The winds may be bitter but there is something about a walk in a winter sunset that warms the soul. Becky, Gavin, and I went out for a walk in the early evening as the sun descended below the horizon and walked through the pink to purple to darkness. Fresh air feels amazing in my lungs, even if it is well below zero due to the wind. This is the first winter I can remember in which I’ve found great warmth and joy in the depth of the cold.

Earlier in the work day I had a pleasant surprise. I’ve gotten myself into the habit of cleaning up my mailbox on Friday. When I have about 5-15 minutes in between calls at some point in the day I pick out the next folder of saved emails that were saved but have never been re-read. I utilize the opportunity to cull the herd and empty out my mailbox. One of the notes I came across today had me smiling and gave me a 10 minute bout of “shiny syndrome.”

Scattered throughout all fo my note taking apps are various notes titled “Music” or something along those lines. What follows are listings of songs I heard that hit home that I wanted to remember. Sometimes I go back and wonder what I was thinking and other times I hit Play and then Rewind a couple of times. They’re the jewels I stumbled into that will become future staples.

One of the ones I happened across today was AWESOME!!! It’s a song by Bob Schneider, a dude I’d never heard of until Pandora or YouTube put in front of me. From the opening chord today I was mesmerized listening to the tune play again. It’s a song about two things that fit together perfectly, that were meant to be, and that are right together. As soon as I heard the lyrics I was thinking about Becky and I. If there was a song I’d write for her that fit my personality and use of metaphors that sometimes only seems to make sense to me this would possibly be that song. Check it out here: https://youtu.be/0tTYpe25i6c

In some ways it is like the song Long December by Counting Crows. The hit of one lyric reminds me of looking across a church to see Becky smile at me twenty plus years ago.

“All at once you look across a crowded room to see the way that light attaches to a girl”

I hear both of those songs and I pause to be grateful for the awesomeness Becky has brought to my life. To happen to stumble into 40 Dogs was something that brought a huge smile to my face today and I’m incredibly thankful for this musical re-discovery!

Thanks!

Today’s been an awesome mix of many wonderful moments. There were more than a couple of times when I was in a full on state of flow. More than a handful of times I felt as if I were living into my purpose. Throughout the day I made progress on a few long term goals and dreams and even set up a trip to visit this beautifully scenic place in the picture below. I lived into my values, grew in ways I wasn’t expecting, saw the progress of many reps, and enjoyed pretty much every moment of it. There may not have been one big thing, but my entire mood is very well described as fulfilled. If I don’t wake up tomorrow I would be going out on a high note, with a smile, and no regrets.

I’m wore out, tired, and ready to head off to bed before starting it all back up tomorrow. Today I’m grateful for all of the moments that made today such a fulfilling day.

Thanks!!!

There have been a few times I’ve written about my “Fortress of Solitude.” That was the way I looked at our trip to Isle Royale a couple of years ago. Completely cut off from the world it was one of the most peaceful times of my life. Since then I’ve used the term for other places including the UP of Michigan.

Tonight I found a little slice of my Fortress of Solitude in a very unexpected place – on a ski hill amongst a large group of people. I was well beyond six feet from everyone but it was a crowd nonetheless. Dominic’s snowboard race was unexpectedly pushed back to after the skiers so I suddenly found myself with a lot of extra time on my hands as the sun was going down.

I already had my headphones on so I turned on The Hollow Coves album Moments and focused on the scenery around me. Instead of seeing the people I saw the snow, I saw the birds, I saw the bluffs, and I saw the trees. I focused on the smell of winter. The music hid the sound of people and my mind kept the crowd out of sight so I could be in solitude… even with so many people around. It was awesome!

If you’d like a taste of what I was listening to you can catch the song that helped me reach that peaceful state at https://youtu.be/Qxqi12Nj1ig

Thanks!!!

Yes, I’ve already written about my morning practice of reviewing my personal 2021 framework more than a couple of times. On a seemingly daily basis there are one or two moments in which my jaw drops a bit and I realize that I’ve done something different (& right) simply by living that practice.

Wake up, read my Stoic thought for that day, one up my 2021 framework, read my theme, read my values (both those loved and those I’m living into), review my Top 3 goals, review my Top 3 supporting goals, read my Top 3 stop doing list, review my Top 3 remember to’s, go through my Top 3 start doing list, read (& add to) my dream list, and then live my day. Over, and over, and over again.

What really caught me today was the power of the repetition of this practice. There have been difficult concepts I’ve been wrestling with for a long period of time that are all making more and more sense. I’m seeing the stitches on each curveball and am able to react more and more quickly.

