After lunch we headed off to one of our favorite hiking locations – Wildcat Mountain State Park. The drive is a very scenic hour or so from La Crosse and takes us through some wonderful valleys. More on that part later 😉

The hike was exactly what we’ve come to expect while taking time to enjoy the area. Beautiful, quiet, excellent pine forest smells, and many hills. The past month has been kind of a blur and hasn’t included nearly as much hiking as I’d been used to over the previous several months. Getting outside and wandering the trails was exactly what I needed today. Fresh air, exercise, time with the family, the simplicity of the outdoors, and a general sense of peace. Perfect on a summer Sunday like this!

On the way home I took the backseat so Becky could stretch her legs out a bit while Dominic keeps getting some driving practice hours in. Before I knew it I was reclined a little, closed my eyes, and took a little nap. Between the fresh air, the sun, the exercise, and staying up late last night a nap was exactly what the doctor ordered. A nice little bonus after the hike.

Thanks!!!

Most often my blog comes at the end of the day. I’m either sitting on the couch with my laptop or in bed thumbing away at my phone. Both scenarios are for the same reason – it is nice to see what the day will bring before pausing to blog about it.

Occasionally I’ll write earlier in the day. In those rare cases it is likely I’ve had a profound experience that I am compelled to type about right away while it is fresh in my head and I have spare time.

Most infrequently are posts like this one today. I’ve got a long day full of exciting plans ahead. By the time I get around to typing I’ll either be completely exhausted or it might be after midnight – either of which are no good. Today I am grateful for these types of posts!

The reason for my gratitude is pretty straightforward. I’ve got an awesome day of fun planned with Gavin and we won’t be done until way later in the evening. So late that I’m positive I’ll be ready to crash. The plans themselves are also something I’m wildly thankful for as well – but I’ll save that surprise for a potential blog tomorrow 😉

Knowing that taking time for gratitude is important to me, so important that I’ll plan ahead and make time for it, helps me see just how this process has become a core foundation of who I am… and I know that I have really cool stuff planned for later! Kind of like a gratitude appetizer if you will.

Thanks!!!

Over the past couple of weeks I’ve had the opportunity to consume a couple of excellent books – both of which I highly recommend.

Forget the Alamo: The Rise and Fall of an American Myth taught me way more about the Alamo than I’d ever been taught in school. Since finishing it I’ve bought a hard copy and it will be required reading for both of my boys. The true story of the Alamo is so wildly different than legend I’d heard in the past. I want to make sure my boys hear the historically correct version before they hear it any other way. The people looked upon as heroes were far from that. The “villains” were actually the ones who wanted to abolish slavery. There are so many inaccuracies with the way it has been portrayed by Disney and Hollywood that when one reads the historical facts one can’t help but laugh.

Amazing book, wildly enlightening, and I highly recommend it.

Quick side note – did you know Texas is the only country (they were their own republic for a short period of time) to include the legalization of slavery in their constitution while also making emancipation illegal?

The other book I’d encourage everyone to read – especially my fellow men – is Man Enough by Justin Baldoni. Quite honestly, I’m not quite sure where to even start on this one. It was highly recommended by my writing coach based on the topic of the book I’m getting ever so close to finishing. Once I started I struggled to put it down.

Growing up male is a uniquely complicated thing – much as I would imagine it would be to grow up in any gender. Never in my life have I had so many moments in which I realize I’m not crazy, I’m not a weirdo, and I’m not nearly as different as I often felt I was. Baldoni’s honestness and humility about so many difficult topics was refreshing, therapeutic, and inspiring. I can’t even begin to share just how much this touched me on so many levels. This one is definitely a book I’ll re-read at least a few more times.

Two wonderful books in completely different directions helping me grow and see different sides of myself. Thought processes have already started to change, my dialogue with Dominic has changed (as it will with Gavin when I pick him up tomorrow), and I have changed… something I don’t say lightly.

