Thankful Thursday - Dec 19th

I’m thankful for the next two weeks being SHORT WORK WEEKS! I’m always grateful for the people in my life, unless otherwise stated. HA! Tell me, what are you thankful for this week?

• Poetry books - I started going through my books and found a few nature poetry books to read. I want to write more, as I used to, and maybe even share some of them with the world? Who knows. Anyway, I’m grateful for peaceful words and relaxing thoughts from these books and the idea of these beautiful places.

• People on vacation - work is challenging without people being here to show me the way, but I think them being gone will force a little self-reliance and I’m thankful for that. I’m trying really hard to leave the stress of this job at work, and I think it’s going well. The drive to and from really helps with my headspace. The 8pm emails on my phone, that’s another story…

• Coffee - Freshly ground coffee will always be superior to any pre-ground or Nespresso bullshit in my mind and I’m grateful for freshly ground and brewed coffee every morning. I bring it up because I’m back to my grind and brew lifestyle as I phase out Nespresso.

• King size bed - I’m thankful for this every week, but specifically this week as I am so sore and achy coming back from the stomach bug and not sleeping enough. I am starfishing and hogging the covers and I have plenty of space to do so.

• Google home - Having my holiday lights and outside lights automated is so freakin’ cool and nice.

• Alone time - With being sick and continuously settling into the house, I’m thankful to be alone. I’m grateful for the quiet moments, being able to blast music over the Google home speakers, and for allowing my crazy organization to happen which usually means everything’s a hot mess for a few days/weeks. I’ve really learned to love being alone.

Sunday Scaries - December First

Things I’m excited about this week:

• Solo road trips - I love listening to podcasts and books and my car is a dream for road trips. (The seats could be a little comfier, but overall a dream) I’m pumped to listen to a new book in the 20+ hours of driving I have this week! I’ll have my snacks, my tunes and entertainment, and plenty of new roads to see!

• Mammoth Caves National Park - This one time in 2021, I got an email from Mammoth Caves and Allegiant airlines because some other Michael Nowak entered his info incorrectly. He was going to Mammoth Caves. Now, I’m going there. Cool story, I know. I’m excited to go do the tour, because I don’t think I’ve explored any bit of Kentucky since I was a kid.

• Having lunch with Megan - I’m going to be passing within an hour or so of my chosen little sister and we just have meet for lunch! We’ve picked out a place, and if time allows, it’s going to happen. Being within 6-8 hours of her will be much better than a whole country.

• Seeing my friends - Spending a long weekend in Nashville with my friends will be a hoot! Turning 40 means I’m looking forward to lots of snacks, board games, and some going-out but too much.

• Exploring Nashville - I’ve only ever passed through on the freeway or been to the airport. I’m excited to go see all the music related sights, look at rich people’s holiday lights, and hopefully find some cute local businesses (breweries, distilleries, coffee shops, stationary places, etc.) to support.

• Jell-O shots - I may be turning 40, but I’m still making Jell-O shots for the occasion. Not to toot my own horn, but toot-toot bitch. My best friend and I used to make them in college and we were pioneers in flavors and alcohol levels people actually wanted. Sure, they were not made with bottom barrel vodka that was a high proof, but they tasted good and were a good accent to other things.

Welcome to December, the best month of the year. More on that, to come. What are some things you’re looking forward to this week?

This was after seeing White Christmas in Georgetown, TX back in 2018 on December 1st.

This was December 1st back in 2016 when I went back to Michigan and it snowed!

30 Days of Thanks - Day 9

Today I’m thankful for friends who are family. The past few years have been wild and I’ve had some good friends by my side along the way. I have some great family, but today I’m thankful for the friends who know everything and are “in” on it all. I’m grateful for all of the visits, late night phone calls, and endless text messages. I’m thankful for the people who helped me pick up the pieces when things fell apart, more than once in the past two to three years.

I’ve always had the best of friends, and I’m forever grateful for the people who I haven’t seen or talked to much in the past two years also. Being back in the Midwest gives me up that we’ll all hopefully see each other more often! I’d be nowhere without the people who help make life better.

Enjoy a few (or more than a few) photos from the past two years. Forever grateful. I love you all.

30 Days of Thanks - Day 5

Today I’m thankful for the Great Lakes. It’s a vague and generalized thing to be thankful for, but I could go on forever about each lake that I have experience with and I just don’t have time for that right now. I’m thankful for their beauty and for their resources. I’ve watched countless sunrises and sunsets over the lakes, stared at the stars all night on the beach, and cooled my body on hot summer days for decades. These lakes are just glorious all year.

