There’s an old film from 1948 called The Red Shoes. It tells the story of a girl named Vicky and a boy named Julian. Vickey is a ballerina and Julian is a composer. They’re both very talented, and they both want to achieve greatness in their respective artistic endeavors.

Vicky and Julian both get hired together to work on a production titled The Ballet of The Red Shoes, based on a fairytale by Hans Christen Andersen’s. Andersen’s fairytale follows a girl who puts on a pair of cursed dancing shoes that forces anyone who wears them to literally dance to death. Vicky and Julian both work very hard and the performance is a resounding success. I can’t lie, there’s a 15 minute ballet portion in the film that depicts the performance, and it is nothing short of magic.

Eventually, Vicky and Julian fall in love, and though they’re both very talented, their boss is convinced that Vicky is making a mistake by pursuing love. At one point, he tells her: “You cannot have it both ways. A dancer who relies upon the doubtful comforts of human love can never be a great dancer. Never.” Vicky and Julian wrestle with all of this… love, greatness, and the pursuit of each. They both sacrifice themselves to no end. I won’t spoil how the film ends, but I’ll just say that each of them end up in very different places by the final scene.

I’ve been thinking about The Red Shoes a lot this week. Moreso, I’ve been thinking about what it’s really trying to say. Can we truly be great if we aren’t willing to abandon everything else in exchange for that undying pursuit? I’m not quite sure.

When I was a kid, my hero was Elvis. I thought he was really cool because he could sing, dance, play guitar, and even act in movies. I wanted to do all of those things from an early age too. I knew he was one of the greats. I vaguely remember my Dad telling me stories about someone in his family seeing Elvis live in concert and that people were passing out from excitement. I was only 5 or 6 when I heard this, but I knew that if Elvis was cool enough to make people pass out from playing guitar and dancing, he must’ve been doing something right.

I wonder if Elvis thought it was worth it to be known as one of the greats when he was dying on his bathroom floor from a heart attack induced by pushing too hard while trying to poop. I wonder if he thought about all the things he’d abandoned in exchange for greatness. I wonder if he ever saw The Red Shoes. And if he did, I wonder what he thought about it.

That’s the thing I’ve realized… Most of the greats are only great if they’re okay with making the great exchange. It’s like the ballet boss said, “You cannot have it both ways.”

I used to think that I wanted greatness. There are days when my inflated ego tells me that I still can. My mind tells me that I’m very good at some things, and that I might even be good enough at those things to be great if I’ll just give a little more of myself to it.

But my daughter wants me to draw silly pictures with her multiple times a week. My son likes when I jump with him on the trampoline or pretend to bodyslam him on the couch. My wife loves when I scratch her back late at night and then wake up early the next morning to sit in bed and drink coffee together. And I’ll be damned if I ever give those things up for anything else. I’ve already made my choice.

I’ll gladly be known as a novice or a nobody in the grand scheme of life if it means being the best I can be for them instead. I made those choices long ago, and being one of the greats is not one of those choices.

Because many of the greats don’t get to experience those joys. Sure, there’s some who have beaten the odds and have found ways to have their cake and eat it too. But it’s far and few between.

The greats have made their exchanges already, and many of them have no-return policies. They can’t have it both ways. They have to put on the red shoes and keep on dancing.

I’ll be dancing in the kitchen with my wife and kids instead.

Here’s 7 things worth sharing this week:

1. The Red Shoes… Man alive, talk about a movie that will change your life. If what I’ve written this week resonated with you in any way, this film needs to be the next thing you watch. I added it to my list of perfect films.

2. Over at our house, we’ve been trying to watch as many Disney short films as possible recently. Partly Cloudy has been my favorite so far. It’s not one that you often hear about in the conversation of greatest Disney shorts of all time, but I think it should be added to the conversation for sure. Beautiful and moving stuff from start to finish.

3. The Museum of Curiosity (my newest journal) looks very European this week. From the Harry Potter with sunglasses, to Robin Hood, to a French postcard from 1900 depicting life in the year 2000… it’s pretty wonderful stuff.

