Category: Uncategorized

Thankful for The Only Thing We Control, an Awesome Day, & Snowshoeing on a Saturday

Day 3,428

Growth:

Today has been a powerful reminder of why I write each day. It’s a practice of reflection—an opportunity to process my experiences, thoughts, and emotions, helping me bridge the gap between who I am and who I strive to be.

When someone lets us down or disappoints us, we have a choice in how we respond. I often find myself oscillating between anger, frustration, apathy, and sadness. But the interesting thing is this: my reaction is entirely up to me.

If we strip away our initial emotions, most disappointments come down to a simple fact—someone took an action they believed was right. Few people intentionally choose to do the wrong thing. The action itself is neutral; it’s neither good nor bad until we assign meaning to it.

Let that sink in for a moment. The action itself is neutral. We are the ones who apply context, emotion, and judgment. And in doing so, we determine our response. Yes, their action may be the opposite of what we wanted or expected, but our reaction? That’s entirely ours to own.

Anthony de Mello captures this truth beautifully in Awareness:

“I have no right to make any demands of you.

I have no right to make any demands of you. Oh, I’ll protect myself from the consequences of your actions or moods or whatever, but you can go right ahead be what you choose to be.

I have no right to make any demands of you.”

Anthony de Mello

At the end of the day, the only thing we truly control is our response. People will act in ways we disagree with. They will frustrate us. They will disappoint us. But they are free to do so. Their actions only gain meaning when we apply it.

Marcus Aurelius offers another timeless insight:

“Choose not to be harmed—and you won’t feel harmed. Don’t feel harmed—and you haven’t been.”

The choice is mine. Someone else may take an action I dislike, but it’s up to me whether I let it disrupt my peace. I can let it roll off. I can take steps to prevent it from happening again. I can move forward. Or, I can choose frustration and dwell in emotions that serve no purpose.

I choose to move forward.

Why waste time and energy longing for a different outcome when I never had control over it in the first place? Instead, I’ll choose focus. I’ll choose resilience. I’ll choose to protect my energy and not let frustration steal moments I can never get back.

Time is finite. Breath is precious. I won’t waste them in frustration.

Appreciation:

One of the reasons I enjoy blogging is the ability to reflect upon the entirety of the day rather than dwelling on just one or two specific incidents. As I started typing this section I paused and ran through the day from start to end and I couldn’t help but smile at so many positives and moments I am grateful for today!

  • Waking up to the aroma of coffee, a delicious coffee Becky picked up in her recent yoga retreat.
  • Seeing a text come across my phone early in the morning saying, “Pulled a Kreiling and went hiking before the sun was up this morning, just me and the dog!”
  • Stepping on the scale and seeing more progress than expected.
  • Shoveling snow with Becky while listening to great music, getting lost in the fresh air, movement, and tunes.
  • Growing through a challenging situation.
  • Getting to the grocery store on a Saturday only to find it relatively empty.
  • Sticking to my guns with my weekly goals and preventing temptation.
  • Seeing a video of Gavin setting his new bench press PR and hearing about how much fun he had with his teammates.
  • Hearing about Dominic’s rugby scrimmage and hearing the excitement in his texts.
  • So much outside time snowshoeing with Becky! More on that below.
  • Making progress on my checklist for the weekend and prepping my meals for next week.
  • Trading awesome texts with good friends.
  • Playing cards with Becky and Gavin after dinner, laughing, and joking, enjoying our time together.
  • Taking way more time than expected writing this blog, reflecting on the day, learning and growing.

All in all, it’s been a pretty awesome day, one made better as a result of taking time to type my blog.

Presence:

There was enough snow for snowshoeing today and we took full advantage of it! We headed out to Great River Bluffs State Park and spent time snowshoeing through fresh and untrodden snow. The fresh air, the untouched snow, and the un-hiked trails all led to an incredibly invigorating experience. Such a perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon!

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Sharing a Movie with Gavin and Late Night Shopping

Day 3,427

Gavin and I decided to stay up a little late and catch a movie – Ex Machina. I love the confluences of our common interests, always a great time!

Midway through he had a schedule change for tomorrow and had to pause our movie for a late night shopping run for snacks and lunch for him for tomorrow. Felt crazy heading out on a snowy night like that, but we made the most of it!

