,356

Growth:

As I prepared for my presentation at church tonight I took a deep breath and thought about whether or not to add a very emotional couple of stories. When practicing I kept getting choked up in a couple of spots and was nervous I would’ve be too emotional to make it through. I took the advice of Father Sam from this past Sunday and decided to risk it. I’m so thankful I did!

Practice and I’ll be okay. Trust the nudge I feel even when (or especially when) it is uncomfortable. Know that the support needed to make it through will always be there. Take a chance, open up, let go of the wheel, and trust.

Appreciation:

There are some people in our lives who quietly do so much of the heavy lifting to help us be successful. Without regard for accolades they do the difficult work needed to make our lives better.

At our church we’ve been so blessed to have a servant leader, a true tribal leader, and someone I respect and admire greatly. Over the past dozen year she’s helped do many of us be better versions of ourselves through her willingness to speak up and leading by example. Our church family is stronger thanks to her presence.

Here’s to Mary Ellen – I’m grateful for her spirit, her leadership, her musical flair, and her role modeling of living a purpose driven life.

Presence:

Tonight my boys attended one of my book presentations for the first time. The hugs from each afterwards were some of the greatest ever. What a moment each one was!

Thanks!!!

Day 2,355

Growth:

Trust the process. Even thought something’s have to be completely taken apart trust that they will be better. It can be nerve wracking to take apart a presentation a day before the event, but it is better to get it right than to just be done. No stress, no sweat. Can I do this? Yes, yes I can.

Appreciation:

Sometimes we put in a ton of hard work and don’t see the results until months after the hard work has started. Being there with a team when they see their results starting to pop is awesome! All that energy and effort put in, seeing the hard fought results starting to happen is magic and so inspiring.

Presence:

A simple game of Battleship, a perfect way to bond with Dominic tonight!

Thanks!!!

Day 2,354

Growth:

While putting together another presentation on my book I’ve had the opportunity to looks at it from a different perspective.

I’ve been a huge fan of the “shoebox diorama” concept for quite some time. Create a scene (honestly, when I describe it I always think of a dinosaur scene, but that’s just me) inside of a shoebox and tape the cover back on. Poke a set of viewing holes in one side and see what you can. Poke another set of eye holes in a different side and see how everything changes… even though it is still the same thing.

Going through my book and all those memories for this presentation has been like poking a new set of eyeholes in the shoebox. So many new perspectives of the same events, additional depths and complexities. What a gift!

Appreciation:

Today I’m thankful for the early morning conversations Becky and I have while running. Life is busy and we don’t get nearly the time for the two of us that we’d like. Knowing that we’ll have time together for at least an hour or so three times a week is awesome. Quite often we don’t get into anything too crazy, usually work updates and making sure I know what we’ve got going on for the next couple of days. Once in a while we talk about the news or the weather, and often we talk about vacations past or future. Long story short – we get to have a mini-date on our run.

What a gift to know that we have that time to talk worked into our schedule and we don’t have to worry about interruptions.

Presence:

No need to dive into the details as it was a confidential moment, the basics will do. Sometimes people need to be heard, to know someone cares, to know they are appreciated. Today I had the opportunity to be there to listen, to care, and to share appreciation. That moment was a true gift for my soul, I’m so fortunate for the opportunity to be present for them in that moment. Of anything I could have been doing at that time nothing could have been more important.

Thanks!!!

Day 2,353

Growth:

As I started planning for 2023 one of the lessons I wanted to remind myself of daily was:

Add changes slowly – improve by 1% daily.

Me

Throughout my life there’ve been many times when I’ve attempted to change way to much all at one time. I usually make some progress but quickly tire out from all the stress of changing so much. When I take changes one small piece at a time I’m able to build upon small successes and have much stronger endurance.

This week I was going to make a couple of big switches back but then that advice I gave myself really sunk in. One small step each day. Even when I feel encouraged to add another I’m going to pause and focus on one percent per day. Slowly building for sustained improvement.

Appreciation:

Hmm… another day of multiple options of what to write about. Honestly, this is a really difficult one to choose from as there were a handful of times I started blogging in my mind. There’s one though that sticks out the most.

I’m grateful for the reminder that we are each so much more than a number, a score, or a grade. We are not the result of one test, one grade, or one class.

We are the effort we put in. We are the practice we put in. We are the level of the challenges we take on. We are the growth we learn after we falter. We are the guts it takes to stand back up. We are the strength we use to try again. We are the humility to know we are not perfect.

We all have a choice to make. Risk faltering through the greater challenges for greater reward, to truly challenge ourselves and grow – or – risk nothing and live in the comfort of safety.

I would always prefer to have a teammate who has chosen the struggle, who’s proven themselves in the crucible. They may have scars from losses, but they also have the guts to rise and try again.

Presence:

LOL – a little tongue in cheek on this one, but 100% truthful.

As I was getting ready for bed tonight I pulled a good one on myself and slammed the tip of my left middle finger in the closet door. Our closet doors are essentially sheets of plywood that slide tightly between the wood case and I got all the momentum of that wood crunching my finger. In an instant I was howling in pain.

Now, several minutes (and maybe several obscenities) later I’m looking back at that moment and realizing just how present I was. In the moment it happened for a good minute or two there was nothing else my mind was focused on other than my finger. Yowza!!!

Presence – it comes in all shapes and sizes. While I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone I have to admit it was an effective way to live right in the moment!

Thanks!!!