The tendency is to move too fast. The tendency is to try and get as much done as possible. The tendency is to be all things. I choose something different. I choose to slow down. I choose to be thoughtful. I choose to act with intention. I like using a pen because I must choose to do all the things - slow down, be thoughtful, and be intentional - when I write with one. If I don’t, I’ll smudge up my hand.

In eighth grade, I won a debate tournament with my friend Dave.  In high school, I competed in moot court and forensic tournaments.  In my personal life, I argued with my parents every step of my coming of age.  A debate is for an exchange of ideas with the intent to persuade.  I have learned it is best to exchange ideas so that the people you want to persuade can understand - in their language.  If you want to debate, think about your ideas, craft your message, and use a medium that gives your thoughts a channel to reach others. If art is in the response, then the moment of persuasion must also be in the same - when others start telling themselves the story you’re telling them.  That’s only possible if others trust you.

The COVID-era mainstream greeting involves bumping elbows. Perhaps it’s not that new. Or maybe, I’m just that old fashioned. Or is it merely that I reject the mainstream. You get to be the judge.  To start my case, I start with the question I ask time and time again - what is it for? What is a greeting for?Greetings are for submission and demonstrating vulnerability. They are for allowing someone to hurt you and trusting them that they won’t.  Handshakes? Showing your hands is a way of showing you do not intend to harm.Embraces? Embracing someone involves bringing them close to you - chest-to-chest almost.  A wave? As I wave, I am making the underside of my arm wide-open for an attack. I am opening myself up.  A nod? Lowering your head to another is a form of submission - you see that reaction when you feel shame.But elbows?  If I greet you with my elbow, I am closing my body off to you. I am saying that I do not wish to make myself vulnerable to you. I might be saying that I intend to harm you - an elbow can be a weapon.  COVID is serious. 2020 was what it was, and we need to accept it for what it is. But let’s not forget what things are for, or why we do things.  Perhaps this silly post on greetings is another way to say, don’t lose your intentionality.  I am a fan of intention.  I am not a fan of elbow greetings.

John Brady completed another trip around the sun today. What got him through this trip? All of the usuals - sarcasm, wit, intellect, dirty jokes, deep thoughts, stupid thoughts, thought-provoking thoughts, family, the favorite grandson (he only has one), and golf. With all of that, I still don’t think today is any more special than any other day. Stay with me.

Birthdays are for remembering birth and appreciating life. If that is what they are for, then wouldn’t every day be worthy of being called a birthday?  

I started thinking that with so many things being digital, we don’t need to sit and meet too often anymore. Do we?We can “meet” over a Google Doc and brainstorm ideas.We can “meet” over Slack/Messenger and quickly get an idea out.we can “meet” over the Zoom while simultaneously working on a shared document. There are so many ways to “meet” without having a meeting.There are so many ways to get work done, without having to meet to do it. Am I opposed to meetings?Nope. I’m just pro finding a better way.

I know it’s been a month. I would apologize, but I am not sorry.The reason it’s been a month is because work picked up quite a bit. Even though it has, I still feel like something is missing.

Ever have that feeling?

I’ve spent a month connecting with over 100 people talking about their careers, the work they want to get to do, and why it matters. I love that work. But something is still missing.

I had a potluck with a friend last night. Potlucks encourage empathy. We have to be curious about the dish someone else made, want to understand how its made, and enjoy the experience of eating it. The work I do now - diversity & inclusion recruiting - feels like a giant potluck. I meet people from all walks of life, understand their stories, and enjoy the experience of connecting them with a job. What if life - and people - felt more like a potluck than a competition?

Be intentional.

If the food tastes divine - you don’t need to gorgeIf an opportunity presents - you don’t need to jump on it.

If someone asks you for help - you don’t need to drop everything and help.

Being intentional means knowing the path you’re on, being aware of your surroundings, and committing to your journey.

Build resilience to say no to the things that don’t matter.

Embrace what does.

I ask myself this question as I sit down to write to you, “What do I want tomorrow to be about?” As a statement of intention, deciding what I hope tomorrow will bring helps me decide how to act today. Having a big goal, long-term plan, strategy, and the whole nine yards is good. But if you can’t decide what tomorrow brings, what good was the long game? The dumbest point of any project plan is when we decide how we’ll act 6 months into the future. The smartest point is when we acknowledge that we don’t know how 6 months in the future will look, but we can reasonably estimate how the next week might turn out. Dream big. Plan small.

Personal efficiency. To do what you’re doing, but do it better. What does doing it better mean? Doing it better means that what you intend to do happens the way you intend for it to happen. I intend for myself to read, plan my day, and blog. I don’t intend for myself to have to do it at the same time every day.  Until now, I had believed that a routine helps me operate at my best. I woke up at a specific time, made coffee a certain way, and sat in the same place to plan my day. Now, I believe it’s something different.Today I did not do any of the things I typically do. Today I woke up later, made coffee, and did some other tasks. It’s now 2:30 pm, and I am writing my blog and thinking about what’s next. I let the beginning of the day be about what “felt” right.  Thinking ahead, I will continue to listen to myself. If I feel a need to explore more, I will. If I need to lean into a ritual, I will. What I am getting better at is listening to myself and giving myself permission to be me.