LOL – yesterday I wrote about the quote by Paulo Coehlo, imagine my surprise as the book I finished today closed up with that exact same quote!!! A different book, a completely different topic, and yet the quote transcends! I’m starting to get the felling I was meant to really take the quote in, just a hunch!
Appreciation:
This has been a very long week, so much going on, a lot to take it. I’m finding it difficult to filter through what action needs to be taken now, what can wait and for how long, and what to release and let go. There is certainly a gravity pulling me towards certain directions, but they don’t seem to necessarily be the right ones. It seems to be becoming easier to take a deep breath before taking immediate action, before attempting to fix something immediately.
What I’m grateful for today is the repose to consider where my attention should be centered, what is most important rather than most urgent or the loudest. Pausing to see where I can achieve my greatest leverage.
I’m being reminded of the story of Dad watching me struggle with the crowbar as we took cabinets out of our kitchen. He smiled as he watched, let me get all worked into a lather, and then proceeded to take the crowbar. In very short order he tapped and nudged a few spots with the crowbar, gave a series of little tests across the base of the cabinets, smiled, and then applied a light amount of pressure in a very specific point. The cabinet almost launched off the floor as if by springs. “It’s all about working smart and applying leverage…”
Presence:
Taking time deep in thought to work through some of life’s more difficult questions. Pausing to examine what is really important, which goals I am most focused on, and how to best live into the roles of my life. Then zooming out and talking through it with friends, helping each other work through our thoughts and ideas. So difficult to not stay present in those moments!
This quote by Paulo Celho has now appeared in a few different books I’ve read. Each time I see it I can’t help but recognize the simplicity and honesty of it. So often we use a journey or a challenge to grow into something, to become a different someone. Sometimes maybe we need to strip away all of the excess to see who we really are under all the false pretenses and identities we’ve wrapped around ourselves – all in an effort to see who we were before we allowed the world and ourselves to lead us astray.
Maybe the journey isn’t so much about becoming anything. Maybe it’s about un-becoming everything that isn’t really you, so you can be who you were meant to be in the first place.
Paulo Coelho
Appreciation:
Another day in which I’m reminded of the power of allowing people to work from their strengths. Line them up in the right situation, allow them to utilize their own personal gifts and strengths, and watch all the greatness they create. Many opportunities to observe just that today in a few different directions.
Why is it that ego causes me to feel compelled to attempt to be good at everything, to be able to do everything, only to fail as I push too hard outside of my strengths and don’t allow others to help? When I remember to create space for others, to observe them working within their strengths in ways I could ever do as well or as naturally or with as much natural joy and energy – my heart is more full of joy, we are all more successful, and the world is a better place. Ego is so lame!
Presence:
The full moon lit up the sky this morning while Becky and I ran in the cool air. As I drove to Winona the moon slowly drifted down behind the bluffs in a spectacular moonset. On my drive home the moon was starting to float above the bluffs as it rose into the sky, dragging the dark blue sky that followed the purple and pink remnants of the sunset.
A day bookmarked by the moon in all it’s beauty, a day full of present moments.
This afternoon over lunch I had an opportunity to live into a combination of purpose and a dream I’ve had for quite some time! After getting home from work and having supper with the family I was able to dive back into working on this passion project of mine, putting extra hours into something I’m hoping will generate an exponential return on that investment.
In taking the time to put energy into something that helps others grow I’ve been finding way to keep growing myself. The joy and fulfillment from working towards a positive creation like this has me smiling from ear to ear even though it is more difficult than I’d imagined. So easy to lose myself in a flow state while working on this!
There are many more hours to put into this, but I can’t seem to slow my brain down from thinking about it, it’s like an itch I just have to scratch.
Cheers to trying new things, learning through failures and mistakes, creating anew, and then find a way to share with others.
The Dalai Lama was once asked, “What surprises you most about humanity?” “Man, because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.”
Blursday was a term shared by one of my favorite past yoga instructors. The concept is that the entire day goes by in a blur, hence why today is Blursday! From start to finish there were additional twists and turns, unexpected guest appearances, and even a solved crime! No, seriously, we even helped fight crime today – long story, drop a note if you want to learn more. It has been one thing to the next to the next. Throughout I’ve been largely satisfied, many moments included living into purpose, helping others, and finding ways to solve a challenge. A Blursday for sure, but a productive one!
