Category: Uncategorized

Thankful for Remembering the Give and Take, Remembering Appreciation, & a Moment of Calm

Day 3,927

Growth:

Many days this task is to help focus my brain on what’s been most meaningful throughout the day. The appreciation I have for certain actions, people, things, happenings, and whatnot. Remember that this can also go in the reverse, helping to frame the frustration and stress of the day into a reason to be thankful. This blog is not for the result in of itself, rather, it is a tool to help me work to close the gap between where I am and where I am meant to grow. Reflection, direction, action, motivation – a tool to be used as needed based on the day.

Appreciation:

Interesting day for a handful of reasons – starting off with a super tight and sore back to a stressful work day to a transition from a difficult conversation to a productive one. Once home it was a dinner with Becky, slow stretching to get my back moving, a call with my brother to joke and laugh, and then some quiet time to blog as I heat my back.

The overall “joy” score of my day was very meh to be sure (likely a -1) and I really struggled to find a reason to blog tonight. There were so many moments to be grateful for individually, but the overall feel of the day was a bummer all around. By leveraging this habit of blogging every single day of why I’m grateful I was able to get my brain turned back around to the positives and to remember to focus more energy there. For sure, the day was still a bummer, but one I can struggle through as I know there are always things I can learn from these types of days, so long as I remember to be grateful for them.

Today that meant being grateful for the acts of kindness, for the opportunity to help others, for the time with Becky and the meal she made, for the time with my brother as we laughed. For the time I spent texting family for various reasons as we all laughed. For this moment of quiet respite to gather my thoughts and choose the better attitude… I am grateful.

Presence:

Taking a quiet moment to myself to get all the junk out of my head. Pressing the pause button on the stress, opening my mind to see the bigger picture. Enjoying the view of the leaves dancing in the wind outside the window, watching the ground squirrel scampering through the park across the street. Allowing my mind to clear. Calm.

Thanks!!

Thankful for a Non-Ordered List

Day 3,926

A couple of quick hits today, no real format, time for some freestyle…

  • Perfect camping weather is amazing and greatly appreciated. After several years of extreme heat, rain, storms, and whatnot it was great to nail a perfect camping weather weekend.
  • Another weekend spent in the campervan.
  • Several years ago I realized I should be reading the same books as the boys. There’s been a large number of books we’ve all read or at least two of us have, and there has yet to be disappointment from any of us on those books. Regardless of who picks it up first we quite often will take each others book recommendations to heart. What I’m most appreciative of is the ability to have conversations about those stories afterwards, both the fiction and nonfiction.
  • Tweaking my back really sucks, but it reminds me to be grateful for the other 99.999% of the time when I have zero issues. Hoping it heals up quick, but using each moment of discomfort to remind me that I’m glad I stay in relatively good health and don’t have ongoing back issues.
  • A full weekend reset was exactly what the doctor ordered, completely with the crazy early bed time I’m about to have!

Thanks!!!

Thankful for a Day Outdoors

Day 3,925

So much outdoors time today, it was wonderful! For well over 12 hours I was relaxing, walking, or chilling outside. Virtually every moment of the day was spent either outdoors or in our campervan, talk about s perfect day!

At one point I was reading in my hammock. I paused, took in the view of the bright green leaves contrasting with the bold blue sky with just enough foliage to block the direct sun while amplifying the sunlight. My mind went back to the comment made by Human in The Speaker for the Dead, “Come and sit in my shade, and see the sunlight through my leaves, and rest your back against my trunk.” So perfectly fitting and serene.

Thanks!!!

Thankful for a Full Day

Day 3,924

A morning run which feels quite rusty, but is completed and sets the tone and pace for the day.

A very focused day of work, clear objectives, all completed with efficiency.

An opportunity to share where I’m at with one trust, asking nothing but understanding, and receiving it.

Wrapping everything up completely, each a little ahead of schedule.

Walking through thoughts, emotions, and options, seeing potential solutions.

Spending the evening outdoors, surrounded by campfire smoke, laughing with family.

Quiet time in thought, reflecting on the day, pausing to breathe in silence.

Thanks!!!

Thankful for One of Those Days

Day 3,923

Today had its moments, not a banner day by any means, but still a solid one.

Sometimes we need days that hit us between the eyes to remind us to appreciate the days that go well.

Sometimes we need days like this to push us towards a next step.

Sometimes we need days full of discomfort to help toughen us up.

Sometimes we need days that bruise our ego to remind us of humility.

Sometimes we need days that leave us scratching our head and asking questions that needed to be asked.

Sometimes we need days that remind us that even if it is rough we still have the ability to choose the context we put to them.

Today was one of those days.

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Our Tides, Gavin’s Road Trip, & a Walk

Day 3,922

Growth:

This line from the book series I’m currently reading resonated with me today. With so many happenings in my work life over the past couple of weeks this struck a serious chord.


We all have our own tides inside.  They go in, out.  Not really ours to control.  The things, people that orbit us do that.  At least more than we’d like to admit.