   

4. My favorite recent find online… this journal entry from Steinbeck:

5. Anyone else’s music preferences work in seasons? Late August and early September always brings Pinegrove’s album, Cardinal to mind for me personally. I’ve been spinning it quite a bit this past week. It’s only got 8 songs with a total runtime of 30 minutes. You’ve got time… give it a listen!

6. An old doodle of mine that I rediscovered recently:

   

7. A haiku for you:

   an exchange is made

   in one way or another

   if you want greatness

When I was a kid, I read Harry Potter like a mad-man. In the span of my second grade year, I had completed books one through four. My teacher would always let me sneak to the back of her classroom and listen to the audiobooks on a cassette tape. I still remember those bulky headphones that swallowed my pea-sized head.

I had not yet seen the movies. Come to think of it, I don’t believe the movies had even been released at that time. There were no visual cues, Instagram posts, reddit threads, online fan artworks, or AI image creations of this magical world. I had to rely completely on the book covers, a singular illustration for each chapter heading, and my own imagination.

When you’re a kid, the limitations of your dreams are endless, because the world is still so new and fresh. There’s an openness to your younger years; a constant season of discovery and enchantment. It was incredible to be a kid who could read about other kids doing magical things. It made me believe in the power of my inner mind and the possibility of magic in my own ordinary life. I attribute Harry Potter for building the dreamer in me.

At the age of thirty-two, I’m re-reading Harry Potter again. There is no teacher to sneak me to the back of the room and no bulky headphones. Now I listen to a chapter of the audiobook on my commute to work every morning. I sip my drip coffee and eat a honey bun. I try to not let my brain wander to the grass that needs to be cut or the papers that need to be graded. I try to listen intently. I try to rekindle the wonder of that eight year old kid who heard about Chocolate Frogs, Quidditch matches, and Invisibility Cloaks for the first time.

I think the biggest difference in childhood and adulthood is found somewhere between who we can become and who we’re supposed to be. Dreams, imagination, ambition, desire… they’re all beautiful when channeled in the correct direction. As kids, we’re told we can be anything we put our minds to. But somewhere along the way, we either teach ourselves to stop dreaming, or allow someone or something else to imagine possibilities on our behalf.

On this last read through of Sorcerer’s Stone, I was most affected by The Mirror or Erised. Harry finds a magic mirror that shows him the thing he most desires. When he looks into it, he sees him surrounded by his mom and dad who were murdered by attempting to protect him. Dumbledore finds him in the room and gives him these words of wisdom…

It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.

I like that the warning continues on, rather than stopping at “it does not do to dwell on dreams.” I don’t think we should ever stop dreaming. I believe in dreams. They’re part of that indescribable thing that made me feel alive as a kid, and still do to this day.

It’s the dwelling on them… the expectations that we place on them, the weight we give to them, and the detachment from creating our own dreams for the sake of inheriting a cheap substitute that ruins us in the end.

When you’re a kid, you live to dream. When you grow up, you dream to live.

The joys of childlike wonder are the doors that open us up to worlds otherwise inaccessible. The weight of maturity and reality often deflate you to the point where you either forget to dream altogether or let them all die before they can take shape and form into something beautiful. I have to fight to dream now more than ever, not because my life is bad, but because it is different. I am not the eight year old kid I once was, and I am so glad. As we grow, we end up older… but I’m not so sure if we end up wiser.

I say dream on. Dream those dreams that come from you and you alone. But please, I beg of you… don’t dwell on them by forgetting to live in the process.

Here’s 7 things worth sharing this week:

1. The English Premier League season has officially kicked off! I’m a fan of Crystal Palace, but I’m also along for the ride to enjoy every bit of the league that I can. Matches happen on weekend mornings before any of your college football or NFL games begin, so it’ll be a nice add on to your weekend rituals. Join in on the fun with me and watch a match or two.

