I went down the rabbit hole tonight. One thing led to another and I quickly slipped into scrolling through old photos. Some were vacations but most were of almost everyday moments. There were so many photographic bread crumbs I left myself, so many awesome memories created with my family and friends.
The growth I’m thankful for tonight is the reminder to take many pictures. Never let the camera get in between the present and me, but also remember the photos I take bring back so many memories later.
Appreciation:
One of our usually annual family traditions is a trip to see the Rotary Lights in downtown La Crosse. So grateful for another year of spending time with our family together at this event!
Presence:
One of the videosI stumbled across was that of the octopus I found (& touched) in a tide pool in Sawtell, Australia. That moment remains one of the most intensely encoded memories in my brain. What a surreal moment!
Tonight I’m thankful for a lesson I’ve learned over the years. It’s okay for my blog posts to be short sometimes. I’ve lived a very full day and am now ready crash. Short and focused, yet staying to the discipline.
Appreciation:
Thank you to Renee for referring a book I’m certain to read again and guaranteed to buy for others… The High 5 Habit by Mel Robbins
So much wisdom shared so intimately. Loved it!
Presence:
Taking time to breathe is so much more centering than it seems it should be! Take 35 deep breaths, hold my breath with empty lungs for 90+ seconds, inhale deeply and hold for 15, and then repeat two more times. So much focus in such a short period of time.
There are so many times when we can see the greatness lying in wait inside another person – even when they don’t quite see it themselves. The greatness is so elusive and shy, it can’t be forced out. Rather, it takes work and coaxing, and even then it has to come out of its own accord. There’s nothing the observer can to do draw it out other than slowly help it see the possibility.
The growth I’m thankful for today is the reminder to not force the issue, telling someone how great they are isn’t the answer. Slow down and help them walk to the conclusion on their own. Provide the opportunities for them to shine, but be wary of pushing too hard.
Appreciation:
Yoga with Becky on a Monday night is just about the perfect way to start a week. With all the different directions we go as a family knowing that we have that time to pause, breathe, re-center, and get a some sweat in to start the week really helps me stay centered throughout the week.
While there were many reasons to thankful today that one is amongst on of the foundational bricks which support the opportunity for those other moments of appreciation. I can’t overstate the importance of taking time to re-charge, focus, breathe, and re-center in my life. Without the calming activities like yoga I am over stressed. Without physical activity I feel flat and not as productive as I should be. Without time outdoors I don’t pause to appreciate the natural world around me. Without some time alone in thought (like when I’m blogging) I don’t have time to focus on dissecting my thoughts and actions. Put all of these together, my yoga practice with Becky, my run outside this morning, and my time blogging right now and I feel so much more full, focused, and on the right track to start the week.
Presence:
My morning run was a bit on the chilly side, but that made it all the more peaceful. There’s nothing quite like running when it’s zero or a little below. The air is so calm and still, it feels more full in some ways. With the new fallen snow there’s also an absence of sound which makes it feel all the more quiet and lonely (in a good way). Runs like this take a little bit to get used to, but once I am ready for them they are amongst the most serene and satisfying runs I ever have. So thankful for the opportunity to enjoy one of those cold runs this morning!
Becky had an awesome idea for today – snowshoeing. While the boys snowboarded the two of us hit Twin Bluffs State Park. There was only one other person on the trail as we explored a spectacularly scenic winter wonderland. The views were so amazing. The snow brought out even more beauty than we’ve previously seen there before.
The serenity of snowshoeing almost alone in the still winter air is beyond words. A fulfilling workout, time outside, shared moments with each other, and a peaceful state of mind. I need to remember to snowshoe more often!
Appreciation:
Even through the busyness our family has had over the past month and change we’ve found time to watch two of our favorite Christmas movies together over the past few nights. As the boys get older they catch more and more if the jokes and we all enjoy the movies just a bit more. Having time together to share in some of these traditions is priceless and I’m grateful for each moment.
Presence:
So, truth be told, I’m not a big sports fan. Every year for the past ten or so had seen a decline in my interest. Nothing against professional & college sports or their fans, I just have other passions which seem to grow each year.
That said, the presence of following today’s World Cup Final from the last 15 minutes of regulation and the conclusion seemed to transcend sports! Nonstop excitement ensued as I found myself quickly drawn in at an almost guttural level. The momentum shifts, the back stories, and the energy of the teams brought to present moment into such sharp clarity. There’s certainly a magic to the ability of sports to harness the present moment, today I basked in it.
The more one thinks about something the more it seems to appear. If my thought is unfocused my mind will drift. If I keep my thoughts intentionally focused my mind will lead me to where I need to go. Stay focused, stay intent, and be ready for opportunity
Appreciation:
Dominic had a test run of his future college experience this morning. He somehow lucked out and landed the infamous 7:45am on Saturday slot for his Calculus 2 final at UWL. He was home before 9am and felt great about how it went.
I’m thankful he had the opportunity to experience a final before college to get a feel for what he has in store for him. From the nervous night of sleep before to studying with a friend a couple nights before he git quite the experience!
Presence:
The adrenaline starts pumping through the veins minutes before the wrestling match starts. Everything tenses up and time seems to slow down. The anticipation is palpable…
and then I watch as a Gavin’s match starts. Yup, I was talking about my mental status at his wrestling meet today. High intensity as an observer, 100% focused in the present during that blast of time.
