Author: Michael Kreiling

Thankful for Remembering Love is the Way, Crazy Ideas, & Reminders to Appreciate the Moments We Have

Day 3,437

Growth:

Father Dodge had a wonderful sermon that I really didn’t want to hear today, usually the sign of one which I really needed to hear. Where there is discomfort there is usually room for growth.

In his sermon he reminded us that we are to love everyone, to want everyone to enter into heaven, for everyone to feel love. This is currently very difficult for me as I strongly disagree with several issues we are having as a society at large. It would (and has been) so much easier to be angry, to return hate with hate, and to be about as far from love as we should be.

As he spoke I couldn’t help but realize that this pushing back with anger and frustration is what is fueling the downward spiral we seem to be in. We should be remembering to love each other throughout, to pray for others, to help them understand that even if we disagree they are still humans, we should treat them all as we would be treated.

For sure – I am nowhere near ready to for this complete shift, I know what I should do and will work towards closing the gap between who I am and who I am called to be. As I reflect on the day I will be remembering to give a little extra prayer for those who need it, those who are acting from a place of hate, greed, ego, for them to find their way back to love for all humans and all life. I will say an extra prayer for all those who are directly impacted by the hateful and bitter action for them to have the courage to continue, the strength to keep fighting, and the ability to find a way to return love for hate. I will say a prayer for myself, to help me stay level minded, to help me know when and how it is appropriate to fight back, but in a way from the heart, with love. All in all, I’m praying for us to all remember to love each other and to treat each other well – especially when we don’t agree.

This evening I acted out in peaceful ways, a donation to an organization that could really use the extra help right now, sending messages to our congress on my thoughts on specific actions. Please consider doing the same. An organization which we’ve supported in the past that could use your help is the National Parks Conservation Association.

Appreciation:

I’ve been known to have some crazy idea, some might even say bad ideas form time to time. Nothing crazy or nefarious, rather ideas which many normal people would likely think a little out there. Case in point hiking a 50k last summer in the middle of a heat wave. Some have been so crazy they never happened, others I’ve seen through and maybe even questioned after the fact.

After Gavin finished reading The Long Walk by Stephen King this week he had an incredible idea – possibly a crazy one. We are going to do a 24 hour nonstop hike this summer just because we can. We’re going to start approximately 65-70 miles from home and follow the trail all the way back. Nothing short of ridiculous, no question, but it should be an incredible adventure, one we’ll remember for the long haul for sure!

Here’s to the crazy ideas, may they continue to invade our brain and lead us to many incredible shared moments together!

Presence:

Appreciate each moment, we don’t know how many more we have. In church today we received some deeply sad news of a parishioner who passed away from a very fast acting cancer. While we did’t know her well, we knew she and her husband well enough to enjoy a smile and a joke from time to time. Her death was a shock and that moment really hit hard. Her husband is the one I blogged about years ago as “the guy at church who reminds me of Dad.” My heart goes out to him and their family. Enjoy the moments we have, we are not promised tomorrow.

Thanks!!!

Thankful for a Productive Saturday, an Opossum in a Tree, & Moments with the Boys

Day 3,436

Growth:

Saturdays are for getting stuff done is how I’m feeling today. Most of my task list for the weekend has been completed, only a handful of duties for tomorrow. With all that’s gong on in the world it seems like taking a day to control what I can control was exactly what I needed. That, and I’m very impressed with how much my blood pressure is reduced by just spending time in my campervan.

Appreciation:

Hiking in the woods with Becky and Gavin and encountering this little guy who was attempting to hide in a dead tree – what a cool moment and experience! Thanks to Roland the opossum for the bonus sights in the woods today!

Presence:

I had a pretty sweet daily double today!

Gavin came along with me while I got our campervan out to prep for Becky’s upcoming trip. We spent time together hooking up the chassis battery, navigating it out of the storage unit, and then taking it for a ride to get it warmed up. The entire time we shot the bull and had a good time together.

Later in the day I ran to pick up my contacts and Dominic called. We spent a good 15-20 minutes shooting the bull about nothing in particular, but had a great time doing it!

Shared moments with my sons – two excellent shared moments of presence!

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Sources of Joy, a Productive Week, & Moments of Presence

Day 3,435

Growth:

How often is our unhappiness or frustration due to a lack of time alone in introspection? Taking time to pause, consider our purpose and dreams, reflect on all we have to be grateful for, step outdoors and experience a sense of wonder – those moments can make all the difference in our happiness and overall joy.

