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Category: Experiential Living

Grab The Sticks And Hit

Published on February 6, 2025

One of my favorite memories with Jayh was at a New Year’s Eve party.

We were at my friend Tony’s house who had a music room. There was a drum set, a keyboard, a mic, and speakers playing smooth tunes as we prepped to ring in the new year.

At one point, Tony started playing the keyboard and riffing on the mic. Jayh came up to me and said, “Matt, take the drums!”

And I told him something along the lines of, “Not a chance…” And proceeded to explain that I didn’t have a musical bone in my body.

And Jayh looked at me… almost dumfounded and said, “Bro. You grab the sticks and hit.”

And while I continued to insist against it, he went in and grabbed the sticks and hit.

Zero hesitation. All heart.

What he said that night didn’t get me to play the drums… but, it’s resonated in my head ever since.

…Just grab the sticks and hit.

Why complicate it? Everybody starts somewhere. And the more we tell ourselves we can’t or we’re not good enough or “we’re not musical enough…” the more we’re going to hold ourselves back from starting.

…And there are a bunch of really great memories that each of us have missed because of it.

It’s Easy To Forget

Published on February 2, 2025

There was a time not long ago when none of these streets were paved… when none of this track was laid… when none of this technology even existed in mind…

A time when people couldn’t casually fly and ride to destinations hundreds—even thousands—of miles away with a few taps on a screen… for the price of a few days of work… for no reason but to explore other pieces of land…

It’s easy to forget.

…Not only to not take it for granted, but to fully utilize what’s miraculously here. Don’t you realize what you have the opportunity to do? Don’t you realize what day and age you’re actually living in? Don’t you realize how many hundreds—even thousands—of generations had to suffer, innovate, and create to get you here?

…Or are you distracted and/or being restricted?

It’s easy to forget.

P.s. Here’s the picture that inspired this post.

Live And In-Person For Life

Published on January 2, 2025

At some point on his journey, Matteo Milleri decided he wanted to start producing music. Which began as experimentation and eventually graduated to profession. Throughout that time, in addition to working incredibly hard to build a unique sound… he decided to start expanding and reimagining the visual landscape for his live performances as well—resulting in increasingly breath-taking, awe inspiring artistic expressions with each successive show. And so set the stage for Anyma.

Because just as he was out in front, pushing the boundaries of live audio-visual performances, the completion of the world’s largest and highest resolution interior and exterior LED screen was coming to a completion—The Sphere in Las Vegas. And breath-taking, awe inspiring audiovisual performances were high in demand. And who better to book than the person who was out in front… taking risks… taking initiative… elevating the bar of the industry as a whole and giving the art their all…? This is how The End of Genesys at The Sphere was born.

…And damn, what a breath-taking, awe-inspiring audiovisual masterpiece of a live and in-person experience it was. One that simply can’t be explained in words or paper-sized pictures or videos (here’s my puny attempt).

…As it should be, my fellow life traveler.

…As it should be.

Inner Work Prompt: What live and in-person experiences will you prioritize this year?

Sell Me Your Memories

Published on November 24, 2024

Think about some of your favorite memories.

Now reflect on the following question: how much would you sell those memories for?

As in, how much would someone have to pay you to take that memory from your mind and have it as their own?

…If you’re anything like me, your answer(s) might help you realize just how great the ROI is on experiences invested in.

…And those plane tickets, hotel costs, and days off work suddenly might not feel as expensive.

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

Sponges Do What Sponges Do

Published on October 27, 2024

I saw a man carrying a baby today.

And for whatever reason, the contrast made me think about how that adult man was carrying what would eventually be an adult man in due time.

And then the thought of an adult man carrying an adult man made me chuckle.

But then, I thought about how these soon-to-be adults are sponges that soak in every waking experience as information that influences them to become the adults they eventually become.

And how there really is no un-influential experience—everything is either being recognized and processed consciously or is seeping in via the periphery and is being stored for what it’s worth unconsciously.

And how damn important it is to pay attention to the kinds of experiences we’re soaking in on a daily basis. Because don’t get it twisted: there is no un-influential experience. We’re either growing or atrophying; healing or regressing; learning or losing—with each soaked in moment of our day.

And don’t think for a second that you’re any different than that baby. Sure, they’re sponge might be a little more absorbent at their youthful age—but yours works in the same damn way. Sponges do what sponges do—even if they’re a little older.

Don’t Get A Big Head

Published on April 26, 2024

At the conclusion of a martial arts tournament I’m attending this weekend, the Grand Master said the following in regards to the people who won [In a thick Korean accent]:

“Congratulations! Enjoy this victory. But, don’t get a big head.”

And in regards to the people who lost:

“If you didn’t win today—it’s okay. Now, you have something to train hard for.”

And tying it together he said (and I’m paraphrasing according to memory):

“The people who won today will become comfortable. They will relax. They don’t get the same fire inside. They get big heads. Don’t let that happen to you. Use this experience to keep training hard. Whether you win or lose.”

And it’s a great reminder I’d say to not let your head get big—in whatever space you’re in. And to always find ways you can add fuel to your inner fire—regardless of how your life experiences unfold.

Experiences are experiences. They aren’t inherently good or bad—per se. It’s what we do with the experiences—how we interpret them, shape them, use them—that counts.

…And ultimately, what’ll end up making all of the difference in each of the life experiences that have yet to come.

The Stay Dry Mentality

Published on April 12, 2024

Last night it was pouring.

Buckets of water falling from the sky mixed with trash can toppling winds.

It would’ve been so easy for me to excuse myself from taking my dog on her daily walk.

But, we went anyway.

And I decided to completely surrender to the weather.

I didn’t try to dodge raindrops. I didn’t try to fight the wind. I didn’t try to jump the puddles.

I let myself feel it all.

I let myself feel the foundation of life as it washed across my face… the puddles we once knew so intimately as kids as they swallowed my shoes… the unrelenting, unforgiving power of nature’s wind as it thrashed me in every which direction like a rag doll being guided by a two year old.

At some point along our way in life and for some reason, we adopt a stay-dry mentality… of avoiding contact with the rain at all costs and shielding ourselves from the very nature from which we were born. And I think it affects us.

Not only from a visceral standpoint… but from a metaphorical one as well.