The world certainly has changed in a big hurry today, hasn’t it?  When talking with friends and Dominic my mind is struggling to fully comprehend just how many things have jumped the tracks.  And how many of those things are under our control?

Zip.  Zero.  Zilch.

We have no way to control or change the world around us.  It is happening and there’s nothing we can do about it, right?  Hmm…  That’s not quite true either.  There is something very much under our control.

Be the light.

You could look around and say these are dark times.  So much panic, fear, anger, and hysteria.  There are so many unknowns.  You can’t seem to go more than a few minutes without something else striking you.  If you take a moment to soak it in and dive into the news it is so easy go completely unhinged and lose yourself in a downward spiral of confusion, depression, and fear. or…

Be the light.

So many people are nervous, scared, frightened, and so unsure of what to do next.  Do you know what would help them?  Someone to be the voice of calm.  Someone who helps them smile.  Someone who reminds them that cooler heads will prevail and all will be well.

Be the light.

In order to avoid the crowds Becky and I went shopping early this morning; after our run and before work.  We knew we only needed our normal groceries and a couple of non-perishable extras in case the boys didn’t have school.  When we were in the produce section a nice lady pulled up alongside of us and looked at the little pile of bananas that were left.  “Are we supposed to stock pile those too?  I don’t think they’ll last.”  I  smiled and assured her she didn’t need to buy extra.  Her face had a serious and concerned look on it and the giant couple of packs of toilet paper told me all I needed to know.  “Aren’t you nervous,” she asked me.  I gave her the biggest smile I had and spoke from my heart. “No, it will all be okay.  We all just need to stay calm, take a deep breath, and know we’ll all be alright.”  With that she smiled, looked more assured, and thanked me.

It really hit me in that moment what she needed.  It wasn’t stuff or supplies.  She just needed assurance, love, confidence, and fellowship.  All she needed was for someone to be the light and to smile and help her smile.

Over the next few days I’ll continue to look for ways to be the light for others.  I am choosing an attitude of peace, optimism, and joy.  Whatever is thrown my way I will take with a smile.  If I have a curveball thrown my way I’ll appreciate it as it is proof that I’m still alive, I still have that ultimate gift.  I’ll focus on what I can learn from that curveball and see how I can change and adapt to not be thrown off by it again.  I will be thankful for what I have learned from it and take joy in knowing that I’ve found a way to turn an obstacle into the way.

I can not control what is happening around me.  I cannot control the virus, the responses to it, the cancellations, the volatility of the stock market, or anything else related to those things.

I can control keeping myself healthy.  By focusing on ways to stay healthy I am in the best position I can be to help others.  If I let stress win I am unable to serve others or myself.  I can do much to keep myself healthy.

I can control my calmness.  Instead of making knee jerk reactions I can take a deep breath and think.  I can make sure I have all the data needed to act correctly.  I can make sure I know how much time I have to make a decision and force a decision if one must be made by a certain time.  I will not panic, I can control my calmness.

I can control my mindset.  It is up to me to look at each setback and challenge and determine what I can learn from it.  Each obstacle will make me stronger as I grow and learn from the experience.  The experience may not be pleasant, possibly quite terrible, but it is up to me to find the meaning in it.  Regardless of what the challenge is I am in control of my ability to be thankful for it.  I control my mindset.

I can be the light.

The situation we are experiencing together is dark.  The world needs light.  Be the light.  Remember to control what you can control and be the light that others need so desperately right now.  Let your light shine and it will ignite the light of others.

Thanks!!!

PS  For clarity, I know this post has flexed between the words “you,” “us,” and “I.”  This wasn’t intended as a me telling the world how to be type of post.  Rather, it is written by myself to myself.  It’s a reminder to me of what I need to do.  I know I must be the light.  Sometimes it is going to be hard to do that.  Like others I can get caught up in the hoopla and get nervous and scared like everyone else.  This post is something I plan on going back to when I have moments of weakness like that.  I cannot control what happens around me.  I can control how I respond to it.  I can choose to be the light.

