As I was checking out from Festival Foods today another couple approached me and started a fun conversation with me as I scanned my groceries. Within moments we were laughing and smiling as if we were all long lost friends. By the time I left all three of us were grinning and chuckling.

So much joy from a simple conversation with strangers.

It is so easy to stay closed up, stare at my phone, and ignore other people around me. There is an appeal to being disconnected from others, but how often have I missed the opportunity to experience the joy of connecting with others?

As I spend more time in thought and listen deeper to the world around me this moment really stuck out. Such an ordinary encounter, yet the meaning rang clearer than a well struck bell in the cold winter air. There was something so extraordinary in that ordinary moment. The presence of something greater.

The connection of strangers in smile and conversation… there’s the voice of Father Mark resonating in my head. Something about “God’s favorite dwelling place inside the souls of others.”

Of all of the moments I’ve experienced today that one fleeting conversation with a couple of strangers has touched me more deeply than it had any right to. Pure joy. Connection. The feeling of love for others. Beauty.

So simple, so complex, and I am so grateful.

Thanks!!!

One of my favorite parts of Saturday Night Live back in the 90’s was Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey. Amongst his many humorous quips was something along the lines of:

“Sometimes the so called experts actually are.”

Jack Handey

After all these years it still makes me chuckle!

While I often like to fix things on my own there are times when it is best to bring in the experts. I was reminded of this today as I reached out for advice on a specific challenge. Prior to the conversation I’d done plenty of homework and thought I already had it all figured out, but I still wanted the expert advice to make sure I wasn’t missing anything.

As luck would have it my assessment was proven to be pretty much spot on. Before I could congratulate myself for my work the expert then else to down an entirely different path that I didn’t even know existed. By the time our conversation was complete I’d quickly realized how improved my thought process could be thanks to the advice I’d just received.

There is a definite cost to expert advice, but it is money well invested. Through one conversation with an expert my outlook has been greatly improved.

Thanks!!!

The weather today has been ridiculous! On my drive home from work today my car’s thermometer read 67 degrees. I’d usually be ecstatic to see a number starting with a 4 at this time of the year. Due to the quickly melting snow and ice the fog was about the thickest I’ve ever seen. There was one spot in Winona in between the two lakes where visibility dropped to almost 15 feet!

Fingers crossed that the approaching storms aren’t too crazy, there’s a sharp line moving forward as the front pushes north and east. If this was happening during the day I’d most likely be figuring out the safest place to observe it from. Instead, I’ll be…

…going to bed extremely early. Yessir, this old dude is heading to bed before 7pm. I’m not sick or under the weather, I’m just wore out from quite a bit of busy-ness over the past few days and I’ve got another busy string of 7+ days ahead of me. If I take advantage of relaxing and heading to bed early tonight I can pre-charge my batteries a little extra. Sure, I’d like to do some other stuff tonight, but it seems like some good self care through sleeping is exactly what my body is requesting. Will do body, off to bed!

Thanks!!!

I have to admit, once in a while my old man actually knew what he was talking about. Of course I admitted that to him many times while he was alive. There were countless phone calls in which I apologized to him for things I’d done as I realized how frustrating they were because my boys had just done the same to me. Those were some of my favorite conversations with him. I still chuckle when thinking of some of them.

Today I followed through on something Dad role modeled for me many years ago. Back in the day I always thought it was neat but I also didn’t quite get it. As I’ve gotten older and possibly a little wiser I’m starting to see why he did what he did. Not gonna lie, Dad knew what he was doing. I’m so thankful I had the opportunity to learn from him.

Dad may be gone, but I was sure to let him know how grateful I was to have had him as an example to follow.

Thanks!!!

One of my favorite parts of yoga is the focused awareness on my body. The entire exercise is moving from one specific position to another while pushing the muscles and structures just past the point of comfort. In doing so the entire focus of my being is on my body and its position.

One of my favorite books is a American Gods by Neil Gaiman. one of the characters dies and comes back from the grave. They mention how one of the things they miss most about being alive is something they didn’t really notice until it was gone – the warmth of blood pulsing through the body from the heart. For whatever reason that line has stuck with me over the last several years.

While laying in final rest tonight I focused all my feeling on the pumping of my heart. From there I traced and followed the warm surges of blood flowing through my body. First I focused on the blood working it’s way through my chest and arms to my fingers and then all the way to my toes.

I know this is going to sound kinda crazy, but it was one of the most exhilarating sensations ever! Something which happens all the time became the source of incredible joy and happiness. It was awesome!

Bringing awareness to my body is something I will continue to focus on, the results are wild!

Thanks!!!

Over the past few months I’ve had a handful of seemingly unrelated experiences which seemed rather profound for unknown reasons. They each really hit me hard in positive ways and positively impacted how I acted after each.

