Day 2,994 – short one tonight, had a family movie night – Dumb Money

Growth:

Rather than trying to squeeze in a workout later in the day I decided to go right after our run while I was warmed and feeling loose. Perfect timing! Why put off what can be find right away?

Appreciation:

Gavin has a project that he needed some tools to complete. Up in my workshop we proceeded to joke around and have some laughs. That space is like magic – so many amazing memories we’ve made and continue to make in that workspace!

Presence:

Over lunch Becky and I were able to take Leia for a walk, a particularly rewarding treat on a beautiful day like this! Bonus time together while enjoying the outdoors – I’m always in for that!

Thanks!!!

Day 2,992

Growth:

Wowza – my body is sore tonight!!! After knocking out the workout I’ll talk about in the Presence section I’m definitely feeling the aftershocks in my muscles. This isn’t the first time I’ve felt discomfort today, there’ve been a handful of moments that were a bit uncomfortable. A difficult conversation. Stiff legs on our morning run. A blast of cold water to wrap up a shower. Throw in a few different types of discomfort during the workout – swallowing my pride & pushing myself to lift with more intensity – and it’s been a day full of discomfort…

…and it has been a day full of joy. I have grown through the discomfort and am better because of it.

Funny how it is easier to be okay with not being okay when I self select the discomfort I am going to accept. When the discomfort is outside of my control I’m much more likely to get frustrated. The funny thing is that it is all the same in the end. There is a challenge, soreness, an obstacle, or discomfort – whether self chosen or not – and I have the opportunity to grow as a result. That’s where some profound joy lives, just on the other side of discomfort.

Don’t mind me while I write a note for Future Mike to help remind him of this…

Dear Future Mike,

Embrace discomfort immediately, whether self chosen or not. Discomfort leads to growth and growth leads to joy. Pause and be grateful for the challenge and immediately move into working through it. Choose the right attitude off the bat. Don’t be a dumbass and wallow in something that is out of your control.

Present Mike

Appreciation:

This morning Becky and I were talking about some of my fitness goals and plans. As we’re talked I realized just how much I’ve been inspired and motivated by the boys to get into better shape. They both have their specific fitness routines and roll through them everyday without being told. Both work on multiple sports, movements, and muscle groups. Neither of them are afraid to try something totally new like wrestling for Gavin last year and rugby for Dominic this year. Because they are keeping themselves in excellent shape they’re able to jumps right into almost any physical activity without any concerns or restrictions.

As I looked forward to hiking and traveling with my sons there are so many memories I want to make with them while we experience all kinds of crazy stuff. In order to do that I need to make sure my fitness doesn’t become the limiting factor in what types of adventures we can go on. I plan on experiencing a lot of life with them for many years, they’ve inspired me to get in better shape to be ready to have more fun.

Pretty wild, I always thought of parents being motivators and inspiring their kids, yet here we are with the boys getting me all jacked and excited!

Presence:

The extreme focus and presence in a difficult workout, especially one that I haven’t done before, is a special thing. There was nothing else in the world while I went from set to set, only focus on breath, lifting, form, and intensity. The world went silent (kind of – I did have some very loud music in my ear buds to keep me pumped) and I had no concerns in the world other than the next rep. One lift after another, after another. The time flew by in a heartbeat and before I knew it my sweat soaked body had completed the round. That felt AWESOME!!!

Thanks!!!

Day 2,989

Growth:

When we’re on vacation we’ll often pick up a couple of little souvenirs for the boys. Nothing too crazy, a coin with the name of the place is my usual go to. A metal coin is such a great example – it is small and easy to save, usually won’t break, and will always remind someone of the location. Sometimes I wonder if it is really worthwhile to get things like that, is it really necessary?

Tonight Gavin helped me see that this is a tradition I’ll continue for years to come. He’s been doing a deep clean of his room and invited me into his lair to see what he’s been up to. Spread out across his dresser was his collection of vacation souvenirs! We spent quite a bit of time walking through so many memories we’ve created together.

The return on investment in those souvenirs was paid in full and then some this evening. What an awesome moment it created for the two of us!

Appreciation:

I’m very thankful for being in a relationship with someone else who loves being outside and moving rather than sitting around. Becky and I took Leia for her normal walk in the woods this morning and had some nice quiet time to catch up and talk. Later this afternoon we took Leia on another walk and had some nice quiet time to catch up and talk. Tomorrow morning we will start our days with a run and… have some nice quiet to catch up and talk.

When we both enjoying the same activity, especially one so perfectly suited for conversation together rather than doing our own thing, we get to experience two things we thoroughly enjoy simultaneously. While I’ve often joked that this blog could be about one thing I’m thankful for about Becky every single day, today I was especially grateful for our shared interests in the outdoors and movement (and yoga tomorrow night).