Golden Son by Pierce Brown

Appreciation:

Gavin is on a roadtrip with friends today, the optimal way to spend a random summer Wednesday after graduating! As I think about him and the fun he is likely having I can’t help but think back to the crazy roadtrips my buddies and I used to make in that stage of our lives. Random trips to the Twin Cities to watch movies at the Mall of America. Driving to Madison to meet up with my buddy’s older brother to then drive to Milwaukee to Summerfest to watch Aerosmith. Disappearing to Stevens Point to watch a different concert. Constantly doing something, running off to have fun, living life the way it is meant to be lived at that age. Exploring the freedom of the road, having the time of our lives, having fun with friends.

Presence:

This afternoon I took a nice long walk over lunch. The fresh air got me re-energized, moving, and feeling more productive in the afternoon. Taking the time to step away, move, breathe, and enjoy the outside was exactly what the doctor ordered. I used to do this all the time, but then I somehow decided it was better to work through lunch. Today reminded me of just how important this mini-ritual is!

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Taking Time to Teach, a Little Extra Time Together, & Working Solo in the Morning

Day 3,921

Growth:

Remember that it takes a little longer to teach, but only when viewed in the near term. When one zooms out and takes the long view the investment is so often much more worth the time than the initial cost of teaching.

Rather than doing something, consider teaching someone to do something if it is something they can and should do in the future.

Appreciation:

This evening after work we got Dominic on FaceTime and he and Gavin gave me my Father’s Day presents. The presents themselves were awesome and very fitting, but what I enjoyed even more was the opportunity to spend a little bit of bonus time with the boys and Becky joking around, seeing the smiles on their faces, and their shared excitement on what I would think of the gifts. Very fun moment as a dad, not the gifts themselves, but the gifts of a little extra time together.

Presence:

This morning I was working alone in an office, able to dive right in without disruption, knock out the work that needed to be done, and move from one task to another. There were still calls and meetings online for the morning, but it was a quiet calm I needed more than I realized I did.

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Intentionality, Gaining Momentum, & Morning Run Bird Songs

Day 3,920

Growth:

This morning I’m reminded of the power of reviewing my 2026 goals every morning and then setting my intentions for the day before I even get out of bed. That really set my mind up for success today – I was immediately focused on what was most important for the day, I spied potential landmines and was able to avoid them, and I felt all the more accomplished by the end of the day as a result. Such an advantage to be gained by living intentionally.

Appreciation:

Another big step was taken today on the next big goal! What fun is that it is almost like an avalanche as it keeps gaining more and more speed as it rushed down the mountain. Finding ways to get it out of my system in between other tasks has been both helpful and insightful – definitely a right quest to take if I’m enjoying it that much! Another milestone, another step forward, more momentum gained.

Presence:

Over the past month or so there have been some birds serenading us on our morning runs. We haven’t been able to figure out what type it was, we couldn’t quite place the sound. Today I ran with my phone and loaded up the Merlin bird sound ID app and we figured out what it was – a catbird singing away! What was even more fun was learning we were hearing approximately 15 different birds in our morning run, how crazy is that? The quiet of nature, the calm of the morning run, an inspiring start to the day!

Thanks!!!

Thankful for a Wonderful Father’s Day

Day 3,919

This was an excellent Father’s Day spent with the family, a continuation of exactly what I’ve needed, down time at home relaxing while engaging with Becky and Gavin. Throw in some bonus time to work on a side project and it was pretty much perfect!

What really sticks out most was spending time with the people who helped me earn the “Dad” title – Dominic, Gavin, and Becky. Dominic joined via FaceTime and text messages throughout the day. Becky took me out for a walk this morning to get some fresh air and made dinner for us. Gavin played games, went to church with us, and then even went on our later walk a little bit ago. Throughout we had time together, time to relax, and lots of joking around. Can’t think of a better way to have spent the day!

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Positivity, Setting My Intentions for Today, & Leia Meets Snake

Day 3,918

Growth:

Even in the most difficult of times we have a choice to make, how we respond to the environment and challenges surrounding us. After being lost at sea in the Arctic for 16+ months without supplies and completely cut off from civilization there was still optimism and positivity within the crew of the Endurance. If they can stay positive in that extreme of a situation, why can’t we in our normal daily life?


“Macty [McCarthy] is the most irrepressable 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….” 

Alfred Lansing, Endurance

Appreciation:

This was the day I needed and so much of it was set by my review of my annual plan and the setting of my intentions for the day this morning before I got out of bed. That quick pause and focus on what I wanted to get out of the day really made a big difference in the choices I made, the mindset I chose, and the joy I found in the chill today. What a difference it is when I remember to pause, zoom out, choose my attitude intentionally, and ten live into my goals!

Presence:

Getting out and about during our hike this morning was amazing! The Trempealeau Wildlife Refuge was relatively quiet, we only saw a few other people on the trail in our couple of hours. Aside from seeing all the wildlife and the relaxing conversations I think I’ll most enjoy the memory of watching Leia almost step on a snake sunning itself on the trail, only to jump backwards in extreme fright when the snake quickly coiled up and totally spooked her! Funny moment for sure!

Thanks!!!