Some Observations: Fall 2023

You know that feeling you get when you think something happened 20 years ago, then suddenly realize it was actually just a month ago?

I had a few moments like that as I was collecting some thoughts together for this post.

For instance, writing the word fall in the title felt so strange as I sit here on December 28.

Then I was reminded, it's only officially been winter for one week. What?

It's true.

Even though these are reflections from the fall, in them I have some ideas that came to me this summer. Summer felt like it was 20 years ago. Time is a wonderfully bizarre thing.

If you're keen to read some random ideas from me on a regular basis, I share a new post every Sunday on my blog.

As always, I am deeply grateful for the gift of your attention, dear reader.

Journeying

My family and I were lucky enough to take a very special trip this summer. We visited Singapore, which is a place where I used to live and haven't been to for over 10 years. While we were there, I had the opportunity to connect with members of my family that I hadn't seen since before the pandemic. It was a pretty magical time and it lead to several moments of reflection. The posts below contain some of those reflections, with the first one being a moment that I am still thinking about almost six months later.

The Part of You That Stayed There (3 min read)

The Real Singapore (2 min read)

Pack Your Principles (4 min read)

Doing

I started a new course this fall and our kids started gymnastics for the first time. There's a lot to be learned when you start something new. Below are a few reflections about what happens when we start things. The last one is a bit of an exception, because it's applicable at any time, though it can be particularly useful when starting a new relationship.

Try not to Think (2 min read)

Noise in the Beginner's Mind (3 min read)

The Timing of Feedback (2 min read)

Fixating

I realize the irony in being so fixated on this idea that I decided to give it its own section in this summary. Perhaps when you read these two parts, you'll be fixated on them as well. One has to do with mountain biking and the other has to do with job titles. Yes, they're related.

Target Fixation (2 min read)

Target Fixation: Part Two (2 min read)

Caring

The two posts below contain stories that depict moments of vulnerability from my life. These moments often reveal a lot about who we are, whether we knew it or not.

The Things we Save in a Flood (3 min read)

The Story About Stories (3 min read)

Thank you always for the gift of your attention.

Have a wonderful start to your New Year.