Happy Halloween! I hope you all enjoy time with friends and family while trick-or-treating/partying tomorrow. It’s super rainy this morning so fingers crossed the weather is better tomorrow night. Here are some Halloween fun-facts to start off this week’s newsletter:

1. Halloween is more than 2,000 years old
2. Illinois produces almost 5x the pumpkins of any other state
3. Candy corn was originally called “chicken feed”
4. Keene, NH holds the record for most jack-o-lanterns on display at one time

Quotes of the Week from Me:

“Helping others to grow does not hinder you.”

“Privacy is powerful.”

“It is often easier to learn by doing. Don’t let others tell you where and when to begin.”

“Build, create, challenge, fight. There is beauty on the road ahead.”

Quotes of the Week from Others:

“And just when I almost forgot, / Autumn reminds me / there is beauty in falling apart.” – Liz Fair

“A successful team beats with one heart.” – Unknown (This made me think about my family)

Quick Optimism:

Reset. Restart. Refocus. But never give up.

Question of the Week:

Well everyone, we did it. Each section now begins with the letter Q. It wasn’t on purpose that 3 out of 4 sections started that way. It just kind of happened and then the new goal was to go 4 for 4. Sure “Full Newsletter” and “Question of the Week” don’t mean the same thing. But if we get creative, we should be able to get where we want to go. Something worth trying to be able to offer four optimistic queues each Monday. Hope you see what I did there.

First ever Question of the Week: What’s really worth your energy?

In so many ways, these are very much worth our energy:

Patience.

Extra research.

1-mile walks.

Creating time.

Patience.

On Tuesday I got to the airport for my 9:53am flight to Washington, D.C. around 8:00am. Cloudy. Little chance of rain. I checked my bag and went home. You read that right. I went home. The flight was delayed due to severe weather concerns and I was going to miss my connection. It was a tough sell on my part, but I put trust in United prioritizing the safety of its passengers. My safety. Thankfully the flight attendant was able to get me on another flight to Charlottesville, Virginia later in the afternoon.

Extra Research.

When I arrived in Charlottesville I was pleasantly surprised to find a quaint round-a-bout that hosted several little cottage-style homes. One of them was the inn I was staying at. Not much parking but I found a spot. There was a pool out back and each room possessed the charm of a well-preserved home built in the late 1800’s. There were plenty of other options for hotels, but this one was a hard to beat. Very glad I found it.

1-Mile Walks.

I unpacked. It was later than I anticipated. The Phillies were playing the Diamondbacks for a chance to make it to the World Series but I still had two more hours before the first pitch. I had grabbed a list of local restaurants at the front desk and picked one that looked good. A seafood joint. Exactly one mile away. I walked. It felt good to shake the plane rides out of my legs and it was a nice justification for ordering a beer with dinner.

Creating Time.

Initially I booked the earliest flight possible. It created time for a backup plan that still got me to my destination the same day. By doing extra research, I found a place to stay within walking distance to restaurants, a gym, my work events, and more. I was able to slow down and burn some extra calories while exploring a new place. Easy, everyday lessons like being early, having patience, and walking more are often the building blocks for creating better experiences.

Every time we experience something it is important to consider our options. What do you appreciate? What can you create out of a normal situation to make it that much more enjoyable? I went on a work trip. But certain decisions and actions led to less stress, more fun, and a great way to stretch my legs while seeing more of a town I had never been to. You can get frustrated by delayed travel plans. Yes, you can stay at any hotel that is closest to your conference or event. You can drive to dinner.

How can you make the most of these moments and experiences? What’s really worth your energy?

Make this Monday worth your energy.