Back to Routine, Full of Gratitude
There’s something refreshing about returning to your own rhythm after time away. The past two weeks have been a blur of travel, new faces, breathtaking views, time with family, and little moments that made me pause in gratitude. From standing on stage at a national conference to savoring Earl Grey ice cream under the Colorado sun, these days were rich with experiences worth remembering.
141. Great Talk at a National Conference
142. New Connections
143. Hiking the Rocky Mountains
144. Delicious Hand Rolls
145. Perfect Weather
146. Earl Grey Ice Cream
147. Strolling to the Red Rocks Amphitheatre
148. A Great Conversation with an Uber Driver
149. Running into an Old Coworker
150. Fishing
#141: 🎤 Great Talk at a National Conference
Two weeks ago, I had the honor of speaking at a national conference in Denver, Colorado, alongside the Dean of my program. Our presentation, Fostering Belonging for Students at a College, drew a little over 30 attendees. The reception was heartwarming. Several participants stayed afterward to share how impactful the talk was. My hope is that they bring what they learned back to their campuses and create practices that truly help students feel they belong.
#142:🤝 New Connections
I connected with higher education staff from across the country, swapping stories about both successes and challenges. Hearing about shared struggles and creative solutions was both validating and inspiring.
#143: 🏔 Hiking the Rocky Mountains
While in Colorado, my partner and I hiked a trail in Rocky Mountain National Park. The 3-hour trek was moderately challenging, but the view from the top was humbling—a sweeping panorama that made us pause in awe. I’m deeply grateful for the memory we made together. Look at the photo that I took above.
#144:🍣 Delicious Hand Rolls
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I love sushi. On this trip, I tried hand rolls—like sushi, but in a crisp seaweed cone. Just writing this makes my mouth water.
#145: ☀️ Perfect Weather
We lucked out, sunny skies, dry heat, and hardly a drop of rain the entire trip.
#146:🍦 Earl Grey Ice Cream
Move over, black raspberry, there’s a new contender. Earl Grey ice cream was a surprising, fragrant delight. I may have found my second favorite flavor.
#147: 🎶 Strolling to the Red Rocks Amphitheatre
We made a stop at Red Rocks Park in Jefferson County, home to the iconic amphitheater. A concert that night kept us from going inside, but the walk around the park was stunning. We even spotted a mother deer with two fawns, an unforgettable sight.
#148: 🚗 A Great Conversation with an Uber Driver
One of my favorite ways to experience a place is by talking with locals. Our driver, a towering 6’6” artist, had traveled the globe—from China to Ethiopia to countless U.S. states. His stories were as colorful as his life.
#149: 👋 Running into an Old Coworker
This weekend brought an unexpected joy: running into a coworker I hadn’t seen in 12 years. We swapped updates and reminisced about old colleagues.
#150: 🎣 Fishing
Over the past two weeks, I went fishing a couple of times. I’m no pro, but being out in nature with the water lapping nearby is pure relaxation.
Weekly Spotlight
A parable: The Monk and the Minister
Two close boyhood friends grow up and go their separate ways. One becomes a humble monk, the other a rich and powerful minister to the king. Years later they meet.
The minister, seeing his friend’s worn robes and thin frame, says, “If you could learn to cater to the king, you wouldn’t have to live on rice and beans.”
The monk replies, “If you could learn to live on rice and beans, you wouldn’t have to cater to the king.”
Most of us fall somewhere in between. As for me, I’d rather be closer to the monk.
—J.L. Collins, The Simple Path to Wealth