This evening the boys and I were on a mission. We’ve got a project we’re working on so after supper we headed up to the workshop. During a team meeting today someone asked what our favorite activities were. Travel with the family was right up on the top of the list, but spending time in the workshop with the boys was right near the top of the list too. Any time spent up there with them is time well spent.

While we were up there I kept remembering times when we’d been working on other projects. We’ve done a lot up there together and once the sawdust is flying I can’t help but smile at the memories of past times shared up there. The time with them also reminds me of so many times when I would help Dad on different projects – as a kid and as an adult. So many awesome memories of time spent with him while creating. Time with the boys reminds me of time with Dad while making me hope the boys enjoy and appreciate our time together so they can have the same incredible duplicity of time like I have been blessed to have.

One of the things I did more than once tonight was apologize to Dad. I know he’s not there with me physically, but I know he can still hear me. Why was I apologizing to Dad tonight? There were farts from both boys that stunk up the workshop. There were times when simple math and measuring escaped their crazily intelligent brains. There was an instance of a tape measure being lost and declared un-findable… though it was within a foot and a half of the person the entire time. The use of a drill was a struggle at times. All in all, there were so many moments in which the boys did things I remember doing to Dad back in the day. “Just you wait Mikey…” How many times I heard that one! When I caught the boys doing what I’d done all I could do was look to the sky and apologize to Dad. Only now in this dark hour do I see the folly of my ways as a kid 😉

Thanks!!!

In one of my not so finer moments I had a flicker of a thought cross my mind on Sunday night. “I have more contact lenses for next week, right?” I shrugged and was pretty sure I must have an extra box. Out came my contacts and into the garbage they went. Why not throw them away when I’m pretty sure I’ve got more ready for the next day.

Imagine my horror when my search on Monday morning proved fruitless. Oh no, I’ll have to wear glasses! For sure, many people wear glasses and I think they look great on them. For me it is the same reason I don’t like wearing pants – I like the feeling of being unencumbered (and yes, I wear shorts when I am not wearing pants). Glasses on my face feel uncomfortable, especially when I’m exercising. Contacts feel so much more liberating to me.

Thanks to modern technology (an online eye exam at 6:30am on Monday morning from my home) and insanely quick shipping I was able to put contacts in within a day and a half of realizing I was out. Becky chuckled as I put them in right away when I knew I’d take them out within a few hours. I agreed it sounded silly, but it felt great getting them back in.

I was just joking with a friend a little while back that if there was a zombie apocalypse I’d be running to the pharmacy to stock up. Medicine and medications? Nope. Contact solution. The last thing I’d want would be to get killed by a zombie because my glasses fogged up 😉

Today was another reminder of how easy it is to be grateful for something after you lose it for a while. I’m grateful for my contact lenses mores today than I have been in a long time.

Thanks!!!

Another step back towards a combination of the life I lived pre-COVID with an appreciated slice of post-COVID insight.

Tonight was the first night Becky and I went back to yoga at Root Down. Pre-pandemic it was our at date night at least once each week. Sweating while stretching our bodies out in a heated room was one of the ways we’d decompress and enjoy some time together. The focus on breathing helped me to stay 100% focused on the present moment while helping me to release the stress of a busy week. Throw in some wickedly unexpected exercise and it was a wonderful way to pause while doing something I deeply enjoy with someone I greatly enjoy spending time with.

As one could imagine yoga wasn’t very COVID friendly. When the classes were full there were people a foot to my left, a foot to my right, and a foot behind me. Dozens of people all sweating together, respirating in a confined space together, and exercising until we were all breathing heavy. Kinda gives me a panic attack now just thinking about it 😉 Of course it wasn’t that bad, it just seems so unlike what we are supposed to do today.

Tonight was AMAZING!!! Sure, we were wearing masks and spaced out from each other by at least 6-8 feet, but it was still every bit as wonderful as id remembered.

Stretch. Breathe. Great reminders / stories by the instructor. See the people we’d see every week. Exercise. Sweat. Be present. Chill. Awesomeness.

What made it all the more special was a slice of wisdom from living in post-COVID world… I was even more grateful for the experience as I’d had the opportunity to experience the loss of this treat. It was made all the more special today as I appreciated it more than think I ever have.

Thanks!!!

The agenda this afternoon included both a soccer game and a band concert, one for each of the boys. Soccer has already been on tap for the past handful of weeks so that felt like it was already back to normal. Seeing Gavin and his team play one of their best games of the year was pretty awesome. Kudos to Gavin for hustling all game long even when the sun was beating down and the wind died off.

What really struck me today was the band concert. The kids played very well and the acoustics of the bandshell at Riverside Park were pretty spectacular. Seeing Dominic on stage with his classmates was wild! The last time this had happened was about 16 months ago. Cue the thoughts about the weird time twist / nexus that has been the past year.

Upon arriving at the concert I ran into my friend Mitch, whom I haven’t seen in at least 14 months. We shot the bull and caught up for a while until we started to find our spot on the launch to watch the concert. Walking toward our desired spot of grass led us right past some of our other friends whom we haven’t seen in a long time. We had just enough time to joke around and kid each other a bit. It was awesome!!!