2. Watched Bridge To Terabithia for Disney Wednesdays this week. And while I was quite unimpressed with the movie as a whole, I can’t stop thinking about this quote from Leslie Burke in regards to believing in God… “You have to believe it, and you hate it. I don’t have to believe it, and I think it’s beautiful.”

3. I know this sounds crazy, but i’ve never really listened to Oasis until this week. Threw on (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? and it all immediately clicked. Just in time for the new Oasis documentary releasing next month, I guess!

4. David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived is a moving documentary about Harry Potter’s stunt double and a life-altering event that happened to him while working on the films. Very emotional, but well worth the watch.

5. This week from The Museum of Curiosity (my newest daily journal!) Looks like I was in a big black and white mood! I love this project because it’s a great representation of where my head is at all week.

6. My favorite find from Substack recently:

7. A haiku for you:

dwelling on these dreams

in ways that teach me to live

rather than escape

Boys, girls, cats, and squirrels: it’s time for another unhinged personal life update! Without further ado, let me spill some personal nonsense to you!

1. Summer’s Over, Go Home! A SixTape

   

   You know I love making silly little mixtapes for specific moods. I can feel the end of summer nearing closer and closer, so I compiled a list of six songs that feels like coming home at the end of summer break. A little reminder that the real world is just around the corner (or maybe you’ve already lived it!). Here’s the track list:

• On The Way Home by John Mayer

• The Last Summer by Tyson Motsenbocker

• A Couple Minutes by Olivia Dean

• We Will All Be Changed by Seryn

• I Must Be in a Good Place Now by Matthew Wright & Molly Parden

• Like A Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan

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2. Disney Recap video

Two Disney trips down this year. If you can’t tell, we’re hooked. This edit is one of my personal favorites. A little tender reminder of our family’s favorite place.

3. My creative family tree

Been teaching little tidbits from Austin Kleon’s Steal Like An Artist, so I’ve been inspired to climb my own creative family tree. Essentially, you’re trying to figure out who your inspirations are inspired by. Here’s a few branches from mine…

4. Magically Mundane

I made a goal to do something creative with my wife this year. We both love the simple side of Disney, so we created a TikTok account for little tidbits of simplicity surrounding our favorite place. If you’re looking for a different view of The Most Magical Place on Earth, look no further.

5. The Secret World of Roald Dahl

This podcast rocked my world. Dahl is one of my favorite authors of all time, but there was so much that I learned about his personal life through this series. Worth a listen if you’re a fan of Dahl (or if you like hearing crazy stories about someone’s life that seem unbelievable but are actually true).

6. Thank God For The Summertime

I recently curated this list of films that feel like summer, but haven’t shared them anywhere until now! Here’s the sub-categories hidden within the list with two films that fit the vibe…

• The beauty of America’s Pastime

  • The Sandlot

  • A League of Their Own

• The liminal space of adolescence

  • The Florida Project

  • Aftersun

• The irreversible magnetism of love

  • Before Sunrise

  • Call Me By Your Name

• The family we find along the way

  • Luca

  • The Parent Trap

• The journey is often the destination

  • The Emperor’s New Groove

  • Peanut Butter Falcon

• The inescapable unknown up ahead

  • Dazed and Confused

  • The Graduate

  ---

7. Weekly family rhythm

My wife and I are always thinking of ways to make our home a special and sacred place where our family feels safe and supported. One of the best ways we’ve found to accomplish this is by creating a weekly rhythm. Essentially, we try to make every day a holiday at our house! Here’s what it looks like:

• Sunday - OneDay: We come together as one to win the week before it starts

• Monday - Mini Adventure Monday: We go on a little side quest to discover new things

• Tuesday - Takeout Tuesday: We let someone pick where we eat takeout each week

• Wednesday - Work of Art Wednesday: We make something creative together

• Thursday - Thoughtful Thursday: We find one small way to serve the people around us

• Friday - PIZZA NIGHT!: We watch a movie, eat pizza, and celebrate the weekend

• Saturday - Happur-day: We do what makes us happy, because Saturdays should never be sad!

