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Matt Hogan's Blog Posts

Take Your Time Living

Published on February 18, 2024

I had a lot to do today.

…And I took my time doing it.

And it was this one simple mindset that made all the difference.

…Because I’ve lived this day before.

I’ve had “the lot” to do and seemingly not enough time to get it all done and guess what…?

It stressed me the hell out every time.

And by the time I make it out on the other side of my “lot” it feels like the day is gone and I didn’t get to enjoy enough/any of it.

But what I’m slowly learning… what I keep reminding myself… what has been a re-occuring mantra in my head is: there’s always going to be a lot to do.

The key isn’t to try and get it all done as fast as possible… it’s to find ways to bring more joy and presence to the doing of those very things that you’re choosing to spend your life’s time doing.

…And one of the best ways I’ve found to do that is to take your damn time doing it all.

P.s. In case you missed it, you can read the best of what I posted to MoveMe Quotes last week, here.

Got Problems?

Published on February 18, 2024

…We all do.

And the ones who make it appear as though they don’t or like they don’t have nearly as many as others—still do. They just approach “problems” differently. Here’s how:

1. They solve them. It’s easier now more than ever to avoid, suppress, and distract yourself from problems… those who don’t—the ones who turn towards, confront, and attack their problems—get ahead. If you’re having relationship problems, for example, and a hard conversation is needed… the ones who bite the bullet and have it… get to move on.

2. They exchange them. Not all problems need to be solved. In fact, some problems are better off not being solved and are better off being exchanged for different problems. Why a stranger on the internet commented something nasty on your post, for example, might not be the best use of resources to try and solve. You may be better off dropping that problem altogether and exchanging it for another one… like what gift you can create and post next that’ll add a ton of value to a different internet stranger’s life.

3. They upgrade them. Too many people wait for the promotion in life before they start learning how to solve the next level of problems. When it’s often the case that learning how to solve the next level of problems is precisely how you get the promotion. Figuring out how much change to give someone all day doesn’t have to be it for you… you can start learning new/better skills—the ones your bosses have—and upgrade your way into higher and higher roles… the ones that have better, more interesting problems for you to solve.

Question Your Limitations

Published on February 16, 2024

If you don’t have time in your day to:

  • Exercise
  • Eat Right
  • Read and/or Write
  • Bond with Friends/Family
  • Enjoy Some Down Time / Just Be

…You’re too busy.

And while I’m sure you can argue your case for why you can’t do some or all of the above things… hold that thought and read the next line carefully:

Don’t argue for your limitations.

Put your argument energy to better use and ask yourself a better question:

“What can I eliminate, delegate, automate, or reduce… so that I CAN have time to do the above things every day?”

Because what I think you’ll find is that the more you argue for your limitations—the more of a reality they’ll continue to be… and the more you question your limitations, the less and less they’ll be.

P.s. I sip on coffee while I write these. If you enjoy these posts, you can support my future work by supplying me with one of my next cups of joe here.

18 Saved Lives Per Year…?!

Published on February 15, 2024

A friend of mine donates blood religiously.

It’s integrated into his lifestyle and it’s one of the ways he gives back.

And given that it can save up to three lives in about a one hour time commitment… it’s relatively an easy thing to do.

I don’t donate as frequently as he does, and it has probably been a year since I donated last… but I just scheduled my next appointment and I plan to make it a bi-monthly occurrence.

It was one of those reminders, at least it was for me, that the biggest, most grandiose plan(s) to change the world mean nothing compared to even the smallest of actions.

Plain Fun

Published on February 14, 2024

Yesterday, I hosted a martial arts class where members could train with non-member loved ones as a way to celebrate Valentine’s Day in a unique, experiential kind of way.

My goal was to facilitate a type of class that was all partner themed, game-based, and contact oriented, that felt relaxed and above all… was just plain fun.

And the response from the members after the class was overwhelmingly positive with an almost unanimous request to have more “plain fun” classes just like it.

And it was a pleasant reminder that while adults on the surface often present as serious…

…They’re really just kids inside grown-up bodies who came to adopt seriousness as a way to interact with the world—maybe because it’s what they were taught, what they intuited, or what was required—when really… adults, like kids, just want to have fun.

P.s. The next book I’ll be uploading quotes from is Self-Renewal by John W. Gardner. You can pick up a copy and read along here.

Hunting For The Best In Life

Published on February 13, 2024

Each day, at some point, I go hunting for quotes.

I curate picture quotes, capture insights from books, and save ideas from emails.

I aim to upload five fresh insights per day to MoveMe Quotes.

What I was thinking about today was how my mental state affects my hunt.

When I’m groggy, anxious, distracted… I find myself skipping over a bunch more material than when I’m alert, calm, and focused.

…There have been times when I’ve hunted for upwards of an hour and couldn’t find a single quote worth uploading.

…And there have been times when after a few minutes I found myself uploading close to ten.

Generally speaking… the material I hunt through each day is equally saturated with insights.

What’s interesting for me is how lack of sleep, lack of screen discipline, lack of clarity in priorities can affect my ability to see and capture insights that are floating right by my face.

…And I suspect the same affects us all in many of the same ways as we go about our days and beauty, grace, opportunity, love, and yes, insight… floats right by our groggy, anxious, distracted face(s).

P.s. I finished uploading quotes from Freedom From The Known by J. Krishnamurti today. You can read my 32 captures here.

It’s Not You [Poem]

Published on February 12, 2024

If I think about it
Carefully enough
I can make my heart skip
A beat or two
From replaying times
I was carelessly
With you

A beat or two
Compared to a year or two
Of skipped beats
And skipped stones
And skipped feet
Feels wildly inadequate
Yet fully true

And while thinking of you
Carefully enough
Happens less and less often
There’s a rhythm
My feet and heart once knew
Now my barrier of entry
No skips…

…It’s not you.

P.s. You can read my other poems here.