Day 3,377

Growth:

Time slips past so quickly, fading away undetected is one of its greatest strengths. Remember to pause, be intentional about using it as effectively as possible. Appreciate it while you hold it, don’t let it slip through your hands like sand.

Appreciation:

Chilling out on the couch, watching a movie, maybe falling asleep for a little nap… not normally my jam but exactly what I needed today! With all the craziness of the last few weeks a little down time was what my body needed for sure.

Presence:

With Dominic spending time with his girlfriend and her family we had only a smidge of time together with all four of us. While the time was limited it seemed as if we were all locked in and present for the time we had. Felt great!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,376

Growth:

Fresh eyes see so much more so more clearly. Experienced eyes see so much more clearly. Pros and cons to both. When used in tandem one sees even more.

Appreciation:

Every Christmas Eve we gather at Becky’s parents’ house and every year we gave a wonderful time. Same was true tonight. So many laughs, so much fun, so grateful for our time together!

Presence:

I’m really not a puzzle guy, but for the second time in the past few nights I found extreme joy in working with others in accomplishing the task. So easy to talk and joke while doing something we can each dive in and out of said the mood catches us.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,375

Growth:

Sometimes you just need to start all over on a project. Throughout time the layers of paint thicken, crack, and peel as the layers get thicker and thicker. Rather than add another coat it’s best to strip it all back down and start fresh. Heck, maybe even up out all the old drywall and start from the studs. That’s where I’m at with a rather large remodel project of sorts.

What’s really caught my attention is how once I accepted that I needed to start over rather than just patch my entire perspective changed and I’ve got my head in a much better place to get it all done. Still difficult knowing how much work there is to get done, but there’s also an increased level of excitement.

Appreciation:

Nothing like sitting in someone else’s desk to remember how much you appreciate their performance! Taking time to fill in during the holidays has been an eye opening reminder of how each role impacts the others. So easy to get lulled into thinking I remember all the details until I’m into them! Today I’m very appreciative for the opportunity to get my perspective back in line.

Presence:

With all the stress of work at the moment I’m a huge fan of a little fiction to help my brain unwind. I’ve fired up Stephen King’s Billy Summer for my current foray into a fictional world. Drive time hours melt away into seeming seconds with the master storyteller weaving one of his finest.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,374

Growth:

Interesting how much brighter our own lives are when we focus specifically on brightening the lives of others. By focusing outside of ourselves we bring peace to ourselves.

Appreciation:

While life will be a bit more busy due to my work schedule for a little while it was awesome to have an opportunity to hang out with Becky and the boys the majority of the day. Between taking a walk, going to church, eating lunch while watching a little football, doing housework, putting together a puzzle, eating supper, and walking through Rotary lights it has been a day of togetherness. These days and moments are amongst my all time favorites.

Presence:

Sitting and standing around a table with Becky and our sons enjoying each others company as we put a National Parks puzzle together in the sunroom, a moment of perfection. No stress, no agenda, no news, no phones, only family, a puzzle, and presence.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,373

Growth:

Similar to yesterday, we always have a choice to make… which attitude will we choose? Winter is cold, frigid, uncomfortable, has snowy and icy roads, and it gets dark so early. Winter also is crisp and refreshing, feels great in our nose, has awesome lighting due to the lower sun, has snow for so many activities, and is incredibly beautiful. Today I chose the latter and it made all the difference.

Appreciation:

Between reviewing photos from this past year and then watching a hiking video of Iceland with Dominic my heart sings for the sights I’ve been blessed to experience over the past handful of years. Iceland and Patagonia have left lasting imprints on my soul. Their peacefulness, jaggedness, innocence, and their quiet stillness sing a melody for my soul. As I think back to both I become so joy filled I am brought to the brink of tears of happiness. In moments of stress and challenge when I pause, close my eyes, and breathe, they are the views behind my eyelids.

To have experienced both places is a gift for which I will be forever appreciative!

Presence:

Ahh… the sensation of breathing fresh, clean, crisp, cold winter air in through the nose is amazing!!! There’s nothing quite like it! One of my favorite parts of winter is the first day of zero-ish degree temperatures, heading outside, and taking a nice long pull of fresh air right into my nostrils. Delightful!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,371

Growth:

“No man is more unhappy than he who never faces adversity for he is not permitted to prove himself.”