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Realize and Release, Bonus Time, & Stillness

Day 3,426

Growth:

To hold on to frustration and disappointment or to release it and be free? One is always right, but the other is always easy. Awareness brings the ability to recognize the unnecessary burden of frustration, which then reminds us that we have a choice to make. Pay attention and choose wisely.

Appreciation:

My plan got the day changed rapidly and often today. Several curveballs provided an opportunity to switch directions and work on other necessary tasks. What was going to be a jammed day still was, but in other directions. As it turned out I ended getting much more done than expected! Nice when there is s supply of bonus time!

Presence:

Laying on my back breathing, paying attention to only my breath, my heart beat, and my body. So peaceful and calming. You know you are in a state of stillness when you can feel your blood pumping from your heart throughout your body.

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Choices and Grace, Dreamers and Doers, & Moonrise Over the Mississippi

Day 3,424

Growth:

Where do I choose to put my focus and energy? Life is full of situations, challenges, moments, and unexpected changes. Whatever they may be there is always a choice to make – what attitude will I choose? Once that mindset is chosen there is another choice to make – where do I put my focus and my energy?

In the moments when everything is going well it is so easy to make the right choices. When life becomes increasingly more complex it becomes more difficult to default to the right option.

As I navigate my current reality I’m also reminded to give myself grace throughout. While I can always work and strive to choose wisely there will likely always be times when I stumble. When I trip it is so easy to focus on that and then slowly spiral down. In those moments when I fall I must remember to give myself grace, take a step back to have better awareness of what happened, learn from it, and then move forward. That’s the appropriate choice after choosing poorly.

Appreciation:

Spending time talking with others about their adventures, their travels, and their dreams is always so enlightening! When hearing how others are maximizing their lives and living into their dreams I can’t help but have a heart full of joy and feel more motivated to grow into that myself. So much of our joy is truly to be found only within ourselves and independent of others, yet sharing time with those who live the way you wish to so quickly amplifies our joy as well. Tonight I’m grateful for the moments over the past few days in which I’ve been surrounded by those in noble pursuit of joy and living their dreams, they’ve warmed my heart for sure!

Presence:

On my drive home from work my mind was racing a million miles per hour and I was feeling very overwhelmed. As I happen to glance to my left I noticed the full moon rising over the Mississippi River Valley. It was stunningly vibrant, while simultaneously softened by the clouds. The silvery reflection off the snow, ice, and bluffs was simply breathtaking!

Thanks!!!

Thankful for a Beginner’s Mindset, an Engaging Client Meeting, & a Shared Moment

Day 3,423

Growth:

An old though came back in the midst of yoga class this evening. While working on a pose I have never quite been comfortable with our instructor offered up coaching and an opportunity to try the pose again. I hesitated for a moment, went into a learner’s mindset, and then took her advice. Next thing I knew I was into it! So many times before I was afraid of failing, not trusting my body, not thinking like a learner.

When we are in a learning mindset we’re open to coaching, we take advice, and we are willing to try even though there’s a high likelihood of failure. When we are in an expert mindset we are often afraid of making a mistake, less tempted to try something different as we already know what works. At any moment we can choose either mindset. Why don’t I choose a beginner’s mindset every single time like I should? Definitely a gap I can work on closing!

Yoga for the win yet again!

Appreciation:

This morning I had an absolutely engaging client meeting! The conversation was a nonstop thrill ride of ideas, insights, and thought exercises. So many strategies were discussed, excellent questions asked by all parties, and a perfect example of how similar cultures in different industries can help each other via the common ground of shared values. Super excited to see where this leads in the future!

Presence:

This afternoon my teammates and I shared a handful of moments as we walked through our values, purpose, and what drives our business. During a specific part of our conversation I shared the story of my last hug with Dad. The love and support they shared as I shared my full emotion warmed my heart and was greatly appreciated. It was a moment I’ll remember for sure!

Thanks!!!

Thankful for a Sunday Hike, a Chill Sunday, & Super Bowl Sunday

Day 3,422

Growth:

When in doubt, get out in the woods. Life is better with fresh air, the outdoors, and walking. So glad Becky enjoys the same activity!

Appreciation:

What a perfect Sunday! Relax and read in the morning, church with the family, lunch, and off for a long hike with Becky in the sunny winter wonderland woods. Come home and relax while watching the Super Bowl with Gavin. All chill, all day. Perfect!

