LOL – sometimes life just doesn’t go to script, does it? I was in the middle of typing up my blog today, a post about a book that I just finished today that I greatly enjoyed, when a little red headed ball of energy came out of nowhere and started asking to play a card game with me. My first response was no, I was too busy typing my blog. When asked again my response was still no. Shortly after saying no I paused from my typing and just thought for a moment.
That’s when it hit me. Why do I continue to do this blog after 470 days? To bring me happiness, to keep me thankful for the gifts I have, to keep me grounded in wanting what I have versus having what I want. The most precious thing I have in life is time, and I decided to really appreciate it.
Slapping my laptop closed I jumped into an epic game of King Kong with Gavin. Dominic heard the commotion, saw how much fun we were having and then he joined in. Next thing we knew we were have crazed games of King Kong between the three of us, all acting stupid and laughing hysterically while we traded out cards, literally ripped them out of each other’s hands, and all bent the rules… It was AWESOME!!!
At one point I had to pause and get pictures of the two yahoo’s before we fired up another game. It was a pretty awesome way to end a great day.
I continue to be amazed at how many ways this blog has brought a little extra joy to my life, I’m thankful I stopped to remember why I did it tonight.
It was kind of crazy, but last night I was realizing how thankful I was to have a full 5 day work week. I know, it’s borderline insane, but I really love what I do and I’m happy to have more time to do it this week.
Today I was whittling down my task list and before I knew it almost the entire day flew by. In the blink of an eye it was here and gone. In retrospect I’m pretty sure I was smiling pretty much the whole time!
All of the favorite things of my job were involved. Working with my managers on sales plans. Developing team members. Prepping a client proposal. Finishing a couple of training proposals. Interacting with my team. Strategizing sales plans. Sharing my vision of our future. I was engaged from start to finish and it felt awesome!
Don’t mistake my long term plans, I’m super pumped about retiring at some point to a life of traveling, inventing, creating and annoying Becky. In the meantime, days like today remind me of how thankful I am to have a career that I love, a career in which I can get lost in a state of flow and the days fly by.
In the last day of our first weekend at home with no plans in month or so there was a lot accomplished. Between more family games, a trip to Menards, and watching the Packers kick some butt it was nice to get back to a normal (though increasingly abnormal) weekend. Amongst all of that it would have been pretty tough to try to decide on what to write about today had it not been for a comment made by each of the boys today at different times without hearing what the other said.
I had a lot of fun making a puzzle box for my mom to put her Christmas present in. It was the type of project that I really enjoy, something new, very different, mechanical, an idea that required thought and improvising, and something that could be done in a weekend. With the recency of that in my head I bought a book on how to make puzzle boxes using my bandsaw. When were in Belize about a year ago we picked up a couple of small boxes that are similar to what I wanted to attempt to make so I picked up the materials I needed (and a new saw blade, was recently reminded of how important that is!) and started to go to town.
The very first step was getting the saw blade on and getting everything tuned on my bandsaw. I’d never done that before and the book walked through what seemed to be a very simple process. Sadly for this guy, it was a pain in the butt and I’m still working on it. For whatever reason the saw blade kept slowly twisting in an arc to the left as I attempted to saw my 4×4 pine. I tried just about everything and just couldn’t get it to work and got pretty frustrated.
Gavin was downstairs with me while I was working on this and was both watching me and walking very fast on the treadmill. At one point I informed him that I was going to try one more thing before I quit. “But you can’t quit Dad, we’re not quitters, you’ll figure it out” was his immediate reply. I explained to him that I wasn’t actually “quitting,” I was taking a breather and walking away from it for a little while. As I explained to him that sometimes it’s best to walk away from something when you’re frustrated and then go back to it later I couldn’t help but smile. Gavin had been listening all of those times I’ve told him to never quit just because something got tough.
As I was tucking Dominic into bed a few hours later I saw his puzzle box on his table. Picking it up I was sliding it apart when I explained to Dominic that this was what I was trying to make today. “Don’t worry Dad, you’ll figure it out.” It was a statement of fact, and there wasn’t a bit of doubt to his comment. Again I just smiled, Dominic was listening all of those times that I told him that he could figure anything out, sometimes it just took a little work.
As I walked back up the stairs that’s when it hit me that I heard both of those things from them at different times that echoed two of my core values, grit and having a growth mindset. I believe that anything is possible if you have the passion and stick to it-ness and are open to learning (& failing) along the way. Over the years the boys have been picking that up from Becky and I, and I am thankful that they occasionally listen!
This was the part of the lazy Saturday I’ve been looking forward to most – family game night! Pull out the extra chunks of the dining room table, take the gloves off, and battle it out for family domination!
