Day 2,189

So thankful for the opportunity to go back and reread insightful books! Each time I go back to some of my favorites there are repeated slaps to the forehead as I remember wisdom I told myself to remember the last time even though they didn’t quite stick as intended.

Case in point, I started rereading The Dichotomy of Leadership today. In just the first few chapters I was quickly reminded of some excellent lessons to remember moving forward.

I guess I’m a slow learner sometimes, but at least I welcome the slaps to the forehead as I re-learn.

Thanks!!!

Day 2,188

For the second straight year my Winona team had a Habitat for Humanity Day. We spend half of our work day volunteering to help with a construction project. This year we helped with siding, putting in windows, and doing a little bit of Sheetrock.

It’s always great to have an opportunity to give back, but knowing this is helping one of our favorite past associates made it all the more magical.

One of the parts I love about it is sharing something I love (home improvement/ construction) with teammates who haven’t done as much of it in the past. Today I got to experience the joy of seeing the smile of a teammate as they used a chop saw for the first time. The look on their face was priceless!

Spending time with my teammates, giving back, and doing something I love all rolled into one… doesn’t get much better than that!

Thanks!!!

Day 2,187

There’s such a beautiful dichotomy between new trends and old wisdom.

Life constantly changes, evolves, and throws out new products, systems, and ideas. If you look at the world through one lens almost everything is new. It can get tiring to try to remember which social medias we’re supposed ot keep up with, what technology we’re supposed to have in our pocket, and all that.

On the reverse of that, many of the new things aren’t really new when looking through a different lens. Most ideas are an improvment upon old foundations which have long since been established. At the end fo the day face to face conversation with beat the effectiveness and intimacy of phone calls, emails, texts, and Zooms. Many of our challenges are the same we’ve faced before, but only in new clothing.

Over the past week I’ve had several reminders of just how much has changed while almost nothing truly has. It’s been wild! When I remember to pause and think about something new I can also remember a similar thing from a different time and then use that past experience to help solve the new. Funny how history repeats itself.

It’s easy to be dazzled by the brilliance of new, but it’s also simple to remember to learn from the old scars too.

Thanks!!!

Day 2,186

LOL – I do say “Rest Day” with a slight wink. Still out the door for our morning run before 5am. Still a wildly busy 9ish hour work day. Bookended by busy work days and soccer nights it almost feels like a vacation!

For reals, I realized I needed to chill after our run so I put on a sweatshirt, laid on my back, set an alarm for 30 minutes, put on my sleep mask, and proceeded to go brain dead. It was gloriously relaxing.

Now I’m getting ready to be in bed within a half an hour and then off to sleep before 8:30. Eight plus hours of Z’s await me tonight.

Today feels like a rest day, one much needed and even more appreciated.

Thanks!!!

Day 2,185

So this happened today…

Wait…. What??? Those are only for kids who are seniors, right? What? Wait…. Holy crap.

So crazy and surreal. We have a son who is a senior. Ridiculous!

Thanks!!!

Day 2,184

I’m really struggling with how to write todays blog. Someone went so far above and beyond to help me out today that I’m almost at a loss for words. I’m having trouble thinking of the right way to share just how positive of an impact they made today and do not want to short change them or do a disservice to their help by putting together a half baked blog. I want to do right by them – lord knows they did incredibly right by me.

Let’s leave it at this for the night and I’ll pick it up again later in the week…. Someone gave me the most precious gift one can give, their time. She reached out without being asked, walked me through the next steps, warned me of obstacles, and cheered me on the entire way. All without ever asking anything in return. Amazing! Her legacy is so much more deeply entrenched in my soul and I’m beyond appreciative for her gift today. Priceless, truly. The advice, the help, and the inspiration to do the same for others. She created such an awesome ripple today, one which will impact many.

Thanks!!!

Day 2,183

On our pontoon today we saw something new. There were what appeared to be silvery little minnows everywhere! They were swimming in large masses and causing the water to ripple due to the volume of the schools swimming by. Becky and I ended sitting on the back of the boat for a good 30+ minutes watching them twist and and turn as the seemingly never ending stream of them twisted through the water.

As if that wasn’t enough wildlife entertainment we were treated to a great blue heron in a tree, a handful of bald eagles watching us from a above, a kingfisher skimming the surface of the water, and even a green heron doing its best to blend into the background.

Life gets ridiculously busy. Spending time relaxing and enjoying the entertainment nature puts on is music for the soul.

Thanks!!!

Day 2,182

As is sometimes the case, I’m going to leave the details out tonight. I received a card in the mail that was awesomely mind blowing in so many ways. My heart is full of joy and purpose.

Thanks!!!

Day 2,181

Here’s the family phot that has me smiling today…

This was from the homecoming celebration at Logan High School at halftime of the football game. Dominic was in for being on the Homecoming Court and Becky and I walked up with him.

What about Gavin? He’s the fourth trumpet player from the left in the front row 😂

Kudos to our friend Anthony for getting a family pic that will have me smiling for years to come.

Thanks!!!

Day 2,180

Another late night after an incredible soccer game!

Totally exhausted but I’m still very thankful for my favorite soccer game of the year. Our awesome friends, the Lyons, are on the Central team – two players, the coach, and the team manager (maybe not in title, but very much earned). We settled for a 1-1 outcome, the JV team won and the varsity team lost, a victory for each side 😁👍.

As has been tradition for the past three years we also got pics of the boys together. Always great watching them compete with and then smile with each other.

Thanks!!!