Whoever would’ve imagined that so much would change in less than 24 hours?  Isn’t it crazy to think of just rapidly the world has changed due to something so physically small?

Around each and every corner of the day there seemed to be something else waiting for us.  Cancelled sporting events, travel bans, school closures, immediate changes to procedures.  The stock market plummeted, gained some steam after the Fed announcement, and then went right back to diving.  Heck, from the sounds of it there isn’t much for toilet paper in the La Crosse area anymore (that one still has me perplexed).

It’s so easy to point out all that is wrong and ingestive throughout the day.  You know me, that’s not my jam.   I’m thankful for taking the time to look for them, they kept me upbeat and focused.  What were the bright spots today?  Some of them included:

• Enjoying outside sales – this might have been the last time I get to do it for a while so I savored the feeling of going into businesses to start conversations about employment
• Listening to a great book to get my brain started in the morning
• Hearing the Elton John song Tiny Dancer and only hearing “Hold me closer Tony Danza”
• Multiple conversations with my little brother giving the cynical commentary we both seem to excel at in times like this
• Playing a game with Gavin
• Enjoying a dinner of corned beef
• Shooting the bull and joking with Dominic
• Thinking of new ways to do the usual tasks should everything continue to change
• Remembering to take a deep breath and breathe
• Hanging out with and texting friends
• Taking time to appreciate the beautiful views driving back from Menomonie even when it is cold and dreary
• Becky putting me in a good mood first thing in the morning even from a long ways away
• And this pic from Dominic…

Yes, there are definitely some changes in the future.  This is going to be a very interesting time in our history.  I’m going to continue to focus on the bright spots and find the positives in this.

Thanks!!!

 

 

This morning we went out for our normal run just a short distance from our house. Technically it is still in town but it truly feels more like being out in the wild. There are no houses, only a couple of small buildings. Other than the lights from the airport there’s only the light from the moon and stars. It’s quiet, peaceful, and we run along both the river and the woods. Dang near perfect peace to start the day.

We had a bit of a surprise visitor running at the same time we did today. Skywalker had just gotten to the beach when out of nowhere we saw a shape gliding across the sand. In the light of the moon we saw a coyote running full speed back to the woods. It was a surreal sight as it ran so fluidly and silently back into the woods. Thank goodness it stayed away from Skywalker and she didn’t chase after it too much.

Put together the quiet and serene time in nature with the experience with a coyote and it was a beautiful way to start the day.

Over the past few years there’ve been a pretty sizable handful of books that have made a significant impact in my thought process, attitude, and actions. This morning I realized that there was one in particular that would be just what the doctor ordered and I was dead on.

This is probably the fourth or fifth time I’ve read it and each time I pick up a little more. I’ve also noticed just how many portions I’ve already taken to heart and have been weaving into my life. Funny how incremental changes can really start to add up!

Thanks!!!

There are many days in our lives when we can look back and remember the day completely. Once in a while we stumble upon a lone memory that sends the synapses firing on all cylinders and a flood of awesome memories come crashing in.

One picture did just that for me today. In a flash I remembered almost all of March 10, 2011. That was the day Dad came to town and we started remodeling the kitchen.

Most of the morning was spent tearing out the old cabinets. I still remember a few of the conversations we had while we tore them out. There were a few moments that really stick out as well.  One of my favorites was when Dad was giving me a hard time about pulling out a specific cabinet.  After a while I let him tag in.  Lo and behold – he couldn’t get it right away either!  Next thing I knew we were giggling like little kids while we tried and failed to take it out.  By the time we finally got it out we found it had been nailed in at about every possible angle through each and every possible layer.  It was a blast!

Throughout that day we spent time working together on putting in cabinets.  I learned so much from my time with him that day.  At one point we’d installed one cabinet upside down and had to replace it.  He helped me see how minor little changes could make all the difference; like finding the perfect shelf to slide in at eye level and to hide the worst looking one way down on the bottom.

We accomplished way more than I expected and it was so awesome to see the tangible progress.  The best part though was the time we had joking and laughing together.  There were so many projects we worked on together like the this.  So many wonderful times together.  How blessed I am to have created so many memories with him.

