Diary 3/14 - 3/21

Daily thoughts that may or may not be helpful.

AI-generated image of this compilation

3/14/25

I want to write a diary and share the entries. It may serve a few purposes: 1) Force me to sit down and reflect on my daily life; 2) Provide amusement as I enjoy writing and feel refreshed by it; 3) Perhaps encourage or inspire those who read it (the most far-fetched of the aims). If it does any one of these things, I would count it successful. But alas, I’ve started so many things with passion, and they fizzle out. Maybe this will be like that. Perhaps it won’t. I won’t know unless I try. I won’t try to write entries that are perfect or publish-worthy but rather sincere and real. I’ll time-block the entries, as making them too extensive will lead to a failed effort. The key will be raw, timed, and consistent.

3/16/25

We volunteered in the nursery at church today. When we found ourselves on the calendar, I prayed to get COVID (okay, I didn’t really, but I thought it would be a nice alternative). The last time we worked in the nursery, it was the morning of the daylight savings time change, which meant kids who didn’t usually attend at that time did attend. They woke up early, so their parents were like, “You’re already up; let’s go to church.” The nursery leaders weren’t expecting this deluge of kids, so we were understaffed. Parents kept dropping off their kids, and with each dropoff, I got less and less friendly. I apologized to some parents later. But thank God, this day at the nursery was the other daylight savings time change, which meant kids were sleeping later, and as you know, “never wake a sleeping baby.” We had a manageable lot, and I didn’t even want COVID.

3/17/25

Today, I sent out a post that I was sure would break the internet. There are particular posts you love, and you “know” the world will feel the same. And some posts are okay, but you still send them because you’re committed to the practice. As a writer, you think you can distinguish between the two. On this day, I was wrong. The post that would break the internet did not, and got less interest than “lessor” posts. I have no clue what my readers like.

3/19/25

There are eight folks on the People Team that I lead. We’re about to add a ninth team member and soon a tenth, so I shared a family story with them today. After Colette and I had our daughter, Asia, we struggled with infertility for several years. We eventually decided to adopt, and after waiting three more years, it was finally time to pick up Rex from the Philippines. Before leaving for the airport, we circled up in our kitchen, held hands, and thanked God for what our family had been, the three of us. A few years later, we did the same on our way to adopt Asher. I told my team how grateful I was for them as we prepare to grow.

3/20/25

At work, we’re doing this fitness challenge where you gain points for being active. I work out four times a week and thought that makes me reasonably active. I’m wrong. Some colleagues are five times as active as I am. My ranking is 158. Even my 75-year-old colleague is ahead of me. It’s because I sit at a desk most days. So I decided to do something drastic - I decided to run 10 miles before going to work. The farthest I’ve ever run at once was seven miles. So I got on the treadmill and started running. The sticker said not to hog the treadmill longer than 30 minutes. I’m usually a rule follower, but this was a rule I had to break. I finished the 10 miles, and I enjoyed it. Maybe I’ll do it again. I’ve got to get ahead of Dolores.