Presence:

This might sound like kind of a weird one, but it was really nice knocking out some of my work for tomorrow early this evening. Having some quiet time without distraction to get a few things taken care of that would have made life a little more complex tomorrow should have a very positive impact on future Mike AND it felt nice to accomplish a little bonus stuff.

Thanks!!

Day 2,988 – Late night so I’ll keep it more focused this evening.

Growth:

I’m happier when I get time outside. My general mood and well being are much more positive when I get time in nature. This morning started with a walk in the woods. The later morning found me outside getting tasks done in and around the garage with all of its doors and windows wide open. The afternoon was capped off with a peaceful hike up the bluffs. The more I am outside like today the more joyful and at peace I am.

Appreciation:

OMG – soooo many laughs with friends this evening at a birthday get together! My stomach and chest are sore from laughing so hard. My throat feels dry from all the laughing – what an absolute blast we had tonight! Any day that ends in muscle exhaustion from laughing is a day I am very grateful for!

Presence:

Two awesome hiking moments from this afternoon.

The first was the intoxicatingly refreshing feel of hiking in temps below 40 degrees Fahrenheit in a tshirt. Glorious!

The second was at the end of the hike when Gavin and I spontaneously busted out singing (& whistling) Always Look On the Bright Side of Life by Monty Python. We had such a blast!!!

Thanks!!!

Day 2,987

Growth:

When true awareness hits there is an instantaneous change. We’re different moving forward and decisions are so much more clear. Here’s tips s moment of awareness leading to a large and lasting positive change!

Appreciation:

What a wonderful way to start the weekend – family game night followed up with a movie with Gavin. We all enjoyed connecting during dinner and board games (even if it felt a little different without Dominic) and Gavin and I laughed our butts off throughout the movie. Time with family, a perfect Friday night!

Presence:

While there was certainly seriousness today there were so many more laughs. Each of the many moments of laughter and of seriousness brought life sharply into focus.

Thanks!!!

Day 2,986

Growth:

You can always say something later which has not been said yet. You cannot unsay anything that has already been said. In my excitement and passion for moving forward quickly I can often get myself in trouble as I say what I’m thinking rather than waiting to say what I’ve thought on deeply. Today I had a couple of reminders of the importance of – and the difference made when – taking time time think and process prior to speaking aloud. To the people who helped me remember to slow down and take one step at a time today, THANK YOU!!!

Appreciation:

The busiest and most full of days are a whirlwind of action, moving from one action to the next, usually with few pauses between. They start busy and accelerate as the completing of one project sees another two unexpected new challenges appear like the heads of a hydra. There seems to be no time to rest, only an ever increasing list of tasks to complete which increase more rapidly than they can be crossed off. That said, those days are also so soothing in an interesting way. They are more easy – we can react as opposed to being proactive. There’s not need to think, only to react. Honestly, they can be intoxicating in their own crazed kind of way. The feeling of progress being made is a dopamine hit to the n-th degree! When it is all said and done I feel totally jacked!

But… those aren’t the most productive days. Those are the days in which the “urgent” likely took the place of the important. The intoxicating feeling of solving problems blurs the vision from the most important tasks which need to be done. There has been so much activity, but was the energy spent well and in the right direction? Was it so energizing because it was simple, I need only react rather than pause and really think? When all is said and done, did the day of fire fighting actually move me closer to my purpose or did it merely help me feel useful through fixing problems which are actually a symptom of a greater issue?

For much of my life those busy days were the best of days, I felt alive, useful, and effective. Only recently have I realized that those days often were precursors to different challenges I was about to face, a potential slipping backwards.

Today I am grateful for the wisdom of seeing the difference between a ridiculously busy and nonstop day of firefighting and a day of very proactive, quiet, and focused day which actually moved me closer to my purpose. One is more “fun,” but the other so much more deeply “rewarding.” Here’s to knowing the difference and for delaying the gratification.

Presence:

Is there much more of an engaging time than a regular and normal family dinner? This evening Becky, Gavin, and I enjoyed our supper together while talking about each others days, joking around, and relaxing together. There was absolutely nothing out of the ordinary, nothing exciting, and really nothing new – just the three of us doing what we often do and eating a fairly standard meal. The “normal-ness” of the meal was exquisite and supremely satisfying in a wonderful way. This evening I caught myself thinking about our meal together and about just how engaged we all were throughout, a moment of family presence tucked into a very busy day. What a gift!!!

Thanks!!!

Day 2,985

Growth:

How often in life have I witnessed this cycle repeat itself?