Good times are still happening… Becky’s shuffling up the next game and we’re back at it!
The past few weekends have been full of fun with family. First we had Christmas with my brother’s family and my dad & Nancy. Then we had Christmas with Becky’s family. Then we had Christmas with my brother’s family and my mom & StepBrad. Three weekends of staying up late, having a lot of fun, eating way too much, and a lot of travel.
This weekend? Here’s a preview of the entire weekend…
For those of you scoring at home, this is me on the couch in my living with my shoeless feet up, already wearing pajama pants, and typing my blog. After a couple of last things are wrapped up it’ll be family movie night on the couch. Tomorrow will involve sleeping in, some errands (but not too many), church, pizza, and family game night. Sunday will be another day at home, sleeping in, chilling out, and watching the Packers from the comfort of our own living room.
Today’s post was already written in my head on my drive home. It was going to be a little dark, introspective, maybe even bordering on brooding. There was something that really caught me off guard in a moment of self reflection and I was thankful for the realization. That was the plan for today’s blog… but sometimes I find it is better to go off script. 🙂
After getting home and eating supper quickly Becky and I headed over to Root Down for a nice little hot yoga date. The heat felt great, I was feeling more relaxed and flexible than usual, and it was exactly what the doctor ordered. As the session wrapped up and I was laying on my back with my eyes closed, relaxed and focused on my slow and easy breathing…
Next thing I knew I was on the porch in Hawaii with Becky a few years back. The ocean air was lightly blowing in my face. We were relaxed on the reclining deck chair, snuggled up, not doing anything. Sitting, relaxing, taking in the slowly darkening sky over rolling ocean waves. Not thinking about the future or the past, just soaking in every possible second of the present. There was no stress, no worry, no responsibility, only the moment. The palm trees slowly swaying with the breeze, the only sounds the water folding in upon itself and on the rocks surrounding the champagne pools. It was paradise, perfection, and home.
One moment I was there again tonight, and then I was brought back to now as the instructor told us to start moving our fingers and toes. Back to real life, back to reality. But for a moment, all was right in the world and I was in my own personal heaven. For that moment of bliss I am incredibly thankful.
When I leave this life if anyone wants to see me, check out the porch in Kapoho… I’ll be there.
There are some days that go by and I wonder if I’m really making any progress. Those are the days when I feel like I’m on a treadmill, I know I’m getting a workout but I’m not getting anywhere. No matter how hard I push and drive it seems like I’m standing still.
At a gut level I know I’m moving forward on those days. I’m putting in effort, learning, growing, and getting stronger. The grit is being used and even though the immediate reward of attaining a goal isn’t there, I just know it will be.
Today was different. When I pause and reflect on the day I’m very thankful to have seen signs of progress. We’re starting to move the dial in one location. Another won a client that we’ve been working on for a really long time. Another had the phone ring with good news, more good news, and yet more good news. So many signs of progress in all of them.
Then there’s my team and I see signs of continued progress. Learning new sales skills, seeing opportunity that may not have been seen before. Making progress towards our vision through our values. Gritting out a tough conversation with a client because it is the right thing to do. Taking time to ask questions and learn as we should with a growth mindset. All around, many signs of progress.
As I think about the day I can also see signs of personal progress. Seeing things a little differently. Handling certain things a little better. Little wind that show that I’m making progress.
Sometimes it nice to see hard work paying off through little signs of making progress.
Yes, it’s a new year, time to review and reset goals for the year, right? Seems like when I do that I have great ideas that turn a little scary when I think about all that it will take to accomplish them. As soon as I write it down I can see the hours and reduction in free time getting in the way of the other things in life that I love. I see choices and sacrifices to be made in order to hit this grand goal. Maybe I think that it’s worthwhile and I push forward… but after time it gets tough to keep pushing and I get too tired to grit it out. Don’t worry, I still know that I can accomplish anything I set my mind to, I’m going to try it a little differently this year.
I’ve still got some big goals to accomplish and some dreams to get started, but this year I am breaking it down month by month and week by week. One of the things that I’m already finding helpful is setting small weekly goals that lead me step by step to my big goals. Most everyone else probably already does this and I’m just a little slow to the party, but so far so good!
It feels a little old school to go back to using a paper planner of all things, but the way this thing is laid out seems to be custom made for me and I’m loving it so far.
It’s a little step, but using this approach and taking small steps towards my goals has the possibility of being a big help in my 2017!
Oh the dream that is being retired… It is something that seems pretty awesome when I talk with people who are living it. Obviously I have a long ways to go before I get there, but I got a nice little taste of it today. Becky and I both had the day off for the holiday and the boys had a school day. It was AWESOME!!!
