Day 3,318

Growth:

It’s okay to not be okay. Sometimes I need to give myself a little more slack and allow myself to be frustrated, nervous, and everything but the normally upbeat and positive person I am. Sometimes life is rough, it is okay to acknowledge that. It doesn’t mean that everything is falling apart, just that there are likely some lessons I have the opportunity to learn and some challenges to overcome. Deep breaths, figure it out one step at a time. It’s okay, don’t stress yourself out more by stressing that you are stressing. It’s okay and it will all work out.

Appreciation:

Time at home feels great, especially after traveling. Sure, I was busy with odds and ends throughout the day, but it really felt great to be at home. The bits of relaxing in between activities felt pretty sweet too!

Presence:

Outside time in the sun while listening to an audiobook while working on the campervan and mowing was exactly the down time I needed. The bonus time walking with the boys and watching the end of the Packer game together was also greatly appreciated moments!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,317

Growth:

Stress is legit, it must be acknowledged. It’s not a sign of weakness, it is the sign of a difficult challenge. Yes, there will be discomfort and suffering, but if I remember to mind the gap and choose growth, appreciation, and presence it can be a blessing in disguise. Don’t hide from the stress, soak it up and drink it in. This is where the growth happens. Accept it, work through it, stay in it.

Appreciation:

Having a morning in the woods with the boys and Becky is some of my favorite time in my life. No phones or distractions, so much conversation, intentional presence, a shared passion for the outdoors. If I have nothing else in life the memories of moments like these will warm my soul through anything.

Presence:

This moment in the woods with my family during a hike today:

Thanks!!!

Day 3,316

Growth:

Remember to appreciate the friends who love you enough to tell you when you are wrong. They’re willing to put themselves into a place of discomfort specifically to help, that’s a gift they are offering.

Appreciation:

Sometimes music helps to unlock a part of our brains that may be a bit closed off. Today I listened to the song Beautiful Pain by Eminem a handful of times as it really nailed where my brain needed to focus. In repeating it over and over I kept catching different lines that hit home. I may have even found a few candidates for my theme for my 2025 plan!

But every day is a new learning curve as you steer through life
Sometimes you might not wanna swerve but you have to
to avert a disaster, lucky no permanent damage

Marshall Mathers

Presence:

Work has been extremely stressful as of late. This evening I realized I needed to create some space between work and spending quality time with my family. In order to do so I set a timer for 20 minutes and laid on my stomach across my bed made the decision to choose to not think about work until early Monday morning after the 20 minutes was up. It was a wonderful 20 minute gateway to move myself from one mindset to the other.

Thanks!!!

Days 3,309 to 3,313 – copied and pasted from the Notes app I wrote them in on our trip.

Day 3,309 (Friday)

Growth:

There may not be such a thing as over preparing, but there’s definitely is such a thing as over packing!  I don’t need to be prepared for everything, only the probable things.

Appreciation:

Backpacking has a knack for reminding me how much I love backpacking!  I swear it is one of the activities I seem to fall more and more in love with each time I do it.  This trip has already been more of the same.  Unplug, uproot, and get outside. 

Presence:

Being back in the Grand Canyon with Becky, more precious to me than almost anywhere else due to the importance of this place to her.  Experiencing the majesty all around us while having it amplified by her emotion is priceless.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,310 (Saturday)

Growth:

Re-re-reading Fahrenheit 451 in our tent as the rain drops litter patter above.  

“…for how many people did you know that refracted your own light to you?  …How rarely did other people’s faces take of you and throw back to you your own expression, your own innermost trembling thought?”

Appreciation:

Throughout hiking and backpacking there is a focus on what surrounds us.  Today I was amazed by all that wasn’t which normally would be.  The lack of stress, the lack of electronic stimulation, the lack of presence, and so many other things.  While the outdoors all around us blows my mind, the vacuum and silence of what is missing is deafening and sublime.

Presence:

Exploring a place which is new to us got our very first time, the feeling of awe as one is surrounded by stone sentinels towering thousands of feet above.  Our hike today was breathtaking, each corner leading us to new majesty.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,311 (Sunday)

Growth:

Preparation starts long before the event itself.  Look ahead, consider options, test out strategies, have a few contingencies, put in the reps.  That is preparation.

Appreciation:

The sheer magnitude and scale of the Grand Canyon is mind boggling!  Seeing a cliff we started hiking on 4,000 feet above and 20+ miles away from where we viewed it today twisted my mind in some crazy ways!

