Author: Michael Kreiling

Thankful for the Process of Daily Blogging

Day 2,026

So many directions to potentially go for the blog tonight, which one is the right path? My mind is racing back and forth across all of the happenings of the day and I’m smiling as I think through it all.

From waking from a happy dream to getting a on early bike ride in. A delicious hot homemade breakfast. Focused time in the morning to finish a task. Reading a book with a well timed insight. The excitement of potentially adding a new teammate. Helping someone through a difficult time when they’ve done the same for me. Seeing Dominic shadow a teammate for the afternoon at work. Gavin working solo outside. Getting closer to wrapping up a difficult situation. Moving a step closer to my long term goals. A text string with a new friend. Knocking out a long task list. Putting more thought into an important project which never seems urgent. Sharing a heart felt compliment in the moment. Almost talking Becky into moving to Hilo, HI… almost 😉. Seeing a teammate grow and find their stride. Remembering the challenges others face in other roles. Talking with a friend. Grilling delicious steak. A nice conversation with Mom. Sitting in the living room as a family exhausted from the day. Catching up with Becky. Blogging in bed. And that’s just what comes to mind, there’s sure to be more as I wrap up this blog.

What I’m grateful for today is the process of daily blogging. In the past 10-15 minutes I’ve had the unique opportunity to review much of my day, remember the highlights as well as the difficult times, find meaning in the all, and then file away in the form of memories and lessons. This process embeds more of those moments into my brain more deeply and help me find purpose.

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Remembering Lightbulb Moments Aren’t Created In an Instant or Alone

Day 2,025

Been an excellent day for a wide variety of reasons stretching from getting to know teammates better, learning new tricks, seeing the boys excel in school, having unexpected downtime, making progress in the areas that matter most, seeing incredible potential, and a profound sense of calm. As per the norm, throw in a handful of moments which remind me of the value of purpose. Wild. Even as I type all this my brain can’t quite realize this was all in only one day. Wowza!

Earlier in the day we had our monthly Think Day in Winona – that time when we pause reality for four hours to focus on working “on” the business rather than merely “in” it. Many insights, new ideas, and potential solutions throughout that thinking time together.

At one point I had one of those “Eureka” moments and had an excellent idea. For the briefest of seconds there was a tremendous sense of pride as my ego gave itself a quick pat on the back for the genius is so obviously thought it was in that moment… and then reality kicked in. This wasn’t a struck by insight moments in which I caught lightning in a bottle, nothing could be further from the truth.

This stroke of insight and genius was the result of MANY hours of life lessons, training, learning, thinking, and the like. When I really dissect the genesis of the idea I could see the different influences of books and articles I’ve read as recently as earlier in the day and as far back as a couple of decades. Conversations with clients, teammates, mentors, friends, family, and strangers all planted the seeds of the idea. Stories shared by others each left their own individual impacts. The focus on our values, the intensity of my preoccupation with purpose, and even some huge takeaways from a training in London, Ontario about 20 years ago all played into this idea. This wasn’t a spur of the moment, flip the switch, A-Ha moment… it was the culmination of a tremendously large number of hours spent honing a craft and knowledge.

As I was then complimenting my work ethic, drive, and wisdom, I realized something. This wasn’t even my idea! Honestly, it was an idea from a teammate which was generated by another teammate which was the result of a different idea from a conversation about an entirely different topic. This wasn’t “Mike’s Incredible Genius,” rather, this was the work of so many teammates, mentors, coaches, associates, clients, and the like. This was their idea, their genius all put together and on display.

By the time I’d realized this I was chuckling to myself, I swear I could even hear Dad loving call me one of my favorite nicknames in moments like this… “dumbass,” a la Red Foreman from That 70’s Show. 100% in a loving way, and 100% well deserved.

A stroke of genius which seems so obvious the moment it is uttered that we kind of stop and wonder how we all missed it. Not a lightning strike of insight – rather, the result of many, many, many hours of hard work, learning, and sharing of ideas between an incredibly large network of wonderful people, without any single one of which the idea may have never came to fruition. I just happened to have the opportunity to help connect the dots, I was the one who found the last puzzle piece laying on the floor after all but that piece was put together.