Throughout the day there were several periods of being in a state of flow. Living into my purpose felt almost effortless as I tackled several things I would have struggled with or had to consciously think through just a month and a half ago. It was readily apparent that all the repetitions I’ve been putting in to live intentionally into who I should are paying off and helping me make progress. In many ways it reminded me of weightlifting- all the reps of light weights building atop each other for incremental gains and then suddenly seeing the growth when realizing my max lift has increased by 30+%. Each rep is work. Each rep is tedious. Each rep takes me one small step closer to my goal. The power of repetition.

The success of today wasn’t a magic moment, a miracle, or a coincidence. It was the result of intentional repetition. Each individual rep building upon itself. I’m grateful for the power of repetition.

Thanks!!!

One of the incredible benefits of living in the Mississippi River Valley is the seemingly never ending view of bald eagles. During the Spring and Fall the mass migration has provided opportunities to see over 100 of the majestic raptors at a time. During non-peak seasons it is very common to see a handful in the numerous colossal nests, hunting from the trees, or soaring through the sky.

Thanks to the warm weather there were a few open spots on the river today. It must’ve also been fantastic fishing as there were bald eagles all over! On my short 30-ish mile drive I saw at least 27 of them. And to think I didn’t start counting for the first few miles!

The sight of these beautiful birds left me in a state of awe and gratitude. How amazing to see them, so many of them? How fortunate am I to live in such an awesome part of the world?

Then, as if The Big Dude Upstairs wanted to one up themself there was perfect lighting from the setting sun on the bluffs. The rock walls were lit up perfectly in a sight that would’ve been fitting on a postcard. It was truly awesome.

How much better and full of joy would all of our lives be if we paused to enjoy the beauty of the natural world for a few minutes each day instead of staring at our screens?

Thanks!!!

I still remember way back in the day, back in BC (Before Children) I would sometimes get frustrated by little kids at church. They would make noise, cry, and move around a lot and I couldn’t understand how their parents weren’t keeping them quiet. Definitely not proud to admit that, but it’s the truth. I liked church as a time to take a deep breath, enjoy the quiet, and focus on what was being said. The noise didn’t help me enjoy any of those.

Once we had our own kids I suddenly got a crash course in understanding what had happened. Dominic and Gavin would both make noise and fuss a lot during church. Dominic would continue to drop his toys cars off the back of pew. Gavin waited until the entire church was completely silent to holler out an announcement to everyone, “I’ve got to POOP!!!” Both of them had to go to the bathroom at church, a lot! There was asking for snacks, tantrums when they didn’t get their way, and very rarely a quiet moment. Mentally I was already repenting my thoughts from early as I now understood what those parents were going through.

While Becky and I were looking forward to the day when we could actually enjoy church again there were so many other parents who would smile big at the chaos. They would smile as they helped to pick up the toys, snacks, and books that hit the floor. There were many times when they would let us know it was okay, we were doing great, and that they enjoyed seeing the family at church. Each of those smiles and comments helped to us persevere and bring both the boys to church the next week and the next week and the next week. Even though we were worn out and drained from trying to corral the boys their comments and smiles would incite a smile from us and meant the world to us.

Now that our boys are older we’ve been on the other end of the spectrum we do our part to help re-assure the other new parents through smiles (comments have bene exceedingly difficult due to social distancing, no worries though, a smile says more than words ever could). When we hear the sounds we think back to those difficult times. We also realize that the sound isn’t a big deal at all, it’s totally normal and is the sound of the constant renewal of faith. What a beautiful sound it is when I choose the right mindset!

At church this morning there was a family with three very small children. The children were alive and wild with energy – giggles, smiles, playing, and moving. The parents both looked a bit tired and I did my best to pass a couple of heartfelt smiles to them from behind my mask.

At one point it almost seemed as if Father Dodge was struggling to focus on what he was saying. Before mass concluded he called the little daughter (two to three years old at most?) by name to join him up front. It took her a little while to trust him but she finally took his hand and went back to the front of the church with him. What happened next filled my soul and eyes with emotion.

Father Dodge introduced her to the entire church. He then went on to explain that she had had her heart replaced and what a miracle it was that she was still with us today. He said that he loved to hear her voice and made a comment along the lines of, “each time I hear her voice I am reminded of the miracles all around us, her voice is the sound of a miracle.” How awesome is that?

What I am grateful for today was a reminder of the importance of choosing the right mindset. Where some may hear noise others may hear miracles. While I may not know the reasons, the intent, or the back story to others I can always choose an attitude of kindness, love, respect, and gratitude. When I hear “noise” it is a tripwire for me to pause, choose my mindset, and see if the sound changes to something more beautiful.