I’m grateful for a place to sit and think while I listen to the waves crash on shore. I’m thankful for friends who also enjoy these beautiful places along the lakes. When I lived in Texas or New Mexico, I missed being near them so much. While in Oregon and Washington, I had the ocean and it was a great substitute.

The Great Lakes must be protected and cared for, so go see them for yourself and learn how important they are to the world.

Sunset on Park Point in Duluth, MN over Lake Superior

Sunrise over Lake Superior on Park Point in Duluth, MN

Another Lake Superior Sunrise in Duluth, MN

A cold January sunrise in Duluth, MN over a frozen Lake Superior

Lake Huron sunset, 9pm, Seagull Point Park in Rogers City, MI

Lake Huron sunset in the late fall near Rogers City, MI

Lake Huron Sunset near Rogers City, MI featuring a tamarack tree losing needles in late fall

Summer sunset over Lake Michigan in Grand Haven, MI

Sunrise over Lake Michigan in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (from about 2005)

Summer Sunset over Lake Michigan

Waves crashing on a Lake Michigan beach

30 Days of Thanks - Day 3

Today I’m thankful for this house I rent in this quiet neighborhood in a nice, small town. I have space to breathe, stretch out, store things I love, and have guests for fun visits. I am so thankful to have found a place and that I can afford a house with a deck, garage, basement, and big yard for Chewy.

Back when I moved to Olympia, I had the space and mostly quiet neighborhood. The house was nice, but not like this. Portland was busy, loud, and overwhelming every day I lived there. (I lived there 227 days). I was not doing well with it and wasn’t going to last much longer there. I lived in a busy and noisy part of the neighborhood which started to drive me mad. I miss the people I love in the PNW, but I’m loving my simple and quiet midwest small town life.

I’ve always loved a quiet, suburban town and this is close enough to that here in Lancaster. If I need city life, Columbus is closeby with Cincinnati and Cleveland not too far away either. I can drive 5-6 hours and be in DC, Detroit, Grand Rapids, or almost Chicago or Indy. This place is great and I’m thankful every single day.

30 Days of Thanks - Day 2

Today I’m thankful for this new job and a flexible work schedule that lets me typically work four 10-hour days. The job is more interesting, brought me back to the midwest, and gives me flexibility most weekends. I’ve been learning a lot in the past six weeks, and have a lot more to learn. I’m working hard to make good impressions and navigate my new responsibilities.

This new job is opening doors that have been closed for years and teaching me so much.

#MondayMotivation - More thankful in March (week 4 - a day late)

MORE THANKFUL MARCH - week four

• I’m thankful for REI dividends from both REI shopping and my REI branded credit card. I’ve earned enough points with spending and paying off that I have new shoes coming that I didn’t pay for!

• I’m thankful the month is closing and the projects are wrapping up too.

• I’m thankful people were nice to me even if I got real grumpy with the stress of work projects

• I’m thankful to have 450 miles on my hiking shoes before needing new ones.

• I’m thankful for the privilege to visit Big Bend in one day, even if the 18 hours of driving was a little insane.

• Thankful for visitors from Michigan and an excuse to day drink

I may have had limited amounts of time and funds this month, but I look forward to what April will bring with a little more time and a little more cash flow. I have a park cleanup in Illinois and some good ideas for hiking planned. May will bring even more fun with backpacking (my first time) in Arizona and potential work adventure. I’m hoping to save and plan for some random weekend in Michigan and maybe even a quick trip to California in May - pending the right conditions (plane ticket prices).

I’m thankful for all of the opportunities I’m afforded and work for. I know I’m at an advantage and I’m constantly conscious of that and grateful for everything in my life. Have a great week and a wonderful rest of your month.

#MondayMotivation - More thankful in March (week 3)

MORE THANKFUL MARCH - week three

Inspired by the wonderful Pattie Gonia on Instagram (link here) and my group of outdoor blogger masterminds (Inner Compass) (Jenny the Trailhead) (Indoorsy Camper), I’m thankful for every outdoor experience no matter what it is. Everyone’s version of the outdoors is a little different, but as long as you’re following the laws of public lands and leave no trace, it doesn’t matter what you prefer. Live your best outdoor life. Love the outdoors in any way you can that suits your abilities and desires.

