What I got rid of today.

Hmmm...

Today, I RID a water bottle that I had at my last job.

I start a new job on Tuesday, can’t really share a lot about it yet — but, suffice it to say,…it’s keeping me in Dallas.

When I originally moved here, I assumed I’d move out as soon as I was out of my old job. After all, after 20 years on the West Coast – why would I hang out in a red state any longer than I have to?

But, I’m staying…and in the last couple of years…I’ve definitely learned some lessons.

1) You can create your reality wherever you are – sure, Dallas is no Seattle. But there are pockets of the town that remind me of the Seattle I love. And, truth be told, I may treasure these little pockets more here simply because they feel so special.

2) It’s people who matter. While I left a lot of great friends in Seattle, I’ve made some powerfully important connections in the big ‘ol state of Texas. And, little by little, that’s making it feel like…”home.”

3) Travel makes me whole. The nature of my job, and of my personal desire, make me travel…a lot. And I’m coming to terms with the fact that I NEED that. To move, to encounter new things, and to constantly put myself in situations where I’m recognizing new challenges.

So, here’s to the city of Dallas…thanks for welcoming me. I must admit, you’ve surprised me.

Hadn't changed the photo since college.

I’ve decided I have too many picture frames, so for the next few weeks…I’m going to RID them one a week.

And, rather than talking about the frame, I’m going to talk about the picture that was in it.

This frame housed the picture of my parents and I at my college graduation.

My graduation was a huge step for me. Coming from a blue-collar background in rural Iowa, college was no guarantee. But I worked hard, and with my parent’s financial help, I graduated from Creighton University.

I think now (differently than I did then) that academics in college weren’t really that important. What was important was that I earned a degree, which would set up what I could earn later.

What college is valuable for, however…is getting to know who you are…and how to apply it. The socialization with friends, the ability to try out different majors, the ability to test and understand who you are.

Today, as I think about lifelong learning, that’s what it should be good for…to continue to test what you believe…and continually get to know yourself better. By understanding the world around you better.

Here’s to continuous learning…in all its forms.

Never used.

Today, as I sit home on another blustery, traffic shutting-down kind of day in Dallas, I RID this software used to track health records. I got it a few years ago, and never have used it.

It’s a reminder that, even on the worst of days, we need to be active…to take care of ourselves, and to honor our bodies…so they honor us.

Stay active all, do what you can today.

Oh, and don’t drive to the gym if the roads are icy…bad idea all around.