SENECA

Appreciation:

After a bonkers day at work bookended by slippery snowy drives a dinner and a family game night were exactly what I needed. Let the stress rinse away, be in the moment joking, laughing, and talking. Chilling as a family. A wonderful wrap up to the day!

Presence:

Sometimes I surprise myself with my blog. One of the most clear periods of presence today was while driving on icy and snow covered roads. The added challenge really pushed me to stay completely laser focused on that one task. Watching ahead, watching behind, anticipating sliding, thinking ahead to what other might do. It was a start to finish focus sandwich! What a fitting and timely reminder of the importance of my quote that started this blog!

Thanks!!!

Day 3,370

Growth:

One step at a time, bite sized next steps, atomic habits, realistic goals… However you want to put it, all huge goals are accomplished by millions of little actions. Dream big, start tiny and work up.

Appreciation:

Gotta love music that moves you, it’s even more special when it comes from a completely unexpected source. This past weekend I happened to catch the song The Roads by Jonah Kagen on our SirriusXM trial in our car. I immediately downloaded the song and it’s been playing almost nonstop in my head. Almost nonstop, as the songs Same Wind and Don’t You Give Up on Me also have found their way into my brain. Something about the music is incredibly touching, hopeful, and real. All these songs will be rolling around in my noggin for quite some time.

Presence:

Chilling alone in the living room, alone with my thoughts and music. Taking time to relax, let my brain go, and think about nothing and everything all at the same time. Time to chill, let the shoulders relax, the muscles all loosen. This quiet time is a wonderful change of pace from the past week of busy-ness. All that is good in its own way, but this time is the little bit of therapy my mind and soul need to recharge.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,369

Growth:

Take time to focus on and grow relationships. The more we invest in getting to know others the more it comes back around to us. Today I was reminded in several different situations of the importance of having trusting relationships.

Appreciation:

Gavin had an appointment with his guidance counselor and us to start prepping for his senior year as of for college after that. So tempting as a dad to want to step in and speak up for him, so rewarding when I don’t and I get to see a whole new side of him as a young adult. I am so grateful and appreciative for the person he continues to grow into! Sometimes I need a change of setting like that to see everything a little more clearly.

Presence:

Sitting in the kitchen and in the living room with Dominic and Caitlyn, talking about nothing and everything all at once. Talking with Gavin in his room walking through his day, hearing about classes and lifting and his volunteer hours. All priceless moments of clarity and presence.

Thanks!!!

Day 3,367

Growth:

Throughout the past year I’ve made a much more concerted effort to collect all the nuggets of wisdom and insightful quotes I happen to come across. As I worked my way through my photos from 2024 today (more on that in a bit) I was reminded of so many quotes I screenshotted or took pictures of. Each brought back a memory as well as got my gears turning again. No one steps in the same river twice, these quotes all had a new perspective thanks to the life experiences I’ve had since capturing them.

“You can go to hell without moving an inch, just focus on what you lack.  You can taste heaven without leaving earth, just rejoice in what you have.”

James Clear

Appreciation:

Once again I am reminded of the return on investment of taking photos while experiencing life. As Bill Perkins writes about in Die with Zero we should focus most of our energy on creating experiences we will remember forever. Those experiences pay off in the form of “memory dividends,” the ongoing joy created through remembering those experiences. The more pictures we take during those experiences the easier it is for us to go back to those moments and reap the returns of those memory dividends.

In going through all of the photos I took in 2024 my mind was blown by all of the memories we created this year! Over and over again it was a nonstop sound track of “oh my goodness, we did that THIS year too???”

Today I’m grateful for all the photos I took this past year. Even though I deleted many and have many more to clean out, the total mass of joy created from my memory dividends was priceless!

Presence:

Our afternoon hike on a trail we don’t do often was enhanced by the thick fog floating throughout the valley. The hike felt surreal in so many ways – warmer than usual for mid December, the scent of fall, restricted views due to the thick fog, and throw in some slippery and icy trails. All in all each element played so well with the others, it was an almost constant state of presence as we enjoyed another hike in the Driftless.

Thanks!!!