Presence:
Running under the stars, enjoying the perfectly fall brisk air, and feeling like I was cheating the system by running a little later than normal even though it was the exact same time… An excellent way to kick off the workweek with Becky this morning!
Let go and trust the process. So often it becomes so easy to stress that which has not yet happened, to try to control situations which we have zero impact . Chill, take a deep breath, be present, and let life happen. The right actions will happen, why stress them when we don’t have to? Once they happen we can know exactly what we’re working on and how to work through it. Let go. Trust the process.
Appreciation:
This morning Gavin and I spent some time with Ken sighting in Gavin and Dominic’s rifles for the upcoming hunting season. This simple task brought back so many memories of doing the same with Dad so many years ago. We would head out to the gravel pit for some target practice about this time of the year and take our time lining up our scopes as we prepped for hunting. Just like those times with Dad there were jokes, smiles, advice, coaching, and bonding. Such a simple act, but so full of memories, an act that often feels like an ongoing rite of passage.
The rifle Gavin uses was my rifle growing up, it must be about three dozen years old by now. The rifle Dominic uses was my Grandpa’s from way back in the day and then used by Dad afterwards. I’ve shot each one many times and the sense of nostalgia still washes over me each time I shoot or see the boys fire them. Each rifle a tool to be used for generations, something to be passed on to others. As each is used the ghosts of the past owners all feel nearby.
Such a wonderful moment shared amongst generations today.
Presence:
Again, I know I sound like a broken record, but getting hiking time outside is one of my favorite things, no question! This morning I had the opportunity to get a nice hike in with Gavin out in the woods with just the two of us and Leia. Shortly thereafter it was time for Becky and I to take Leia for a walk with the two of us again. Both times it was so chill to have some quiet one on one time with each while also absorbing so much fresh air. Seeing all the leaves, the animal signs, and taking in everything nature has to offer was a wonderful form of therapy.
The more we focus on our dreams, review them, and put our attention to them the more often we are likely to achieve them.
Appreciation:
Extra outside time walking in the woods with Becky… one of my all time favorite activities!
Presence:
Spending time on the couch watching the World Series game going back and forth with Gavin has been fun. The bonus texts with my little brother have added to the experience. The nonstop momentum changes, crazy pressures, and lots of bonding – great times!!!
Gavin’s last football game of high school was tonight, they lost a very close one to the highest ranked team in their division. Thus, tonight was the first of the lasts of Gavin’s high school career.
He ended on quite the high note, was the kicker on kickoffs and got a tackle on his very last play, his own kickoff!
Super proud of him for so many reasons, this was another one to add to that mix!
Beyond the very extremity of fatigue distress, amounts of ease and power that we never dreamed ourselves to own, sources of strength habitually not taxed at all, because habitually we never push through the obstruction.
William James
Appreciation:
Not all days are going to be +2 days (each day I track where my day was on a -2 to +2 continuum of joy), and that’s okay. It is in the most difficult of days when we have the unique opportunity to learn the most about ourselves. Those are the days when we have to choose our attitude. The days we have a choice to make – throw in the towel or dig deep and go harder. They are not easy days to work through, they are not easy choices to to make, but they are the days that provide us an opportunity to grow into who we are supposed to be.
Presence:
The split second before my half full Diet Coke spilled in my lap while driving down the highway going 65 mph when I don’t have enough time to drive back home to get new pants and realizing that I don’t have any napkins readily available in the car… Who knew one could be so hyper focused and cycle through so many thoughts in a nanosecond before squealing as the ice cold liquid hits my crotch?
This quote read yesterday kept going through my brain all day today. I can’t help but wonder how much happier I would be if I asked more questions, listened more, and talked less. Listening leads to understanding.
Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers.
Voltaire
Appreciation:
Hearing Dominic talk about his upcoming intern search for the next year. Reading Gavin’s college application essays and reading his social psychology poster. Talking with Becky about her day as spend moments of calm together. Amongst the craziness and chaos and demands of a ridiculously busy work day those moments are the bastions of joy, my moments of calm amongst the storm. So grateful for the time with my family as I wrap up my evening!
Presence:
Taking these moments on the couch to relax, reflect on the day, and mentally account for what I am grateful for. They are moments I can easily take for granted and miss in my appreciation, but they are the reason my appreciation happens as often as it does. This quiet time in contemplation, organizing my thoughts, and concentrating on what I am grateful for is amongst my best times of the entire day.
Thankful for Forty 