This afternoon I was out in the woods with the boys and family. While everyone else hunted I had no rifle on me. My only intent was to spend time with family hiking through the woods. I was quickly reminded of my favorite times out with Dad, not caring if I got anything back then, just soaking in the peace of being outdoors.

At one point I paused to listen to the sound of stillness. I listened, looked around, drew a nice deep breath in through my nose… and just about had a heart attack!

Seemingly out of nowhere a whitetail deer jumped out from where it had been quietly hidden. It took off like a shot out of a cannon from only 15-20 feet away. Before I knew it the deer bounded away through the thick brush and was gone. Talk about wild!

I laughed out loud and took a minute to enjoy the sensations coursing through me. Excitement, joy, happiness, fulfillment, wonder, and gratitude. The encounter was beyond anything I had hoped to experience on this trip to the woods.

Yes, my heart just about leapt from my chest, but I can’t describe just how awesomely surreal the entire moment was. Throw in the white rabbit that followed up the deer a few minutes later and it was like I was in a Disney movie!

I’m so thankful for the experience! I don’t need to hunt any time soon, spending time in the slaloms chasing and encounter like that is what I’m truly after.

Thanks!!

Life in the staffing world is ridiculously busy. Nonstop calls, texts, and emails from employers looking for new talent to add to their teams. Just as many conversations with job seekers working with them to figure out the best possible fit for them. Day after day it can sometimes feel like a hamster wheel out of control as it seems the harder we work the faster the wheel turns and it seems to never stop and pause.

This afternoon we hit the Pause button and took some much needed time to enjoy some of our recent victories as a team. First we brought in an awesome Mixologist from Eau Claire Cocktail Company to show us how to make some tasty drinks. Then we were off to the escape room in which we set the record for the fastest time without a single clue!

Throughout we were laughing, enjoying each others company, and getting to know each other better. It was nothing short of spectacular. So easy to keep grinding, so much appreciated to pause, breathe, and laugh together. I’m so thankful we took time to smell the roses and celebrate today!

Thanks!!!

I may not know the question, but hiking must be the right answer. If that isn’t quite right I might follow up with one of these as the correct solution: …time outside. …spending time with family in the outdoors. …enjoying the fresh air. …soaking in the silence. …simplicity. …take time to be grateful for the beauty of nature. …presence. Those are all the right answer.

Our hike in Hixon this morning was awesome. The weather was perfect, the sun came out, the scents of fall surrounded us, a deer watched us from a safe distance, the bright blues and reds of blue jays and cardinals caught our eye, and the Mississippi River Valley amazed us with its majesty as usual.

My mindset was so calm and still, there was no stress, no thought to the future, only the present moment and occasionally a little trip down memory lane as we remembered our trips to Isle Royale and the Porcupine Mountains earlier this summer. Time in the outdoors, especially when getting in some physical activity, is always the right answer, always what my soul is craving – particularly those times when the time is shared with loved ones.

Thanks!!!

For sure, my favorite part of the day was spending one on one time with Becky. The boys are both up north hunting and it’s been a sneak peek into empty nest life in a handful of years. It will definitely be different, but I know we’re going to enjoy each other’s company (& the travel!). Walking, church, takeout, games, relaxing…. Ahh.. More fun planned for tomorrow, looking forward to some hiking 😁👍

I’m replacing the outlet for our stove and had no idea just how many times I’d have to shift and adapt. Without a doubt I am extremely thankful for Menards only being about ten minutes away! Each of my three trips would have been frustrating rather than calming had the drive been an hour or more😉

Thanks!!!

Taking a cue from yesterday I remembered to pause, breathe, center and focus this morning. I went to the office very early in order to work more on my upcoming presentation on increasing job appeal. Getting into a flow state seemed much easier off of the heels of yesterday. I also had a secret weapon 😉

I started my early morning focus with a little rage… while I storyboarded out my presentation my head, neck, and shoulders were moving in unison with rage… Guerrilla Radio and Sleep Now In the Fire by Rage Against the Machine blasted out of my iPhone and got my brain pumping. Exactly what my mind needed to lose myself in the moment and capitalize on complete focus.

This afternoon I wrapped up work a little after 4:30, had a fun phone call, and then Becky and I were out the door by 4:45pm to hit our early dinner on date night. Drinks, dinner, dessert, and back home around 6:30. Yes, it was early. Yes, I’m already in bed as I type this. And yes, I’m not only cool with it, I’m thankful for it.

Late eating leads to lower quality sleep. Changing my weekly sleep pattern leads to lower quality sleep. Sleep charges my batteries and is the reservoir from which I draw from. Eating out early keeps my sleep solid, my mind still, and my soul joyful.

I’m also thankful for a wonderful partner who can appreciate early dinners and bed times. How awesome that we can both be quirky in our own crazily similar ways!

Thanks!!!

This evening I attended the 2021 Hatch event – an event similar to Shark Tank. Eight different entrepreneurs came up to the mic for five minutes to present their business idea. They then answered questions from the judges while the crowd voted for which presentation they liked best.

The event itself got my creative juices flowing. So many people working to make their passion a reality or to grow it beyond their humble beginnings. It was awesomely inspirational!

My notebook is filled with notes about presentations, follow up ideas, concepts to utilize within my business, and reminders of who I would like to reach back out to. Hearing their stories got me motivated to get moving on a few of my own ideas as well.

