“Don’t be sad wishing for more, be thankful for what you’ve had.”
What wonderful words to live by.
Appreciation:
Time spent laughing together, crying together, and enjoying life together. While there are magical moments alone, the best moments in life are most often shared. Today I’m grateful for sharing so many of those moments.
Presence:
The moments of extreme clarity when I am tested, how present I am. When facing something outside my control do I fixate on it or do I choose to be in the moment I should be in? The moments of being tested are opportunities for presence and awareness.
Fiction creates space for us to process and explore new ideas and concepts in a safety buffer from our personal biases.
When considering a true story it is so easy to be distracted by the details bumping into our biases. Fiction offers the opportunity to walk safely while leaving with a more clear understanding of the big picture.
Appreciation:
Remember my blog post about “sweatshirt books” yesterday? My mind is even more blown today as I finally caught on to one of the major sub themes which had eluded me during my first few reads. Today the concept kept coming back across my brain like waves against the shore. The similar yet different paths of learning “the truth” through faith and science – which is more important, the search for truth or the living of a good life? Maybe a balance of both? Does knowing the truth, the reason, the why matter more than living as fulfilling life?
Presence:
Spending time on the deck listening to Dominic’s tales of his recent canoeing adventure in the Boundary Waters was so much fun tonight! So glad he had such a great time making some epic memories with his buddies in the their first “no adults” wilderness adventure.
Taking a few minutes to pause and rest is okay and usually leads to positive things afterwards. Like anything it’s about discipline and moderation. Done the right way at the right times a break can be exactly what’s needed to kickstart a productive day. What really helped today was setting a 10 minute timer to pause and let my brain drift.
Appreciation:
I know I have some definite idiosyncrasies when it comes to my reading habits. One in particular is the habit of re-reading the same handful of books over and over again. This sometimes seems especially interesting when I share that this includes fiction as well as nonfiction. Yup, I know exactly what’s going to happen, I know the plot, and there aren’t many surprises when I read it. And there is the allure to re-reading those books.
One in particular is a wonderful “sweatshirt book.” Who doesn’t love the feeling of putting on an old comfy sweatshirt on a cool fall night while we snuggle in and get comfortable? Reading the book Spin by Robert Charles Wilson feels just like that. As soon as I pick it up there is a state of calm that comes over me and an instant hunger to consume the entire thing.
Each time I read it I immediately connect with each of the character in all of their glorious faults as they live a human life. The story is thick in metaphor with so many deeper meanings and symbolism behind the story and dialogue. When I read it I pick up on nuances missed in the past and connections previously unseen. While the story remains the same, the person reading it is never the same.
Gotta love “sweatshirt books!”
Presence:
During a video meeting today there was a short pause in the conversation, just long enough to hear a sound. I’d opened my office windows right away this morning and the sound coming in was rain pattering on the pavement in our parking lot. The quiet sound was so soothing and relaxing, a welcome sound to the day. Fortunately I was able to keep an ear to that sound while I was in the meeting and it helped me stay even more chill. So grateful for the incredible soundtrack to the meeting!
Another reason to appreciate journaling. This memory from three years ago today is one I’d forgotten about until I found it on my blog again. What a gift to myself journaling has been!
Throughout the day I’ve had a couple of reminders of spending time at Grandma and Grandpa’s house for a week in the summer. When Nick and I were kids we’d spend a couple of weeks in the Milwaukee area, one at Grandma and Grandpa’s and the other at a couple of Aunt’s and Uncle’s houses. Those weeks were always such a blast! Spending time with family, having our own mini vacation each year, and creating so many memories. There are certain parts of the summer that always remind me of those trips. In the past twenty four hours I’ve:
Saw fireflies in the backyard
The smell of our basement in the summer (I know, sounds weird, but a couple of times each year our basement totally smells like their basement)
Remembered that the baseball all star game is on tonight, something we watched more than a few times down there
Sat on the deck while relaxing in perfect summer weather
More memories will surely keep trickling in throughout the rest of the evening, so grateful for those weeks with Grandma and Grandpa for so many summers of my childhood.
Presence:
This morning I woke up feeling like I must’ve gotten hit by a bus. I was stiff, sore, and tender all over from my neck down through my toes. In a second or two I realized the bus I had been hit by was yoga. The workout last night helped me beat myself up pretty well in a very positive way. The feeling of completely sore muscles was AMAZING!!! Sure, it was a little rough when I first got out of bed, but it quickly shifted to a feeling of gratitude for the workout. The soreness was only a symptom of weakness leaving the body and it felt rewarding.
Within conversations about seemingly random topics there can be wonderful ideas which emerge. This morning a conversation about building maintenance led to one of the most insightful values based realizations in a very long time. I jotted the notes on my whiteboard and in my notebook and my brain has been going back to them often. More to follow in the future on this for sure, but for now the important point is remembering to stay present and engaged in all conversations, you never know when beautiful ideas will connect!
Appreciation:
What a day! There were so many moments I am grateful for today. Most of these were conversations with teammates on topics ranging from the personal to long term strategy to tactical plans to good old fashioned joking around. Many conversations, even more smiles, transparency and honesty, growth, learning, and focuses on values.
