Huh, funny how a seemingly small change can have a tremendous impact. One of the changes for me in 2022 is a focus on less technology. Rather than pulling out my phone for random moments of quiet and boredom I’ve replaced them with books and notes for myself. I had no idea just how much time I was slowly and quietly wasting online.

Late in the afternoon I picked up a library book Becky had finished earlier in the day. As I type this I’ve finished the book and enjoyed every page of it! It was a heart warming story reminding me of the power of faith in the face of extreme diversity. I would highly recommend and am sure to have it in mind often.

Had I not changed my behavior a bit I would have most likely skipped reading it. I would have had the intentions of reading it but would most likely have been caught up in some time wasting habit instead. Completely unintentional, but the results would still have been the same. My heart wouldn’t be as full as it is before I go to bed tonight.

One subtle change, one very full heart and a smile on my face before bed.

Thanks!!!

So far so good for 2022! I had much of my plan in place to start the year and I only slipped in one little spot while staying the course for multiple others. Yes, I know that the new year really is only a date on a calendar, one of 365, but there is a power to be harnessed as a life hack. This year I’m using it as a starting line for a race for the year.

In concept I look at the relatively minor behavior changes as opportunities to improve and live better. Once again I’m chuckling to myself at the level of awareness that occurs when I change a behavior pattern. I was often pausing while my brain struggled to keep up with the operating system update I installed causing me to stop and almost glitch as I realized just how engrained certain behaviors (reactions?) had become. How funny that one little thing can slowly develop into a habit without even realizing it.

All that said, it was an excellent start to the year. I got my exercise in. I made better choices with my time. I avoided unnecessary “noise.” Best part, I spent time with family, time at home working with my hands, and enjoyed a mind boggling movie – Tenet (which really should have come with a warning about how fatigued your brain would become as you try to keep up).

2021 was a wonderful year, based on the start I’m thinking 2022 could be even more grand.

Thanks!!!

Holy crap, what has happened today? I’ve been going ever since the alarm went off at 6:43am. Hit the road for a run with Becky. Got home and hopped on my bike trainer for over an hour. Showered up and went to work to move into my new office. Wrapped up my book and sent out my final(ish) revision to my coach and editor. Got home and went for a walk with Becky and the dogs. Eat supper. Now we’re off for some family board games to close out the night while also talking about our upcoming trip to Iceland in June.

Rather than slowly slide into the new year I guess I opted for crashing right through the end of this one! What a great feeling to knock out so much and to get this much out of the day already (and who knows how long we’ll be gaming for tonight).

2021 has been a nonstop thrill ride of action and excitement, it only seems fitting to end it in the breakneck pace it sustained throughout most of the year!

Thanks!!!

Wild to think that 2021 only has a day left. The year has flown by at such a seemingly rapid pace my mind is still struggling to truly understand how it could have followed 2020, they seem so unrelated in some ways and yet 2021 was born completely of 2020.

Much of the day was spent wrapping up goals and tasks better done in 2021. Tomorrow will see the end of a year long goal, so pumped to put the checkmark next to it! Throughout the day my thoughts kept drifting back to random events throughout the past year while also thinking ahead to 2022.

I paused for a bit and went into my photos from this year. My mind is blown with all that we’ve done and all that’s happened in the past 12 months! How did we live that much life in the last year? Crazy!

Tomorrow I’ll see if I can talk the family into going through all of our pictures from 2021 together. There’s a bit of magic in going through the pictures from the past year. Each one gives the gift of memory, a moment frozen in time to go back to.

So much more of 2021 to unpack before it is gone, more planning for 2022 before it begins. I’m glad I started wrapping up 2021 today, there’s a lot more to it than I initially remembered!

Thanks!!!

For the second straight year we spend a night in the woods to wrap up the year. While it wasn’t quite as close to the last day of the year as it was last year there’s no question that we’ve started a bit of a tradition. Fingers crossed for keeping it up again in 365 days or so.