This was my first time attending an event like this, but it certainly won’t be my last!

Thanks!!!

The boys and I just spent an excellent weekend up north with Becky’s parents. Spending time in the woods with their Grandpa Ken was awesome on so many levels. Time outside. Working with my hands. Time with my boys. Time with my father in law. Enjoying the intergenerational interactions between all of us. Lessons learned. Learning new skills. Talking about carpentry. “Shopping” for lumber in Ken’s shed full of wood. Hearing new stories. Sharing last memories. Laughing out loud often. Feeling Dad’s presence. Many new memories created.

At home I spent time focused on cleaning up my workshop. It’s going to take a while as I’ve really led it slide throughout the spring, summer, and fall. For a moment I was overwhelmed. Then I remembered to take just one action and I was off and moving. My mind was focused specifically at the task at hand and didn’t wander or stray. I somehow slipped into a zen like state of flow as I put tools away, vacuumed sawdust, and sorted through wood. Time flew by while I focused on each individual thing I was putting away. Afterwards I paused and reflected on the experience and realized just how calming, peaceful, and joyful it was for me to clean – specifically because I was present throughout. Serenity can be found in even the most mundane of tasks.

The process of conceiving this blog is another gratitude tonight. In my gut I knew I was grateful for many things, but it was more simplistic – time up north and hard work. There was more to my thankfulness and had I not blogged I would have left it at that. In pausing to gather my thoughts I was forcing myself to truly start to process the thankfulness on another plane. By really focusing on the specifics of why I was grateful I found new insights I would have missed otherwise. Taking time to journal daily provides me an opportunity to see my life more clearly.

Thanks!!!

Full disclosure, I’m exhausted, horizontal, and will be sleeping within five minutes of finishing this post. I’m tired in a fantastic way which is only felt after spending much time outside in the late fall.

Dominic and I assembled a tree stand while Gavin helped his grandpa fix a U joint on a four wheeler. We all went out and set up a few tree stands which included stacking some firewood, clearing some brush, and other activity along those lines. We moved and reset another stand and put up another. Gavin got some rifle practice in while Dominic helped his grandpa with a couple of other things. By the time it slaws all said and done the majority of the day was spent outside in the fresh air.

Now I’m feeling the impact of all that fresh air. This type of tired is a beautiful thing, it means I’ve done the day right!

Thanks!!!

After the busyness of this past week today was a welcome detour. The day started early and contained a list of tasks I wanted to accomplish, but there was a definite state of chill riding shotgun to my productivity. Even changes to the preset plan were met with a smile and a shoulder shrug as I simply flowed from one action to the next.

Intensity is the right answer in some scenarios. Other times a state of relax can make a more profound impact. One state isn’t always right, and doing only one for extended periods of time is also the wrong answer. Today the chill was the exact counterbalance I needed.

I’m getting ever closer to the finish of writing. Today I read back through the last section and the conclusion while making notes and changes. What really caught me was the ability to pause and reflect on where I was mentally as I began writing this shortly after Dad passed away over four years ago. The lessons I learned during that wildly difficult time still permeate my thought processes. So much of the person I am today was honed and shaped and tempered during what has been the greatest challenge of my life to date.

In taking time to write down what happened, how I reacted, and what I learned I’ve been able to deeply embed so much more. Between writing, reading, editing, re-writing, reading, clarifying, expanding upon, and reading again I’ve re-lived that test many times over.

To be sure, it still hurts. Each read feels like I’m pulling the stitches out hours after the wound was sown shut. That said, I learned so much about myself during that trial. To have been tested and not deeply imprint all of the lessons into my soul would be a waste of the experience. Taking time to write has helped me find purpose in the pain, to find a way to potentially help others.

As I wrap up writing I’m so grateful for taking the time to write about the experience on paper and on my soul.

Thanks!!!

Hmm… a few different directions to go today with my gratitude. I always like days like this, they usually include several nuggets from the day rather than just one main theme. I think I’ll go rapid fire bullet point style tonight 😁👍:

• If anyone heard the groans of an undead ghoul this morning I can assure you it wasn’t a Halloween holdover… it was me doing my best to roll out of bed. Yoga last night was INTENSE!!! By far one of the hardest yoga workouts I’ve had in a very long time. Each muscle group was sore and stiff this morning and it felt amazing!!! While it hurts it also feels like accomplishment.
• The annual check up for both boys went very well today. It is so easy for me to quickly overlook good health and take it for granted. Days like this remind me to appreciate the excellent health and fitness of both of them.
• Often the boys help me rise to the occasion to be better for them. Today was an opportunity to both help them and coach them on why it is important to communicate and ask questions.
• Making difficult decisions isn’t easy – that’s why they are difficult 😉. Remembering to listen to my values is, on the other hand, quite simple and won’t lead me astray. I was reminded of that today.
• In looking ahead to next year it would be easy to feel overwhelmed. There are so many opportunities for growth and so many paths to potentially take. Today we took first steps in setting that path and are remembering to stay focused on one step at a time. I am reminded that there will always be more excellent ideas than there is time to execute all of them well. Brainstorm, focus , execute. Fantastic progress.

So many great things, and that’s not even all of them. Thank you to everyone who played a role in making this a great day!

Thanks!!