When You Stop Trying to Control How Others Think or Feel About You, Something Amazing Happens
Let’s start with a question: how much of your time and energy goes into managing what other people think about you? Maybe it’s crafting the perfect text, saying “yes” when you mean “no,” or overanalyzing what someone really meant in a conversation.
We’ve all done it. Why? Because we think if we can just manage the way people see us, we’ll finally feel validated, safe, or loved. But here’s the kicker: trying to control what other people think or feel about you is not only exhausting—it’s impossible.
Linkage
5 Historic Photos That Speak Volumes – Ned Hardy
How to Identify Debt Collection Scams – Shield and Fortify
I’ve been using this kettle for a year now and I highly recommend it. It has a thermometer in it so you can get accurate temperatures for your coffee or tea – Amazon
The 50 Best Albums of 2024 – Pitchfork
How Security Teams Protect Top Executives – WSJ
9 Signs of High Functioning Depression – Bustle
How to Plan a Successful Road Trip – Outside
The Beginner’s Guide to Recognizing and Changing Negative Thoughts – INC
Planning Your Post F.I.R.E. Income and Health Insurance – ESI Money
Brian Thompson’s boss speaks out after killing – Axios
Why The Shawshank Redemption Is Almost, but Not Quite, Perfect – Ned Hardy
If you want to build a marriage that will last, read this book – Amazon
10 Best Cars for 2025
Wayve’s AI Self-Driving System Is Here to Drive Like a Human and Take On Waymo and Tesla – Wired
Air Passenger Rights in the U.S. Just Got Way Better. Here’s What to Know – Fodors
The 25 Best Movies of 2024 – Indie Wire
The 7 Most Dominant American Companies to Ever Go Out of Business – Linkiest
The Dumping Grounds
22 Christmas Gift Ideas You Can’t Go Wrong With
Theragun Mini – Theragun’s new, compact-sized device will help anyone recover from soreness and injury. It’s like a deep tissue massage that they won’t have to wait or pay for.
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Stop Arguing with Strangers Online
We’ve all been sucked into an online argument. Maybe it was about politics, sports, or whether pineapple belongs on pizza (hint: it does). You type out a fiery rebuttal, hit “send,” and wait for your opponent to admit defeat and applaud your intellectual brilliance.
But that never happens, does it?
Who Do You Want to Be, and How Do You Get There?
Imagine it: a crystal ball, clear and cold, reflecting not your present face, but the one you’ll wear in 20 years. Intrigued? Terrified? Maybe both. Because peering into that future self raises a crucial question: who do you want to be, and what choices are paving the path there (or away)?
It’s tempting, even comforting, to assume our current selves are static entities, destined to morph into a slightly older, slightly grayer version. But that’s a recipe for mediocrity, a slow drift toward a future not chosen, but defaulted to. We are, in essence, builders, each brick of decision and habit laying the foundation for who we’ll become.
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Linkage
Is That Text Message Really From Your Bank? 7 Red Flags to Watch For – Shield and Fortify
Why Watching Blade Runner at 25 vs. 45 Is a Different Experience – Ned Hardy
This drug is the ‘breakthrough of the year’ — and it could mean the end of the HIV epidemic – NPR
This is my book of the year. Its over 1100 pages but, holy hell, the amount of research that went into producing this book is astounding. This is a S-Tier book – Amazon
The 50 greatest innovations of 2024 – Popular Science
A simple exercise from Yale’s Happiness Lab will help you make decisions that lead to long-term happiness – Fast Co
24-year-old gf Jordon Hudson shares ‘naughty’ Christmas fit with Bill Belichick – Sports Illustrated
Big Goals Can Backfire. Olympians Show Us What to Focus on Instead – Brad Stulberg
The Rise and (Overstated) Fall of Radio. A Statistical Analysis – Stat Significant
Lets Take a Stroll Through The Art Museum – Ned Hardy
I’ve been dealing with lower back pain for the past few weeks and this massager has been pretty helpful in helping me recover – Amazon
The 32 Most Iconic Poems in the English Language – Lit Hub
The Best Hotels and Resorts in the World: The Gold List 2025 – Traveler
Our Favorite Cocktails of 2024 – Punch Drink
OnlyFans Models Are Using AI Impersonators to Keep Up With Their DMs – Wired
The Dumping Grounds
Why Avoiding Tough Conversations Hurts Your Relationship
Every relationship faces challenges, whether it’s a momentary misunderstanding or a deeper rift that builds over time. When those moments arise, it’s tempting to sweep them under the rug. After all, avoiding the discomfort of confrontation seems easier in the moment. But here’s the truth: avoiding tough conversations doesn’t solve problems—it silently feeds them.
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