Appreciation:

This has been a very long week, but a very positive week. So much progress, one of those weeks in which the results won’t be fully felt for another month or so. Long term progress on several levels. I am grateful for the way a teammate put it recently, we’re building the foundation, one brick at a time. As we keep building the momentum will keep growing. Here’s to a productive week and to the upcoming relaxing weekend!

Presence:

Several moments of supreme presence today – quiet moments in the car, introspective texts with friends, a heartwarming text with a teammate, a shared training experience, a sales opportunity, a training conversation, and an engaging book. All moments of presence, all moments of joy.

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Shake It Out, My Friend Amanda, & a Relaxing Sunny Drive Home

Day 3,434

Growth:

One of my favorite songs is Shake It Out by Florence & the Machine (check it out here). The song is a wonderful reminder of the power of letting go. There are times in life when we must let go of the stress, the regret, the frustrations. We all go through things, weather storms, make mistakes, and we must move forward, shucking the weight of the past off our shoulders else we fall. This song today was an anthem that kept echoing through my soul, a refreshing shift, a yoke lifted.

The power of music, such an engaging emotional outlet!

Appreciation:

Some people have an outsized positive impact in our lives. They help us by seeing better in us than we see in ourselves sometimes. Whenever we need help, they are always right there for us, reaching out to us to see how they can help. During conversations they are completely engaged, they ask great questions in an effort to get to know us better, and are willing to say what we need to hear to help us out. These people always leave us smiling after each interaction, feeling refreshed, motivated, and ready to run through walls. We are blessed to have their impact in our lives and they help us be better versions of ourselves than we would be without their friendship and support.

Amanda Gorzney, thank you tremendously for the awesomely positive impact you’ve had on me and my teams. I appreciate you tremendously!

Presence:

My drive home was beyond chill today, exactly what my mind needed. I had some chill music on, took in the sights of the bluffs and the Mississippi River all around me, and even opened the moonroof for a little bonus fresh air and sunlight. Part of what added to the mood was the fact that I was leaving work while it was still sunny out, a nice change from where we were just two short months ago!

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Awareness, Crossing Paths with Renee Again, & Moments of Joy

Day 3,433

Growth:

There’s a story of a lion cub raised by sheep that Anthony de Mello shares in his book Awareness. The lion is raised by the sheep, with the sheep, and knows himself to be a sheep. One day another lion attacks the herd of sheep and sees this lion who thinks he’s a sheep cowering and hiding with the rest of the lambs. The attacking lion asks him what he is doing with the sheep and the lion raised by sheep is confused and doesn’t understand. The hunting lion says he is a sheep but the lion counters back that he is a sheep. With that the lion walks the sheep lion to a pool of water to see his reflection. In that moment the sheep lion becomes aware he is a lion and his life is forever changed. In an instant the lion is aware.

Moments of awareness are so seldom instantaneous like this. We often have to work for them, slowly learn through years of reflection and introspection. Occasionally they hit us like a lightning bolt as in this story.

I’m amazed at the power of these moments of awareness. The moment we truly understand something everything relaxes, life becomes more simple. We see the world as it truly is rather than squinting and trying to see it the way that we want. When we become aware of certain things it is a moment of inner peace, of understanding, and we are forever changed.

As I live through one of those moments I’m grateful for the moment itself as it has already relaxed my shoulders and eased my stress. I’m grateful for the hard work, the pain, the frustration, and the challenge of getting to this moment of awareness, without it I would not have become aware. While I can always wish for something to be different this newfound awareness in this situation helps me see that all is well, I see the world for what it is, and it is not the world which must change, but me.

And I have.

Appreciation:

Isn’t it wonderful when our paths re-merge after seasons of splitting? I cannot even being to share how overjoyed I am to have had the opportunity to work with Renee again! As Becky put it this weekend, “You’ve been sleeping much better since Renee came back!”

In Renee my team and I gain a nonstop fireball of positivity, love, and joy combined with strong skills and a wonderful ability to help create a process and system when needed. Everyone in my family was ecstatic to have her back, today I lived a day in which I was reminded multiple times just how blessed I am to have her back in my work life.

Renee, thank you for living into our purpose so quickly, naturally, and effortlessly!!! You’ve already brightened many lives and have made an awesomely positive impact. Thank you for sharing your zest for life with us!!!

Presence:

When all seems dark it is important to remember the moments of exquisite brilliance and beauty. Closing the mind to all around, reflecting on the moment this photo was taken. The time with family, the time in nature, the experience of unmatched beauty. My soul feels lighter.

