As I was heading to Chatfield very early this morning I was listening to The Book of Joy.   I know, you’re probably getting tired of hearing about it, but suck it up, it’s pretty awesome and there’s probably more posts upcoming 🙂

One of the stories they shared had my laughing out loud.  As they’re talking with the Dalai Lama, one of the most revered holy people in the world, he shared a story to demonstrate the way that humor and humility add to our joy.

He discussed a meeting with some Japanese officials at a very formal meeting.  As they were perfectly dressed, acting very professionally, and embodying the word “formal,” a piece of fruit rolled off of the table that they were standing around.  As the fruit rolled off the table they were scattering and diving for it, acting like normal people trying to catch something falling.  The Dalai Lama found this very funny and his laughter caused everyone to pause and laugh at the humor of the situation.  He said that in that moment everyone was human and everyone was smiling, feeling happiness.  The part that literally made me laugh out loud was was when he shared that ever since that moment when he’s in a very formal situation he’s secretly hoping for something funny to happen just so everyone can have a laugh and be more human!  How cool is that, someone of the Dalai Lama’s stature hoping for a trip or fall to add a little humor?

At yoga tonight we had one of those moments and I thoroughly enjoyed it, as did everyone in the room.  While we’re all very focused, serious about our breathing, and concentrating on how we’re moving there was a direction from the instructor that half of us misinterpreted as a different direction.  Realizing that half of us had made a mistake we all broke into laughter and enjoyed the moment.  There was no focus, stress, or concentration, only the joy of appreciating a magical little moment of humanity… and it was awesome!!!

Those little moments eliminate the differences that stand between us and unite us all as simple humans.  Those little moments make us all smile and remember that there is no difference between any of us, we’re all just people appreciating life.  How awesome is that?

Thanks!!!

If you’re looking for something serious and incredibly insightful today, you’re in the wrong place!  The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, and I’m head over heels in love!  Becky won me over (yet again!) by making an awesome lasagna for supper.  If parts of this don’t quite make sense it’s because all of the blood that is rushing from my head to my stomach to help me digest…

Seriously?  Almost two years in and I haven’t been thankful for lasagna?  What’s wrong with me???  Two years of neglecting my favorite food in the entire world?  Sad.  I know, I was thankful for being totally spoiled by my mother in law and that was inspired BY lasagna, but it’s just not quite the same.

Ahh…  Cheesy, garlic filled, pasta perfection…  Life is pretty freaking awesome!  Thanks again for making my favorite food ever Becky – love you!!!

Thanks!!!

Becky and I kicked off the morning with a nice six miler, the first long run of our training plan for an upcoming half marathon.  Running while it was cool and quiet on the country roads alongside the lake felt wonderful.

Thanks to Uncle Nick and Aunt Jennifer there was a boat for us to cruise around on the chain of lakes.  Between tubing, wake surfing, and cruising we all had a great time just soaking in the sun and maybe having a hoppy beverage or two!  All eleven of us fit on their boat very comfortably and it was fun shooting the bull and listening to tunes.

There’s something about being on a boat on a sunny summer day like today that leaves me smiling from ear to ear.  No stress, just relaxation.  At one point I had the front of the wake boat all to myself and may or may not have fallen asleep for a little while 😉

Pretty soon we’ll head out for a bite to eat, maybe an Old Fashioned or two, and the day will be complete.

Thanks!!!

I just want to give everyone a couple of warnings about the post today.  First, I never would have believed it had someone else told me the story, and even as I think about it I’m not sure if it sounds too “out there” to share.  Second, this was something that hit me very deeply and I may or may not dive into a ton of detail… it all depends on what happens as I type.  Last, it’ll probably help bring on a case of the feels…  just sayin’…

So yoga on Tuesday was absolutely incredible.  Not just the workout, it was much more than that.  After almost an hour of twisting, stretching, pushing, and pulling we end with the “Final Rest,” or savasana.  In going from strenuous work to laying flat on my back with my eyes closed and arms out I’m transported to a peace I rarely find elsewhere in life.  Usually when I get to this point I find myself chilling at one of my favorite places on Earth…  on the volcanic beach in Hawaii watching lava…  laying on a giant rock in a boulder field near Long’s Peak…  sitting on the shore of Iceberg Lake in Glacier NP…  you get the idea.  I just sit there and just exist, totally present, no thoughts or stress, just enjoying the feel of the air and savoring the incredible view.  This Tuesday was very different.