Spending time at the concert was another step towards getting back to “normal” life, and I’m grateful for all the smiles it provided today.

Thanks!!!

Dreams can be a truly amazing thing, can’t they? When they are focused on something we enjoy they are a beautiful window into great memories and wonderful imaginations. Last night I had a dream that was amongst the best in a very long time. It was perfectly clear, wildly lucid, and touched me in a profound way. At one point I remember thinking in my dream that I “knew I was dreaming” but I really didn’t care. I stuffed that thought aside and enjoyed the ride. I awoke smiling and with a heart full of love.

What was the dream? I was out in the woods with Dad. The two of us were hunting, talking, and enjoying time in the outdoors. It has been many years since the last time that happened and this dream reminded me of how grateful I am for those memories.

This afternoon my family and I headed out to the trails with our weighted down packs on our shoulders. We spent much of the afternoon hiking and enjoying the outdoors. Walking in the woods, talking, and enjoying the combination of physical activity, the outdoors, and time together.

Two wonderful moments outdoors with family. One real, one remembered. Both filled my heart with happiness and my soul with peace.

Thanks!

My mind operates most efficiently and effectively when I think in pictures and metaphors. Words work well, but something I can see helps me tremendously. Even in a conversation I find myself retaining more when there is a written dialogue or follow up afterward. When someone speaks words to describe an idea I can get it, but not as readily as if I “saw” the idea. This may sound a little odd, especially from someone who writes a daily blog, but it is truly fitting when you consider that a blog is a “visual” media. I can see the words. I add pictures that in some way are iconic to the story. Often they are almost a more true and accurate portrayal of the point I’m attempting to get across.

Why in the world did I start there today? When I focus on today what I find I am most grateful for is a specific vision in my brain… the edge.

I envision hiking in the mountains. The path I’m on offers two options.

One leads through a wide and flat path with tree cover on each side. I’m completely protected and safe from harm as I walk up the mountain.

The other winds along the very edge of the ridge overlooking the impossibly steep drop of a thousand feet. The wind whips at my face, tickling my beard hair and threatening to push me off balance. The view from here is a vivid panorama which will forever haunt my dreams. The beauty and immensity is without compare as I view miles and miles of exquisitely carved rock. The closer I walk to the edge the better and better the vista becomes. So much more of the majesty of the landscape is visible as I nudge myself closer and closer to the edge. The adrenaline pumps through my veins as I realize how close to danger I am, though I know with careful attention and discipline I can stay safe… barring some crazy, chaotic, and unexpected force of nature.

I choose the edge. The closer I get the more alive I am, the more heightened my senses are, the more acutely I am aware of the present moment. I must focus more. I must work harder. I must push further. The edge is the most difficult of the routes, but it reminds me of the beauty to be found in suffering for a worthwhile purpose.

Today I saw examples of the edge in a handful of moments. Sometimes I walked it, other times I avoided it. I was reminded of how important it is for me to intentionally choose the edge.

What capped it for me was watching Dominic’s first varsity track race. Without having practiced this specific distance he was chosen to run the 800m. For one half mile, two trips around the track, he would be propelling himself in what he described as a controlled sprint. From the gun Dominic hit the jets. When he passed the start for the first time it was easy to see he was right on the edge. He’d gone out so fast and so hard I was nervous he wouldn’t be able to sustain his pace…

Dominic pushed it right to the edge throughout the entire race and was rewarded with a 2nd place finish and a personal best in his first 400m. By the time he crossed the finish line he’d fully expended himself. Dominic started on the edge, ran the edge, and ended on the edge.

After the race his track coach came up to Becky and I with a huge smile on his face and couldn’t stop talking about what a gutsy and gritty run Dominic had, especially for his first time ever at that distance. Talk about two proud parents!

Walking (or running) the edge doesn’t mean putting ourselves in harm’s way, rather, pushing ourselves to the very edge of what is possible. Once we feel for and find the edge we almost always find that there’s even a little closer to the edge we can get.

Today I’m thankful for the reminders to intentionally search for the edge and to not allow myself to be lulled into safety comfort.

Thanks!!!

One of my favorite forms of entertainment is found on one of my most simple of phone apps. I thoroughly enjoy listening to my audiobooks, but sometimes I want something smaller and more bite sized. Something that provides new ideas and insights in a relatively short time period. Podcasts are by far and away one of my favorite forms of entertainment.

About 5 or 6 months ago I happened across an outstanding podcast of Tim Ferriss interviewing one of my absolute favorite thought leaders, Jim Collins. During that podcast Jim shared his annual format of personal planning and goal setting. I listened to that portion several times over and used that to create my personal framework for 2021. One idea shared in a podcast, many ways in which my life has been improved over the past handful of months.

One of the goals is focused on being more outdoors focused and taking advantage of as much time outside as possible. Another goal includes 30+ minutes of physical activity each day. Other goals on the list are directly tied to each of those. Essentially, outside time and physical activity are two of the linchpins of a wide swath of other things I’d like to accomplish in 2021.