So many reminders of a simple lesson today. There isn’t home life and work life, there is only life. Part of our role as a leader at work is to help our teammates grow in life, not just work life. I cannot imagine a more purposeful life than through brightening the lives of teammates.
Appreciation:
There’s so much you can weather, but there’s even more you can accomplish when you’ve got incredible teammates all around you. We helped each other. Told each other jokes. Pushed each other and disagreed and created better at solutions together as a result. We worked together, shared together, supported each other, and grew together. What a rewarding way to end the week!
Presence:
Maybe a new habit has been started? This morning I woke up, did my breathing exercises, knocked out more push-ups with empty lungs than I think I’ve ever done while breathing, and the went outside to shovel snow… in s T-shirt and shorts. The wind brought the feel of about 10 degrees Fahrenheit, a little brisk but totally invigorating! Working slowly while continuing to breathe through my nose helped to keep my core body temperature up and I was pretty comfortable. The time in the quiet cold of the outdoors was sooooooo peaceful!
Remember to focus on the why rather than just following a habit. Don’t let routine get in the way of purpose. Tonight’s blog is short as a result and my heart is more full because of it.
Appreciation:
One of the Top 3 Questions to Ask Myself Daily for 2023 is this:
Was I present with my family today?
Tonight I was and it had a lot to do with asking myself that question two times per day over almost a week.
Presence:
Sharing time with the boys while playing a game and joking around was amazing. These moments are fewer and further between as they get older and busier and I’ll soak them each up as best I can.
One of my favorite books from this year shared the story of a photography class. The class was split in half and were given different instructions on how they would be graded. The first half were told they would be graded on the single best photo they took. The second group was told that their grade would be based purely on the sheer number of photos they took. At the end of the semester the teacher graded each student’s single best photo. The second half – the half focused on QUANTITY – overwhelmingly outscored the QUALITY focused group. While the quality group took time to line up one perfect shot the quantity group took pictures of everything from all angles and learned and grew as a result of the staggering amount of activity they did. Success is like that, it is all about getting in the reps and learning from them.
Habits are all about momentum. Once the first action is taken the second becomes easier, as does the third, the fourth, and so on. The most difficult actions are the first and the one that comes next. Breathe, plan, trust, and take action. Learn, adapt, and take action again. Repeat.
Appreciation:
Throughout the day my mind kept going back to an interesting fact. Becky and I started our day waking up together. We then went on our morning run together before the world was awake and had an opportunity to talk and connect. After work and dinner with Dominic we went to yoga and stretched and sweated together. Once I’m done blogging I’ll end the day in the exact opposite of how the day started, by falling asleep next to Becky.
I am so fortunate to have someone who enjoys the same types of activities, who’s on pretty much the same schedule, and who is there to bookend each day with me. Days like this are amongst my favorites.
Presence:
This morning the alarm went off way earlier than I wanted (even though I set it myself). What really got me going was the incredible weather outside on our run. The temperature was warm enough that I had to take off my light jacket and run in just a sleeveless t-shirt for a few miles to cool back down a bit. The cool air going into my lungs was amazing – so crisp & fresh, it was a wonderful way to kick off the morning.
When I start working on a project I almost need to pause, breathe, and take care of all the detailed stuff necessary BEFORE I get into the fun stuff. if I give in without prep my train of thought gets totally derailed and I get ornery.
Case in point from tonight. Get all my accounts loaded up, the detail sheets open, and get all the necessary materials in front of me. THEN dive into the brain work. Diving in without the prep means a frustrated Kreiling.
Appreciation:
When there’s a specific message The Big Dude Upstairs wants us to hear we need only listen. Through the past week there’ve been no less than a handful of nudges the Universe has used to help me get my brain straight. Some were almost comical in nature while others, like this morning, were profoundly poignant.
Message heard loud and clear. Time to elevate and improve significantly and steadily. The pathway is there, I only need to walk it.
Presence:
The centering power of breath is an awesomely powerful tool that is always there waiting to be tapped into. My morning started with my breathing practice and then rolled into early morning yoga. Through the day there were moments when I paused and enjoyed the sensation of air coming in through my nose and up my sinuses. As I focused on those breaths I was drawn in to the moment. What a gift that we all gave the opportunity to use our breath to center ourselves!
Over the past couple of days I’m starting to see some differences between good days and best days. What’s particularly interesting thus far is that it seems to have more to do with my focus than what happens during the day. When I have a solid plan and am able to work into a state of flow I feel a greater sense of purpose than when I’m seeing the results of the work. Weird, right? Kinda makes some crazy sense at the same time. Definitely something to five more deeply into in the future.
Appreciation:
Our Winona team has really rallied around our annual Christmas Wish Express. It’s an opportunity for community members to nominate other community members to receive a $1,000 check to add some extra magic to their holidays. The winning family came into our office this morning and created a moment we will never forget. My heart is beyond full!
Presence:
During the very tail end of our run today the snow started to fall. We were at just the right spot in which the hill and trees blocked out the sounds of the city. As we ran I could hear the snow falling to the ground. What a peaceful and serene sound it was! Like rain on a tent there was something soothing in the sound.
Thankful for Forty 