If you want info on this, I can share all of my tips, tricks, and resources that I’ve compiled in the midst of this rhythm-making process!

8. I keep reading the same book multiple times

Somebody once said “life’s too short to read bad books.” I can’t remember who said it, but I agree with the statement nonetheless. That’s why I keep reading The Great Gatsby every year. Since declaring it part of the unofficial summer reading club in the last week ten check in, I’ve already read it twice. If you love something, enjoy it as many times as your heart desires!

9. I started a new journal

As if my 4 journals weren’t enough (logbook, pocket notebook, commonplace book, THE journal), I’ve added a fifth one to the mix. I call this one The Museum of Curiosity. Instead of endlessly scrolling online and never remembering what I’ve seen, I’ve made a mission to intentionally print out one cool thing I find each day, and then take the extra time to cut it out and paste it into a physical space. It’s so fun, and when it’s all said and done, I’ll have a notebook full of curiosities and creative springboards to thumb through.

10. I love this drawing that my daughter made of me

See you next week! Take it easy out there… or as the great philosopher, Natasha Bedingfield once said, “release your inhibitions, feel the rain on your skin!”

I had just turned 19 the month prior, which if you have reached such age, you know as the age of invincibility. Nothing can hold a candle to the passion of the year that precedes your twenties. When you’re 19, your soul burns with the glow of a fireworks show. That’s where I found myself that August of 2013.

After a summer of traveling the country as a summer camp counselor, I met a girl that I worked with, and I had made up my mind that we were meant to be together. It didn’t matter that she was from the Northeast, that I was from North Alabama… a summer romance in the eyes of a hopeless romantic burns like napalm fire, nonsensical and unrealistic as it may be. As soon as I got home from summer camp, I was already scheming to head back north. And by God, I did it. Funny enough, the girl isn't what I remember about that summer; the road is.

My parents were kind enough to lend me their Honda Civic, and no sooner had I unpacked my bags, I loaded up the sedan with my best friend, Will, and we headed toward Lake Michigan. We knew nothing about what lay ahead on that trip, other than the fact that my friend Adam was going to let us crash in his basement once we reached Michigan. The rest of the details didn’t matter, because The Great Unknown of youth and wanderlust was calling to us like the songs of sirens… we had no choice but to answer.

We drove through the night, taking shifts and playing every song we had loaded on our iPod nano. We rolled down the windows to keep us awake, drank gas station Starbucks iced coffees to keep us caffeinated, and played Mad Libs to keep us entertained. We laughed until we almost ran ourselves off the road. Sometimes when we drove, it felt like we were floating. When you’re young and dumb, your life really does feel like something from the movie scenes you romanticized about living out for yourself.

Halfway through the drive, Will discovered that Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z were playing in Detroit. We bought nosebleed tickets for $30 and reset the Google Maps directions for Ford Field. It didn’t matter that I could only name 3 Justin Timberlake songs and maybe 1 Jay-Z song; we went because we could be there, not because we should’ve been there. After the show, we looked online for more concerts in the area. John Mayer was playing in the great state of Michigan the next day. We bought tickets on the spot.

In the meantime, Will and I had convinced our other buddy, Ben, to fly in from California to finish the trip with us. We picked him up for the airport and got him a ticket to the Mayer show as well. Adam was kind enough to let him tag along and crash in the basement as well. We threw football in Adam’s backyard and snuck sips out of the liquor in his parents’ fridge. We piled up in the Civic and watched John Mayer shred for 3 hours from a sloped hill at sunset. Ben stole beer from the vendors by sneaking between their legs while we distracted the salesman. We met up with my new romantic interest at Culver’s, where we shared conversation over cheese curds. Youth kind of tastes like a cheese curd, doesn’t it?

