Day 3,741

As I’ve gotten older my tastes have definitely changed. Rather than the anticipation and sprint for presents under the tree I’m more interested in a cup of coffee and conversation with family on Christmas morning. Relaxing in the kitchen while taking sips of fresh coffee and sharing time with family is about perfect. No rush, no stress, no stuff, just sharing a moment.

After driving back home we got in a nice long walk before firing up a Christmas dinner, then spent time on the couch playing games and relaxing. Now off to an early-ish bed.

Super chill, family filled, rather peaceful.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,740

Talk about a full day! Such a great day spent with family, shooting the bull, playing games, and enjoying time together.

This morning Becky and I snuck out with Leia to get a nice long hike in, covering almost five miles across her parents property up north. In addition to all the tracks and trees we also had the opportunity to watch this cute chunker hanging out in a nearby tree.

So cool seeing a porcupine out in the wild!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,739

This morning I got back into a breathing exercise that I haven’t done in years. Laying on my back in the dark, inhaling and exhaling rapidly for forty breaths, holding my breath with empty lungs for as long as I could, deep breath in and hold, and then repeat another three times. A meditation of sorts, a calming of the mind, a singular focus on my breath and body. The sensation of feeling my heart pumping blood throughout my body. Melting away.

I also tried something different while driving, turning the temperature down to Low and savoring the cool air. At one point I noticed the steam from my breath. So relaxing and calming! Becoming comfortable in the discomfort.

Minor shifts, major rewards!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,738

Growth:

Sometimes you just have to roll with what life throws your way. You can’t always predict it, but you can control how you respond to it. How you respond says a lot about who you are as a person. Take a moment, soak in the situational details, make the right choice.

Appreciation:

Dominic and Caitlyn joined us for yoga tonight, it was awesome sharing one of our favorite activities with them! While the activity itself involves quiet and focus, it was very cool just knowing they were taking in the same actions we were and enjoying it. Thinking this could happen a little more often while Dominic is on break! Always fun finding bonus ways to connect.

Presence:

The quiet stillness of our run this morning was a splendid start to the day. The calm of the outdoors, the cool fresh air, the lack of traffic on most of our course, the quiet of the world before it awakes. The quiet mornings like that are amongst my favorite ways to start the day, coffee before my actual coffee to get me up and moving!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,736

Things I’m grateful for today include:

• Coffee while working on personal goals in the morning
• Walking with Becky and getting outdoor time in the sun
• Getting time with my family and my brother
• Bonus bro time, shooting the bull, joking around
• Knocking out grocery shopping on a Saturday night so Sunday is more chill
• Having a house full the boys dnd their friends, two stories of laughing and fun

Thanks!!!

Day 3,735

Growth:

Ending the day with gratitude is a gift I can give myself daily. Regardless of the stresses of the day the evening ritual puts my mind back in the right space, focused on what was right in the day – even if it was from learning something through difficult. It is a daily cleansing and renewal of my soul.

Appreciation:

Wrapping up the night at home with the whole family was exactly what I needed, so grateful for Dominic being home from school. To have everyone home and eating dinner and talking and playing games together is one of my absolute most satisfying experiences. Our family, together, being us, and enjoying our time together.

Presence:

Nothing like a sub zero run to get the blood pumping in the morning! Leia accompanied me on a jog / sprint, I ran while wearing Dominic’s snowboarding goggles to keep my eyeballs from freezing in the wind. Throw in the fact that it was one of the first speed runs I’ve done in a while and it was quite the start to the day!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,734

Growth:

A lesson which has really been front and center all year long is this… allow others to help. Pride / ego get in the way of all of our success. Allow others to help, ask others to help, make space for someone to elevate. Over and over and over this lesson keeps re-appearing and I’m grateful for it each and every time.

Appreciation:

Seeing a teammate totally up their game, take on something larger than normal, and crushing it is a wonderful thing! Over the past few weeks several teammates have done just that through various challenges and opportunities. One teammate truly elevated their game and that of each of their teammates’ today, a moment in which they grew so much, a moment in which they will be able to look back and see how they altered the trajectory of the entire team in a profoundly positive way. Amazing!

Presence:

Today was the culmination of a project I’ve been working on which was loaded with time in a state of flow. The wrap up was one of the most invigorating and purposeful sixty minutes I’ve had in a while. Getting into a zone, pushing yourself through something just barely in range of what I should be able to do, challenging myself, and doing it all in the direction of living into my purpose. What an hour it was!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,733

Wow, my mind is still reeling from all of the awesome twists and turns throughout the day! My day started with an invigorating morning run and rolled right into one of the engaging interviews I’ve had in a while. From there I was able to deep dive into a project that’s been getting my passion up recently and then shifted right into working on an exciting new prospect. The day shifted into some financial forecasting and troubleshooting before enjoying a little bit of quiet time at home with Becky and Gavin. Then we were off to an outstanding dinner with friends that left my sides sore from laughing so hard. By the time we got home there were a couple of texts and phone calls that have me smiling big time.

Whew!!! No wonder I’m suddenly feeling exhausted! What an awesome day for so many reasons!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,732

Growth:

Even after almost 500 days of survival in the most hospitable of environments the positivity of others can continue to raise others.

“Macty [McCarthy] is the most irrepressible optimist I’ve ever met. When I relieve him at the helm, boat iced & seas pouring down your neck he informs me with a happy grin ‘It’s a grand day sir,’ I was feeling a bit sour just before….”

– Worsley’s Journal, Endurance by Alfred Lansing

Appreciation:

Something I am very grateful for the is the ongoing harmony amongst the reading tastes of my sons and I. There have been many books we have referred back and forth to each other and almost all of which have been appreciated by the others. Having a couple of fellow readers helping me to find great books has been awesome, sharing books and concepts within has been even more fulfilling. Nothing like shared interests to help grow our bonds!

Presence:

My conversation with my brother this evening couldn’t have been more well timed for a variety of reasons. The topic of conversation hit close to home for both of us, was a topic we could both very much relate to, and was all the more fitting based on the goals I’ve been working on for myself for next year. So much more fun having a conversation we were both very interested in that we could grow together through!

Thanks!!!