Kid Stuff

Occasionally it strikes me what strange thing it is that I have a small person who lives in my house and depends upon me for everything.

Just a short time ago it was me, then it was my wife and me, now it's the three of us.

He's five, and every day is a weird little miracle. Growing body, growing mind, growing vocabulary, growing sense of humor, growing attitude, and a growing sense of self. The coolest thing of all is to sit back and watch him navigate his way through the world. Encounter new things, solve problems, develop his code of how to manage things. With some correction; and probably more of it from me than is needed, he's making his way in the world. Figuring out where everything is and how to relate to it.

Most days it's just part of the routine. But some days it's a really cool show to sit back and watch, and it reminds me that I should do more watching and listening and less interfering and instructing.

Today I am taking a minute to remember how lucky I am to have that footy-pajama wearing, back-talking, super loving, peanut butter eating miracle in my house.

Giving Myself a Standing O

I am changing my expectations.

I have worked for years assuming that the people for whom I worked would reciprocate the loyalty that they made clear that they expected of me. The don't and they won't. That's not on them...it's on me. It's business.

I'm adjusting my view and my life. My view is that loyalty is for friends and contemporaries. It doesn't move up or down the chain unless it's earned. I'm putting myself in a position, by starting Standing O, my new company, to surround myself and work with people with whom I want to work. Choose your path, choose your surroundings, choose your team.

D