Those magical “Lightbulb Moments” are usually the result of so many hours of learning by so many people. I am thankful for that reminder today.

Not gonna lie, it felt good to put the last piece of the puzzle in place, but it feels even better to stand back and look at what we all created together. That’s success.

Thanks!!!

Thankful for a New Driving Experience and Learning From Past Experience

Day 2,024

Here’s your interesting fun fact of the day… Did you know that being blown around the road due to high wind, hydroplaning, being washed aside due to fast moving water, and sliding on marble sized hail all feel a little different from each other and when in different combinations? While my drive back from Michigan during an ice storm is still the scariest drive I’ve ever had this one was certainly a contender!

In an effort to get home in time for Gavin and Dominic’s track meets (which were then cancelled) I made the drive home from Eau Claire. By the time I hit Arcadia the skies opened up and hit me with one of the craziest weather events I’ve ever driven through. There were extreme winds, torrential rain, and marble sized hail. The best part was that it all hit as I was cresting the bluffs. This meant that all the water and hail were rushing down the path of least resistance… the road.

With zero spots to pull over immediately I white knuckled it the mile or so down the hill at a snail’s pace, smiling the entire way. How wild to have the opportunity to try out driving in conditions I’ve never before experienced??? Each sensation was slightly different and they all seemed to hit at different times. There was even the experience of driving through piles of hail slush kicked up from the semi ahead of me. It was wild!!! Definitely an experience I’ll never forget.

When I got to the bottom of the bluff I pulled into the first quiet country road and got off the county road. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I took this picture…

Over an inch of hail had accumulated in less than a couple of minutes! I chilled and waited a bit for the rain to stop and the flooding waters to wash off the road before taking off again. In the past I would’ve kept driving, this time I used my head and pulled over when I could to wait it out a bit.

This was a wild experience, I’m glad I got to experience it, AND that I stayed safe while experiencing it.

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Yoga Date Night Reunions, Stories Reminding Me of Grandma, and the Joy of Living Into Purpose

Day 2,023

Yessir, the title is quite the mouthful tonight! No real connecting threads or anything, just a handful of awesome moments throughout the day for which I am appreciative.

Becky and I had our Yoga Date Night as we have often on Monday nights over the past few months. Our normal instructor, Nick, is out so we had a special guest instructor. She’s long been one of our favorites going back to when I first started going to Root Down. With COVID and different schedules our paths haven’t crossed in a couple of years. It was like a reunion when we got to yoga tonight, so thankful for all of the wonderful teachers like Steph, we’re so blessed to have at Root Down. They really make it feel like a great big yoga family.

Early in the morning Becky shared the story of a grandma and grandson duo who are on a quest to take Grandma to all of the National Parks. The little TV clip she shared had me smiling, she reminded me of my Grandma Joyce in so many great ways. Throughout the day I’ve had memories of Grandma coming back. So many fond memories! Looking back I wish I would have spent more time with Grandma and gotten to know her better, there are many fun things we could have done. Sometime in the future she’ll be one of the first people I’ll hang out with when my time here is done and we’re re-united. Each time I am reminded of her I smile and realize how fortunate I was to have her in my life.

Living into my purpose seems to get easier and easier each day. What really stuck out for me today was the return on living into purpose. The rewards have been rather mind blowing and joy inducing. There were several of those moments today and I almost had to pinch myself. So simple, so clear, and so impactful. The reminders of the return on purpose today were nothing short of overwhelming.

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Feeling the Positive Results of Training and ANOTHER Bison Sighting

Day 2,022

Last week’s 9 mile training run was brutal. Nothing felt right, it was all off, and it was one of the less pleasant runs I’ve had in a very long time. Regardless, I did it. Today I was able to reap the benefits of it.

Our training run today was on a paved trail in Ankeny, Iowa. After a couple of miles the trail was completely out of town and we were running in between farm fields with only the occasional little bit of brush and some barbed wire fences. The way out we had the winds at our back, on the way in we were running into a 20+ mph headwind. The sun was out and the temperature was in the mid forties, pretty much ideal.