We finally made our way to Chicago, where we spent the last $40 we had on public parking and pizza from Formaggio’s. We tried to do a good deed and give our leftovers to the homeless outside the restaurant. They took the box out of our hands and walked away before we could even ask if they wanted it. Ben rode through the city on his skateboard, and Will and I constantly ran to catch up with him. We filmed a music video on an iPhone, took aesthetic pictures for Instagram, accidentally ran into the guy who wrote that “Let Her Go” song, and in one of the great near-misses of my life, realized on our way out of the city that John Mayer had been yards away from us earlier in the day. Sometimes life gives you lemonade even if you don’t have a lemon to your name.

We dropped Ben off at the airport, and started heading home. We intentionally took the long way home, because we had read online about The World’s Largest Superman Statue, and so of course we had to see it. It only added 6 extra hours to the trip. We got the picture, though, so it was totally worth it.

As I think back on that week in my life, I’m filled with a sense of pride. Not in the cocky “look at me, I’m better than you” kind of way. I’m proud of the life that I decided to make for myself in the years of my youth. The type of life that is filled with radical tales of adventure, not regretful disdain for what could have been.

The passions of youth are beautiful in their season, and the summer will always remind me of that truth. We burn hot when we are young, like tires on the American highway. We fill our tank with gasoline and desire, incessantly reaching for the sun to shine on our unwrinkled skin. There is an inward burning as well; one that comes from our heart. And though I am over a decade removed from that summer, I still feel the embers of adolescence still deep within. May they never burn out.

Here’s 7 things worth sharing this week:

1. I found the setlists for both of the concerts we went to this infamous week. Here’s the setlist for the JT/Jay-Z show, and here’s the set from John Mayer’s show. Insane to think I saw these shows on back to back nights.

2. John Mayer’s Born and Raised feels like the perfect song suggestion for the week.

3. “It’s all happening!” Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous is not only an incredible film, but feels much like what that trip back in 2013 felt like. It’s on my list of movies I wish I had seen in high school.

4. A recent doodle from THE journal:

   

   :

5. I found a few photos from the trip, just so you know I’m not lying…

   

   

   

   

6. My favorite post from Notes this week:

7. A haiku for you:

a life that’s well lived

is one where you try it all

with a burning heart

I’ve enforced a strict leash law on all my technology. It recently hit me that when it all boils down to it, the closest metaphor I can find for all of our devices is a dog. Not a bad dog, per se, but a powerful one nonetheless.The companies who built these devices don’t have our best interest in mind, at least not entirely. But we can’t put the blame on them entirely either. We’ve chosen this life of ever-connectedness for ourselves whether we want to admit it or not. We’ve got big dogs (devices) invading every aspect of our lives, and I’ve found the safest bet for myself is to enact my own tech leash law. Left to roam freely, these dogs roam in places they don’t belong. But when put on a leash, they become a companion rather than an agent of chaos.

The Tech Leash Law is as stated:

Tech is most useful when it is under control, not roaming freely through your life.

Here’s how I’ve enacted my personal tech leash law in three easy steps.

Find your leashes and use them as much as possible.

If you want to keep a wild animal under control, the first step is to get a leash so it doesn’t roam freely to cause chaos. For me, this just means that I use my tech connected to a cord whenever possible. I do my best to keep my phone on the charger on the kitchen table unless absolutely necessary. I adopted this mentality of the Kitchen Phone from Kylie Kelce of all people, and I love it. The same goes for my laptop. The 2026 kitchen table is now the 1999 computer room! I even started using corded headphones again when I bought my mp3 player. Sure, the music stays with me in my pocket, but those freaking headphone cords get in my way… and that’s exactly the point. They keep me from mindlessly staring or multitasking. The bottom line here is this… Creating these leashes for yourself allows you to see tech as a tool rather than an entertainment machine. The difficulty of endless access teaches you to be intentional with your tech usage, rather than letting it run wild all around you.

