I Was Just Thinking

Hi, friends. What’s on your mind this month?

To start with, that’s an interesting phrase unto itself, isn’t it: on your mind? What comes to mind when you think of it? I can imagine several boxes or parcels of various weights sitting on my mind, maybe stacked on top of each other, fighting not to slide off. These are the anxieties, of course. What about the hopeful things, the happy thoughts? Those seem more buoyant to me, like light clouds or brilliant balloons floating up, or sunlight drawing my mind upward. Those joys would be the opposite of the things weighing on my mind.

What’s on my mind? Oh, that’s kind of you to ask.

I guess, to start, all the normal stuff: the fate of our country, the august August heat, my daughter, whom we still call the Bean, starting her career at BHS, and the health and well-being of several family members.

Something else that comes to mind is that this month marks the 30th anniversary of our communications company, PioneerDream (formerly Pioneer Productions). I’m thinking about the 1996 version of my wife and me, working a little too earnestly in those early years, as if the fate of the world (or at least the Ville) might depend on us. We had such lofty ideals. The crooked, rocky trail that led us to here looks nothing like we expected. Bear in mind, there were highs, like working with the US Olympic Swim Team, making our own movies, and traveling the country. But there were plenty of lows, like losing accounts, project failures, burnout, or having your electricity or water shut off during really slow months. (I’m not sure launching a business really counts if you don’t have one of your utilities shut off at least once as you are starting up.)

Just keeping a business alive and viable for three decades is a major triumph for us. In that time, we were often rescued from many of our own dreams (which were often just burdens in disguise) despite our desperate pursuit of them. We’ve met truly wonderful people. We’ve done high-quality work for Fortune 100 companies and indispensable non-profits, as well as producing our own creative projects.  We continue to launch new, hopefully relevant ventures. And we’ve discovered new passions we could never have foreseen when we started. So, cheers, PioneerDream. We still love ya.

I’m also reminded of how our family did something truly brave this summer. We packed our backpacks and carry-on suitcases and flew across “the pond” to Spain. It was fantastic on so many levels. First, we did it. We saved up, bought the tickets, cleared customs, managed the “language barrier,” and just figured it out. Second, we put ourselves in the hands of another culture - one that embraced us - and we learned from it. Third, we made the whole trip without losing or killing each other - which is no small thing.

Along the way, I learned that my daughter, Evanjalyn, is a pretty great navigator. My wife remains a skilled traveler and coordinator. And, even without a common language, there is so much to learn, witness, and share. We did our very best to represent you well. And each person who learned we were from Oklahoma in Estados Unidos (home of vaqueros…cowboys) was excited to meet us.

I know a trip like this isn’t within everyone's reach. (Though it is much more do-able than most realize.) But some travel is likely possible for you. Something outside your immediate comfort zone. Something that feels a bit like a dare. Something that requires you to “figure it out” on the spot. If you can, do that. And do it sooner rather than later. And commit yourself as early as you can: book airfare or a hotel, or call someone and tell them you’re coming next week…before it slips your mind.

Something else that has been on my mind lately is a conversation my wife and I had while we were in Madrid. (See, that’s another great thing about traveling: you get to throw out “Madrid” in casual conversation like a humble brag.) How Ann-Janette and I got onto the topic escapes my mind, but it’s relevant just the same. We were talking about the objective of “doing the good you can do.” That’s a pretty good life’s ambition… but how do you do it in practical, daily ways? This is where we got to: what if, each time you found yourself in a conversation, a text exchange, a restaurant, a coffee order, a traffic situation, or a visit with someone, you asked yourself - how can I make this better? Someone is struggling. How can I make this better? You’re caught in a text exchange that goes negative. How can I make this better? You show up to a meeting, and everyone is staring at their phones instead of engaging. How can I make this better?

Sometimes making things better at the restaurant means recognizing how busy the staff is, so you get your table’s order ready for when they arrive instead of acting like you’re the only person there. Sometimes making things better means offering compliments instead of critiques. Sometimes making things better means literally asking: how can I help, what can I carry, where can I go, how can I get out of your way?  It springs to mind that in the Christian practice, we would call this being salt and light. Maybe making things better means knowing when to speak your mind and when not to. On occasion, silence can be a wonderful gift - especially if you are out of your mind. And everyone is from time to time.

Considering how to make things better is a wonderful way to be mindful in a given day. I’m truly awful at it, but I’m getting better as I put my mind to it.

I’m also thinking about how grateful I am to do this each month. You don’t have to read this, but you do. Sharing this conversation with you allows me to order my thoughts and let some ideas congeal to a place where I can actually use them. And I love talking about all this with you when we see each other out in the Ville. Thanks for being a part of this with me. And thanks for letting me share what was on my mind this month.

I’ll meet you back here next month. Until then, there is so much good we can do; let’s go do it. Peace out, my friends.