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Stepping Back for Clarity, Working Through Hurt, & Repeat 1

Day 3,431

Growth:

Interesting how sometimes stepping back can provide so much clarity. Our mental lint filters get a little clogged up and we need to step back, clean them out, and then start fresh. Often the insights of others can help us get there. Pause, reflect, ask advice, seek input, and then take action.

Appreciation:

This evening I’ve sat in front of my computer and stared at this blank section. I’ve typed the Growth and Presence portions already, this one has been empty with nothing but a flashing line waiting to release letters. I’m incredibly frustrated today, no need to dive into it any further than than, not with anything related to work or Becky and boys, with other aspects of life. My soul hurts, I’m angry, and I’m so frustrated that I know any response right now – save writing this blog – would not likely be the right one.

I need to reflect further, dive into the why behind the emotion, and remember that above all else we were created to love. That can be be wildly difficult for me to remember and I’m starting to see that it is likely at the core of my hurt – the dissonance of the emotions and the necessary response. Maybe it is because I don’t know how to allow myself to love those I despise, or maybe because I am so unwilling to do so because of my anger. When is the right time to stand up and take action? When is the right time to put my head down and be invisible? When should I calm my emotions and let logic rule? When should I free my emotions in a righteous rage? Are there even right answers to be found?

As I type this I want to circle back to what I am grateful for. I’m grateful for having found a journaling practice like this to help me work through the hurt. I’m grateful for this exercise which helps me remember to stay focused on the positive. I’m appreciative for the wisdom to know it is okay to not be okay all the time. I’m glad I’ve learned to not act out in emotion unless it is logically prudent to do so.

So long as I am alive I have the opportunity to learn and grow. Through the darkest times we learn and grow most. This really sucks right now, but I know I must be growing and learning – though I’d kind of like to have a pause soon. 😉

Presence:

Sometimes there are moments in which when I have learned to pause the audiobook and switch to music. Something within my soul needs to be soothed in those moments, and music or silence is typically the key. Today I listened to one of my favorite songs on repeat for part of the way to work and the entirety of the way home and it was exactly what I needed.

Thanks!!!

Thankful for The Process, a Team Willing to Ask Difficult Questions, & Another Sunrise

Day 3,430

Growth:

“Process saves us from the poverty of our intentions.”

Elizabeth King

As I continue to work on my 2025 goals I am working the plan. It ain’t sexy or earth shattering, but it is consistent and keeps me focused on achieving my goals. Having a daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual process has been making all the difference this year. Still a long ways to go in the year and further to go on my goals, but I’m seeing the ongoing progress and the flywheel is getting easier and easier to push.

Appreciation:

Is there much better in the world than a team who is open to positive conflict in pursuit of living their purpose to help others? The grit, confidence, and mutual respect needed to be able to ask each other difficult questions is tremendous! Knowing that a team will push past discomfort to grow and become better is inspiring and moves us all forward more quickly.

Presence:

My ride into work this morning included another magnificent sunrise over the Mississippi River Valley today! Watching the sunlight hit the bluffs in front of me while watching the sun slowly rise from my rearview was epic – moments of wonder in everyday life.

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Being Okay Relaxing, Lessons from Leia, & a Surprise Guest

Day 3,429

Growth:

I don’t always have to be busy, productive, or working towards a goal. It is okay, even necessary, to relax once in a while. Pause, breathe, recharge, and be okay with it. This weekend was an awesome lesson in remembering to relax.

Appreciation:

Leave it to dogs to remind us of things we don’t always want to remember. Yesterday Leia was reminding me that it was up to me to have fun in all types of weather including snow. The way she bounced and ran and played in the snow was inspiring to watch, her giant puppy smile was infectious!

Today was more of the same, except there was the other reminder of how we’re able to do so much more than we are comfortable with. As Leia sprinted off to play with some ducks who were not at all interested in playing with her she broke through the ice on the Black River not once, but twice. By the time she came back over to me there was ice in the outer layer of her fur, but her inner coat was completely dry. She stayed warm the entire time. It reminded me that sometimes I hesitate and don’t take an extra chance like I should in fear of getting wet (like doing stand up paddle board yoga). Have no fear, be okay with getting wet, it’s all good!

Thanks for reminding me to enjoy every moment and to keep smiling regardless of whether or not you got wet!

