Cookie Monster, main character vibes, Alex the lion, yes vs no

 -It's been one of those weeks where every day kinda feels like an entire week all by itself. 

-When I was a kid, I broke one of my collarbones. Because I didn't break a limb, they couldn't use a cast. I had to wear this half-nelson sling for a few months. Not comfortable. It taught me for some aches and pains, we have no choice but to heal out in the open.

-It is a grace from God that we as human beings do not have to keep track of everything we need to do. I never have to remind my heart to keep beating. This is good! My eyes remember to blink all by themselves. I have a enough trouble remembering to drink enough water, or to eat a proper amount of vegetables.

-I still harbor disappoint about Cookie Monster going corporate and giving up cookies for vegetables. He sold out.

-The strongest friendships and working relationships I have are those where we've fought, and then have done the careful, intentional work of mending fences.

-On prayer: I'd be way worse off in life if God had said 'yes' to every prayer I've uttered. Praise the Lord for the 'no, I've got a better idea for you' answers.

-I ran out of bread crumbs once when preparing to bake a meal, and substituted flax seed to make up the difference. Bad idea. Quite a bad idea. 

-What in life is worth celebrating? What was worth celebrating last week? Remember. It's calming to think on such awesome stuff, to write them all down, and to recall. 

-Speaking of: gratitude and giving thanks are not synonymous. Gratitude is how we can feel. Giving thanks implies something we do, and verbalize.

-Look for the glory in people, and point it out to them that you see it, and what you see.

-C.S. Lewis: "If you do one good deed, your reward is usually to be set to do another and harder and better one."

-An underrated way to succeed in most of life is to do boring stuff really well.

-One of the counterintuitive lessons I've learned is that I do not have to need to have the same role in other people's lives. Sure, I'm a main character in a few people's stories. 

Way, way more often though, I'm a cameo. A walk-on. Perhaps a recurring character, but usually part of the background. My role differs from person to person. This is also one of the most freeing realities I've realized. 

It's probably the same for you. You and I, we don't need to muster main character energy for everything and for everywhere.

-Yesterday, one of y'all challenged me yesterday to a race through that bouncy obstacle course on the Quad. I felt honored to be challenged. And surprised. Highlight of my day yesterday. I did try to win, but in retrospect, glad I took the L -- winning probably would have brought more challenges, and more times tripping through that bouncy course. Once was plenty good.

-A best friend of mine has long been a fan of old BMW's. Until I heard him talk about them, I never noticed these vehicles on the road. Now, I see them all the time. Don't know about you, but it seems like I have to know something's name before I can truly begin to see it. 

And this doesn't just apply to cars.

-I'm thankful for my father. I know lots of people who felt pressure from their dads to pursue a vocation, to carry on the family name. Not my dad. He never, ever put that on us to follow in his footsteps (even though he had the same job as his dad). He wanted us to work hard with whatever we ended up doing. Aside from that, he didn't express much preference on where we applied ourselves. What a relief. 

Speaking of parents, what are some ways your parents have done well in how they're raising you? You should tell them.

-On considering different viewpoints: I've been persuaded in life more by patience and presence than by arguments and immediate replies.

-A quote I saw recently that rings true: "Your future is hidden in your daily routine." Yep. Something of what you'll end up doing a lot in your future is something you do presently, somewhere in your life. 

-There's a plot hole in Madagascar (the movie) that's always bothered me: the idea that Alex the lion, who normally feasts on copious amounts of steak, could be satiated by some mini bites of sushi. That's ridiculous. Why not just go feast on the fossa?