Respect the sacred and shared spaces

When your device is tethered in a static location, it’s no longer able to invade and intrude on other areas. This intentional step has been crucial for me. I now have to walk to my phone if I need to check something. I have to go across the house if I want to check an email on my computer. If I want to watch a movie by myself, I’ve got to sit down and focus on it, rather than walking around with it in my hand while I halfway watch and do a thousand other things simultaneously. Most importantly, I’m creating boundaries for where tech should and shouldn’t be allowed. I can finally watch TV with my family in the living room without distractions. I can be outside and enjoy nature without feeling the weight of the phantom vibrations in my pocket. For crying out loud, I’ve started taking books to read in the bathroom while I poop! It’s incredible. Tech now has its proper places and purposes, rather than invading the spaces of my life that are meant to be shared or sacred.

Place the responsibility on the owner, not the animal.

We have got to take ownership of our tech usage. We so quickly demonize our devices, when we are the ones who chose to own them in the first place. Sadly, we’ve gotten to a point where they’re now owning us. Leash laws don’t exist because a dog is evil. Instead, they’re around to remind us that all good dogs deserve boundaries. Our tech should work the same way. Your phone isn’t the spawn of Satan, your laptop isn’t Lucifer, and your Airpods aren’t a pair of demons. But allowed to roam unchecked, they’ll eventually find their way into places they don’t deserve to be, and cause chaos you never expected.

I’m not saying to live like the Amish or to snap your smartphone in half. By all means, embrace the gift of technology. I still use Apple Maps, ChatGPT, text my wife, log movies on Letterboxd, take pictures of my kids, and pop on a podcast! The goal has never been to be tech-less, but tech-savvy… making sure that tech serves me rather than me serving it.

Take inventory of your life. Stop letting tech wreak havoc on you by running wild. Realize that these devices serve a purpose for you rather than you serving them. Leash your tech, and get your life back in the process.

Here’s 7 things worth sharing with you this week:

1. Have y’all seen Obsession yet? I finally got around to watching it, and my goodness was it fun! I’m not a big horror movie guy, but this one might just be my new favorite of the genre.

2. I hate to break it to y’all, but The Puerto Rico Song by Saxboy Billy is my song of the summer. Yes, it’s AI generated. I am a walking paradox of contradictions.

3. My wife got obsessed with Haaland by way of TikTok and the World Cup this summer. I can’t stop thinking about this video of him hitting biodegradable golfballs off of a boat while singing Choosin’ Texas. We don’t realize how lucky we are to be alive when moments like this exist.

4. I recently read Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. It wasn’t earth-shattering, but it was such a joy to read a book from start to finish in one sitting! SLOW YOURSELF DOWN PEOPLE!

5. My favorite read here on Substack in quite some time. Shoutout to ! This one spoke to my soul!

The Pocket Notebook

28 Ways to Be Whimsical This Summer

It’s summer. Let’s have some fun…

Read more

2 months ago · 64 likes · 13 comments · Mark Ragland

6. Did y’all know I’m posting things more frequently now? I’m to decide if I’d like to keep posting there or if you all would be more interested in another email in your inbox from me with this kind of stuff instead! Vote below and let me know PRETTY PLEASE!

7. A haiku for you:

   leash up the big dogs

   the ones who constantly roam

   in sacred spaces

We’ve covered three of my four journals so far. Now it’s time to show you the biggest, baddest, and most beautiful of all my journals… THE Journal.

THE Journal started in 2019, and it hasn’t stopped since. Sure, it’s been through many iterations, and the format has changed over the years, but this little book has saved my life in more ways than I can list. It only felt necessary to cap off this journal series by showing you exactly how I do THE Journal every single day. Here’s the 5 things I write on a daily basis to keep myself living my life to the fullest:

1. One cool thing that happened every day

I think that how you start and how you finish things is significant. So, every day, I start by writing down one cool thing that happened to me the day before. This page of my journal looks like this by the end of every month:

Every morning, I sit down with my coffee and I fill in the previous day with my favorite thing that happened to me the day before. This is where keeping your logbook comes in handy… it makes remembering the cool things that happened even easier because you’ve already written them down once somewhere else. I love the idea of reinforcing gratitude for myself. Our brains are built to hold on to what we keep feeding it, so why not feed it the good stuff? This list of cool things also shows me just how magical my life is, even if the magic stuff is just a list of seemingly mundane things. Days are no longer just days when I look at this page; they’re a collection of incredible memories that I never want to forget. A bonus portion of this page is that I always write down the books I’ve read that month and albums/artists I’ve listened to. Another form of time capsuling and documenting! Woohoo!