Presence:

Dominic was going to FaceTime us at 7pm as usual on Sunday nights, but instead we heard a car pull up about then. Through the door came Dominic and Caitlyn! Her train back to La Crosse was canceled due to the cold weather so Dominic did the right thing and drove her back to La Crosse. Why not have a face to face conversation instead of through a screen? Absolutely loved and appreciated the truly bonus moments we were able to share, what an awesome surprise!

Thankful for The Only Thing We Control, an Awesome Day, & Snowshoeing on a Saturday

Day 3,428

Growth:

Today has been a powerful reminder of why I write each day. It’s a practice of reflection—an opportunity to process my experiences, thoughts, and emotions, helping me bridge the gap between who I am and who I strive to be.

When someone lets us down or disappoints us, we have a choice in how we respond. I often find myself oscillating between anger, frustration, apathy, and sadness. But the interesting thing is this: my reaction is entirely up to me.

If we strip away our initial emotions, most disappointments come down to a simple fact—someone took an action they believed was right. Few people intentionally choose to do the wrong thing. The action itself is neutral; it’s neither good nor bad until we assign meaning to it.

Let that sink in for a moment. The action itself is neutral. We are the ones who apply context, emotion, and judgment. And in doing so, we determine our response. Yes, their action may be the opposite of what we wanted or expected, but our reaction? That’s entirely ours to own.

Anthony de Mello captures this truth beautifully in Awareness:

“I have no right to make any demands of you.

I have no right to make any demands of you. Oh, I’ll protect myself from the consequences of your actions or moods or whatever, but you can go right ahead be what you choose to be.

I have no right to make any demands of you.”

Anthony de Mello

At the end of the day, the only thing we truly control is our response. People will act in ways we disagree with. They will frustrate us. They will disappoint us. But they are free to do so. Their actions only gain meaning when we apply it.

Marcus Aurelius offers another timeless insight:

“Choose not to be harmed—and you won’t feel harmed. Don’t feel harmed—and you haven’t been.”

The choice is mine. Someone else may take an action I dislike, but it’s up to me whether I let it disrupt my peace. I can let it roll off. I can take steps to prevent it from happening again. I can move forward. Or, I can choose frustration and dwell in emotions that serve no purpose.

I choose to move forward.

Why waste time and energy longing for a different outcome when I never had control over it in the first place? Instead, I’ll choose focus. I’ll choose resilience. I’ll choose to protect my energy and not let frustration steal moments I can never get back.

Time is finite. Breath is precious. I won’t waste them in frustration.

Appreciation:

One of the reasons I enjoy blogging is the ability to reflect upon the entirety of the day rather than dwelling on just one or two specific incidents. As I started typing this section I paused and ran through the day from start to end and I couldn’t help but smile at so many positives and moments I am grateful for today!

  • Waking up to the aroma of coffee, a delicious coffee Becky picked up in her recent yoga retreat.
  • Seeing a text come across my phone early in the morning saying, “Pulled a Kreiling and went hiking before the sun was up this morning, just me and the dog!”
  • Stepping on the scale and seeing more progress than expected.
  • Shoveling snow with Becky while listening to great music, getting lost in the fresh air, movement, and tunes.
  • Growing through a challenging situation.
  • Getting to the grocery store on a Saturday only to find it relatively empty.
  • Sticking to my guns with my weekly goals and preventing temptation.
  • Seeing a video of Gavin setting his new bench press PR and hearing about how much fun he had with his teammates.
  • Hearing about Dominic’s rugby scrimmage and hearing the excitement in his texts.
  • So much outside time snowshoeing with Becky! More on that below.
  • Making progress on my checklist for the weekend and prepping my meals for next week.
  • Trading awesome texts with good friends.
  • Playing cards with Becky and Gavin after dinner, laughing, and joking, enjoying our time together.
  • Taking way more time than expected writing this blog, reflecting on the day, learning and growing.

All in all, it’s been a pretty awesome day, one made better as a result of taking time to type my blog.

Presence:

There was enough snow for snowshoeing today and we took full advantage of it! We headed out to Great River Bluffs State Park and spent time snowshoeing through fresh and untrodden snow. The fresh air, the untouched snow, and the un-hiked trails all led to an incredibly invigorating experience. Such a perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon!

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Sharing a Movie with Gavin and Late Night Shopping

Day 3,427

Gavin and I decided to stay up a little late and catch a movie – Ex Machina. I love the confluences of our common interests, always a great time!

Midway through he had a schedule change for tomorrow and had to pause our movie for a late night shopping run for snacks and lunch for him for tomorrow. Felt crazy heading out on a snowy night like that, but we made the most of it!

Thanks!!!