The last time I had gone to yoga prior to Tuesday was the last Saturday my dad was alive.  During yoga that morning I just couldn’t get into the swing of it.  Nothing was quite working right, I was struggling to stay focused, I was just off.  Try as I might I just couldn’t get myself to be present.  Finally I got into the groove, just in time for Final Rest.  As I started to go to one of my normal haunts something entirely different happened.  I was in an area that was pure white.  Had it not been for one thing in view I wouldn’t have been sure if it was a two dimensional view I had.  That one thing I saw was Dad.  Not angelic or anything, just my dad.  He looked at me and said “Hey bud, I’m leaving.”  No tears, no sadness, just a statement of fact.  And with that it was time to wake up from the rest.  As Becky drove home from yoga I told her what happened and I wept.  I knew that Dad wasn’t going to make it.

Fast forward to this past Tuesday.  With this being my first time back to yoga I wasn’t sure what to expect.  I was able to get into the swing of it quickly and it all felt right.  Far from perfect it was all good.  Everything was clicking and I was totally checked in and present.

As I went into the final rest my mind led me somewhere different yet again.  I was on the porch of the house on the coast of the ocean in Hawaii… and Dad was with me.  We both cried, hugged, told each other we loved each other and took a little while soak in the moment.  “Dad, I’ve got some places to show you!” I said as we jumped from one of my favorite places to the other, all places I would’ve loved to have gone to see with Dad but didn’t until that moment.  It was incredible!  Without his earthly form we were free to go anywhere together.  We zipped from the coast to the volcanic beach and watched lava pouring into the ocean.  We chilled on the rock near Long’s.  We hiked along the rim above Emerald Lake.  As we ended up at the Ancient Grove we spent a little time talking and catching up.  As looked up at one of the ancient trees I laughed and asked him how much wood we could get out of that tree and we both almost doubled over in laughter.  We hugged, exchanged I love you’s…  and then our instructor told us to start moving.  

It took all of my strength to keep myself stoic as we wrapped up and headed out.  As soon as we got to the car I buried my face in my towel and wept as I told Becky about it.  She was concerned and wanted to make sure I was okay.  I told her the truth – I was awesome!  How incredible of an experience to have, to have that extra time with my dad?  

At the end of the day I know it sounds crazy.  All I know is that it felt as real as I feel typing right now.  It could easily be my mind playing a trick on me, giving me what I want so bad.  Maybe I actually fell asleep and it was a dream.  Regardless, I could care less what it actually was, for me it was an incredible experience with Dad.  Real or not, I’ll hold it close in my heart for the rest of my life. 

It has been a couple of days since this experience but I find myself thinking about it often and am so thankful for it.

Thanks!!!

I just want to give everyone a couple of warnings about the post today.  First, I never would have believed it had someone else told me the story, and even as I think about it I’m not sure if it sounds too “out there” to share.  Second, this was something that hit me very deeply and I may or may not dive into a ton of detail… it all depends on what happens as I type.  Last, it’ll probably help bring on a case of the feels…  just sayin’…

So yoga on Tuesday was absolutely incredible.  Not just the workout, it was much more than that.  After almost an hour of twisting, stretching, pushing, and pulling we end with the “Final Rest,” or savasana.  In going from strenuous work to laying flat on my back with my eyes closed and arms out I’m transported to a peace I rarely find elsewhere in life.  Usually when I get to this point I find myself chilling at one of my favorite places on Earth…  on the volcanic beach in Hawaii watching lava…  laying on a giant rock in a boulder field near Long’s Peak…  sitting on the shore of Iceberg Lake in Glacier NP…  you get the idea.  I just sit there and just exist, totally present, no thoughts or stress, just enjoying the feel of the air and savoring the incredible view.  This Tuesday was very different.

