Life Advice

Optimizing Your Life For Maximum Happy Moments

December 7, 2022 Leave a Comment

I spent too much time reading books about how to budget/exercise/make friends the “right way.” I had a twisted view that once I learned enough things I would suddenly be happy, like happiness is a prize you get for checking enough boxes on some invisible list.

That shit doesn’t work. Now I’m just older, with more grey hair, and I spent 5 years as a stressed out, insecure, neurotic workaholic collecting unrelated skills instead of creating happy memories.

A Man Of Principles

November 29, 2022 Leave a Comment

The first and most important rule of life, is to have some rules and principles by which you operate from and live by.

Your success, happiness and level of fulfillment will be dictated to you by the rules you have for yourself and the standard you set and accept for yourself.

If you want to thrive, if you want to blossom into the most beautiful and magnificent and powerful version of yourself then you need to develop your very own “modus operandi” – the way in which you operate, conduct yourself and perform.

[Read more…] about A Man Of Principles

You Get To Decide Who You Are

November 23, 2022 Leave a Comment

(photo: @penguinuhh)

I’m not only saying “Just do it!”, instead I’m saying “just become it”.

I don’t buy junk food to bring home. I don’t do junk food. The idea of buying it repulses me, even though I’d get pleasure from eating it. Why? I thought about it, long and hard. About the kind of life I’d have if I continued to eat it, and I decided the person who eats junk food, that version of myself, that’s not me. That’s not who I want to be. I want to be healthy, and happy instead.

It’s ALL About Taking Responsibility

November 18, 2022 Leave a Comment

One of the biggest differences between me now and me 3 years ago is simple: I’ve taken responsibility for my life.

Now what I mean when I say taking responsibility, is accepting and taking ownership of my life.

I am responsible for my life, and everything that affects me is my responsibility to deal with.

I Wish I’d Lived a Life True to Myself Instead of the Life Others Wanted me to Live

November 8, 2022 Leave a Comment

Not the life other people wanted for me.

Or the life portrayed by popular movies, TV shows, and social media.

Or the life of my parents’ unfulfilled dreams.

Not the life my friends told me I should live, believing they knew all the answers, and telling me I should dedicate my finite time to the goals they were blindly pursuing.

Don’t Take Anything Personally

November 3, 2022 Leave a Comment

dont take anything personally

Whatever happens around you, don’t take it personally. Using an earlier example, if I see you on the street and I say, "Hey, you are so stupid," without knowing you, it’s not about you; it’s about me. If you take it personally, then perhaps you believe you are stupid. Maybe you think to yourself, "How does he know? Is he clairvoyant, or can everybody see how stupid I am?"

The Reality Of ‘Get Rich Quick’ Schemes

October 28, 2022 Leave a Comment

get rich quick schemes

(photo: @ohutcherson)

If you’ve ever drank the Kool-Aid of one of those ” How to get ridiculously rich and passively become a millionaire in thirty days with no money down by working 4 hours per week from your kitchen table in your bathrobe” best sellers, or promotions you see every other person on facebook peddling these days…chances are you are in worse financial shape now then when you started.

I see people posting income claims from offers that would fall into this category on social media daily.

Life Isn’t Supposed To Be Easy

October 25, 2022 Leave a Comment

life isn't easy

(photo: @medicadetion)

Understand that life isn’t supposed to be easy…and it would be boring if it were. There’s a quote painted on the wall of my gym “nothing worth achieving was ever achieved without effort.” I used to roll my eyes, but now I realize how incredibly accurate it is.

Life Advice From A 60-Year-Old Man

October 24, 2022 Leave a Comment

(photo: @wadeaustinellis)

I keep hearing about “adulting” and how hard it is. Well, it is hard and doesn’t get easier.

At almost 60, I still get scared, overwhelmed and don’t know what to do sometimes. I still have sleepless nights and wonder what the hell I’m going to do about some situations.

The difference is I can use my experience in prior situations to assess the current one. Or, even better, I have a circle of family/friends/professionals that I can go to for advice. Ones that I trust, not the one on the next barstool or such.