If you have read them and want to discuss in more detail (agree or disagree – either way is cool) I would love to set some time to talk. If you haven’t read them please let me know if you’re planning to and we can set some time to talk while or after you do. I’d welcome the conversations.

Thanks!!!

Becky went for a hike with a friend after supper so Dominic and I decided to fire up a couple of games of Battleship. After being soundly trounced both times he took mercy on me and pulled out Jenga. The weather was pretty close to perfect so we took it out on the deck and started stacking.

After a handful of games we both agreed that neither of us will be on the Pro Jenga circuit anytime soon. We were laughing and having a blast while knocking the stack over way too quickly.

Instead of putting it away we decided to do some engineering. We each built a small structure with a few blocks. We then took turns flicking a block like a kicking a field goal with a paper football at the other’s structure across the table to attempt to knock it over. Before long we’d gone from three blocks to two dozen each as we tested our architectural skills. It was AWESOME!!! So many laughs together as we kept learning both through trial and error as well as each other. We were competing in the most fun of ways, together.

By the time we’d packed it up we had smile lines and bruised fingernails, scars well worth their price. Time outside in excellent weather. Time hanging out with one of my sons. Time creating a game to fit our personalities. Time playing and making memories. How perfect is that?

Thanks!!!

LOL – I already had a great post in mind for today, but it has totally been usurped over the past two hours. It must have needed more time to percolate, maybe it’ll come to life another day, but maybe not.

Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) Yoga has quickly become one of my favorite summer weeknight activities. Finish work, change into swim trunks, jump on a board, and float and stretch on the lake in the sun. Shut off everything else, focus only on the present, breathe, stretch, hold, and soak in the beauty of nature around the lake. Yet again the simplicity leading to a deeper joy.

Our instructor tonight was telling us about their opportunity to take a camper van for a spin next week to try it out. Before we left we’d spent a ton of time talking about the van. Every word spoken about it was a gallon of dream fuel. Buying a camper van is the gift Becky and I plan on getting each for Gavin’s graduation. Yes, we’re buying ourselves a present, we will have earned it over the previous couple of decades of raising our boys. Talking about their upcoming trip got my brain going in hyperdrive and I can’t stop smiling when thinking about all the places we’re going to take our camper van in the future.

On the way home a recommendation of Culver’s was thrown out and unanimously approved by the occupants of our car. Concrete Mixer on a hot day like today after sweating in the sun? Heck yeah!

Thanks!!!

Hmm… several different directions to go tonight, which one is most fitting?

Dominic and I watched a couple of episodes of Rick and Morty tonight. true to its normal crazy science related hijinks the episode also did a wild twist on reality. In a few spots it became a story within a story within a story within a story. Just as the main characters realized they were in a story they’d jump back into reality – which would be another story.

Why in the world am I sharing that in my post tonight? in some ways it’s a fitting segue into an experience I’ve had more than a few times recently.

Over the past week or so there’ve been a few times when I am coaching someone only to find that in the coaching I’m also coaching myself. It’s a wild concept and feels a bit surreal, but in those moments it kind of like being in a story in the story. Layers of coaching meant for another while also realizing that it is a message I also needed to hear. Talk about an awesome two for one!

Thanks!!!

By the end of our practice tonight I was a sloppy pile of sweat and exhausted muscles. In many ways I started to realize how it must feel to be a puddle… and I couldn’t have been happier about it!

One of our favorite yogis was teaching tonight and she took us on quite the journey. She had us flowing from position to position while taking just the right amount of time to help us pause and shift our focus to specific sensations as we held our pose and then adjusted ever so slightly. There were timely reminders to focus on our breath as we held more and more difficulty positions. From start to finish she was amazing.

The physical workout was amazing and burned about as many calories as a 5k run. That said, my favorite part of the workout was the focus on the present and the stillness it created.

