Day 3,294

Growth:

Today I had the opportunity to sit in on a couple of CEO roundtable discussions focused on what we are all facing in the economy currently. By spending so much more time listening than speaking there was so much to learn from the participants – both business acumen AND leadership. There were several moments when I caught myself enjoying their perspectives and soaking in the examples they set in what they said and what they didn’t say. I took many notes from the discussions, they were about fifty fifty split between the economy and their styles. Listening, what a way to learn!

Appreciation:

I’ve blogged about this topic or something like it in the past, but it is definitely worth writing about again. I am so grateful I don’t travel for work all the time. For sure, I love travel, it is one of my favorite things in the world. It’s just not the ideal lifestyle for work.

Here I am, a week or so away from the trip and my brain keeps going back to what I need to do to be ready for it. What do I need to pack? What do I need to have ready in advance? Did I make all the reservations correctly? What happens if the travel gods do not smile upon me, what’s the back up plan? Even my dreams have returned to the chaos filled moments of nervousness about forgetting something for the trip. The past couple of nights I’ve woken up feeling not nearly as well rested as I normally due thanks in part to the breakneck pace of those dreams.

I’ll be fine, the reason for the trip is awesome, and I’m very happy to go to the event. The stress before the trip is always a little more than I’d like, but just enough to remind me to be grateful for spending 99+% of my work nights at home.

Presence:

After our CEO roundtables I got back to my office, closed the door, and took five minutes to relax. I set my sand timer on it’s top and did nothing but breathe as I watched the grains slowly drop into the bottom of the timer. The past handful of days have been absolutely packed, largely with people related work. It’s been very fulfilling and I’ve enjoyed it immensely, but I also realized that I haven’t had any time to myself to just pause and think. My attitude is so much lighter when I have more pockets of solo time, the one type I’ve been missing over the past few days. Those five minutes of stillness alone in my office were exactly what I needed to get my brain back on track.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,293

Growth:

The things you run from are inside you.

Seneca

Appreciation & Presence:

The trajectory of life can be altered so quickly in just a moment. Here’s to a moment seared into my soul for eternity. Twenty five years ago today Becky looked across a crowded church and smiled at me, the moment I knew we would spend the rest of our lives together.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,292

Growth:

Some actions are worth more time and energy than others even though they don’t feel nearly as urgent. Over the past week I’ve spend an oversized amount of time prepping for a specific project, putting in well over ten times the amount of time into preparation as went into the action itself, but it made all the difference. When there is a truly important task to be done remember to invest the time into it that it deserves, it will pay off.

Appreciation:

Crazy to think that 25 years ago, a quarter of a century, Becky and I met for the first time! In so many ways it feels like just a few days ago. The funny thing is that the first night we met we really were not into each other at all, it wasn’t until the next day that I was head over heals… she took a little longer to convince 😉

Here’s to 25 years of knowing each other, and to 24 years and 364 days of of knowing I’d met my soulmate.

Presence:

I’ve written often about my drive to work up the Mississippi River Valley each weekday. The stunning views of the bluffs, the river, and everything in between are spectacular and always worthy of gratitude. On many mornings at about this time of the year I have the opportunity to experience the sunrise slowly painting the bluffside as I drive upriver. The golden hues add a otherwordly glow to the hillsides, especially as the leaves start to change. This morning was one of those mornings 🙂

Thanks!!!

Day 3,291

Growth:

There are pros and cons to most things in life. While there are so many boons from AI there are some concerning drawbacks as well. I’m very grateful for the book Nexus by Yuval Hurari as it continues to stretch my brain like a hardcore yoga class!

Appreciation:

There’ve been many blogs like this one recently. I’ve been busy all day, I’m finally in bed later than expected, and I’m hurrying to blog before I go to sleep. I feel like there’s so much more to write, but I’m reminded that it is the practice itself, not the writing, which is most important. Each short blog is the result of living life fully and still making time to pause and be grateful for all the blessings from throughout the day. A beautiful balance!

