Over the past couple of days there’ve been more than a couple of times in which someone has asked me a very insightful question.  Most times the person has asked the question with the intent of finding an answer and learning, but it seems as if each time I walk away feeling like I was the one who learned the answer.  I’m not quite sure how to say it, but the questions cause me to pause and think internally.  When I spend time thinking about the answer my mind drifts into the “why” stage and I end up learning something I could do better myself.  Make sense?

After these though provoking questions I’ve been thinking about what specifically got my brain going down that path.  The questions are almost all open ended.  After the question is asked there are response questions asked to learn more about the initial question.  In the dialogue and answers to the second set of questions are brutal honesty and a focus on the reality of the answers.  In helping to answer the question examples and previous learning opportunities, good and bad, are shared openly.  Those examples lead to more questions.  From there it’s not really about one person giving the right answer, it’s more about both people constructing a potential correct answer together.  In those moments both parties gain knowledge and are able to improve and grow.  It’s pretty wild!

Maybe this has always been the case, but I feel like my ego has gotten in the way in the past.  I used to see those questions as a way show off my successes and would give a direct answer and not listen to the question with the intent of learning.  My heart sinks a bit thinking of all the times I could have learned more from a question instead of just answering it to brag.

As in so many aspects of life it’s becoming more and more clear that I can choose the right perspective when someone asks an insightful question.  I’m thankful for that realization and am excited to work on it further.

Thanks!!!

As I’ve started typing this I keep heading in different directions as I think through the day.  When I think about it though, there’s a pretty consistent theme.  I am so thankful to be surrounded by so many awesome teammates.

How did they exhibit awesomeness that I appreciate so greatly?  Here’s a short list (though it may end up being much more inclusive than I originally intend):

• I have a couple of teammates who stepped up to give me some tough love and help save me from mistakes.  Those conversations took huge guts on their parts and I’m thankful that they pushed through the awkwardness.
• There have been so many teammates who’ve stepped it up and taken their game to another level.  Without being asked they are rising to the challenge, a challenge they are putting themselves to because that’s just how they’re wired.
• Some teammates have pushed through the difficulty of trying new things and learning new skills.  They’ve jumped into new tasks with no fear and have shared some of the successes and frustrations that they’ve had.  Their growth mindset is so awesome and inspiring!
• One teammate in particular followed our core values to a T and made the right decisions in a difficult situation.  Even though it was a totally new task their values led them in the right direction.
• When presented with a bit of a conundrum a couple of my teammates and I figured out how to master the AND of a challenge.  I’m so thankful for the way they kept trying to find the right answer instead of settling on the easy answer.
• My teammates didn’t panic too bad this morning when I warned them that I was “even more Kreiling than normal” after I burst into the office after yoga, coffee, and a great conversation.
• There were more times than I could count in which teammates got things done proactively.
• Another teammate noticed something somewhat subtle that I’d done and thanked me to for it.
• Yet another teammate connected on a personal level about a non-work related challenge and it was wonderful bonding with them.
• A couple of past teammates even got in on the action and shared things that made me smile and remind me that even when we’re not working together directly we’re still a team/family.
• On top of all of that there were so many moments of smiles as we worked hard helping people find work and helping work find the right people!  How much more could a person ask for?

As you can see from above there were so many moments in the past 24 hours that reminded me of just how thankful I am to be surrounded by such awesome teammates.  I  am so grateful for each of them.  They inspire and motivate me on a daily basis.

Thanks!!!

Once in a while there are authors and musicians I enjoy so much that I know when their next work is coming out well in advance.  When Dan and Chip Heath of Decisive, Power of Moments, and Switch have a new book on the horizon I pre-order it without knowing the details.  When The Strumbellas announced the release date of their new album I had the date circled on my calendar in anticipation.  Imagine my surprise when I realized I wasn’t paying quite as close of attention as I thought I was.  Within the past 24 hours I found out one of the bands I loved dropped their new album about a week ago AND one of my favorite authors released their newest book TODAY!

While stopped for gas on my drive home I pulled up the artist page for Judah and the Lion, a crazy mix of folk and other stuff (I think they call it Folk Hop?).  As luck would have it their new album had just been released.  I was also pumped to see I had enough cell coverage to download the album and listen to it on the way home…  and while running this morning.