Today I am so thankful for that memory of working with Dad that popped up.  My heart had been filled with joy all day long as I’ve kept thinking about our time together nine years ago.

Thanks!!!

Just a week or two ago I was talking with some of my teammates about the triple decker fort the boys and I made in our living room many years ago.  Guess what popped up in my “On This Day” feed…

I still smile when I see that picture and think back to how much fun we had.  It probably wasn’t necessarily the safest thing I’ve ever done, but we had a blast and all survived.  What an awesome random memory!

We had the boys’ parent teacher conferences and it was great to hear how well they are doing.  The grades thing is cool of course, but I was most happy with hearing how well they are doing as classmates and students.  It warms my heart to have independent validation that both of the chuckle heads above are turning into great kids.

Thanks!!!

Today was our annual Super Saturday at Express. Everyone from our 10 or so local offices get together in Rochester. It’s an awesome event to provide an opportunity to spend time training together to better serve our clients, associates, and teammates. Being able to spend time together bonding, getting to know each other better, joke around, and have a great time together is a wonderful bonus.

You know you’re working with the right people when you see working on a Saturday less as work and more as an opportunity to hang out with great friends you don’t get to see nearly as often as you’d like. It is so awesome that we also learned so many new ways to help people while enjoying time as an Express family. I’m so grateful for our time together today!

Once Super Saturday was wrapped up I had just enough time to catch Gavin’s last basketball game of the day. The result was one we’ve become used to throughout the season, but that didn’t mean I didn’t appreciate the opportunity to watch him play. Gavin’s first season of basketball ever is almost done (at least one game tomorrow) and his third game was an opportunity for me to see just how much he’s grown in only a handful of months.

As he played it reminded me of playing video games as a kid. When you’d accomplish a certain task or beat a specific level you “leveled up.” After leveling up your character gained additional strengths and was ready to proceed to the next level. While Gavin played It was clear to see that he’d truly leveled up this season. So many skills have improved and increased, but there’s still a long ways for him to go. The most important thing I’ve seen him improve is his ability to get back on defensive in a dead sprint when the other team gets a fast break. He puts everything he has into stopping the other player; I’m so thankful for his grit. It has me giddy to see him on a soccer field again after what he’s just picked up in basketball.

Today I was surrounded by friends and family – many times people filled the roles of both. I’m thankful for the opportunity to spend time with my work family and friends and also at home with family who are amongst my best friends. What a blessed day it’s been!

Thanks!!!

Just as Gavin and I have had a lot of time with just the two of us Dominic and I had a ton of time together after work tonight. Becky was watching the son of a friend and Gavin is at a sleepover so it was just Dominic and I. We’d talked about what might be fun to do. We had a few ideas, but everything we wanted to do seemed to require at last three or more people. Some of these ideas included an escape room, axe throwing, and a handful of others. We figured we’d call one of Dominic’s friends and his dad, a friend of mine. Unfortunately they were out on the escape room so we were back to only two. Seeing as they all involved having three or more and we were only a group of we finally got frustrated and decided to grab a bite to eat instead.

I hadn’t been to a Jersey Mike’s before, Dominic said I’d like it, and we were off. Shortly after ordering our subs (which were delicious) we were just thinking about other options and Dominic mentioned the name of his friend. I kid you not, at that exact moment his friend and my friend walked in the restaurant! What are the odds of that??? We ended up shooting the bull and Dominic and I decided to go bowling. Bowling worked out well for them as well so we were off to bowl! Our skills were not great, but we were all pretty evenly matched. More importantly, we had a ton of fun! Isn’t it nice when things just happen to luck out like that?

After bowling Dominic and I were shooting the bull and enjoying some time together. For some dumb reason my brain started thinking about work. After a short moment I realized that I was drifting away from the present and into something that did not matter one bit in the moment. I shook my head to get the thoughts out, mentally pictured myself flipping the switch, and I was 100% back to the present. The more I pay attention to moments like that the more I realize that I have a lot of work to do in being more present. I am so thankful I caught it quickly, re-focused, and was able to lose less than minute of precious time with Dominic. The present is where I should be, I am thankful for making progress.

