Category: Living Well

Two Boys and An 8k

Published on November 23, 2023

While running the Turkey Trot this morning (an 8k run in Buffalo to support the YMCA), I happened to pass two kids in conversation right as we were all passing the one mile marker.

“One mile down!” The maybe-eight-year-old kid said to his friend.

“One mile done already?!” The maybe-seven-year-old kid said in response.

“Pfffft! That was easy!” He continued.

“Oh yeah it was!” The maybe-eight-year-old shouted assuringly.

And then half a beat passed where neither of them said anything.

To which the maybe-seven-year-old said:

“Do you want to… like… walk for a little bit?”

“Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.” The maybe-eight-year-old said quickly as he released the effort from his trot.

“Yeah, we’ll like run for a mile, then walk for a bit, then….” The maybe seven-year-old was saying as the rest of their conversation faded into the background while I continued my run.

And while I found it to be a hilarious exchange between two young boys who were undoubtedly still exploring what their capabilities and limits were… I also found it to be inspiring.

Here they were… running together in an 8k… at maybe-seven and maybe-eight-years-old… trying to push each other and keep a positive mindset… while also being mindful of their state along the way…

I don’t know if they finished the run.

But, one thing I know for sure: They won by being there.

Morning Mindset Investment

Published on November 22, 2023

An attitude of gratitude is something earned—not given.

Too many people wake up and submit to whatever mood their mind just so happens to be in and lazily and hastily deploy from that headspace for the entire rest of their day.

And what a waste on precious moments this can be.

Mindset investment, especially first thing in the morning, is one of the most crucial investments in your day.

Think about it.

Bad mood x All of the moments of your day = A ton of counterproductive, close-minded, lost opportunity minutes.

But, Bad mood x 20 Minutes of mindset investment = Better mood (maybe not great mood, but better for sure). And Better mood x All of the moments of your day = many more productive, open-minded, gained opportunity minutes.

See, you have to change your mind about not having 20 minutes in the morning for your mind.

When every other moment of your day depends on the mood / perception of your mind, you have to make up your mind that you can’t not have 20 minutes in the morning for your mind.

The entire rest of your day depends on it.

P.s. Looking for mindset investment mood boosters? Here’s a great exercise; a great picture; a great story; a great daily mental-primer, and a great list.

Always Just Beginning

Published on November 21, 2023

Things you’re never “done” with:

Books
Health
Legacy
Art/Creations
Relationships

…So stop tricking yourself into thinking that after you’ve:

Read the book…
Finished that 30-day fitness challenge…
Retired from your career…
Shipped that one creation…
Married the person you love…

…That you’re “done.”

No.

You’re *always* just beginning.

“Read” Doesn’t Mean Done

Published on November 20, 2023

I’m currently reading Siddhartha.

And according to my Goodreads profile (that I’ve been using to track my read and want to read books since December 2010), I read this book in March of 2015.

Yet, here I am, about halfway through Siddhartha with approximately 0% recollection of anything from what I’ve read so far. Like, nothing is ringing any bells. Not the plot; not the characters; not even the fact that it’s a fiction is something that I remember about it.

…This is the first time I can remember this ever happening.

I always remember at least something about a book I’ve read.

Part of me has been wondering if I even read it the first time around… As in, could I have just marked it as a book I read without actually having read it?

But, then there’s this detailed account of me having read it with page numbers completed and everything:

Can’t see the above image? Click here.

So, either I read it, but didn’t really read it (i.e. speed read or selected the wrong book on Goodreads). Or, I genuinely forgot everything I read from 2015.

Either way, the lesson is simple: don’t assume “read” as insight gained.

While the words in Siddhartha have remained unchanged, the mind through which those words are being absorbed, interpreted, and applied is completely different.

…And so will it be in another 9 years from now.

…And 9 days from now for that matter.

Don’t let “read” dissuade you from revisiting a book that’s calling to you.

Sometimes that “calling” is a nudge from a deeper understanding that extends far beyond your conscious thinking… and you just need to trust it.

Playing Outside

Published on November 19, 2023

Today, I played pickup football with a group of 15 people, ranging in age from 11 to 55+.

As you might imagine, the ones closer to 55+ than 11 were making their fair share of comments about feeling old, rusty, out-of-shape, etc…

But, something interesting happens when you get 55+ year olds and those who think they’re close to it outside in the sun, playing an impromptu game, with a group of fun-loving people, calling plays and running routes, and doing it all how they used to as kids…

…You can almost see the years melt away, right off their bodies and faces, in real time.

Their outer shells soften. Their smiles come easier. Their physiology relaxes. The conversation lightens. Their bodies heats up and move more freely.

See, playing—in all of its forms—isn’t what makes us feel old… it’s what keeps us young.

And it isn’t until we decide that we’re “too old” to play that we truly start to age.

A Better Fill

Published on November 17, 2023

One of the reasons people fear death is they won’t be able to see what happens next.

…They won’t get to see their families grow up.

…They won’t get to see the impact of their work.

…They won’t get to see how technology develops and what the future will behold.

And yet… so many of us just turn on the TV and try and forget about it all, all of the time, anyway.

One of the beautiful things about being here right now… is we get to actively see what’s happening next.

…We get to witness the things our ancestors so deeply wished they’d be able to see.

…We get to see our families grow up.

…We get to see the impact of our work.

…We get to see the impact of technology on our ever developing world.

Maybe if we invested more time into really seeing... into noticing from a place of presence… into soaking it all in minus the distractions…

…Maybe we’d get a better fill of what we’ve been miraculously granted the ability to see… and have less fear about not seeing every single bit of it when it comes time for us to finally close our eyes.

P.s. Want to live a life with less regret? My guide will help.

Don’t Be Dull

Published on November 16, 2023

I’m the type who likes to obsesses over time efficiency.

Once I discover a way to do something in its most efficient manner, like take the most efficient, time-effective route to work, I lock in.

And I’ll do it the same way day-in and day-out until I find a better way.

Now, because of this, and because I’ve been maximizing the efficiency of my days for two-ish decades now, my days are pretty locked in.

My morning routine is on lock… my afternoon routine is on lock… and my evening routine is on lock…

Which has me leading very “locked in type days” that can start to feel awfully monotonous.

But, generally speaking, the efficiency side of me is more stubborn than the spontaneous, just-do-whatever-the-heck side of me is persuasive.

And it’s at times like this, when I’m feeling the monotonous grind, that I have to remind myself to book something that I can look forward to.

This has been the key for me for years.

If I have something in my calendar that’s going to strip me from the daily grind and immerse me in a new world with new experiences… then spontaneity comes completely naturally to me and I have zero problem doing whatever, whenever, however.

In fact, it’s my time to NOT be time efficient and I relish in the opportunity by going all in.

Being time efficient is a beautiful thing. It’s a sign that you’re effectively managing your life’s most precious resource.

But, as is the case with many things in life, too much of a good thing can make you… dull.

And today’s message is just that: don’t be dull, dear reader.