The nonstop snow, crazy wind, and freezing temperatures only made the camping all the more memorable. We had so many laughs all day and night long. There were a couple of times in the middle of the night when all three of us happened to wake up at about the same time and jump right back into conversation and laughs. Quite honestly, I don’t remember ever having so much fun packing up gear on a frigid morning. The entire time was a blast!

Spending time with my boys in the woods like this is amongst my very favorite activities in the entire world. This camping trip was another memorable experience I am very grateful for. We’ll keep laughing at the memories for years and years to come, especially moments like when we attempted to make popcorn over the fire (spoiler alert, it didn’t go so well). I am thankful they share the passion for the outdoors and can find the beauty and meaning in being out in nature.

Thanks!!!

…and into the woods I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.

John Muir

Thanks!!!

Busy day filled with excitement. We were largely going in different directions all day long, but everything just kind of came together for an epic end to the day.

After an awesome yoga session with Becky I sat on the couch and turned on the TV – something which doesn’t happen to often. As luck would have it Dominic also sat on the couch and put some pictures on our laptop. With him sitting there I loaded up an old favorite comedy from the early 2000’s. Gavin eventually joined us to catch the back half.

We sat on the couch and laughed our butts off, it was awesome! Spending time together laughing at jokes we’re sure to repeat over and over again was a great way to wrap up the day. We may not have had a ton of time together today, but the time we had was greatly enjoyed.

Thanks!!!

I’ve often written about nudges, those little inspirations that seemingly come from out of nowhere to lightly push or direct me towards a specific action or thought process. Today I felt one, went right along with it, and was rewarded greatly. They seem to appear most often when I’m about to avoid something and head in a slightly different direction. The nudge is a fantastic and gentle course correct which seems to help me better live into the person I should be. Without detail, the nudge was spot on again today and I’m glad I heeded it.

When I started thinking about the nudge today I kept thinking that it most likely came from the steady diet of books I’ve been reading recently. In many ways it was drawn up right out a couple of their playbooks. This was a very effective reminder of how important it is for me to keep a healthy mental diet. I am more likely to act in accordance with what I’ve been mentally consuming, it is critical I devour the right books.

Thanks!!!

Our drive back home today was amongst the most peaceful of all time. Each of us were pretty chill and off in our own thoughts (or devices) and it was a stark contrast to the activities of the past weekend. Having time to largely enjoy the sound of silence was a great way to chill after an excellent night of Christmas festivities with a very large family.

Before hitting the road we spent some extra time at Ken & Mary’s. No agenda, no specific reason, just some bonus conversation time. We had a great time just talking about anything and everything as we all chilled and relaxed. The bonus conversation was a wonderful way to wrap up the holiday season with their family.

Tonight we’re chilling on the couch, just the four of us, watching A Christmas Story and joking around. We’re sharing stories, laughing, and having a blast together. Frozen food for dinner, popcorn as a snack, and a little hot chocolate – exactly what the doctor ordered 😉 This is the best way I could imagine finishing up Christmas night.

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Thanks!!!

LOL – I know, I sound like a broken record. Same type of blog multiple times in the past week. What can I say, I know what I like? 😁👍

Today becky and I got a great hike in on some snowy trails. In addition to the usual beauty of the woods we were treated to various animal tracks in the snow. Deer, rabbits, and squirrel trails were everywhere. As we went deeper into the wood we found some coyote tracks that were fresh from yesterday. Further along the path we found tracks that were much fresher and and were atop the coyote. Turns out they were bobcat tracks, how cool is that?

After our hike I went out with Ken and the kids for some four wheeler riding on the trails. The rain started just as we headed out and we spent the next hour or so riding in the woods in the rain. It was wild! Thanks to some rainproof clothes I stayed dry and warm while having fun watching the kids drive each other around on sleds through the trail.

Another day of lost of time outside, perfect!

Thanks!!!