Presence:

Watching Gavin’s football game sitting alongside my brother was fantastic this evening! Always enjoyable getting in some bonus time like that with him.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,290

Growth:

Sleep is an essential component of health. Due to getting home super late last night I slept in the morning. I’m still crazy tired so I’m going to bed early. By the time I fall asleep I’ll have been awake for almost exactly twelve hours. Normally I’d go nuts, but today it is exactly what I need.

Appreciation:

This afternoon Gavin and I went to work on figuring out how to adjust the awning on the camper-van. After a bit of research and trial and error we got it figured out.

We then took on making a small fix to a small piece I’d damaged on one of the cabinets. Thanks to his help we got it fixed more quickly than expected.

In preparation for his homecoming dance we zipped over to buy a dress shirt for him. As is always the case with clothes shopping we had to work through some challenges together to get it dialed.

All afternoon we worked together, joked around, and had an excellent time. Dominic and I used to have days like this when Gavin was younger, so nice getting them with Gavin now.

Presence:

Sometimes you just have to hit the pause button and enjoy nature! Look at this big dude we found outside our camper! He was probably about the size of a fifty cent piece. So awesome when you can see a spider so up close and so big that you can see its eyes!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,289

Today was a perfect birthday, couldn’t have asked for more.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,281

Growth:

Watch for the moments of joy, of engagement, of flow state. Those are the cues pointing towards what you should be doing more of. Create opportunities for more of that.

Appreciation:

Yoga is always the right answer! Tonight it got my mind relaxed and focused where it should be. Joanna got us all stretched and twisted in new ways which felt exquisite. Throughout was a constant struggle to stay focused on breath and present, in a very good growth kind of way. Even when my brain wandered it was towards a dream specifically created out of the aether by yoga! The perfect way to wrap up a week!

Presence:

This moment this morning…

Thanks!!!

Day 3,280

Growth:

Collaboration seems to help in almost every situation. An extra set of eyes looking it over, an opinion slightly removed from the situation. Getting outside our own minds and thoughts can often help lead us down a better path.

Appreciation:

Our Grand Canyon backpacking trip is sneaking up on us. Somehow the past few months have silently slipped by and now we’re getting closer to go time! This evening I took some time to start working ahead on my gear, very fulfilling to start making some progress!

Presence:

This evening held a very welcomed surprise, bonus Becky time! Her work dinner plans changed and we were gifted with some bonus chill time. Nothing crazy, just dinner together and relaxing, just what I needed!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,279

Growth:

True awareness is a difficult state. Rather that observation I’m often compelled to fix whatever I notice. Not always the right approach as quite often I may not really know what needs to be fixed. Awareness is in being one’s self, observing one’s self, and not taking action, only observing in order to understand.

Appreciation:

The books I’ve been reading as of late are completely unrelated, one a fiction and the other a no fiction on a completely different topic, but they’re both twining together in some interesting and insightful ways. Both are helping me observe the world a little more clearly from multiple angles through several axis. Either one would be beneficial in this moment, the combination of both is divine!

Presence:

Moments of laughter throughout a couple of conversations, the moments of sunshine to shine through any period of dark!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,278

Growth:

How much emotional energy do I waste when I react rather than pausing to think? Learning opportunity for sure today, 30+ minutes of frustration which was completely unnecessary, especially after a few minutes of collected focus found it was completely unwarranted.

Listen, breathe, think, then act.

Appreciation:

Once I’ve made the decision to choose the right mindset everything seems to fall right in place and all for the good. Attitude, attitude, attitude. The one thing under our individual control, the one thing that makes such an outsized impact.

Presence:

My mind was jogged to an old song as a result of the book I’m currently reading. While driving to work I turned on one song with the intention of getting back to my audiobook, but next thing I knew I was in full on car concert mode! An epic morning drive!

Thanks!!!