Sail

She bounced with each step.​

Tiny steps. Stutter steps. ​

Her steps.​

Weight of the morning bundled up in the hooded sweatshirt and wrapped up in black tights. Small steps. Bounce steps. Her steps.​

Everyone was focused into their own world, straining under their own weights and thoughts. ​

Maybe I wasn't supposed to notice how she seem to lift with the bass-line and grew wings with the refrain. Maybe I'm glad i didn't know what the song was. Maybe it was the moment that I needed.​

I'll never see her the same way. ​

For those few moments, she was free.​

What/Why I do

"Make no mistake: Rehumanizing work and education requires courageous leadership. Honest conversations about vulnerability and shame are disruptive. The reason that we're not having these conversations is that they shine light in the dark corners. Once there is language, awareness, and understanding, turning back is almost impossible and carries with it severe consequences. We all want to Dare Greatly. If you give us a glimpse into that possibility, we'll hold on to it as our vision. It can't be taken away."

​Dr. Brene Brown / "Daring Greatly"

Surprise

Last night I surprised my father.​

My dad loves to go fishing. My dad is like a kid when he goes fishing. My dad finds a sense of adventure when he goes fishing. My dad is really good at fishing. (Last week he caught 64 fish in the afternoon into dinner-time alone.)

I decided to give every effort to be there, and rushed out the door in full business-wear to get to the lake in time to spend some quality time with him.

The surprise worked.​

How do you describe the smile and enthusiasm that's already existing on a foundation of of peace, and in a state of eager excitement?​

Because he only took his favorite go-to rod, he quickly reeled his line in, and set me up with his preferred lure that works for him in that lake.​

First cast.​..

First catch.​

​(Ended up catching 3 fish in about half an hour, and then both of us hurried home to help mom with dinner.)

It's not a big lake, but it feels like an ocean when it's just the two of you.​

Father and son. Precious moments.​

I surprised my dad.​

Life surprised me.​

Fran is a four letter word.

"Ugh.. Fran.."

Why is it that we grunt at our biggest challenges?
Why don't we stare them straight in the eyes instead?

In our offices,
in our homes,
in our relationships,
in our thoughts,
in our hearts,
it's time.

It's time to face the biggest challenges with the same tenacity as our small ones.

For those that deal with a flatlining boss, that wish they could "just reach out" to the person across the table, that work in a swamp-like work environment with no fresh air or ideas, and for those that lift weights in the gym or in the heart..

Don't grunt.

Don't you dare give that challenge an edge it doesn't deserve.

Don't you dare give up on yourself before you even dared to give yourself a chance.

CrossFit has a benchmark workout called "Fran".
Don't grunt at the tough ones.
Face Fran in the face and take her on.
Smell the air, and taste that word on your tongue.
Go get her.
Face her.
Face your grunt and shrug.

Face what is weighing down your heart.

Keep going.