Day 2,791

Growth:

There’s an interesting dichotomy between time alone and time together. There’s a balance to be struck. For clarity, I mean alone time without distraction, not alone time on a screen.

Strive to find the balance and intentionally choose one or the other and avoid distraction. Time alone in quiet contemplation and time together sharing life – that’s where joy is to be found.

Appreciation:

What I’d assumed was to be a chill and early night turned out to be an awesomely interactive and pleasant evening with Becky and Dominic.

Somehow Dominic and I ended up talking music while we were all in the living room on couches. Next thing we knew we were trading some of our favorite songs and even our guilty pleasure songs. Full disclosure, the song Ashes by Celine Dion gets more play in my car than it has any right to, but it always makes me think of Deadpool 2, one of my favorite movies. One if Dominic’s favs came from the movie Eurovision. This then led to me sharing the news that the 2023 Eurovision contest had finished last week. We fired up YouTube and spent the hour listening to more music, commenting on thx craziness, delving into political history, and finding moments when all three of us were tapping our feet and thoroughly enjoying the music. It was awesome!

When Becky dipped out for bed Dominic and I started looking up places for us to hike. After adding Pindus Horseshoe in Greece to our dream lists we moved on to videos of hiking trails in Iceland and started planning our next adventure.

So many smiles, so many laughs, so many memories, all on s night I’d assumed would be chill. My heart is full.

Presence:

As Dominic and I watched Iceland videos we paused then constantly to pull up our pics of the same places and to share memories. We were present in each of those moments in Iceland and their clarity remains in our memories.

My eyes started to well up as I lost myself in the memories of the beauty of Iceland. My soul aches to go back, but finds solace in the memories.

Thanks!!!

Day 2,790

Growth:

Is there any reason I should not start each day in the outdoors, especially in the woods? Starting my day with fresh air brings out the best version of me throughout the day. I’m more motivated, I feel better, I am more awake, and I am so much more aware. My hike in the woods this morning set a very positive course for my entire day.

Appreciation:

My hike this morning was truly spectacular, I am beyond appreciative for the natural beauty of the Driftless Region. The trails through the forests on the bluffs are such a gift.

During my time in the woods I was especially focused on all the plant life around me. Each of the trees have their own special features, even within species. At different times I found myself pausing to press my palm against the bark to feel it as well as see it. There I was, pausing on the trail, my eyes looking up the tree, and a hand placed against the bark. Such a wonderful combination of sensations – the rough texture of the shagbark hickory and the view of it towering above me. Such a grounding moment, a moment of realizing just how small I am, a moment of true awe.

The entire hike was a gift to all my senses and to my soul. So much beauty surrounding me, the verdant green all around, the sounds of the birds and the rest of the forest. I even stopped for a moment to savor the sound of two large trees rubbing against each other as they swayed in the wind. It was almost as if they wanted me to know I could appreciate them with yet another sense.

Getting lost in the forest, escaping to the woods, finding peace. I am so thankful for the beautiful forests so near to my home, they are one of my happy places!

Presence:

As I walked back towards my car there I paused when I started to walk into a beautiful and seemingly out of place stand of pines. The scent of their needles swept over me in the breeze and I just paused. There I stood, paused and still, in heaven on Earth. Everything was so still, so peaceful. There was no stress, no ego, no separation between me and the rest of the forest around me. In an instant we were all one, existing. What a beautiful moment of stillness!

After what could have been a moment or several a song played in my head. It was so fitting for a few reasons based on the location and how I was feeling. The song is Beyond the Pines by Thrice.

Somewhere down the way, there’s a hidden place that anyone, that all of us could find
But our maps have failed, so venture through the veil and realize that these roads are intertwined

Far beyond those walls, gleaming black and white
Further than our false schemes of wrong and right
Is a field where we can walk, leaving all our names behind

I will meet you there, beyond the pines
Templed in twilight or dawn
The light and easy air
Tracing the lines on our palms

Thrice, Beyond the Pines

I’ll forever remember that moment each time I walk through those pines.