After the boys headed off to school Becky and I went to yoga. From there we grabbed coffee, and took the dogs for a walk. We got a few things done around the house, ate lunch and relaxed, and eventually ended up on the couch and started watching It’s a Wonderful Life while snuggling up together.
After a while Dominic got home and Becky ran the boys around while I made supper. After supper a couple of more tasks (laundry, dishes, picking up Dominic, and what not). Now we’re all chilling on the couch watching the end of Mythbusters. Once the boys go to bed we’ll finish our movie and get to bed relatively early.
All the weekends of Christmas have been great and appreciated, but it was nice to just have a day to the two of us (for the most part). Back to reality tomorrow, but today it was nice to have a day off to enjoy each other’s company.
My Uncle Frank is by far and away the biggest Packer fan I’ve ever met in my life. He absolutely bleeds Green and Gold and is one of 10 finalists for the Green Bay Packers Fan Hall of Fame. There’ve been some pretty great articles and videos about him and his awesome fanaticism for the Green and Gold, the links below continue to amaze me:
There are a couple of things that make me extremely thankful for my Uncle Frank today, and they actually don’t have much to do with the Packers. They have more to do with the way he acts like a big kid and helps others do the same, and his non-stop positive attitude and contagious enthusiasm. While I have many memories of him and Aunt Andrea that leave me smiling,
A few years back I got “the call.” It’s the call that you change plans for, the call that re-prioritizes your calendar, and leaves you smiling while you do it. “Hey Mike, it’s Uncle Frank. Would you like to go to the Packer game?” Hmm… Let me think it over… Umm… YES!!! I’m not even sure what he said after “like to go” as I was already saying yes. True to Uncle Frank form we met up at the stadium long before the gates opened and were lined up in front of everyone else ready to go in. He HAS to be the first person in and pretty much sprints into the stadium. While Dominic and I struggled to keep up we met up with him at the end zone where he was already in a conversation with the security guy that he obviously already knew. As the Packers warmed up he grabbed the field goal net and helped Dominic catch the footballs as Mason Crosby booted in practice kick after practice kick. After a brief conversation with another security guard the three of us were on the field and taking in what it meant to stand on Lambeau Field. It was AWESOME!!! The part of the experience that I remember the most about Uncle Frank was the child like smile that he had on his face and the high level of excitement he had for every step of something that he does at least 8 times a year. My Uncle Frank wasn’t an adult with adult stress, concerns, health issues, or any responsibility. He was a big kid, enjoying the moment, totally in awe of what was going on around him, consumed by the present, and savoring every single second of it. That smile on his face is permanently burned into my brain and is the first thing I think of when I think of Uncle Frank. The expression on his face was pure joy, happiness and appreciation for the present.
Standing at the front of the line, ready for an incredible experience!Uncle Frank showing Dominic part of Lambeau before catching field goals.
At a family reunion a couple of years ago he busted out a prized possession from his childhood that he had recently re-acquired – a Johnny Seven OMA (One Man Army) toy gun. My mom used to tell me stories of how much he loved that toy and all the fun he used to have with it. At the get together he decided to bring it out for the kids and it was AWESOME!!! He was showing them all seven guns built into one, shooting them with the boys, encouraging them to take turns with it, and was, once again, a big kid enjoying the moment. I still laugh out loud when I remember the way he used the Johnny 7 voice as he re-enacted great battles from his childhood. The kids had so much fun with him, and all of us adults were left thinking about how much fun we had playing as kids. Again, the smile on his face told the whole story. It was pure joy, happiness and appreciation for the present.
Uncle Frank showing Gavin and Dominic the Johnny Seven OMA
Those two stories really sum up why I’m thankful for my Uncle Frank. His energy and positive attitude are totally contagious and you can’t help but be happy when you talk with him. He’s always outwardly happy, talking about the good things in life and never dwells on the negative. I have yet to hear him complain about any health issues, stress, or anything, it’s nothing but positive. He cracks jokes that leave us rolling with laughter. He’s the uncle that all of us hope to have and the uncle we all hope to be for our nephews and nieces. He’s a role model for all of us on the importance of staying positive, enjoying the moment, and being a big kid at heart. I love him tremendously and so incredibly fortunate to have him in my life.
So all that being said, I’m asking for your help. Please hop online and vote at least once (or daily and from as many devices as you have if you’d prefer) for my Uncle Frank to get into the Packer Fan Hall of Fame. It’d mean a lot to him and I’d appreciate the help greatly. It’s the least I can do to help someone who’s an inspiration to me!
Thankful for Forty 