I’m not the biggest fan of the extended holiday season but treasure the special gathering of family and friends that feels unlike any other time. Last year, I learned firsthand that Christmas doesn’t have to happen on December 25. Our holiday in 2021 was postponed but I ended up receiving a great lesson in adaptability. My great disappointment was soon replaced with feelings of joy as our Christmas held days later proved to be just as sacred as any in the past. I recalled that memory often this year when so many travelers had their holiday disturbed by horrible weather and travel issues. My heart went out especially to those in my hometown of Buffalo who dealt with a blizzard for the ages. RANDOM SOMERSAULT: One of the more surreal experiences in my life was living through Buffalo’s “Blizzard of ’77.” I shared a bit about that in a post last year. Last month’s catastrophic storm appears to have supplanted the one from my childhood as the most devastating natural disaster to hit Western New York. Meanwhile in Chicago, my wife, daughter, son, and I braved minus-12 wind chill to watch the Buffalo Bills play the Bears at Soldier Field on Christmas Eve. Even though it exposed us to the frigid conditions for a longer period, we acclimated to the temperature and wind gusts with an early arrival to enjoy some pre-game field access. The walk home after the game sure helped with blood flow and returned feeling to our feet. We now fondly accept our badge of courage for weathering (pun intended) the fifth coldest Bears game (tied for third coldest if going by wind chill) ever played at the stadium. A picture from the day was featured in our annual family digital holiday card that we texted to family and friends the night before Christmas. I kicked off 2023 by addressing a pet peeve (well, something a bit worse than a “pet peeve”) and hopefully provided helpful advice with this LinkedIn post. Attention to detail is a characteristic that is often compromised for the sake of speed and volume when it comes to content, especially the written word. I’m shocked by how many company websites include copyrights that are even a couple of years old. Whenever I come across this while visiting a site, it instantly raises doubt in my mind about the organization. I’m not alone in my thinking. “Ever come across a site and notice that the footer’s copyright year is from several years ago? It may lead you to question whether the site is operational or speculate on the company’s professionalism. Being careless with this detail is kind of like walking into an important client meeting with a partially unzipped fly — not the end of the world, but yikes, embarrassing.” I did not kick off the new year, nor ever have, by making resolutions that begin on January 1. Rather, I guide myself every day of the year through private mantras and a personal mission statement and affirmations that are revised from time to time. Then, throughout the year I sprinkle in a goal or three for added personal improvement. One action I took in late 2022 is the routine of daily journaling. Each day now begins with some alone time as I detail thoughts, observations, inspirations into an entry that always starts with a list of what I am grateful for in my life. I must admit it is a transformational exercise that does wonders. It is one thing to have thoughts race through your mind, it is another to stop and give more critical thought to them by emptying them on to a page. RANDOM SOMERSAULT: I am grateful for many simple pleasures in life that shouldn’t be overlooked. For instance, I appreciate the smell and taste of delicious coffee in the morning. We grind beans from one of Chicago’s fine coffee roasters. Our personal favorite is The Coffee & Tea Exchange in Lakeview East. Our “go-to” blends are “Dave’s” and “Steve’s” but like to sample others as well. I encourage you to explore the many health benefits from daily journaling and how it can positively impact your everyday life and improve the ability to achieve your dreams and goals. You can learn more by clicking on this article: The article just so happens to include one of my late father’s favorite quotes – a line I used in my eulogy at his funeral. "The life of every man is a diary in which he means to write one story, and writes another; and his humblest hour is when he compares the volume as it is with what he vowed to make it." A vow (maybe you can call it a resolution) for the new year is to churn out more “Random Somersaults” on a regular basis. One of the critical rules for a successful blog, aside from compelling content and punchy titles, is publishing often enough. Although the evergreen nature of my blog allows readers to dive into my archive for an entertaining tumble through previous posts, you can expect a more regular rollout of fresh content in 2023.
I also have a special concept planned to work into them periodically that I hope you’ll enjoy. Stay tuned.
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WHY "RANDOM SOMERSAULTS?""Random Somersaults"
features storytelling based on themes spurred by personal and professional experiences and thoughts that represent a broad range of topics with a few random, yet relevant, detours. It is a terrific way to get to know Pete Fierle as you gain insight into how he processes information through this less formal and creative style of writing. The blog has been described as “fun and informative” and “what fun to meander through ideas and streams of consciousness.” AuthorPete Fierle has a love for all mediums but a special affinity for the written word (that flows from a keyboard or fountain pen) as a powerful platform for storytelling. ARCHIVEBe sure to check out the archives and roll through past posts for a variety of topics and stories.
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