Thanks!!!

Day 2,789

Growth:

There’s a note that was written on a whiteboard in my office in Eau Claire that had me smiling. It says, “You don’t have to like MPC calls, you just need to do them.” MPC calls are a type of sales call we do to help great people find work and have a tendency to feel a bit uncomfortable as they are a sales call.

Last week I mentioned that sign to a teammate in a different office and within a week that same phrase was written on their desk.

Today, I jumped back into strength training as my Achilles was too tender for a run. I chuckled when I realized I was following the same sign with a slightly different direction.

There’s a lot in life that’s uncomfortable. We don’t have to like it. We just have to do it.

Appreciation:

This morning I had the opportunity to present our Retention and Engagement training with Mike D for the Winona Chamber of Commerce. As we were presenting I had one of those epiphany moments as we connected the dots back to a specific comment from the audience. I really love what we do, believe in our purpose, and find incredible joy in helping employees and businesses find each other. The level of fulfillment is off the charts as a result of the work we do and the teammates I have the opportunity to do that with. What a gift!!! So thankful for the opportunity to serve this team and our communities.

Presence:

Ahh… couch time with the family. No TV, minimal interruptions, and lots of conversation. My personal heaven. An hour or so of hanging out and relaxing with the four of us (maybe more like three and a quarter as Gavin was working on some homework but still chiming in occasionally) was exactly what I needed tonight.

Thanks!!!

Day 2,788

Growth:

After icing my Achilles for a while at work I stood up and it felt amazing! There was no tightness, no soreness, and it felt like normal. How many times have I taken “normal” for granted? Had I not started getting some pain in it I likely would never have noticed normal. Pain and soreness suck, for sure. They are both excellent tools for reminding me to appreciate health when I have it. I’ll do my best to avoid pain, but when it happens I know I can still choose appreciation.

Appreciation:

Tonight was a good balance of some family time with each of the boys and Becky. From the point I got home until now as I am heading to bed I’ve gotten some time with each person one on one. Always love getting all four of us together, but sometimes being a little disjointed like this can be nice too. Being able to focus 100% on each other is pretty cool and allows for different conversations. I wasn’t expecting that tonight, it just worked out that way, and I’m very thankful for it.

Presence:

Last night I’d typed up my blog and was just about to head to bed when Gavin got home from his track meet. I thought he’d be pretty pumped, he had a successful first meet with the long jump, but I was way off. He came in frustrated, angry, and ready to come unglued. Turns out that he had not prepared for his speech for the next day (today) as he should have and he was having a minor meltdown due to the stress. Rather than go to bed like I wanted I stayed up and worked through the speech with him. I listened intently while he practiced while simultaneously keeping my cool and remembering to “coach” him rather than give him a hard time or get frustrated with him. It took all my focus, but I stayed present with him. I promptly crashed into bed… about an hour later than expected. All good and all worthwhile. He crushed it in his practice round this morning before I went to work and got excellent reviews in class.

Sometimes I’d rather be sleeping than present, or I’d rather get frustrated than keep my headspace where it should be, but last night I’m thankful for staying present when Gavin needed it. I’m thinking this may be one of those memories that will stick with him for quite some time – it will for me! 😉

Thanks!!!

Day 2,787

Growth:

Better to ask a question rather than talk and offer an answer. So often my initial assumption and response are proven wrong quickly when I start with questions rather than answers. Today a question led me to a brain breaking moment that will take me some time to work through. My head was going in one direction until a question led to an insight that spun into a completely different direction. It was like Morpheus offered up a blue pull or a red pill straight out of the Matrix. My brain still hurts!

Appreciation:

Becky and I had an awesome time watching Gavin’s JV conference track meet at Tomah today. The sun was out, we were sitting in the grass, and looking at some notes on where to hike in our vacation in late July. When Gavin or a teammate’s turn came up we paused and watched and snapped some pics. Then we’d go back to relaxing and talking about nothing. Such a change from the last time we went to Tomah when we were bundled up and freezing our butts off!