Presence:

Watching the setting sun cast shadows and change the colors of the Grand Canyon with Becky.  Stargazing in the Grand Canyon, seeing the Milky Way, watching headlamps work their way up the wall, and catching a shooting star with Becky.  Vacation with Becky enjoying the outdoors, priceless presence.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,312 (Monday)

Growth:

Mentally gird my mind for the cacophony of “real life” when I re-enter from the forest.  In the woods the quiet calm leads to serenity, the harsh wake up call of the noise of society rattles my filings.  Be ready to go from silence to noise, don’t let it spoil the chill.

Appreciation:

The feeling of exhaustion that kicks me in the butt after an epic vacation.  Tired as all get out, but thanks to an awesome reason.  Happy to feel this worn out in pursuit of living intentionally!

Presence:

In a quiet moment we can connect so well with others, even if we don’t know them well.  Pause, listen, and be present – the presence is felt by both.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,313

“You haven’t really been anywhere until you’ve been back home.” Terry Pratchett 

Tonight I’m thankful for coming home.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,315

Growth:

Cold showers are a great source of awareness. Sometimes we get the news we need to hear and it feels like that cold shower. Definitely not comfortable, but the instantaneous awareness we need.

Appreciation:

When in doubt go outside and run or walk! It always leaves me feeling better and more energized. Everything in the world seems more possible after getting up and getting out moving. Twice today it did the trick for me, looking forward to getting outside and moving again tomorrow.

Presence:

The smell of fall leaves while walking in the sun as the cool breeze blows across my face.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,314

Growth:

Control what you can control, focus on putting the energy towards what will bring the biggest return. Doing so today led to getting into a flow state while also working ahead!

Appreciation:

So many memories from our trip! As I went through some of the pics and videos this evening I got the bonus treat of more memories flooding back. While there’s a balance to be struck between taking photos and being in the moment itself there’s definitely a strong return on the photos as they help provide an even better return on my memory dividends!

Presence:

Conversations with family today gave been great! Calls with my mom and brother. FaceTime with Dominic. Dinner conversation with Becky and Gavin. Doesn’t get much better than that!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,308

Growth:

This book… what a peek into the mind of a genius!

Appreciation:

In honor of the intent of my daily gratitude habit I’ll be going silent for a few days. I’ll still be writing each day, I’m just going to keep it offline for a bit and will then batch post. Today I’m grateful for radio silence 😉

Presence:

The nervous energy of anticipation of an adventure… classic!!!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,307

Growth:

When the ego gets set aside to make space for purpose great things happen. Would I rather say that I’ve hit a significant milestone or know that I’m living better into who I should be? So easy when I pause for intentionality, more difficult when I allow myself to drift.

Appreciation:

I’m grateful for a day which was not quite as planned, but led to interesting insights leading to novel ideas. In consolidating notes from last week’s leadership retreat my mind re-processed the concepts. What I assumed would take little time ended up taking much longer than expected. That said, the insights and strategies gleaned were well worth the extra time and effort. Allowing flexibility to sustain deep work, an opportunity created!

Presence:

The cold weather brings out the best colors in the pre-sunrise sky. The palette of pinks and purples and oranges is exquisite, a combination existing in only short bursts and in only specific seasons. Add in some wispy clouds and you’ve got my undivided attention.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,306

Growth:

When training for a marathon one doesn’t just show up and run 26.2 miles, you train for months and months in advance to prepare yourself, both physically and mentally. So much of life is similar. So much of life is about the work and reps put in long before the event itself.

Appreciation:

I’ve often talked about life being a series of sprints with bookend events in between. This sprint has been a very different one for so many different reasons. While it has been trying, I’m starting to see just how much growth has occurred already as a result of the stress. Here’s to running through the finish line while taking time to appreciate the journey to get there!

Presence:

The intensity of a looming deadline really sharpens the focus and presence. Everything in life seems a little more crisp the pressure is on like that.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,305

Growth:

While yesterday I shared the joy of learning something on my own, today I was reminded of another valuable lesson. Sometimes you’re better off to just call the experts or professionals and call it a day. 😉

Appreciation:

Crazy busy days like today remind me of a couple of things. First, they aren’t an everyday occurrence thanks to great planning, strong systems, and wonderful teammates. Second, discomfort is when we grow – and I’ve definitely done some growing today, for better or worse 😉. Third, they remind me of how important it is to roll with the punches and adapt as needed, zooming out to recognize the priority, then zooming to attack it, and then zooming out again to adapt. Last, what a difference a good night of sleep and exercise in the morning make. Lessons learned today!

Presence:

Yoga – the calm to the chaos grenade that was the previous 36 hours. Exactly what my soul needed, complete and total focus on my body and breathing.

Thanks!!!