A couple weeks ago, I flew down to Alabama.
I went for a few different reasons.
1 - I wanted to support a friend who was recording a lot of content for a new course he's releasing. It ties right into his newest book as well. (As soon as he has it finished, I'll share the link with you to check out.)
2 - I wanted to learn from him how he does what he has been doing for the past 10 years.
It was a win in both categories!
It was a big change to my regular routine.
I've been working from home the past two years, and I haven't been away from Rachel or the kids in a long time.
This was 4 nights!
Here are some things I missed out on:
1 - Jacoby's basketball team was ranked 1st in the tournament that weekend. There were actually two teams from his school, and the other team was ranked 2nd.
When both teams made it to the finals, the coaches picked new teams for that game, and it sounded like all of the boys had a blast.
They even "called the game" so that they ended in a tie!!!
So they all got 1st place!
2 - Brielle had her turn to help with supper. She still set my spot at the table, and then used my napkin since I wasn't there to use it!
3 - I missed snuggles with each one as well.
Sometimes being away is the biggest reminder of what you do have. I can get caught up in comparison and envy, but whenever I stop to be grateful for what I do have already, I'm overwhelmed with gratitude.
I am so thankful for my wife, for my kids, for the life we have created.
While we have goals of other things we want to do together, I wouldn't trade what we have already done!
4 - I missed working out with Rachel in the morning. Actually, I didn't start doing the workouts with her until after I got back, but I didn't move my body during my trip like I do on a normal basis. Being in someone else's home and a new environment throws me off in multiple ways.
(I join her now, because I enjoy it and I enjoy time with her! It's that recreational companionship piece of marriage that helps us stay bonded.)
While there were things I missed out on, there were also lots of things I was able to do because I showed up for that trip.
1 - Sunrise from the window seat.
I was able to watch the sunrise on the first flight from Cincinnati to Chicago. The plane was only 2/3 full, so I didn't even have to touch anyone on that flight!
There's something about flying through the clouds, rising above the daily routine of life, and seeing things from a different perspective. I was grateful for that chance!
That second flight from Chicago to Birmingham, however, hurt my ears!
I chewed gum to help my ears pop and adjust to the pressure changes, and I used an Aroma Ring with essential oils to help my body and mind relax during the flight. But my ears still--almost two weeks after the trip!--sound like I'm in an echo chamber.
I've been using oils to help drain the ear tubes, taking supplements to help decongest my sinuses, and I went to my chiropractor to get adjusted. But it's not coming back as quickly as I had hoped.
Thankfully the pain is gone, but there are certain frequencies I don't pick up on very quickly right now.
It's also a test to trust the process of letting the body heal, along with a test in patience and having grace with others!
2 - I was able to pick the brain of someone I had only known from a distance. My friend Andy has been writing and speaking and coaching for a number of years. So when he invited me to stay with him for the weekend as he taught the content in -erson, I was grateful when my calendar was clear and my wife said "Yes."
His new book is all about how to Amplify your message, what different types of media you can use to communicate that message, and how to turn it into an income.
He spoke from 9am-6pm on Friday and Saturday, with some breaks mixed in. It felt like drinking from a firehose!
But being able to bring home the workbook, with all of the content and ideas I wrote down during the sessions, has been very valuable.
I have a speaking engagement next week that I have been preparing for.
Can I share something with you that two weeks ago I would have thought I was crazy for saying?
I'm working on turning it into a book! My goal is to have it finished and ready for next week! (But because it's my first one, I'm giving myself til the end of the month!)
If you want to be one of the first to know when it's ready, click the button below!
3 - I shared a lot of great food with Andy and his wife Beth, along with others I had only met virtually as well.
That was probably my favorite part: getting to meet some friends in-person and get to know them in a deeper way.
I have learned that life is better when connected with others. It can be valuable to broaden our horizons and meet new people from time to time. The experience can enrich our lives more deeply than if we simply stayed within our normal walls and routine.
Don't be afraid to expand your horizons!
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