At yoga this evening the sticker on the floor to show where to put my mat had a beautiful phrase on it:
Make a ripple.
As I reflect on the day I keep going back to that phrase. I made ripples and took in the ripples of others. What a full and purposeful day!
Presence:
Ahh…. Yoga!!! It’s been a hot minute since I last set foot in the yoga studio due to a variety of reasons, it felt AMAZING to get back into that ridiculously hot and humid room with Becky and a handful of other yogis to push and twist and stretch ourselves for an hour. For those who may question how strenuous yoga can be let me share this – I burn almost as many calories in an hour of yoga as I do on a 4 mile run.
The moment of presence which jumps out to me is during Final Rest. Nick, our instructor, showed us how to use a block in the back of our neck to stretch our neck and Vegas nerve. As I did so I closed my eyes and then, as usual, paid attention to the colors behind my eyelids. A warm and vibrant red and orange hue was all I could see with my eyes closed. When we removed the block and laid our heads flat on the mat the colors instantly change to vibrant purples and blue greens. It was beautiful and so chill!!! I have no idea what that was, but it was so peaceful and pleasant. A perfect moment of serenity.
If I’m ever feeling bored I must remember that I have chosen boredom over satisfaction. As I realized today, I can choose to be as actively engaged in something at anytime (even relaxing) rather than feeling like I am bored. There wasn’t a plan for the day, I was home alone, and there wasn’t a single moment in which boredom could seep in. I chose to be engaged, something to remember when I catch myself feeling like there’s nothing to do.
Appreciation:
It’s not often that Gavin and I sit around and watch TV, but tonight we decided to watch the USA v Canada soccer match tonight. For whatever reason it just sounded like a good idea and I’m glad we fired it up. There’s still 10 minutes left and it’s tied at 0-0, fingers crossed for a W for the US side. I do know there’s at least one winner tonight – I’m spending time shooting the bull with Gavin!
Presence:
Even though I had a lot that I wanted to get done today I had to pause and give LuLu some love for a while this afternoon. The handful of moments were spent 100% on her royal highness and we both enjoyed it.
Stillness doesn’t always mean sitting around. Working in my shop on the project of my choice with no timeline and no agenda fosters an incredible sense of stillness. My mind calms, I focus on the task at hand and I am totally present on my project. This is especially true when I’m trying something new and it requires the full attention of my mind. Sometimes I feel like I need to be working on something important or towards a goal, but I must remember that sometimes I need to just be still and do something purely for the fun and challenge of it with no goal, score, or deadline.
Today was full of stillness and I am in a deep state of serenity as a result.
Appreciation:
Throughout the day I’ve been checking my phone to watch the progress of Dominic and a handful of his high school classmates who are canoeing in the Boundary Waters for a week. He and his friends decided they wanted a wilderness adventure before heading off to college. I am sooooo jealous in a very positive way! So happy he’s created an opportunity to get out and live the canoeing/backpacking life with his buddies. Knowing he has friends who are interested in outdoor adventures like this is nothing short of awesome! Can’t wait until Thursday night to hear all about how his experience, and so appreciative of his passion for the outdoors.
Presence:
Savoring the smell of fresh cut oak in my workshop was amazing!!! Smells like a combination of childhood, Dad, time with my boys, and joyful work. Something about the scent of oak in a table saw always gets me.
When life feels like it is flying by at a crazy pace I need to remember to pause, zoom out, and plan. While laying out my next two to three months makes me feel claustrophobic and nauseous it is also exactly what I need to slow down and make sure I’m headed in the right direction. It is easy to be busy, it is difficult to be busy on the right things for a prolonged period of time without thoughtful reflection and planning.
Appreciation:
Nothing like an early supper followed by down time on the deck and then the couch once it started raining. I know, I probably sound old, but my body appreciates having time to digest prior to heading to bed. I can pretty much guarantee my resting heart rate will be nice and low and my quality of sleep be high.
After the nonstop feel of this week, complete with its double Mondays, this was the wind down I needed to kick off the weekend.
Presence:
Laying in bed with the windows open. My reading light on and taking in a novel. Feeling the breeze on my face. Hearing the wind blowing outside. Totally relaxed.
Sometimes my brain needs to relax from nonfiction and enjoy a great novel. This switch helps me learn in a different way through seeing how different ideas and interactions work out. Of course, I know it’s fiction, but there’s still so much to learn from the story and the conversations and motivations of characters. Today I fired up an old favorite (Spin) and have enjoyed the ride!
Appreciation:
Ahh… a nice chill night at home, relaxing on the deck. The boys are both out and about so it’s just Becky and I for now. We grilled supper, relaxed, washed dishes, and are now chilling on the deck. What perfect weather to kick back and enjoy the calm that is earned through a very busy day of work. What a perfect way to savor the end of the day.
Presence:
A teammate shared a video of a child watching fireworks for their first time and it was AWESOME!!! The look of pure joy and awe was so amazing I couldn’t help but smile and almost clap along with them as the bursts or color erupted in the sky. While the kid was the one in a perfect state of presence watching the fireworks my inner child was totally present in that moment with them and enjoying their total joy.
Thankful for Forty 