Living Well Archives · Page 12 of 98

What Fun Costs

Published on August 17, 2025

I went to, what I estimated to be, a multi-million dollar nighttime light display event at my local zoo today.

…And what did the other person, child, and I spend the sweeping majority of our time interacting with the most?

…A puddle of water, a light up floor, and a swing.

Sure, the multi-million dollar event itself made for an incredible experience, offered awesome scenery, and gave all of us plenty to talk about.

…But, don’t think that the multi-million dollar budget was (or ever is) necessary for fun and entertainment.

A little imagination, or maybe more appropriately said—zoo-magination—is (and always will be) all that’s ever truly necessary.

I saw a kid today, maybe 10 years old, sliding down high school bleacher gym stairs, on his butt (hear: thump, thump, thump…), with his martial arts uniform wide open exposing his chest and tummy, laughing hysterically, giving zero cares to any of the other hundred or so people in the gym, concluding planted on the gym floor, laying on his back, giggling like it was the best thing he had done in his entire life.

…I hope one day I can unlearn my way back to a place where I can un-self-consciously do things like that at such a high level.

It’s amazing how far away from presence, joy, and healthy carelessness we’re taught to be—in the form of “Grow up” “Be cool” “Fit in” “Don’t act like such a child” “Don’t be so immature” “Don’t be such a loser…” When in reality… it’s the younger version of ourselves that—in so many ways—had it right all the way from the start.

Random Theory About Live Music

Published on August 13, 2025

Random question: If I asked you to place your hand where you think your soul hangs out, where would you place it?

…I don’t know about you, but my hand tends to go somewhere between my heart and my stomach—near the very center of my being.

If this wasn’t you, then go ahead and just disregard the above two sentences.

Okay, now random theory about live music: one of the reasons we love it so much is because we can align the very center of our being with the type of music that we innately and have always indescribably loved… and we can feel it vibrate into that sacred center—what some might describe as our soul.

Which is also why I think we love to sing our favorite songs—because the vibrations from our voice box resonate into that same place.

…And whatever vibration our soul has always been craving, is finally shaking its way inside.

…And for that brief span of time—everything in our world feels aligned, in rhythm, and alright.

P.s. This extra post is being sent to make-up for the one missed on Friday, August 8th, 2025.

On Toxic Work Environments

Published on August 7, 2025

I student of mine asked for advice on working in a toxic workplace.

Step 1, I said, is to figure out if the toxicity is coming from one or a few rotten apples—that are contaminating the rest of the lot—or if it’s the tree as a whole that’s toxic and it’s the source itself that’s contaminating the lot.

Step 2, of course—if we’re talking of one or a few rotten apples—is to take the appropriate actions to either remove the apples that are rotten or perform some kind of corporate/systemic/HR alchemy and cure them of their rot. Even if it’s the biggest, sweetest, highest yielding apple of the lot… it’s never worth ruining the rest of the harvest. Cure or remove are the only options.

…And if it’s the tree as a whole that’s toxic, well, I told my student, you’re better off taking your apple to another tree. Because the time, energy, and effort that would need to be invested into curing an entire tree, would be taken away from the time, energy, and effort that could be invested into yourself and a different tree that’s healthy and postured for growth.

Which is the last point I made: A massive tree that’s toxic is not better than a smaller tree that’s healthily growing. Always invest in trajectory as much as you do any other factor.

Stop Complicating Your Morning Routine

Published on August 7, 2025

I’m sure you’ve heard the expression, “Win the morning; win the day.”

And I bet you’ve heard countless suggestions from countless sources on how exactly you can do that. You might’ve heard things like:

Wake up at 6am; better yet, join the 5am club; and don’t ever snooze more than once.
Read; then journal; then set intentions; oh, and review your to-do list; and meditate for sure.
Go for walk; in nature; with family or dog; for at least a mile; while listening to a motivational podcast.
Cold plunge; shower; skin care routine; foam roll; stretch all muscles in body.
Exercise; eat protein; and superfoods; oh, and lots of water; and don’t forget to include every single supplement that’s ever been recommended to you.

Let me share with you a secret that you already know: complicated is the enemy of consistency.

Try and complete that above list of items every morning and my bet is that it won’t be long until you’re burned out and doing exactly none of them again.

Simplicity is consistency’s best friend.

Want to know what I do each morning?

Generally speaking, it’s exactly three things: Shower, exercise, protein.

If I can accomplish those three things, my morning is won.

…And the other things? Some I’ll do later in the day… some I’ll do occasionally on a weekly or monthly base… and some I don’t do at all.

And guess what? That’s okay.

Because I know what’s most important to me. And if you figure out what’s most important to you, you’ll have a MUCH easier time getting it done consistently and over a life-changing span of time.

It Made All The Difference

Published on August 5, 2025

After an afternoon adventure, I was running a little early before needing to return to work and was faced with a choice as I closed in on my afternoon coffee time: (a) Get my coffee to go and go back in early—using caffeine and the extra minutes as the vehicle to boost my “productivity”…

Or (b) remember my experiences in Bosnia and use the coffee and extra time as the vehicle to boost my presence of mind.

…I parked my car, walked inside the café, got my coffee, sat at my seat, sipped on it for a full and hearty 30 minutes, didn’t do much else otherwise—certainly nothing traditionally considered “productive”—

…And let me tell you: it made all the difference.

When Your Body Speaks… Listen.

Published on August 1, 2025

One of the guys I play basketball with is the type who pretty much walks into the gym, dribbles and shoots a few times, and then steps into full court, full speed games.

He’s been out for a few months because of a calf injury—which likely resulted from his above “warm-up” routine.

Today, when he came back for the first time, what did he do?

…Walked into the gym, dribbled and shot a few times, and stepped into our full court, full speed game. Not a stretch in sight.

The thing you have to understand about your body is that it doesn’t communicate with you via words—it communicates with you via aches, pains, injuries, and every other unpleasant (and pleasant) type feeling.

If you don’t listen to your body, you’re bound for much more of the unpleasant than pleasant.

If you pay attention, however, and really listen… and build habits around pains… routines in repeatedly targeted areas… and rituals for when communication happens… you’d be surprised how much more pleasant it’ll be to be in your body.

Category: Living Well