In continuing a weird streak this was the second time when I happened to run past the very much unexpected bison! How wild is that???

One of the best parts of this run was how great I felt before, during, and after the run. Everything clicked throughout the ten miles. Even now I’ve only got a little bit of stiffness in one ankle, the rest of me feels fantastic. If I was pressed to I know I could take off on a 5k right now, very different than last weekend’s ordeal.

I am so grateful for seeing the positive impact of training today. All runs, even especially the difficult ones, strengthen me up for the next. Each longer and longer run beats my body up just enough to break it a little so that it heals itself stronger for the next one. I could 100% feel that positive impact today.

Quick note to my future self who may be reading this sometime later… What a wonderful reminder of how we all grow through difficulty and adversity. True growth occurs during periods of challenge.

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Perfect Soccer Weather, Hiking Trails, & Dominic’s Commitment to Track

Day 2,021

Soccer weekend for the Kreiling’s in Des Moines, Iowa for the next 24+ hours. Gavin’s first games have gone very well, a nice 2-0 win followed by a 1-1 battle. At least one more game tomorrow, pretty sure if they win they’re in the finals and get a bonus game. Fingers crossed!

The weather has been PERFECT soccer weather. The sun is out, very few clouds in the sky. There’s just enough breeze to make it feel fresh and the temperature is hovering around the mid-50’s. Not too hot, not too cold, just right! With all the ways the weather has been brutal in the past I’m ecstatic that there’s no rain, no snow, no frost, and the temperature is above freezing. Weather like this? I’ll take it anytime!

Before Gavin’s games we’ve been incredibly fortunate. There’s a beautiful trail system right across the street from the parking lot. We’ve had plenty of time to head out for a nice long walk before each of Gavin’s games. What an excellent way to spend a little extra time outdoors. Why sit and wait when we can be out and moving in a sweet little swamp / forest area? So thankful for the trails nearby!

Last, I’m typing this up early while I am waiting for Dominic to finish up his track practice. He was supposed to have track practice today, but with heading to Iowa that was an obvious no go. Instead he talked with his coach, got his practice plan for the day, and is now getting his run in on a track we found near our hotel. It’s awesome seeing his commitment to track and his willingness to work hard for something he’s excited for.

Thanks!!!

Thankful for a Perfectly Surreal Winter Running Experience

Day 2,020

I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks! Rather than stay out and bark at the moon with some cohorts I chose to be in bed before 10pm. This move allowed me to get up and moving a little before 5:30am this morning.

Even though I was out of town for work I still wanted to knock out my Friday morning run, especially knowing that there was a lot of car time in my future. I got up, knocked the rust off my joints, and got ready to head out for my run.

As luck would have it there was what appeared to be a nice little trail only a couple of blocks from my hotel. Off I went into the snow, ice, and stiff wind with my headlamp on and my headphones playing an album from one of my new favorite bands that I’d never listened to before.

Only a couple of days ago my friend James turned me on to The Rural Alberta Advantage and I’ve been working my way through all of their albums. The next one up was Mended with Gold – I’d highly recommend giving it a listen.

The music was beyond perfect for the winter run. I’m struggling to put into words the reasons why it fit so well. The best I can come up with is that it was just perfect. I know, great work in being descriptive Kreiling, right? The sound, the tempo, the lyrics, the emotion in the voice… everything fit the cold, bitter, windy, snowy, and icy run in the pre-dawn lighting. Hmm… the music was raw in almost a primal way, the way the run felt.

As if that wasn’t already enough to create an epic running experience I crested a hill, turned a little corner, and saw this…

Yessir, those are buffalo! Bison Bison if you will. The trail skirted the little zoo and wildlife park in Marshfield, WI. Unbeknownst to me this meant I had an opportunity to get relatively up close and personal with one of my favorite animals. The hairy giants added to the surrealness of the run. It was only the bison and I out and about as there were no roads, houses, or people nearby.

Just before I encountered the bison the song Runners In the Night, a wonderfully perfect soundtrack for that exact moment.