The last time I had gone to yoga prior to Tuesday was the last Saturday my dad was alive.  During yoga that morning I just couldn’t get into the swing of it.  Nothing was quite working right, I was struggling to stay focused, I was just off.  Try as I might I just couldn’t get myself to be present.  Finally I got into the groove, just in time for Final Rest.  As I started to go to one of my normal haunts something entirely different happened.  I was in an area that was pure white.  Had it not been for one thing in view I wouldn’t have been sure if it was a two dimensional view I had.  That one thing I saw was Dad.  Not angelic or anything, just my dad.  He looked at me and said “Hey bud, I’m leaving.”  No tears, no sadness, just a statement of fact.  And with that it was time to wake up from the rest.  As Becky drove home from yoga I told her what happened and I wept.  I knew that Dad wasn’t going to make it.

Fast forward to this past Tuesday.  With this being my first time back to yoga I wasn’t sure what to expect.  I was able to get into the swing of it quickly and it all felt right.  Far from perfect it was all good.  Everything was clicking and I was totally checked in and present.

As I went into the final rest my mind led me somewhere different yet again.  I was on the porch of the house on the coast of the ocean in Hawaii… and Dad was with me.  We both cried, hugged, told each other we loved each other and took a little while soak in the moment.  “Dad, I’ve got some places to show you!” I said as we jumped from one of my favorite places to the other, all places I would’ve loved to have gone to see with Dad but didn’t until that moment.  It was incredible!  Without his earthly form we were free to go anywhere together.  We zipped from the coast to the volcanic beach and watched lava pouring into the ocean.  We chilled on the rock near Long’s.  We hiked along the rim above Emerald Lake.  As we ended up at the Ancient Grove we spent a little time talking and catching up.  As looked up at one of the ancient trees I laughed and asked him how much wood we could get out of that tree and we both almost doubled over in laughter.  We hugged, exchanged I love you’s…  and then our instructor told us to start moving.  

It took all of my strength to keep myself stoic as we wrapped up and headed out.  As soon as we got to the car I buried my face in my towel and wept as I told Becky about it.  She was concerned and wanted to make sure I was okay.  I told her the truth – I was awesome!  How incredible of an experience to have, to have that extra time with my dad?  

At the end of the day I know it sounds crazy.  All I know is that it felt as real as I feel typing right now.  It could easily be my mind playing a trick on me, giving me what I want so bad.  Maybe I actually fell asleep and it was a dream.  Regardless, I could care less what it actually was, for me it was an incredible experience with Dad.  Real or not, I’ll hold it close in my heart for the rest of my life. 

It has been a couple of days since this experience but I find myself thinking about it often and am so thankful for it.

Thanks!!!

Days like today leave me struggling for words, yet smiling as I reach for them.  When I first wake up I start watching for what I am thankful for that day.  On a day like this it leads to sensory overload in a very positive way!

My day started with waking up feeling well rested.  Great tunes while showering and getting ready for work.  A peaceful morning drive with an amazing audiobook.  Getting to the office very early and enjoying the stillness as I work my craft and sip some caffeination.  Things that go better than expected.  A feeling of being in the right role.  Struggles that arise out of nowhere, but are conquerable.  Working with my teams to fix the issue.  Team members rising up to meet the challenge.  New found appreciation for new team members for growing themselves.  Remembered appreciation for team members who’ve done so much that I just always expect awesomeness…  and they almost always deliver!  Sticking to our values in a tough situation.  Remembering to breath and see the obstacle as an instrument of growth.  Planning ahead and seeing the plan pay off.  Taking a few minutes of personal time to make progress on a project that’s close to my heart.  Seeing a team member not only start to see but start to touch the dream.  A quiet and peaceful ride home with an amazing audiobook.  Walking through the door to be greeted by the best wife in the whole world.  Chilling while eating frozen pizza.  Playfully joking with Becky on our ride to yoga…

And then there was yoga itself. Wow!  It felt INCREDIBLE!!!  It’s been about two months since I had last gone, it felt incredible to get back into the swing of it.  Between Nick and Josh it was a tough but do-able workout that gave me moments to really push myself.  The rest and cool down at the end was mind blowing, and I’ll swear, for reasons that I will keep personal this time, that it was by far and away the best Final Rest / moment of meditation that I’ve ever had.