2. habit tracker

If I could only share one thing with you for the rest of my life, it would be this page of my journal. This page right here is my actual life force. It’s what keeps me thriving rather than surviving. It’s what keeps me from absolutely losing my sanity. It is a process that has rewired my brain chemistry for the better. I could write multiple weeks worth of essays on this process (and I probably will at some point) so for now I’ll keep it simple and just show you what I do every day.

This page is filled with a vertical column of tasks and a horizontal row at the top for every day of the month. The vertical list shows all the things I want to do every day in order to have the best day ever. The horizontal row helps to keep track of those tasks for each day of the month. At the end of each day, I sit down and take inventory of what I’ve done and what I haven’t. For all the things I’ve, I draw a black X in the corresponding box. If I haven’t done it, I draw a red X in the box. A good day looks like a vertical row of a bunch of black X’s. If you want to make sense of your life, keep a habit tracker. If you want to break bad habits, keep a habit tracker. If you want to know why your week sucked, why your emotions are out of whack, or if you want to have data to quantify the quality of your life, keep a habit tracker. Of all the journaling methods I’ve tried over the years, this is the one that I have always incorporated, and I’ll keep doing it for the rest of my life.

3. daily doodles

I want my journal to be just as fun as it is insightful. I love to doodle, I love challenges, and I love not taking myself too seriously. So every month, I create a daily doodle challenge of some kind, and I make sure to take part in that challenge every day. It keeps me creating with the lowest stakes possible. This year, I’ve done everything from Disney characters, to flowers, to drawing things out of the numbers of the day of the month. June was all about doodling bugs:

Journaling should be something you look forward to, so my daily doodle challenge is one way to keep me coming back for something fresh and fun every single day.

4. five minute brain dump (trademark pending)

This is the most “traditional” part of my journaling system, but with an interesting twist. As you know, a journal is most commonly known as a place where you write your deepest darkest thoughts into the void as a way to express yourself for no other reason than for emotional catharsis. And that’s absolutely true! But I also think that sometimes we equate “writing in our journal” with “writing the next greatest work of art.” I don’t like putting that kind of pressure on myself. So instead, I’ve come up with this method called the 5 minute brain dump. It’s loosely based on Julia Cameron’s Morning Pages method, but for normal people! Cameron’s method suggests writing 3 full pages of text in a stream of consciousness fashion. As a father of twin seven year olds, I don’t have time to write 3 pages worth. Instead, I set a 5 minute timer every morning, chug coffee, crank some tunes, and write anything and everything that comes to my mind as fast as I can until the timer runs out.

It’s insane how much you really get to know yourself when you stop trying to perform and instead just let your thoughts flow freely. Some days, I write things that I think would put Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations to shame! Other days, I just write the exact same song lyrics that are stuck in my head 500 times til the timer runs out. Some days it’s art, other days it’s ass. Regardless, it’s where 90% of my creative ideas really come from. Crazy right? It’s the messy, unpolished, subconscious stuff that actually becomes the foundation for my better ideas! Your journal is where your rough drafts should live, not the finished product. Your journal is for you, not for anyone else, so write like nobody’s watching (BECAUSE IF SOMEONE ELSE IS WATCHING, YOU’RE DOING IT WRONG).