When I went through my email this morning I scanned an email from another favorite author who referenced a new book that can out today.  Everything Is F*cked: A Book About Hope is already downloaded on my Audible account and I’ve been loving the first couple of chapters.  I know, the name is a little controversial, but the concept is pretty amazing!

With two awesome surprises I’ve got more than enough to listen to in my drive time and down time for the next few days and I’m pretty pumped for both.

Thanks!!!

The alarm went off entirely too early this morning. I wasn’t ready to be jolted out of bed when it started it’s infernal bleating. As I stretched I considered going to back to sleep, but instead I sighed loudly and rolled out of my warm comfortable cocoon until my bare feet touched down on the cold floor. It’s still debatable whether or not I was awake or sleepwalking when I got dressed and ready to go outside. Eventually I found my way out the door to go for an early morning walk with Becky and the girls.

As soon as we started walking I felt so much better and breathed in the cool fresh air. The birds were singing away as we walked down a quiet road with no traffic. At one point I paused to take a picture of the beautiful scene…

And just like that I felt a powerful sense of calm that stuck with me through the entire day. No matter what happened, good or stressful, my thoughts would gravitate back to that calming view and I knew everything would work out exactly the way it should.

It took a while for me to get up and get moving this morning, but I’m so thankful I did!

Thanks!!!

This morning the boys and I loaded up and headed up river to my mom’s while Becky went to work for the day.  It was so awesome to spend time with Mom just shooting the bull and relaxing!  Dominic had the great idea to make homemade Mac & cheese (thanks again Shane for the recipe!) so after a quick trip to the grocery store we made lunch together as a family.  After the deliciously dense meal we went for a walk and had more time to just talk and relax together.

It is so easy to get lost in “being busy” all the time and miss opportunities to spend quality time with loved ones.  I’m so thankful for this time we had together today.  There are many memories I have of seemingly little moments that turn out to be fond memories.  Just a hunch, but this one will stick with me (and hopefully the boys) just like the spring walk with my Grandpa Lamping way back in 2001.

Thanks for the awesome time together today Mom!!!  Love you tons and appreciate you greatly!!!

Once we got home I was able to spend some time with Becky catching up on the day.  As I type we’re chilling on the deck and enjoying the sun with the sound of the boys playing baseball in the background.  She’s got some reading and I’ve got some work to get done, but it’s okay.  Sometimes it feels wonderful just being near each other.  Once we both wrap things up we’ll chill as a family to close up another great Mother’s Day.

Thanks for being such an incredible mom to the boys Becky!!!  They’re so lucky to have you in their lives!!!  Love you!!!

Thanks!!!

The sermon at church today was focused on the places in which we feel the presence of God.  Pausing to stop and think about where those encounters with The Big Dude Upstairs.  For clarity, that’s the name I use when I think of God, the Universe, or insert what ever your personal preference for the name of a higher power.  Father Dodge was helping us think of those times in which we’ve felt the presence of God and it was very enlightening.

When you’re asked the question, “when have you felt the presence of God?” what comes to your mind?

When I think about it there are so many times when I can feel God’s presence.  Off the top of my head there are a handful of moments that come to mind.  In these moments it may have been something as simple as a nudge.  Sometimes it’s that moment of seeing a bigger picture and realizing the beginnings of just how vast Everything is.

There is a magic to the moments themselves.  Something in those moments has the capacity to change us or point us in the “right” direction.  But the real takeaway for me today was to pause and think about what opened me up to those experiences.

Some of the thoughts that came to mind were while traveling and experiencing the wondrous views of scenic beauty that only could have been created by something much larger than I.  In other times it was only when I paused all of the voices in my head that I could hear what I was supposed to hear.

One of the moments that sticks out to me the most was a touch.  A moment in which I was emotionally broken down and exhausted, but was still trying to put on a strong and happy face.  In that one touch I could feel someone offering help and comfort, something telling me it was okay to admit weakness, a presence of something greater that helped me understand that everything would be okay.  It sounds maybe a little crazy, but that one touch felt was a moment in which I felt God’s love giving me a big hug.  In that one moment I knew everything would be okay regardless of how it felt in the moment.  One simple gesture, such an incredibly profound meaning.

I am so thankful for al of those moments, great and small, in which I can sense the presence of The Big Dude Upstairs.  Those moments remind me of the bigger picture, and I’m so grateful for them.

