2,130

At Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) yoga there was a moment when I was arching back into a modified bridge on my board. There was a great deal of wind and the water was a bit bumpy, yet somehow I still managed to find myself looking at the world from an inverted view in which the shimmering water was on top and the sun peeking through the clouds was on the bottom. I was spellbound by the beauty of the clouds in the sky, they were positioned just right to scatter the sunlight into a dozen or so bright beams of light. The clouds blocked the sun directly but still created beauty.

In my head I kept thinking back to the Anthony de Mello line from an old saying. “The nature of rain is the same, yet it grows thorns in the marshes and flowers in the garden.”

As that line was echoing through my head a slightly bigger wave of gust of wind or my own lack of coordination caused me to completely lose my balance. I barely caught myself before falling off the board and into the lake.

I took a deep breath, focused, and got back at it… with wisdom which can only be learned through trial and error.

…and that’s when it all started to slip into place.

So much of the last week has been a cycle of being balanced and the knocked off balance. Valleys followed by peaks and peaks followed by valleys. Just as I get my code centered and my feet under me there’s something else pushing me off balance. For sure, it has really frustrated the shit out of me!

In that moment on the board it all came together though. While many of the events causing the imbalance really suck, like the prospect of losing a beloved dog, they are all lessons I can learn from, events I can grow through. They still profoundly hurt, but I can be better if I learn from them.

Being knocked off balance strengthens us. Our muscles strengthen, our coordination gets smoother, and it will take a much larger or different force to knock us off again. If I remember to learn from this, to grow through this, I will be better because of it. The events that hurt and sting are the ones which can help me better balance myself in the future.

I would really appreciate some calm water, some stable ground, but if that’s not what’s presented I’ll use the experiences to grow stronger, to better close the gap between who I am and who I am called to be.

Thanks!!!

Day 2,129

The majority of my time at home this evening has been spent snuggling with LuLu. She really wanted to be out on the deck so she could enjoy all the smells in the world while I rubbed her belly and snuggled up with her. As soon as I’d stop or if I wasn’t rubbing the right way LuLu would quickly redirect me to get back to work in the right places. She’s still spunky after all these years.

For a while I laid with my head next to her, an arm around her and letting her shoulder. I focused on watching LuLu smile and it was awesome. She’s really got it figured out, living in the present moment, enjoying the outdoors, and relaxing with loved ones. That’s all she really wants and was 100% engrossed in nothing but the present. I did my best to take her lead and was quickly lost in the clouds, the color of the sky, the greens of the leaves in the tree overhead. I focused on the warmth of LuLu’s body against my face, the way the light reflected in her eyes, but especially the smile on her face.

Thanks for reminding me to live in the now LuLu! The smiles and snuggles were exactly what I needed.

Thanks!!!

Day 2,127

Our church recently merged with another church for a variety of reasons. As can be expected the changes have caused an increased awareness of so many things related to church. The two masses we normally go to were both switched to the “new” church. Many of “our” traditions were kept while blending some of “their” customs as well. Whichever church one started at there has been plenty of change to keep them on their toes.

During the quiet space that church creates, especially the 10 minutes before service starts, allows so much room for thought and contemplation. There are no distractions to be found and there isn’t much conversation. In that quiet space I have time to think…

Today that space helped me see a huge gap I must work on, remembering that I both don’t know everyone’s story and need to remember that each fellow human is my brother. I caught myself thinking about others rather than talking with them. I thought differently of “them” when I really should have been focused on “us.” So many changes I need to work on internally to be a better human. They thoughts and lessons from that quiet time today will resonate with me throughout the next weeks and help me be cognizant of the gap while also working to close it.

What a gift!

Thanks!!!

Day 2,126

Just as we were about to start our hike at Twin Bluffs State Park we happened to notice a fantastic camper van in the parking lot. I quickly started up a conversation with the owner and learned a ton about the van itself. It was a beauty!!!

Throughout the day I was researching more about this model as well as other camper vans for Becky and I to look at. We’ve dreamt of giving ourselves a gift for Gavin’s graduation, something we will use to keep knocking out our travel dreams once we are empty nesters. Spending time dreaming was pretty awesome today, so glad we ran into a dream in real life!

Thanks!!!

