I’ve found myself de-humanizing others. Seeing people as opportunities or getting what I want.

While in Mexico I felt surprised that people very different from me could have great accomplishments. For example how could the Mayans build such a marvelous structures! They were so long ago and I imagine so much less human than me now…the driver of our car better give us a good deal because I want to save a few bucks…

How disrespectful!

When we humanize situations and others, we open the door for emotion to enter but we also allow the other to exist as they are. 

Fullness can be found in accepting my normal is different from yours. 

Why do we get so set on our ideas or plans?

Haven’t we seen that evolution tells a success story of those that change and adapt?

I’m going to actively seek out what needs changed. Call it out. Ask for help. And make a difference so none of those near me become the dodo birds. 

I went SCUBA diving today. Amazing!

When diving, boyancy is important and takes preparation. You must feel yourself sinking and before you sink too far, breathe in to rise up slightly. It takes pre-planning. 

However it is not all pre-planning. In the most dramatic moments we must ditch our efforts to plan and prepare and be agile.

Adapting and changing our plans or points of view. 

Mask falls off, stop check respirator, open eyes swim cautiously to the mask or signal for help and surface. 

Boyancy is used often but we must be ready to be nimble. 

In cycling, you want to have a tire that has as low of rolling resistance as possible…basically you want it to not stick to the ground too much.

You also want it to stick enough that it keeps you upright through corners and bumps.

I’ve realized an added rolling resistance in my own life is my need for others to give affirmation or validate my efforts, work, time, energy put in…

I need some of that just as who I am but how much of that need is just added grip holding me back?

Why do we get so excited to be chosen for something?

Sometimes for me it is a pure excitement. Built from feeling appreciated, thought of…

Other times though, my excitement is motivated from dangerous parts of who I am. My want for control. Pride that I am the only one that can do it. My thought that it all rests on me to carry the weight.

It doesn’t all rest on me. It doesn’t all rest on me. It doesn’t all rest on me.

I need to remind myself of this so often. If you’re like me, hearing this truth is difficult but oh so good.

It doesn’t all rest on you. Let yourself off the hook. Don’t take yourself so seriously.

What does it mean to have “made it”?

I’ve heard many people’s thoughts, including my own, on the definition of “making it”.

Going forward, I’m going to focus my dreams of “making it” as how I hope to feel and how those around me feel rather than specific situations occurring.

I don’t need a company to craft a new position around me, get promoted to a certain role, have this many kids, lead a specific number of people, buy this or that…

I want to feel cared for, successful, fulfilled, utilized, inspired. I want others to feel heard, appreciated, known, valued, supported.

Maybe I’m “making it”already. Maybe you’re “making it” already.

Listening is key to so much.

Friends can shape our perspectives, enemies can mold our understandings, loved ones can speak care over us.

Pride gets in the way. We want to speak up, share our story, give our input.

The more we listen, the better.

I don’t know if that’s the best way to live.

With the example of sacrifice, if we sacrificed all times in all situations, we would be missing self care.

If we never sacrificed, we would be missing the joy this brings.

Living in the extremes is hazardous.

Again, life is more of art than a step by step guide.

Opportunity is everywhere and it’s asking us to take it.

Even if we feel stuck, there is a hope and opportunity in it. We are responsible for moving forward.

Go for it!

It first takes people (you, predecessors, friends) to put their hard skills to work.

Unfortunately but also fortunately we must often earn opportunities.

Once those hard skills are utilized, something is built from it.

We use soft skills along the way but it may feel as though they are distant friends.

Im looking for way to use my hard skills to make room to use more of my soft skills.