As I look at today in total, it was a very joyful day.  Not that everything went perfect, far from it, but everything came at a pace in which I was able to breathe and choose my attitude accordingly.  It was AWESOME!!!

Special thanks to everyone who touched my day in one way, shape, or form today, I appreciate each of you!

Thanks!!!

Our minds really are funny things, aren’t they?  Over the course of the day I’ve been buffeted by the realization of just how important perspective can be.  When something happens it happens, there is no good, bad, frustrating, elating, or any specific feeling based adjective.  It just happens and is.  The adjectives that I choose to call it are of my choosing, not of the act itself.  Deep, right???  Seriously though, when I stub my toe it’s up to me to either react angrily (who put the couch there???) or react with a calm growth mindset (whew, I’m glad that got me and not someone else…  I am going to move that couch).  Either reaction doesn’t change whether or not the event happened, but it does change my attitude and resulting emotion.  Today’s one of those days in which I’ve been more noticing of the choice I make as I respond to my day.

A couple of days ago I wrote about the book I was reading (The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World) and parts of it really have me thinking and noticing myself in a very different light.  One section specifically keeps resonating in my head.  The Dalai Lama is discussing his own exile from his home and says:  “Therefore, if you look from one angle, you feel, oh how bad, how sad. But if you look from another angle at that same tragedy, that same event, you see that it gives me new opportunities. So, it’s wonderful.”  As opposed to being sad and morose he chooses to see the positive in the situation.  I’m only a third of the way into the book and this theme has ben repeated over and over again.

As luck would have it, I had finished another book just before starting this one that dovetails almost perfectly into this concept.  To start off his book The Obstacle is the Way  Ryan Holiday shares a couple of quotes by Marcus Aurelius:

• “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”
• “Objective judgment, now at this very moment. Unselfish action, now at this very moment. Willing acceptance—now at this very moment—of all external events. That’s all you need.”

He uses these quotes to show a couple of things, bad things will happen to us.  We can either get frustrated, deflated, and quit OR we can use it as the impetus for change.  It can be the fuel we need to grow and become stronger.  If we choose to we can look at it objectively, take action, and accept the results of our action.  It is up to us to decide.  As he puts it later in the book, “There is no good or bad without us, there is only perception. There is the event itself and the story we tell ourselves about what it means.”

To cross back over to The Book of Joy Archbishop Tutu describes pain, suffering, and frustration as one of the necessary ingredients to true joy.  Using the analogy of a mother having a baby he describes great pain leading to incredible joy.  After time the memory of the pain fades, yet the joy remains.  He then shares the story of Nelson Mandela and his appreciation for his imprisonment, it gave him time to become who he was meant to be.  By now you’re probably seeing how my mind is starting to look at the events of life a little different than I did a week ago.

Back to today…  There’ve been some curveballs thrown my way today.  As they’ve come in I’ve been taking a deep breath before responding and pausing to think.  “What’s the obstacle that this is presenting?  What can I learn by tackling this?  How much stronger will we get from this?  What new insights will I have by working through this?”  Taking the time to pause and see the opportunity I’m catching myself smiling and jumping in with a positive attitude.  As I review the challenge I see that my teams and I will be better for going through this challenge.  This change in mindset is already leading to new approaches.  More importantly, I’m smiling as I tackle new things.

Some struggles still suck and I’d rather have The Big Guy Upstairs give me a work around, but in the meantime I’m very thankful for remembering to choose my perspective.

Thanks!!!