Outside time, sun, fresh air, hanging out with Becky, and watching our boys do what they enjoy? Yes please and twice on Tuesdays!

Presence:

This morning I woke up feeling great! I was a little tired but my entire body was loose, relaxed, and ready for our run. There was no stiffness or soreness, everything was in tip top shape. Shortly after getting out of bed I took a moment to appreciate that awesome feeling – what a moment it was!

Thanks!!!

Day 2,786

Growth:

So easy to pause and be thankful for someone, all it takes is intentionality. Mother’s Day is a perfect example of why it is important to use a date as a reminder, as an intentionality trigger. While we’re all thankful for moms all the time we do a better job of sharing and celebrating that gratitude when we have a specific day set aside for it.

How I can I be more intentionally grateful for all the wonderful people I’ve been blessed to know?

Appreciation:

What a wonderfully mom filled weekend it was! Mom came down and spent the day with use at the track meet yesterday. Becky and I spent last night and much of today with the boys and the two of us closed out the night with yoga, dinner, putting in a small fence, and the relaxing. All weekend long I was surrounded by moms and it was a perfect way to spend Mother’s Day weekend.

For sure, moms are some of the strongest, toughest, wisest, most giving, and best humans on the face of the earth! So thankful for all they do to keep the world turning, our lives are so greatly enriched by their love, support, and kindness.

Presence:

Yoga tonight was ridiculous! What I thought was going to be a very chill session quickly evolved into a beast. By the time we were done I was dripping with sweat and totally spent. Almost the entire practice was spent in a flow state. So much presence as of awareness throughout!

I need to remember how to lock in to the vibes of the teacher while simultaneously letting go of all focused thought more quickly. There’s no reason I couldn’t be in a state of flow like that more often.

Thanks!!!

Day 2,785 – Short one tonight, it’s been a very full and enjoyable day!

Growth:

Grit and focus lead to incredible performance. As Vince Lombardi once said:

“If you’re lucky enough to find a guy with a lot of head and a lot of heart, he’s never going to come off the field second.”

Vince Lombardi

Appreciation:

Mom came down to watch the boys compete at their conference track meet today and they boys put on quite the performance! They each helped a relay team take first place and Dominic also took a strong second in the 800m (which he was projected to take 5th in based on past performance). So much fun experiencing that with Mom, Becky, and a handful of our friends!

Presence:

The conference track meet came down to the last event of the day, the 4×400. In order to win conference Logan HS had to win AND Onalaska had to take third of worse. Dominic and his team crushed it and the second place team just barely held off the Onalaska team.

Seeing the total elation of the boys and their teammates was AWESOME!!! So many athletes over performed and ran their guts out to lead them to victory. Their celebration was s moment I’ll never forget.

Thanks!!!

Day 2,784

Growth:

Full disclosure, I wrote my blog in revers order today. Most days I start at the top and work my way down. Today’s blog started with my decision to get up and run outside even though it was raining (more on that in the Presence section). While running I started thinking back to some great memories created by the same friend who inspired me to get outside for the run in the rain (which became the Appreciation section). Now, after I’ve typed up the first two sections – (first two or last two sections? Wow, I’ve even confused myself! 😉 – I’ve started to see where the growth from today comes in.

We don’t know how long we’ll have to live, we should use that to inspire ourselves to live to the fullest in each day we are blessed to be alive and to be grateful for each moment we have. Such is the same with friends, we never know how long our paths with walk side by side.

Over time we may walk side by side and over time we will likely split up as our paths wander in ever increasingly different directions. That doesn’t change the fact that we walked together, inspired each other, and created memories together. The paths may split but the connection remains, the memories last, and the impact continues.

Enjoy each moment with friends as each day of life, not knowing or caring how long those moments will last, rather appreciate those times, be present in those moments, growth through the shared experiences, create as many memories as possible, and live each day of friendship as if it may be the last before our paths diverge.

