35,000 feet above ground

It’s amazing how much thinking you can do when you’re flying above the clouds. I have been traveling now a couple of times a month from Texas to Michigan since March for my role with a new organization and it has truly been a learning experience. When I was little I used to travel by plane a few times a year, but I would say that the last two decades prior to this new role I have maybe gotten on an airplane 3 times. It is humbling to think about what human ingenuity and genius have been able to accomplish in such little time.

I have been given a once in a lifetime opportunity to work for and with an inspiring group of folks who are helping to build the future of what is a storied and maybe even historic organization. With every opportunity comes a cost, you learn that in basic economics, it’s just something to balance the scales in life, the cost for me is a few days a week every few weeks or so.

This cost however has given me the understanding that moments matter. The time you spend is important, and at the end of the day you are cared for and about. I really have received a gift, the gift of understanding the impact I have on my family… my wife, my daughters, and my son. It has made me realize that I was a bit tough on him at times, and I needed to set a better example of patience and understanding. It has taught me that being present for my wife is important. I have learned so much more about her, the way she phrases things, the way she loves and cares for the kids, the burden she feels about being a professional in education and the people she is responsible for. The way she just wants me to be a little more keyed in and feel like we’re connected. I think we have laughed more in the last month TOGETHER than we have in years combined.

Life gets heavy! As life happens, you grow older, you have children, and life happens! You start to realize how important moments are, but you also lose sight of how important taking a breath and being in the moment is. I am still learning the balance of work and life and trying to master being able to just be.

I’ll continue to learn and grow and share as I go through the journey, and hopefully one day someone might come across this and benefit.

Cheers! From 35,000 feet!