Last week was a wildly busy week as is this current week. If I were an ocean I’d be covered sharp waves like in the thick of a storm. At yoga the focus on the present instantly calmed the sea to a perfectly flat mirror like finish…. by doing nothing more than plunging me into the depths of the present. In the slow movement and focus on breath all thoughts and stress melted away and left only the quiet me in the now.

Quick note to Future Mike: yet again the most profound moments of stillness, awareness, and serenity are found in moments of extreme simplicity, no “stuff” required.

Thanks!!!

More than a handful of hours were spent reviewing my edited manuscript today, much like there were yesterday. Reading, reviewing, and re-framing something I’ve already written was quite a surreal experience. In many ways it seems as if I’m reading a story of my life written by someone else using notes from past conversations.

What really struck me today was how much re-reading these thoughts and past writings brought back memories and emotions. There have been more than a handful of times in which I have been forced to pause rather than succumb to emotions which would have slowed the process. Many of these experiences are from over four years ago and they still have the ability to strike an emotional nerve.

Over the past couple of days something has really continued to bubble up to the surface. Many of our greatest moments of growth and development seem to occur as a result of working through incredible adversity. There have been so many ways in which I’ve grown since Dad’s death and as a result of his death. The lessons learned through the pain of loss, grief, and sadness… but also lessons learned through gratitude, love, stillness, thought, and growth mindset.

I would still gladly revert back to where I was four years ago if that would bring him back, but that’s obviously not an option so why even entertain the thought?

There’s a quote from Proust which seems so fitting today.

We are healed from suffering only by experiencing it to the full.

Marcel Proust

In taking the time to write this story I’m completely immersing myself back into that suffering. What makes it easier to bear is the concept Frankl shared – I’ve found purpose in my suffering, I have an opportunity to transform it into a tool for joy for others… while healing myself in the process. Hmm… In many ways I already feel healed, it seems more correct to explain it as “while completing this chapter in the creation of myself in the process.”

Thanks!!!

Such a dichotomy between yesterday’s and today’s posts! Yesterday included a spontaneous and out of the blue accomplishment of a dream. Today I’m grateful for making small bits of progress towards a gigantic dream.

Today I’ve spent several hours working on my book. Reading, editing, and planning have been the name of the game. Tomorrow will be spent wrapping up the plan and notes back to my editor as well as writing a few of the additional pieces necessary to round things out. It is definitely work, but a very rewarding type of work. The feeling of accomplishment has been awesome.

I’ve got well over 100 dreams I’d like to accomplish before my time on Earth is up. Yesterday one was scratched off in a moment of surprise. The one I worked on today has been over four years in the making and is on track to be completed by the end of the year. Each counts as one, but each one doesn’t count the same to me. Yesterday I was thankful for the spontaneity of accomplishing one, today I’m grateful for the grind, for slowly chipping away at a huge dream.

Thanks!!!

Often when I blog it is related to something specific from my day and it is specific to me. When that is the case I feel open to sharing emotion, details, and the entirety of the situation.

Once in a while my gratitude is for something related to another person. In that scenario I don’t feel it is appropriate to share the detail as that is up to them.

There are other corner cases in which I don’t feel obligated to share the detail for an undisclosed reason. There are a variety of reasons why, but in general they involve something I would like to keep personal.

Today is there first day when I’ve had two gratitudes – one in each of the second and third categories.

First off, I felt a deep sense of purpose. Not just a doing my job sensation, rather a profound awareness of truly living into my purpose. There was a specific moment in which I saw the right thing to do in a fleeting situation. I almost avoided it but then felt deeply compelled to do the right thing so I did. My mind has been blown by the result and I am beyond grateful for taking that action.

Second, earlier today I was caught completely off guard by an excellent surprise. Out of nowhere I was able to knock off one of my dreams in spectacular fashion in a truly epic experience and action of extreme kindness. I’ve been smiling ever since.

Yup, there’s not a lot of detail there and I’m okay with that. I grateful for purpose and a completely unexpected surprise today. Both have moved my soul today.

Thanks!!!