Tag: choice

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 the Burden, Choices, & Oft Unseen Views of the Driftless

Day 3,406

Growth:

There is only so much one person can do, but there is so much more many can do. Don’t carry the burden alone, share it with those willing and offering to help. Allow them the opportunity to help others, allow yourself the opportunity to accomplish more together than alone.

Appreciation:

Life is full of choices. Some very large, some seemingly insignificant. In each of those choices we choose who we are. Each choice shapes us and molds us. Each can be undone, but each can also slowly add mass to our being. Some choices we seemingly don’t even make, the inertia of life more easily pulls us towards certain decisions. Regardless, we have the opportunity to choose how we respond to each and every single opportunity to decide. May we choose wisely, with intention, and accept all the decisions lead us to. We always have a choice to make, including how we respond to the choices we make.

Presence:

My past couple of days of drives to and from Winona for work have been opportunities to pause and view the majesty of the Driftless. As I’ve passed by the small valleys I’m able to see the frozen waterfalls normally hidden by the leaves of trees now barren. With no foliage the secret twists and turns of small creeks share their secrets, allow a view into their natural beauty normally unseen.

These views make me appreciate this area all the more, increase my desire to hike throughout the woods, to lose myself in the wonder of the Driftless.

Thanks!!!

Thankful for the Choice We Always Have to Make

Day 3,372

We always have a choice to make.

We cannot choose the challenges we will face. We cannot choose which surprises we want and don’t want. We cannot choose how others react. These are all out of our control.

Yet, we always have a choice to make.

We can choose how we will respond. We can choose where we put our focus. We can choose our attitude, our mindset, and our reaction. We can choose to live into our values, to live towards our purpose. We can choose positivity. We can choose growth. We can choose appreciation. We can choose to be present – especially when it is difficult. We can choose to face the brutal facts and we can choose how to work through them. We always have the ability to choose these.

We always have a choice to make.

Today I had the opportunity to work through a handful of almost consecutive challenges which I would not have chosen. But I chose to focus on what was important. I chose positivity. I chose growth. I chose to live my values and grow closer to my purpose.

We always have a choice to make. Choose wisely.

Thanks!!!

Day 1,979 – Thankful for Creating Space in Nature in a City

I am currently sitting outside our hotel and convention center. If I look with my eyes there are people everywhere, buildings, concrete, fake grass, and palm trees with 2×4 board supports. Anything but being outside in nature. The smell of chlorine, food, and cigarette smoke linger in the air. The breeze blows the sounds of people talking, traffic, and rushing water from the water park towards me and into my ears.

I can choose to focus on this if I wish. If I choose nothing specific to put my attention towards they suffocate my senses. They lock me into a place I don’t find peace, the put me into a self selected purgatory of sorts.

I have made the choice to not see it, to not hear it, to not smell it. I am outside, under the sun, and in nature.

I close my eyes and think about my recent walk around the large pond. Though it may technically be a retaining pool it was a treasure trove of the outdoors for me. The only sounds I heard were those of turtles splashing into the water as I walked by, the wings of birds propelling themselves across the lake in search of fish, and the quiet stillness of the breeze. I don’t see the traffic on the nearby interstate, I choose to see all the miracles of nature in the water. So many birds, fish, and turtles. No gators like earlier in the day, but still so much to see.

I am thankful for the reminder today of how being out in nature is a mindset that is ours to choose and seek out, even when surrounded by people and in urban areas. It’s all a matter of intentionally choosing what I want to focus my thoughts and energy on.

Thanks!!!

Day 1,815 – Thankful for Remembering that I Do Have Time and I Must Choose How I Use It

Simple concept, deep gratitude, and years of future practice before I master it.

Several events reminded me today that I have time. Until I’m dead I will have time. At the time of my death time won’t matter to me anyways. I know my time is limited, but I have time until I no longer have use for it.

How often do I tell myself, “I don’t have time for that”? What a lie I tell myself. Yes, I do in fact have time. What I also have are other options of how to spend my time. What’s really happening is that I am choosing how to spend my time and I am deeming that task not worthy.

I am not unable to do something, I am making a choice.

Today I’m grateful for the piece of mind and enlightenment that come with realizing each moment, each second, is a choice I must make. Am I choosing well? How can I choose better more frequently? Until I am aware of the choice to be made I am unable to grow and close the gap between who I am and who I am called to be.

Today I’ve seen the choices.

Thanks!!!