Thanks!!!

It was only couple of days ago when I was thankful for my boys inspiring me and here we are again. Tonight was Gavin’s 4th & 5th grade concert, the last for the Kreiling boys at Summit. During one of the songs, The Sound of Silence, Gavin took the stage front and center for the final solo.

Gavin got up to the microphone and sang all by himself to a pretty good size crowd. In less than 30 seconds my mind was blown and I was so proud of the little dude he is becoming. To be willing to take the stage in front of everyone and do a solo blows my mind. How awesome that his self confidence is high enough to do that?

Gavin, you’ve inspired me to keep an eye out for the opportunities that I might normally shy away from because I’m not sure enough of myself. You reminded me to go for it and do what I enjoy regardless of the thoughts of others. Thanks for the inspiration bud! Love you dude!!!

Thanks!!!

Today and over the past week or so there were more than a couple of times when I could feel the universe nudging me in certain directions.  When I say a “nudge” I mean this lift subtle push in particular direction.  They’re these cool little moments when I can take a deep breath and think about where it’s pointing me.  In heeding their direction in the past I’ve usually gone in a better direction than the one I was in.

When I have a laser like focus on something I have a tendency of missing those nudges.  Sometimes they can so light that I almost miss them.  Other times I recognize them but choose to ignore them.  In some of those occasions I am left to either learn from my mistake or have a future opportunity to learn that lesson again in the future.

There’ve been a handful of these nudges in the past week and I can’t help but smile at them.  I’ve been noticing some subtle changes that I can make that could help me reach some goals and dreams more quickly.  Even better than that is that there are personal changes I can make that will help others reach their goals more quickly too!

Thanks for the nudges Big Guy, they’re greatly appreciated and I’m taking them in.

Thanks!!!

Earlier this evening I talked with my mom for a little while as I drove home from work.  I had to cut the call off early so I could grab Gavin from home and take him to soccer practice.  After he was dropped off I called my mom again and then we hung up so I could run in and eat and get some work done before I had to run back to pick up Gavin.  Then as I drove to pick up Dominic from his track meet I caught myself thinking about just how many miles my parents must have racked up while I was a kid.

I’d like to think that I appreciated them and all the driving they did for me back then, but I think it’s only now as I get older and am the boys’ Uber that I get the basics of what they sacrificed for me.  My mom commented on how when she’s asked trivia about events in the ’80’s she doesn’t often know the answer because the 80’s were a blur of taking care of us boys and working.  I am finally really starting to get it.  Thanks Mom and Dad for all the miles and time you gave for Nick and I!!!

The other thing I caught myself appreciating more than once over the past couple of days was how often I am inspired by my boys.  Funny how that works, isn’t it?  I’m pretty sure this equation is supposed to be reversed, but they inspire me more often than they know or than I realize.

Gavin’s high energy, upbeat attitude, and wanting to always talk and spend time together can sometimes be a bit overwhelming.  There are times when I just want to get something done and I really need to focus.  Throw a Gavin into the mix and it gets tough. What he does do though is cause me to pause and make sure that what I am doing in that moment is really that important.  Sometimes it is and I ask him to give me space, but then I spend time with him after I am done with the task.  Other times I realize that the most important thing I can be doing is spending time with him.  In those moments I set everything aside and spend time in the moment with him.  He’s seemingly always upbeat and ready to go, his energy inspires me to be happier and get an extra bounce in my step.

Dominic is willing to try and do anything.  Last night in his concert they asked everyone who did a solo to stand up.  I figured almost everyone would stand up, but he was one of only a small handful of kids who did.  Two nights ago he nonchalantly told us he was doing the high jump in track…  something he’d never done before at a meet.  Last night he told me he might have interest in a different sport next year.  Last week he went with a totally different haircut just because.  Dominic is supremely comfortable in his own skin and doing his own thing.  He doesn’t worry about what others think, he just continues to be Dominic.  I absolutely love and appreciate that part of him.  He inspires me to be myself and not to worry about what others may think.  There have been many times when I’ve gone outside of my comfort zone because I have him for motivation.

Both the boys are so much more than those couple of qualities, but those are the pieces of them that have been very inspirational for me recently.  I am so thankful for the way they motivate me to attempt to be a better person.

Thanks!!!