Paring down, to focus more on needful things

Mindset

A thought from yesterday and revisited this morning in the bustle getting liz and our circus to kids club. Essentially I was in my head trying to determine how to pare down things to reduce stress and allow more precise focus. This thought trolled my mind a few times, so I thought to share it in a blog post. So here it is below:

Example, to harvest certain crops, farmers and gardeners employ effort to minimize weeds or other MIS pairings. Yes, at times and with proper and apt skill and application, more can be introduced to support yields. However, the law of diminishing returns almost always applies. The term of ‘pruning’ also immediately applies. At certain times during the ‘law of the harvest’ especially with seasonal changes, certain things are cut away in order to provide the best conditions for future growth.

So, I share this first as a clarification and reminder first to myself so I can revisit this often. Feel free to use or discard applying your findings to this concept.

I tend to follow this personal structure to find ‘truth’:

• faith-based philosophy
• stoicism
• evidence based knowledge and practice aka science
• Acta non verba
• Sprinkling in ‘winging it’
• Dashing in stubborn wanderlust
• and humbled acceptance of being an imperfect human

Life is an experiment. It is full of many experiments based on hypotheses that are often mis-calibrated. I’m grateful to an iterative process that allows me to continuously reinvent myself building on the foundations to which I have learned to be true.

I observe many on similar journeys. It’s ok to be in the journey. It’s also ok to become lost, to wander, to question, to be confused. It is my observation that many who don’t go through and encounter these processes, may never intersect with the ‘truth’. I heard it said recently sometimes while running, we know where we have determined to finish and arrive. During the run however, we may have to focus on the next street light or fence post or even sidewalk lines. After some time tho, and focusing on those incremental targets, we will most often arrive previously identified finish.

Remember above how I shared, sometimes one must pare things down – sometimes that means you will do it alone with out other humans. I have personally observed this isn’t always necessary. But, when it is or if I find myself in often perceived darkness, I know the sun always rises in the east and sets in the west! I know the sun is there despite interferences from nature, humans, or anything else. So in those moments, I do my best to shoulder what I will or am going through to see the rays of light from the sun -whether in the east or west. I have been frustrated, I have been confused, I have often been equal parts right and not right (notice I did not say wrong). I guess this is where I am as my health and training plan is concerned. I’m currently going from sidewalk line to sidewalk line or street lamp post to street lamp post. Or, somewhere in between, but here I am.

Sunday Run

I don’t often choose to run on Sunday, but today I did. I was looking at Training Peaks and I want to test and see where my body is at and if things keep moving in an ok direction, be ready for October 23. My run details can be seen here:

The good thing is that overall, the timing is where I need it to be. I was able to just let go a few times. My wife even found me on the run and cat called me, even though I was a bit confused until I realized it was her. I’m hoping this meant I didn’t look like death. While running I was taken back in my mind to Bremen Germany. A few walks with Lucas, a miracle in a procedure for my wife. I guess my reflection was about the unknown. I was taking my wife for a procedure in a foreign land for approx 42k overall cost. Never in a million years would I have thought while I was 21-25 to be able to shoulder something like that.
Also while running I was monitoring myself given the recent medical fun. I am monitoring and listening intently tot he signals from my body. During this run, although it wasn’t nearly as fast as I have been in the past, I was comfortable with the bit of discomfort that showed. Mainly on the hills – the downs were worse than the ups. I took a moment to capture a few pix, and I posted about it on facebook:

My health

I am still awaiting interpretation of blood results. I am still waiting from the physician if I should have a hard stop on October 23. Until then I am doing my best to navigate this space with patience and caution. There are a few initial concerns that Liz and I see int he bloodwork. So we will have to see what is next after feedback and recommendation from this physician.

My training

It is clear that after taking a week off due to my health concerns, the accumulated fatigue has lessened its grips and stress on my mind and body. I am keeping to the original plan for now. Liz and I are making plans for California and making sure that Juniper and Astrid can do IronKids regardless of choices I make. This will also allow Dennis to come along. My training if I am honest, has been mostly solid until that Thursday interruption. I often take the plan load it into Training Peaks and then I move or adjust things a bit to adjust with my family life. While I do find myself making sacrifices here and there, that’s what I do as a husband, and dad. At times it does get a bit heated, but I am grateful for my patient and generally understanding wife and chaotic circus. I need to get a few more good swim sessions in this week, and I may sneak a few in if I can, Work is loading up with a change in customers so I will see how that impacts the next two weeks.
I also need to get a bike tune in. I also need to get an oil change on the car in. I also need to make sure I don’t die for Liz’s and my family’s sake. you know the chaotic little things.