I start without knowledge and need direction, but the direction that is offered provides discomfort. I get frustrated with the person offering direction because they don’t understand where I am coming from. Ultimately, I learn and grow as a result of the discomfort.

Later, I attempt to help another who is without knowledge and needs direction, but the direction I offer them provides them discomfort. From my experience I understand that it is through this discomfort in which the learning and growth really occur. They get frustrated with me because they don’t understand where I am coming from. Ultimately, if they choose the path of discomfort they learn and grow as a result… and I learn and grow as a leader.

How simple it would be to trust the universe when we need help and direction and to follow blindly without hesitation knowing that others have already walked the path. How do I (and should I) work to break this cycle? Is this the way wisdom is meant to grow?

What’s interesting is that in this example, in this cycle, it seems as if the lessons learned as the student also help us to be a better teacher. We are able to see how the teacher didn’t connect well and do our best to change our strategy for our students, while also taking those moments in which our mentors were at their most magnanimous and replicating those experiences for others to learn – through us – from our mentors. It almost seems as if the cycle continues for a reason.

Here’s to the moments of discomfort which lead to growth as learners and to the learning we lead into from our mentors.

Appreciation:

This section has been a bit of a struggle for me tonight. I’ve got a couple of different paths to take so I think I’m going to punt and go with a short list rather than a single topic. That’s one of the nice things about this being my blog – my blog, my rules! 😉

• When I get an out of the blue piece of feedback on my book I’m left smiling from ear to ear for seemingly days. Especially after recording all 7+ hours of it into audio I feel somehow even more connected to it. Hearing that it is helping others and making a positive impact recharges my battery and reminds me that this is only the beginning!
• Funny how much time and energy are wasted in worrying about how something is going to go or what someone will think of an idea. Over the past 24 hours I’ve been reminded of this very clearly. I had an idea I was very excited for, but I was very nervous about how it would be received. As I labored over the nerves of the feedback of others I totally wasted energy that I shouldn’t have. When I rolled the idea out to them they we overwhelmingly in favor of it! I can be ridiculous sometimes, this was an excellent reminder of the gap between who I am and who I should be. Lesson learned.
• Everything is well. Seriously, everything is well. Yes, there is frustration, there are challenges, there are struggles, but all is well – we are still alive. This afternoon I was reminded of a period of time which was one of the most challenging of my professional career – we survived it and grew as a result of it! In the moment it really sucked, but we created something beautiful from it. Do not fear the possible discomfort, do the right thing, work through the challenge, and remember that all will be well. Once there is distance from the pain we can look back and see how we’ve grown and become better as a result. Avoiding the discomfort means avoiding growth.
• The book Outlive by Peter Attia is a MUST READ!!! I am reading it for the second time and am so thankful to be consuming it again!

And there’s more, but I think I’ll save it for later and let this all slowly sink into my brain.

Presence:

There’s a moment in which we become aware of something for the first time. An insight, a realization, an epiphany, a clear view unobstructed for the first time. In an instant our world is different. In that moment we are changed and cannot go back. There are many examples of this in Anthony de Mello’s profoundly insightful book, Awareness.

What I’ve noticed today is that when those moments hit, when we collide with clear vision and and thought, it is often either in or directly as a result of being in a very focused moment of presence. As I’ve been working this sentence I keep going back and forth on whether it is the result of presence in a moment or if the presence is instantly created as a result of moment of awareness. Does it even matter?

What’s beautiful is that the two are so married together – awareness and presence.

Thanks!!!

Day 2,984

Growth:

When you feel a nudge, heed the call. You’ll never regret the extra step of kindness taken and the results will often surprise you. Acting on nudges is where huge amounts of joy are created.

Appreciation:

When I started blogging almost three thousand days ago one of the basic rules I set for myself was to never repeat the same gratitude. I’m not 100% sure that I haven’t been thankful for this before, but if so it has been a long time and it is well worth repeating.

On one of my office walls I have a 4’x8′ white board. That canvas has been the site of so many ideas ranging from excellent to terrible, from inspiring to boring. Having the opportunity to get all my ideas out in one space to clarify a concept and then re-write, erase, edit, erase, and repeat over and over again is something I am hugely thankful for. My notebook is great, but there’s a time when I need the bigger visual, an easy to erase page, and a spot when I am not in the least bit nervous about making a mistake. My whiteboard is mental freedom.

Presence:

The moments of following through on a couple of nudges as referenced above brought tremendous levels of happiness, joy, and presence today. In each of those interactions I was 100% focused and was in a sublime flow state. So many ways the practice of recognizing others, connecting others, and helping others can elevate more lives than just our own.

Thanks!!!