One of the changes that this daily focus on my values, dreams, and goals has led to is hiking on Tuesday and Thursday mornings… early… like I usually need a headlamp early. The first few times were difficult in some ways as I attempted to coax my body out of bed a little before 4am. That said, I’ve yet to have a single time when I have regretted the decision to rise early for this activity.

Starting my day in the woods, in the dark, in the quiet, and in the moments of natural stillness has been rewarding beyond anything I could have hoped. I’m so blessed to live 10-15 minute drove from trails in the woods, I’m grateful for finding another way to enjoy that fact. My kind quiets and focuses earlier. My blood gets flowing and I get an early workout in. By the time I wrap up I have a rewarding sense of accomplishment to start the day. In the woods and stillness I feel at home. And at peace. By spending time at home early I bring that peace and serenity with me for the rest of the day. The hike scratches a primal itch I didn’t know I had prior to doing this.

So today I’m grateful for the decision I made in how to focus my time and energy, for listening to more podcasts. I’m also thankful for the new habit it has helped instill, early morning hikes. While I may jot have as much time for other things I’m okay with that. I’m intentionally living into who I want to be and it feels wonderful at such a deep level.

Thanks!!!

This evening Becky and I had one huge task we wished to accomplish. Each year this task is a rite of the transition of spring to summer. This one task is an awesome way to start getting ourselves into a summer kind of mood for the next five months or so.

Tonight we put our pontoon out on the water for the season.

The boys both had stuff going on so it was Becky and I for our second straight date night. Everything went very smooth as we backed the boat and trailer into the water. The sun was out and the temperature was just warm enough to be on the water. We each had a drink and enjoyed time relaxing.

Our first boat ride of the season was spectacular. The water was unseasonably calm. The sun cast beautiful reflections upon the water. We saw a few great blue herons. There were fish occasionally splashing in the water. In the trees and in the sky we saw more eagles than I could accurately count. Everything was so peaceful and serene.

Spending time on the water with Becky tonight was music for my soul. Being out in nature, enjoying all the wildlife around us, the stillness and simplicity of the outdoors, and being anchored in the present was exactly where I needed to be tonight.

Thanks!!!

The last time Becky and I went out to eat alone on a date was about a year and a half ago. Seeing as we’ve got our 2nd shots we decided to celebrate our 19 year anniversary the way we would like – by going out to eat with just the two of us.

Last year we celebrated our anniversary with the boys at home. We ordered out from Love Child – an incredibly delicious restaurant in downtown La Crosse. Tonight we went back out to Love Child and ate there. It felt so comforting to get back to doing something more normal feeling again!

As we talked about the past 19 years it was crazy to think back to the snowstorm of our wedding day. We were wearing shorts and enjoying sun the day before and then before the wedding we had people helping to shovel the sidewalks. Well before midnight the power to our reception hall – and almost the entire city of Medford – went out due to the heavy snowfall.

We took our time and enjoyed time to just the two of us. We savored the delicious food and drink. We relaxed and felt no weight or stress from life. We enjoyed time together. If that’s not a perfect way to enjoy our anniversary I don’t know what is… maybe hiking the rim to rim at the Grand Canyon next year? 😉

One other quick note, in times like this the year 2020 seems so bizarre. It simultaneously seems like one of the longest years of my life and also seems like a year that never really happened as memories from early 2020 seem like they were just a few months ago. My mind can’t quite delineate which of the two is right and vacillates between both answers in an instant.

Thanks!!!

Earlier today I read a quote from Marcus Aurelius that just seemed to fit my thought process perfectly today. Coincidentally, today marks what would have been the 1,900th birthday of the Roman emperor and the author of an incredible collection of Stoic thoughts.

Through my several reads of Meditations I’ve learned many things. One of the is that there are certain lines and chapters that hit home more than others depending on my state of mind, recent experiences, and many other variables. One of the reasons I so thoroughly enjoy reading it is due in large part to finding meaning in something I’d otherwise missed in past readings.

The quote today was quite catching based on my thoughts.

The things you think about determines the quality of your mind.

Your soul takes on the the color of your thoughts.

Marcus Aurelius

As I work closer and closer to the conclusion of another huge dream there was a specific task I had to complete. The core of the project included narrowing down a small number of values and lessons learned. I was forced to cull a herd of well over several dozen ideas and distill them into a manageable number of themes.

This forced scarcity exercise took me much longer than I care to admit. Eliminating something can be so difficult, especially when it is a topic so near and dear to me. As I struggled through it I found myself making lists upon lists only to toss them aside as they weren’t quite right.

The clock ticked towards the deadline and I finally decided to let go and focus my mind elsewhere. Once I did all the ideas seemed to stitch themselves together into an incredibly neat, tidy, and cohesive whole. While I stumbled and fumbled so many thoughts in my waking mind some other part of my deeper mind slowly put the pieces together.

What I’m most thankful for about this project was the forced scarcity. Did I seriously need to cut down the list to that small of a size in that short of a time? Of course not, it was a construct of my own making. But by forcing the mindset of scarcity I was able to focus, take action, and put all the pieces together to lead to the breakthrough moment.

Thanks!!!