The time I have had with Dominic has been perfect. Nothing too crazy, nothing too deep, or anything like that. It was just chill time. Lighthearted conversation, joking around, and enjoying each others company. That is pretty much perfect!

Thanks!!!

Last week my friend Tammie shared a compliment that will stick with me until the end of my days. “You can find a way or a reason to be thankful for literally everything.” I chuckled as I typed my title for tonight… Maybe she’s right. 😉

Today I am thankful for my shackles. I’m thankful for all of the things, ideas, habits, beliefs, people, stuff, misguided dreams, and desires that I allow to hold me back from becoming the me I should really be. For clarity, yes, there are shackles, but it is up to me to free myself from them. More often than not I’ve created them myself.

Why am I thankful for my fetters today?

They help to shape me into who I should be. They build my strength as I struggle against them. Their rubbing and chafing on my skin reminds me that I have work to do. Seeing the life around me I am free to live if I release myself helps me realize what I truly want and what is most important to me.

Sometimes (& maybe more often than I care to admit) I find comfort in having their familiar bonds wrapping around me. In a twisted way I could find an easier life by succumbing to them and living with a victim mindset. There is no fear of failure when I can blame the shackles instead of my own lack of courage, my own lack of strength, and my own lack of grit. Each link in the chain is one more excuse I can utilize later when I don’t have the strength or desire to do the tough things I must to be the best version of me.

When I set myself to breaking the shackles each stretched and eventually broken link is a sign of progress. As I break free from one binding I’m sure to catch on the next, a sense of growth and movement. Though the sweat may flow, the blood may spurt out, and the tears will come as I struggle against them I feel more alive and in control than I have before. The pressing of my flesh against the metal brings the most beautiful of pain, I am taking action of my own free will and giving all of myself in the purpose of something better.

So today I’m thankful for my shackles. They can be beyond frustrating at times if I don’t choose the right mindset, but they can be an incredible gift for which I am most grateful when I choose to view them through the right lens. They strengthen me, test me, and help me become a better version of me.

Thanks!!!

While I often enjoy a change of pace and trying different things I’m largely a creature of habit.  When it comes to driving to and from work I typically go the same way each day.  I’ve tried many other routes, but the ones I take have been proven to be the fastest depending on travel conditions (including weather, time, events, and farming season).  It took a lot of experimentation to get them hammered out, but once they were determined I’ve stuck with them.  They get me from Point A to Point B the most efficiently.

Yesterday I was leaving work from a slightly different location and was heading to the Winona office before heading home.  This left me scratching my head on which way to take so I grabbed my phone, punched in the address in my Maps app, and looked at the two routes.  One was the fastest and took ways I largely knew.  The other was about three minutes slower and was mainly country roads.  I went with my gut and took the road less traveled.

The drive through the country was beautiful!!!  The road twisted and turned as it went through valleys, followed the river, and went up and down the hills.  There was almost zero traffic and it was amongst the most peaceful drives I’ve had in a long time.  I’ll definitely go out of my way to go that route again.

Today the police and fire departments had 93 closed heading south out of Eleva.  With the luck I’d had yesterday fresh in my head I didn’t stress being later than expected, I took time to appreciate the new adventure I was about to have (and say a quick prayer for whoever was involved in the highway being closed).  Instead of taking the standard route as prescribed by the fireman at the intersection I went well out of the way and took only country roads again.

While on the county roads I left the other traffic behind.  Again I was traveling on the road less traveled and enjoying the serenity of being alone.  I wasn’t at all in a hurry, I took my time and enjoyed the ride.

Two straight days of taking other routes and both paid off in spades.  Getting outside of my normal routine showed me a couple of very beautiful areas I would’ve missed otherwise.  While I enjoy being able to get to and from work as efficiently as possible I will remember to occasionally throw myself a curveball and give myself the gift of a different experience.  Who knows what I may find traveling previously unexplored paths.

Thanks!!!