Also over the past months I’ve read a plethora of materials which have been all going in slightly different directions. They were all relatively unrelated but deep down there seemed to be common direction.

Between the experiences and reading I’ve also conducted some interesting thought experiments to help me put more thoughts together. Spending time thinking through these experiments helped me focus on, work on, and play with the experiences and readings.

Over the past few days there’s been a confluence of these thoughts, readings, and experiences. Like the meeting of small streams the flow of the river grows as they all come together. Individually they are small and weak, united they become a force of nature.

I am exited to jump in this river and see where it flows.

Thanks!!!

With all the snow we got last night one of the first things on my agenda today was snow blowing.

Way back in the day I still remember wondering why Dad would sometimes seem to enjoy snow blowing as much as he did. It was somewhat physical work. It was outside. It was cold. It was a menial task. And yet he often seemed to be smiling when he did it.

This morning? I was borderline giddy with the thought of snow blowing. It would be a great way to start the day with some physical work. It would be an awesome opportunity to get outside and enjoy some fresh air. It was a little cold out due to the wind, but that made it feel like an accomplishment. While it was menial work I was able to accomplish something and just let me mind focus on my senses in the moment. I soaked up each and every second of it I could and was joyful the entire time. Strange as it was I even caught myself slipping in and out of a state of flow while doing it. What a glorious way to start the day!

Shortly after lunch Becky and I loaded up our snowshoes and hit one of our favorite state parks. Once on the trail it was clear to see there had only been three people on the trail before us, two skiers and one hiker. The majority of our time was spent listening to the sounds of nature and savoring the winter wonderland all around us. The views of the Mississippi River and all of its backwaters from atop the bluffs was wild – ice, blue water, and so much snow, all lit up by the sunlight. The time spent in the outdoors was a perfect way to unwind from another busy week of life. All of that was set aside as my world shrank to the simplicity of nature and the task of putting one foot in front of the other.

Winter used to frustrate me, now I’ve learned to really lean into it and enjoy the magical moments it can provide. Winter itself is beautiful, but it is up to me to look for the beauty rather than the bitter cold.

Thanks!!!

Throughout my life there have been a handful of books which have sent tremors through the core of my being. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday. The Book of Joy by Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama. The New Seeds of Contemplation by Thomas Merton.

Today I add Awareness by Anthony de Mello to that list.

There are so many thoughts and concepts within, I struggle to find the words to explain why. The best I can come up with is that it helps to tie together several seemingly related ideas from past experience and learning while adding a whole new depth and dimension to my soul. I’m already seeing positive change within in only the past few days. I look forward to rereading this book many times in the future.

Thanks!!!

Certain books sound a specific note in my soul which reverberates the remainder of my life. The wisdom they contain creates change in me or in the way my consciousness views the world. I can often review my more positive action lawsuit and draw a direct correlation to a lesson learned from a book on this shelf.

I’ve recently added Awareness by Anthony de Mello to this list. The concepts have blown my mind page after page and add such depth to some of the other books on the shelf… and I still have a quarter of it to go! More details to follow in another post 😉

Today I’m grateful for adding a new addition to this shelf. As my boys get older I envision buying them a set of these books to take with them to read when they are ready. They helped to shape me and mold me into who I continue to work into being. Each addition to this shelf adds to the depth of knowledge and helps me grow in ways I never knew possible. Each book a gift, a lesson, an opportunity for growth.

Thanks!!!

Chase something with intensity and it refused to be grasped. Relax and let go you will find it already resting in your hand.

Earlier in the day there was a point in which I wanted clarity. I wanted a specific answer so I knew if I would succeed or fail. Every core of my being was focused on having something laid out in detail. Then the right answer was put in front of me. It was the perfect answer – there would be no structure.

But how would I know if it were done? How would I measure the success? How would I judge the result?

By asking the questions and wanting clarity I was already forcing my will upon the answer rather than letting the answer appear as it should. In removing boundaries the result will have a better likelihood of being significantly more successful than I could have imagined. My imagination, or lack thereof, was the biggest constraint in the solution.

This presented itself in a couple of different ways in my life today. I like goals, I crave attainment. The feeling of accomplishing is a huge motivator for me. My ego is fed by checking a box and looking at the score. Some things were not meant to be scored or judged. They just “are.” When the need to fulfill my ego is removed there is a deeper level of success in which the results are greater than “my” focused effort of keeping score would have provided.

I must remember both sides of the coin. Some things must be pursued diligently and grasped tightly. Some things must be released and let go without chase. Wisdom is knowing the difference.

Thanks!!!

PS: This thought definitely needs to ferment more. There’s a baseline message and I feel it will bubble up over the next few days or weeks. I’m also thankful for planting this seed, knowing it is not perfect, knowing it needs to grow and develop, and being okay with that.