An Excellent Life
Be Careful When Hunting Monsters
Be Careful When Hunting Monsters Beware that when fighting monsters you yourself do not become a monster. For when you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you.” — Friedrich Nietzsche I’ve been thinking about this quote. I was listening to the murder trial of Lindsay Clancy, the Massachusetts…
Read MoreThank You for Helping Me Celebrate What Matters
Thanks for Helping Me Celebrate What Matters I’m celebrating something big! But first, a little story… Years ago, I finished my 12th speech in Toastmasters and officially became a Toastmaster. Toastmasters is an organization that helps people become better public speakers, and completing 12 guided speeches is no small accomplishment. Especially…
Read MoreThere’s Something Pretty Special Outside
There’s Something Pretty Special Outside There was a boy named Colin. He was 17 years old, and I was at his celebration of life at a high school. Colin died of cancer. He loved being outdoors so much that the card they gave us showed him studying for finals on a beach…
Read MoreOh Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boy!
Oh Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boy!! I think you’re going to love this because I loved hearing it, and I wanted to share it with you. A man in a class I attend shared a story with us. He had a coach who taught him that whenever something challenging happened, he should…
Read MoreCarrying The Dead
Carrying The Dead Body This lesson may be one of the most important things we can learn. He murdered someone in her family. And now she had the chance to get revenge. They were out on a boat. His hands were bound and he was about to be thrown overboard for his…
Read MoreThe Bully Who Changed My Life
The Bully Who Changed My Life He tormented me for years. And honestly, I’m still not sure what I ever did to deserve it. At a middle school dance, he had a younger kid continiously shove me as hard as he could. I would run after him and, the bully was…
Read MoreWhat Wildfire Smoke From Canada Taught Me this Week
What Wildfire Smoke from Canada Taught Me this Week For the last couple of days, the skies have looked hazy. (The photo was taken at 9am on a sunny day with not a cloud in the sky.) At first, I couldn’t figure out why. It looked like it was going to rain all…
Read MoreFrom Looksmaxing to Lifemaxing
From Looksmaxing to Lifemaxing There’s a term I’ve been hearing lately: looksmaxing. It started online as the idea of maximizing your physical appearance—fitness, grooming, style, skincare, posture, haircuts, and even cosmetic procedures. And honestly, there’s something I like about it. I like the pursuit of excellence and becoming the best version of…
Read MoreThe Fire Changed the House, Not the People
The Fire Changed the House, Not the People There’s this house I’ve seen for years on my runs. It stands out like a sore thumb in a neighborhood of beautiful homes. There are broken-down cars in the driveway, junk piled on the front porch, and another car sitting in the backyard. I’m…
Read MoreHappy 4th! The Next Frontier of Freedom
Happy 4th! The Next Frontier of Freedom. Today in the United States we celebrate Independence Day. It marks the moment a people declared their right to govern themselves. That is a remarkable thing. The declaration of freedom has inspired generations, and it still inspires me today. But every year…
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