Some of my favorite ways to get outside:

• Road trips - sometimes even without hiking because I don’t have the time

• Camping - state parks, federal land, private campgrounds… it doesn’t matter!

• Hiking - both (soon to be) backpacking, local trails, loops, in and out, short hikes, long hikes

• Nature walks on paved paths in the metroplex through the various trail systems - there are a ton of birds to watch, that’s for damn sure!

• Walking my dog in the neighborhood nearby and/or visiting the city park

• Boating with the family on the lake - this includes just cruising, swimming, or any combination of the two

• Sitting in someone’s back yard with a bonfire, having a drink, and listening to the frogs in the nearby creek

• Standing outside in my freeway-adjacent parking lot staring at the sunrise - sure, it’s not ideal, but it’a all I got on a Monday morning before work!

I get outside as often as I can, in any form that I am able to do so. I love every minute I get, even if it’s not exactly what I dream of doing at that second in time. I know, parking lot sunrises probably don’t hold a candle to backcountry sunrises, but sometimes you just take what you get and you love it for what it is. So this week, be thankful for any experiences you get outside and own them.

Have a great week, get outside if that suits ya, and enjoy yourselves!

#MondayMotivation - More thankful in March (week 2)

MORE THANKFUL MARCH - week two

I’m genuinely so lucky to know such wonderful people. Some are people I know well and see often, some are virtual friends, and some are long time best buds who I don’t get to see very often at all. I’m just lucky. I’m thankful. I have a circle of people who represent a wide range of life experiences and who bring different bits of expertise to the table when it comes to getting through all that life has to offer.

THE CLOUD

I don’t have the luxury of unlimited vacation time or funds, so I don’t get to see this wonderful circle of people as often as I’d like. Living in DFW metro area is a bit nuts, too, as I have family just 70 miles southwest and rarely get to see them because it just takes forever and battling traffic on a Friday night is almost more work than working for eight hours. These are all small problems to have, I know, and I realize it’s my cloud and not everyone’s dilemma.

THE SILVER LINING

Sometimes, I get to power through a Friday drive and visit my family at their respective houses here in Texas or even do the 20 hour drive to Northern Michigan. I am lucky because I have a flexible work schedule and paid time off so I get to utilize that time to visit with friends (new and old) as well as family all while seeing new places along the way. I have reliable transportation and I accumulate airline miles as well as set money aside for travel. The real silver lining is that I have people in all sorts of places and I’m lucky to be able to visit them and vacation at the same time. That’s winning at life, in my book.

My point, I knew I had one, is to treasure the relationships you build that work out. People, near and far and of varying connection levels are important and truly wonderful. You just never know who you’ll meet, virtually or not, so dare to be bold about it and make the connection. Say YES to invitations, say YES to offers, and say YES to life. Also, be the one that makes it happen and make an offer to your circle; advice I’m going to take more seriously this year.

Met some folks from Twitter and am lucky enough to be adventuring with some of them this year.

#MondayMotivation - More thankful in March

MORE THANKFUL MARCH - week one

This month, and generally speaking, I want to work harder to motivate myself and others through being more thankful for something I already have. I personally lose sight of things when I get overwhelmed, and I’m sure that is a common reaction to stress. I’m going to try to focus on some silver linings of situations that are less than amazing, but unavoidable for me and maybe it’ll inspire you to see the other side of your situation.

THE CLOUD

Today, and probably for the next couple of weeks, I’ll be busy working. It is what we in the biz call “Greenhouse Gas Season” as all companies who have to, must report their greenhouse gas emissions before March 31. I’ve been doing this since 2015, which isn’t long, but the first quarter of the year is devoted to it and the work can consume my brain. It’s affecting my attitude and sleep, but I don’t know why and the only reason I can think of is that I’m doing the work in a new way this year and it’s taking a lot of getting used to overall?

THE SILVER LINING

I am learning so many new techniques with the work this year and at my new job in general. I can EASILY say that in the few months I’ve been on board, I’ve learned more than I ever did in two years at my previous job. Now, I’m not here to talk shit about it, it is just two different companies and their employee development focuses are different. As mentioned, I have an excellent support system at work with experts from all backgrounds who can usually help me fix an issue or answer a question quickly. This will all be over, also, and a new project will come along and I’ll be busy with that and I’ll have to remember things always keep going!

I’m going to try my best this week and I hope you find your way down the best path for you!

From this week back in March of 2016 (Lake Granbury - Granbury, Texas)