Presence:

Spending time laughing with Gavin watching the Super Bowl while texting Dominic and Nick was awesome. We may not all have been together, but we were all together enjoying the game.

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Asking for Help, Family Time, & Ducks on the Pond

Day 3,421

Growth:

This whole remembering to ask for help thing might be growing on me! Dominic saved me forty five minutes by stopping at Menards quick on his way over today. I normally wouldn’t have asked, but it seemed like a good idea. He was happy to help, I saved a lot of time, and it only took him a few minutes. Super grateful for his willingness to help!

Appreciation:

Nothing better in life than the moments we get to share with all four of us at home. This afternoon Dominic and his girlfriend stopped over for a few hours of laughing, lunch, and games. While this time doesn’t happen as much as it used to it is almost more appreciated now as we don’t have it as often. Those hours shared as a family are the best!

Presence:

When Becky and I took Leia out on a walk / hike this afternoon we got into the woods and found there was an area of open water in the backwaters. Splashing and playing in that water were about eight mallards! They were seeming to have the time of their lives, swimming, splashing, hopping on the ice, and then running after each other before diving and falling back in. Watching them was such a chill moment, made all the more magical by the sound of falling snow. Nice sharing a moment with Becky taking in the wildlife like that!

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Learning Through Mistake, a Day in the Woods, & Mississippi River Music

Day 3,420

Growth:

Throughout my day of hiking (see the next section) I was working on taking pictures using some of the new things I’ve been learning and thought I was making progress. As it turns out, I was making progress, though not as I had intended! So many of the photos I took were totally blur and not what I’d intended, a few of the settings were off and I thought I would skip the tripod and shoot by hand. So the learning continues! Nothing like the sting of mistake to fuel the learning for the next time.

Appreciation:

I took the day off today and headed out to one of my favorite local-ish hiking areas, Pikes Peak State Park in McGregor, IA. Out the door just after 5am I was able to get to the park and where I wanted to be before sunrise. In addition to taking pictures I relaxed, soaked in the beautiful sights (& sounds), and slowly sipped my coffee and enjoyed every moment.

After putting my coffee mug away I knocked out about a dozen miles in the park and walked all the trails I’ve wanted to cover in past visits. It was just the deer, eagles, and I in the woods, the only people I encountered on the trail were as I was within eye shot of my car. Such a wonderfully relaxing way to get my brain back in the right state of mind.

Everything in life can be worked out while walking in the woods. The fresh air, the trees, the wildlife, and all the wonderful views, including frozen waterfalls, bring a level of stillness that can help us see all of life so much more clearly. I am beyond grateful for making the time needed to get my brain in the right place.

Presence:

Standing in the woods, all alone, relaxing and enjoying the sights and sounds all around me. Of all of the moments there is one in particular that really jumps out. When I was watching the sunrise slowly paint the sky I was serenaded by the music of the ice on the Mississippi River slowly expanding and popping. It echoed through the valley and was a perfect soundtrack to the sunrise!

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Learning Through Questions, Days Before Vacations, & Connecting Dreams

Day 3,419

Growth:

The more I dive into asking myself questions each day the more I find what really brings me joy, what specific activities help me to feel most fulfilled. Today was a solid dose of that, very insightful and useful!

Appreciation:

So thankful for taking the day off tomorrow, I need it! Looking forward to getting some epic hiking in and some solo time in the woods, just what the doctor ordered. Today it also helped me to push harder and further in an effort to get ahead of where I would likely have been on a typical day. Gotta love the day before vacation, always an opportunity to kick it into hyperdrive!

Presence:

The moment when you realize you helped to connect a couple of people who likely otherwise wouldn’t have and they’re both likely going to help each other achieve their dreams. Awesome!!!

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Car Time with Teammates, Chill, & an Excellent Client Meeting

Day 3,418

Growth:

Many years ago a mentor shared how beneficial it can be to intentionally have car time with teammates. It’s an opportunity to coach and train for sure, but more importantly, it’s an opportunity to get to know each other better outside of the normal office environment. Today that was proven to be excellent advice yet again!

Appreciation:

This evening was a chill night, though focused on almost completing a project. It was nice shutting down my brain from work thoughts. Creating a little bonus space to relax was exactly what I needed!

Presence:

Just had one of the most engaging client meetings I’ve had in a while! So many jaw dropping moments of the power of culture and discipline combined, totally invigorating and insipiring!

Thanks!!!