Thanks!!!

During the drive home from Wausau tonight I could feel my legs stiffening a bit. The sensation wasn’t in the usual spots where my legs tighten up after a hike, a run, or stairs. Some of the normal joints and muscle groups felt like usual, but there was also stiffness in places in my legs I didn’t really remember existed. Funny how the first day of downhill skiing for the season will do that to someone in their mid-forties!

I’m thankful for that muscle stiffness today for a variety of reasons. I was outside. I was with my boys. I was being active. I was enjoying the snow. I was doing something different than i normally do. I was pushing myself outside of my normal comfort zone. I was smiling and laughing. I was living in the moment. The stiffness in muscles in my legs I’d totally forgotten about are reminding me of all of those things and I’m grateful for that.

Thanks!!!

Funny how perspective works. The temperature for our morning run was 19 and the windchill dropped it to about 10 or so. Normally that would be quite chilly, but thanks to the temps of the past couple of weeks it felt almost balmy. It reminds me that perspective is up to me to choose.

After my run I laid down for my breathing practice, the first time I’d done it in a little over a week. I’ve got a lot of excuses for the practices missed, but none of them are good. The fault is 100% mine as I didn’t place the value on it as I should have and did not maintain my discipline to the practice as I should have.

The practice started out very rough. The first breath hold was just over a minute, and that had been a struggle. The second got a little better. Something changed on the third one and the change flowed right into the fourth as well. Once I was finished I was very surprised to see that I’d set a new personal record at just under two and a half minutes!

What changed? This…

These images appeared in my mind’s eye. The inner monologue of my voice shut up completely. The stress of life faded away into nothingness. There was only a shifting back and forth from one image to the next.

The beauty of Alaska laid out in front of me as if through a slightly opaque window. My blackout sleep mask blocked all the light from the outside world while my mind eliminated the blackness in front of my eyes.

I was in Alaska on the shore of Resurrection Bay taking the in the epic view surrounding me. Only a little sliver of my being knew I was home, the rest walked along the rocky beach as I explored the pictures and where I’d been before.

The deep state of serenity I went to while breathing helped to relax my body more than ever. I’m kicking myself a little though. How much longer would I have held if I had been on track with my practice and hadn’t lapsed for a week? Would I have had a few more seconds in paradise? What an excellent motivator to continue working at it.

Thanks!!!

Over the past couple of weeks I’m finding how much more my dreams are the forefront of my thoughts. Seemingly around every corner there’s an opportunity to pause for an instant and see how an action or decision could nudge me in the direction of attaining one or more of those dreams.

What’s been more interesting is that the more I am focused on them the more I am living into the actions of someone who lives out those dreams. I’m finding myself making better decisions with my time and focus.

Case in point – my choices in what to watch while exercising inside. Unless I’m watching something with my family I will only watch TV while exercising. This helps me feel like I’m earning the screen time. Recently I’d been watching more “entertainment” TV – The Boys was an amazingly entertaining show! After starting to review my dream list daily I’m seeing different types of movies and shows as the flavor I’m craving… skyrunning, rock climbing, wilderness survival, and exploration of the natural world. Shows like this:

Instead of filling my head with empty entertainment, sports, or news commentary I’m stoking the flames of dreams with some epic fuel. More ideas being added to list daily, others moving slowly but surely to completion. Living intentionally.

Thanks!!!

“Why aren’t you ready to go???” That phrase was what jolted me out of a deep sleep this morning. In an instant I’d realized what had happened. For some reason the alarm didn’t go off and I didn’t have my back up alarm on. My mind must have decided last night that sleeping in the warm bed was better than going for a run in -2 windchill.

In less than a couple of seconds I faced my first two tests of the day…

• Test #1 – Get moving, skip the routine, and get out for a run or skip the run, take my time, go through my routine, and then miss out on exercising for the morning.
• Test #2 – Choose to be angry, pissy, and frustrated because the alarm didn’t go off or choose my attitude, take a swing at the curveball life threw me, see this as a set of early morning tests, and smile my way through it.

I passed both tests and am thankful for the practice that I’ve put in to help me pass. Quick side note – tonight I’m taking precautions to ensure I’m not tested the same way again tomorrow. 😉

Tonight I was able to watch Dominic’s snowboard race. This was his second event and the first one I had the opportunity to watch. It was AWESOME!!! To think he just started snowboarding last year and now he’s going down some wickedly steep hills at a crazy speed. Watching him fly down both times had me beaming with pride and smiling from ear to ear. The smile on his face was priceless. Yet again he has motivated his old man.

Thanks!!!