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Category: Archives

The full collection of explorations.

Respect

Published on January 12, 2025

I went out to eat dinner with six friends tonight.

After the meal we walked outside, but one friend was missing.

I glanced back in the restaurant and he was cleaning our table, stacking plates and cups, collecting all garbage, and tidying up in the best way he could.

When he finished, he walked out and I said, “respect.”

He replied by saying, “I was a server and know how it can be. Some people leave their space as an absolute disaster… I never want to be that person.”

And it was a good reminder that… neither do I.

Karma In Action

Published on January 11, 2025

I’m thinking about making a big musical equipment purchase.

What’s interesting is the thought I had about how I want to make the purchase.

See, I know a guy who knows everything there is to know about audio and sound system setups. And he has taken care of me whenever I’ve called him for help—as in way overdelivered for the price he charged. And is just an absolute gem of a guy.

Rather than just seek out the amazon or cheapest price purchase, I want to make the purchase through this guy so that he gets a commission cut on it.

…I want to go out of my way to help the guy who has always helped me.

This, my friends, is how karma works.

Awesome Alternate Paths

Published on January 9, 2025

I made space today to take an in-person martial arts class.

I got ready, prepped my gear, and drove to the school…

…Only to find out that it was closed.

So, what did I do?

I turned the car ride into a concert of sorts.

And when I got home, I logged into my YouTube “Academy” and studied content related to what I was going to train in that martial arts class for the rest of my allocated time block.

I turned what could’ve easily been a super annoying inconvenience into an awesome alternate path.

When you live with this kind of mental flexibility… how could you ever lose?

Gustave Flaubert Quote On Being “Regular and Orderly” To Produce Your Best Work…

Published on January 8, 2025

“Be regular and orderly in your life, so that you may be violent and original in your work.”

Gustave Flaubert

Whenever I travel or experience any “violent” changes in routine… my creative work suffers.

…Simply because the time blocked for creative work shrinks in proportion to the amount of time exploring, problem solving, or engaging in unique experiences—expands.

And the days when creative work is the hardest is when I’m doing it at the end of my day, right before bed, when I’m exhausted, and as a last minute obligation because it’s a commitment I want to honor.

…But you know what?

I have yet to regret a post I’ve published.

Even one of the posts I’ve written at 3am after a long night out.

…And you know what’s more?

I have yet to regret an adventure I’ve taken.

If anything, it’s the adventures that have lead to some of my best creative work.

…But you know what most people miss?

It’s the time blocked after the adventures, where I’m able to unpack it all and do some creative work, where the vibrance and meaning of the adventures come to full fruition.

See, it isn’t the “regular and orderly life” that exclusively leads to the “violent and original work” just like it isn’t an adventurous and spontaneous life that would only lead to “regular” work.

It’s the harmony of both elements that we need in our lives: the adventure and the ordinary; the violent and the regular; the spontaneous and the routine.

This is where (and how) our best work lives.

P.s. ICYMI you can read the best of what I posted to MoveMe Quotes last week, here.

On Not Wanting To Force Kids Who Want To Quit

Published on January 7, 2025

Having worked with kids for 20+ years as a Martial Arts Instructor and mentor, I’ve had my fair share of “They want to quit and I don’t want to force them to go…” conversations.

And at first glance, not wanting to force someone to do something sounds legit…

…Because the last thing we want is resentment and misery for all involved.

However, misery is rarely how students feel at the end of any class they attend.

In fact, students most often leave class feeling… great. They’re smiling, joyful, and proud because of that sense of accomplishment that comes from completing something hard.

…See what appears to be “unmotivated” on the surface is really just comfort zone talk deep down.

…It’s a desire to avoid work and do more play. To stay cozied up versus getting down and dirty with some exercise. To kick off the shoes and video game versus kicking some heavy bag’s butt.

And there’s no better example of this than what I see in myself.

…Do you know how many times I want to go to the gym? Zero.

…Do you know how often I try to find excuses not to go? Every time.

But, I still go.

…Why? Because I know the benefits. And I know that I’ve never regretted a workout completed.

And this is the difference we need to teach our kids.

Resistance before is natural and will always be present. And if there’s resentment after, then yes, maybe a deeper conversation is needed. But, if a better state is the typical byproduct? Then you know it’s not resentment that the kids will be building when you push them to go… it’s discipline.

Don’t Call Them New Year Resolutions…

Published on January 6, 2025

Got new year resolutions?

We all know most of them don’t last.

Here’s a test…

Instead of calling it a new year resolution, try calling whatever it is you’re trying to do (or not do) a new life commitment.

…Feel the difference?

For example: If exercising every day is your new year resolution… but, exercising every day as a new life commitment sounds too intimidating or hard… what are you really doing then?

Because the point of a resolution is to make a firm (and lasting) decision to do or not do something. And if you’re not prepared to carry your decision forward for life… then how long are you prepared to carry it forward for?

…Answer this question and you’ll see why most new year resolutions fail. Because most people are only prepared to carry their resolution forward for a short period of time.

Want to change this about yourself?

Easy. Try making your resolution easier and run it through the same test again.

Repeat until whatever it is you’re resolving to do (or not do) feels firm enough to last you a really long time. And then watch how your life slowly, but surely improves.

P.s. My habit building guide (30 meditations; 30 challenges; 30 illustrations) is on sale now ➜

When Death Pulls Up A Chair

Published on January 6, 2025

“There’s something sobering about moments when mortality decides to pull up a chair and join you for a chat. It doesn’t matter who you are, how much kale you’ve eaten, or whether you can still squeeze into your high school jeans on your 60th birthday. (Spoiler Alert: I cannot). Mortality reminds us that we’re all just passing through, and none of us gets to skip the check-out line. Death doesn’t discriminate. But here’s the twist: Mortality isn’t here to ruin the party. It’s here to remind us to live.” ~ Craig Misewicz

When mortality pulls up a chair… join in for the chat.

In our society, there’s too much walking away, hiding from, and shoving our heads in the sand.

Death gets hidden in hospital rooms and long-term care facilities. It gets sanitized by medical professionals and dressed up by funeral homes. It gets outsourced to a few so that the rest can live without being reminded…

But, being reminded is precisely the point.

Death doesn’t discriminate and none of us get to skip the check-out line.

And if we pretend like it does and we might… we’re in for an abrupt awakening.

Because at some point, we won’t be able to walk away, hide from, or shove our head in the sand any longer. We’re going to be forced to have that chat. And when we do… when we finally wake up… there might not be much time left.

See having that chat doesn’t take away from life—it adds to it.

…It reminds us of our priorities and of what really matters. It gives us the push we might need to do those things. It reminds us… to live.