I had to pause and just take it all in. The entire event was so surreal on so many levels. The profoundness of the presence I experienced in that moment is indescribable. It was a perfectly surreal winter running experience. Beautiful in so many levels, my heart still swell with joy as I think about it.

Thanks!!!

Day 2,019 – Thankful for Knowing When I Need to Pause for a Moment, the Power of Purpose, and Sharing What Has Been Shared

Back in the day I’d run until I collapsed. After a long while I learned a bit; I remember writing about putting my hand out to feel for the wall before I ran into it. Today someone asked how I was doing and I gave a very honest response which would have hurt my ego too much to accept even just a few years ago. How am I? “I’m tired.”

The past couple of months have been very busy for mainly positive reasons. Even the difficult moments have been opportunities to grow, but their weight still has worn me out. I need to recharge. I need to pause for a moment, rest, and jump back in.

Having a stronger sense of purpose really helps me see that I must be rested and ready to live into it completely. What an unexpected lesson from focusing on purpose – I must take better care of myself… not specifically for myself, but to better be able to do what must be done. Another reason purpose truly powers everything!

In living into that purpose I’m elated for the opportunities to share what has been shared with me in the past. Whether by mentors, friends, or my own mistakes – having the opportunity to help others with those lessons is very fulfilling. Taking a note from de Mello, I’m doing my best to simply ask questions rather than the lessons themselves so others may grow into their own. They don’t need my tainted thoughts, just the opportunity to consider a question they may have otherwise not asked themselves. No leading, only asking.

Thanks!!!!

Day 2,018 – Thankful for the Huge Team Who Made the Presentation a Success

Today was the 2022 HR Conference and my keynote presentation on Minding the GAP: Choosing Growth, Appreciation, and Presence. There are many things to be thankful for today, but one really trumps them all.

What I am most thankful for are the dozens of people who helped to create this presentation. I wish there was a way to help them all experience the applause at the end – they all earned and deserved it. The message may have come out of my mouth but it was crafted by so many.

From the people who helped me create the idea to the people who’s acts of kindness helped inspire me. Teammates who listened to the presentation and offered feedback to the friends who texted before the presentation. The wonderful team at the event who helped get everything set up to people who’ve presented in the past who inspired me. The people who offered up difficult but honest and necessary feedback. The people who built up my confidence. The people who helped script specific words and phrases. The people who’ve introduced me to the concepts.

Most importantly, two people in particular who’s roles were front and center throughout the entire process.

Becky for the never ending love and support, the belief in me even when I struggle, and the inspiration to live into my biggest dreams.

Dad for growing and cultivating the values discussed today, all the gifts he gave me through his life, and the lessons he continued to teach me through his death. Each time I practiced this presentation I had an opportunity to re-live that wonderful last time we were together in person and that final hug we shared. What a gift!

Still cracks me up every time I see it!

To all of you who helped to create this presentation – thank you, thank you, thank you. I love and appreciate all of you. Thank you for creating something beautiful.

Thanks!!!

Day 2,017 – Thankful for Preparation and Purpose

Tomorrow is the big day, the 2022 HR Conference presentation! I’m borderline giddy with anticipation as I’m about to attempt to sleep.

Over the past couple of weeks I’ve rehearsed this presentation over 20 times. I’ve practiced it in order, out of order, and with some of the possible surprises practiced. Practice, practice, & more practice, tomorrow is the time to perform. my bag is packed with everything from my laptop to my spare laptop to my flash drive to my clicker to the spare battery for the clicker to the video adapter. I know the venue, the microphone set up, & the timing of the event. All that can be reasonably prepared for has been. I will still slip, trip, stumble, & be surprised, but nothing I cannot learn from or work through.

I know I’ll sleep well tonight. The heavy lifting is done, tomorrow is the fun, the dessert.

An excellent friend had a great bit of advice today… “Enjoy it.” What a perfect reminder to come back to tonight. As much as I’ve been stressing there is no reason to. I enjoy this, I can brighten lives through this, this is a core of my purpose. I will totally enjoy and savor the moment while working through it as well as I possibly can.

Thanks!!!