Day 2,125

During our NextGen Leadership Retreat we were fortunate to hear from two Express franchisees. They both shared their life stories with us to help us see all the different paths we have taken to grow into this role. There were laughs, tears, hugs, and so many notes taken. Having the opportunity to hear someone’s real life “origin story” is a powerful thing. So many times we don’t know all the challenges people have faced to rise up to where they’ve grown. As someone who’s shared their story the same way I can say how humbling it is to open up and share all the good, GM bad, & ugly – but yet it is so easy as it is done out of love to help others grow and find their path.

If you were to share your story, what would you include? What are the most important turning points and paths you have taken? Why have they had such a profound impact? In taking time to just sketch it out there is so much to learn about ourselves.

Today I was blessed to hear two incredible stories while also having time to think about my own. So much food for thought!

Thanks!!!

Day 2,124

The alarm will be going off early tomorrow morning. I always do better and feel better during the day if I get my run in early.

Back in the day I worried more about what people would think of me for going to bed early. Now I realize I need to take care of my physical and mental health if I want to be the best version of me.

Ego, so tiny and truly insignificant yet so overpowering when not kept in check.

Time for bed!

Thanks!!!

Day 2,123

Meh. That’s how I’ve felt throughout most of the day. Not bad, not dark, not sad, not frustrated. Just meh. Sometimes I have days like this.

In the past I’d let days like this pull me down. One would lead into another and then another until I was a mess. Even worse, I’d get more frustrated with myself because everyone always says how happy, positive, and upbeat I am. When having a bad day I would (& sometimes still do) struggle with the thought that I’m letting others down. As I type it I know how foolish it sounds, but it is true.

Today I’ve taken a different approach and keep asking myself what can I learn from this? Why do I feel this way? Why am I not a happy as normal? How can I act differently tomorrow to be back where I should be? It hasn’t been perfect and I still feel meh, but I feel better knowing I have a plan to work on for a better tomorrow, a better rest of the week. By pausing to use it as a learning opportunity I can grow stronger through it rather than get frustrated with myself and spiral.

Today was a meh kind of day, and that’s okay. I’ll find a way to make tomorrow a better one.

Thanks!!!

Day 2,122

During my run this morning I fired up some Strumbellas and was immediately jacked thanks to the memories of one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to. Each step was a little lighter and my smile a little wider as the movie reel in my brain played the show back. What an incredible time! I can still remember the feeling of the floor shaking as we all stomped our feet and clapped in unison during Wild Sun (which you can check out here – great song!).

The book I’ve been hooked on is one that I’d almost skipped. After reading the description I thought it might be well worth the time to read. As luck would have it Love + Work by Marcus Buckingham couldn’t have come at a better time. Within its pages were a handful of nuggets perfectly aligned with a couple of projects I’m currently working on.

Throughout the afternoon there was an almost ongoing confluence of ideas. Several different tasks I had today all started to line up in very interesting ways. Each seemed to refract the light just a little differently on the other ideas and brought out new perspectives I hadn’t considered. Confluences of ideas like this are spectacular when they happen, everything moves in slow motion and show the connections of so many thought processes. By the end of the day I just paused, took a deep breath, savored the moment, and said a little thanks.

Thanks!!!!

Day 2,121

Something I find very funny is how much I enjoy reading certain fictions over and over again. My brain craves variety in so many aspects of life, for whatever reason I never seem to tire of the same novels. The overwhelming majority I read are one time shots, but there are a number I just can’t quite get enough of.

Sitting in the deck reading during the summer is so peaceful and relaxing. Fresh air, good books, and time to chill. Nice change of pace, especially from the chaos that is our Spring and Fall. Having nights to relax outdoors is exactly what the doctor ordered between those two seasons.

Tonight I was able to put both of the previous two paragraphs together – reading an old favorite while relaxing on the deck. Not too shabby!

Thanks!!!

Day 2,120

This morning I hit the trails of Hixon Forest and got a nice hike in. There really wasn’t a plan when I entered the woods, only to hike. I made decisions on trails once I started walking and am 100% sure I took a route I’ve never taken before. The weather was perfect, the trails largely quiet, and I was enjoying each and every chill moment of it.

After getting some stuff done at home I took a page out of Neil Gaiman’s book and starting writing. Not typing like with my last book, but actually writing using a fountain pen and a notebook. I’ve written before, but writing like this felt so much better in an almost indescribable way. Taking time to think through each sentence slowed the process but improved the writing itself. After knocking out about 1,500 words and getting a great start on my next book I paused to eat. I then types up what I had and was very pleased with the results. Who knows where I take this idea, but the act of starting it felt wonderful. Writing it made the experience all the more pleasant.

Thanks!!!