Appreciation:

On my run this morning I spent a good chunk of time thinking about so many wonderful memories made with my friend Brian McGovern way back in the college days. He was one of the first people I got to know well when I transferred to the University of Minnesota my sophomore year. I’m pretty sure it has been almost an entire lifetime since we’ve hung out in person, but at least we get the occasional online hang out. Throughout our time together at the U of M he was always supporting me, laughing with me, hanging out, and encouraging me. He always was smiling and saw the best and most positive in everyone. Even after all these years he has a positive influence on me as you’ll read below.

While we may not have seen each other for 20+ years Brian still had a large and positive impact on shaping me through some pretty wild and formative years of my life. Through example he taught me patience, compassion, looking for the bright side, open mindedness, and how friends should really support each other. All these years later I’m grateful for days like this when so many of those memories come flooding back.

Here’s to Brian and all those people in our lives who have made a huge mark in our lives!

Presence:

Today I’m grateful for a response to a Facebook post from my buddy Brian. About a week ago he mentioned how much he enjoys running in the rain. I normally opt for the treadmill or bike trainer on those days, but today I took his advice and hit the road. It felt amazing! What a wonderful way to kick off the day – enjoying the drops while getting some fresh early morning air.

Postscript:

Bonus section after writing the other sections in reverse! Brian – why am I starting to suspect there’s a road trip in our future? 😉

Thanks!!!

Day 2,783

Growth:

We had a client meeting today in which my role was to almost exclusively listen. What a treat! It was one of three most fulfilling and insightful meetings I’ve been in recently as the act of listening was so intentional.

Excellent reminder for myself today, good things come to those who listen without prejudice or intent to speak.

Appreciation:

Two normally minor things most went without notice until I started typing this evening. When I got home from work I started pulling some weeds in the yard while I talked with Becky. So chill, so purposeful, and do productive!

Then we fired up one of my all time favorite meals – leftovers! What a treat, a home cooked meal without the work!

Two simple things, so underrated, and so appreciated today!

Presence:

This morning I went for a hike well before sunrise. The birds sang away while I walked up the bluff. The sunlight started to shine a little while I was on top. There’s a bench with a spectacular view of the city and the Mississippi River Valley and it seemed to call my name as I approached it. I sat on it, turned and laid down on it, and proceeded to spend the next five minutes with my eyes closed as I listened to the birds and just breathed. Amazing!

Thanks!!!

Day 2,782

Growth:

It is so easy to judge a situation based on my gut feel based on my personal experiences. It can be difficult to pause and listen to many perspectives to better and more completely understand a situation.

Over the past few days I’ve seen a few instances of a similar situation. The first time I was very judgmental. After creating space to consider other perspectives I became more open minded. Todays interactions gave me so much more to think about that I realized I’ll never really know the right answer so why bother judging?

I do not need to judge, I do not need to be right. I should focus on trying to understand, to learn. So simple to type, so much practice needed to live into it better.

Appreciation:

Over the last six months or so we’ve been sharing a presentation we completed on our 2022 Retention and Engagement journey. At this point I’ve been involved in over thirty iterations of the presentation between practice, live events, and webinars. All this practice continues to lead me to deeper insights into why this was so successful and how I can continue to grow and improve as a leader.

Today the biggest aha moment was realizing how powerful the combination of a strong and clear purpose & values framework and trust in allowing teammates to adjust as they see fit within that framework can be. Set the direction, allow the team to grow and play in that sandbox, and everyone wins!

So much like reading a book several times, giving this presentation several times starts to unlock the secrets buried within!

Presence:

Driving up the Mississippi River on Highway 61 while the red sun slowly rose over the horizon this morning was breathtaking. Between stealing glances at the sunrise while driving, enjoying a delicious coffee, and taking in some wonderful music with the moon roof open it was an epic drive to Winona today!

Thanks!!!