5. haikus and handwritten hoopla

I have been writing poetry since I was in elementary school. It’s a form of creative expression that I can’t get away from, no matter how hard I try. Around the same time that I started journaling seriously, I found ’s book of haikus on my wife’s bookshelf. That moment changed everything for me. For years now, he wrote a daily haiku as a way to make sense of this world. It was a practice that was too good not to copy. Since 2021, I’ve also been writing daily haikus, poems, and quips as a way to make sense of what I could not make sense of otherwise. Most times, these haikus are just summaries of my 5 minute brain dumps. Other times, they are love letters to my wife. And sometimes, they just appear out of nowhere and present themselves to me. Regardless, writing daily poems is a practice I highly recommend. On top of this, I’ve recently started incorporating the practice of drawing some other kind of hoopla. These are just nonsensical doodles that come to mind and serve as rough drafts of the inner-workings of my weird brain! Some of my favorite creations are these stupid little sketches:

And that’s my journaling process in a nutshell. I’m an open book, so if you want more info on any of these processes, please don’t hesitate to reach out! I have no secrets, so I’ll share anything and everything you wanna know!

Here’s seven things worth sharing this week:

1. These PAPERAGE dotted journals are my personal favorite journals to use. They come in a ton of different colors, are the perfect size, and even have a little flap to store random things in the back of them. It’s the only journal I’ve used.

2. Extra bonus round… do like says and dedicate your journals to someone before you begin writing in them. My most recent one was dedicated to Borat.

3. I started carrying a sling bag this summer, and I’m now a full believer. Get you one.

4. Watched Knight and Day the other day, and it made me a bigger Cruise fan than ever. It’s one of the weirdest films I’ve seen in a while, but it’s one people have slept on for far too long now. Is Cruise taking the top spot over Hanks in my heart?

5. Found this on Substack a few weeks ago and saved it to my phone. Sorry to whoever the original creator is. You’re a genius!

   

6. Something I think about often:

7. A haiku for you:

   these little journals

   some might call them “wasted time”

   i call them lifelines

We need to face the facts… we are more forgetful that we’d like to admit. And in a world that constantly demand for our attention, our capacity for keeping up with things in our long-term memory banks becomes less and less likely. That’s why I started keeping a commonplace book a few years back.

To put it simply, a commonplace book is a fancy term for a second brain. It’s really just a book where you file away the cool tidbits you pick up throughout the day in hopes that you’ll come back and use them again sometime later. I like to think of it like going to the thrift store or a garage sale, but to find things for your own creative purposes.

Here’s a big secret! All of your favorite artists are stealing from the people they admire most. Why aren’t you doing the same? The common misconception is that the best art is self-made. In all reality, art is really a lot more about collecting old stuff than it is creating new stuff.

I’ve compiled a list of the 5 things that most frequently find their way into my commonplace book through my own collecting. Consider it a roadmap for starting your own commonplace book as well.

So… what kind of stuff should you put in a commonplace book?

The best stuff out of every book you read

Your teachers in school were right… leaders are readers. If you want to grow, you gotta read some books; it’s as simple as that. And while reading for personal enjoyment is one of my favorite pastimes, reading as a way to get inspired is even more fun. I use my commonplace book to write down my favorite lines from books that I read. Some might just call this research, but it feels more like a treasure hunt to me. Every day, I look forward to reading something with the hope that I’ll find something inspiring from great authors. Whether it’s a line of fiction from Fitzgerald, a contemplation on the Divine from C.S. Lewis, or a silly line from a Shel Silverstein poem, every time I read something, I’m also looking for something worth writing down to use for myself later.

The memorable quotes from interesting people

People are talking everywhere we go. The question is… are we listening? There is gold to be mined from the information that reaches your earholes every single day. The movies you watch? There’s endless quotes worth remembering. That podcast playing on your commute? You better believe there’s something good that you need to write down. Here’s the best part… the people who you gain information from don’t always have to be famous! The guy in line next to you at the coffee shop might drop some bars that you never want to forget. Your next door neighbor might say something insightful at the end of your driveway one evening. Here’s my rule: as long as it’s interesting, it’s probably worth writing down. Keep listening for the interesting people all around you and glean from what they’re giving you for free! (PS - I count seeing as hearing in this case too. So if you see something inspiring from someone interesting, you should totally write that down as well)

The most poetic lyrics from songs you hear

Don’t even get me started here. Songs are a wellspring of inspiration in and of themselves. We should absolutely be keeping track of the incredible lyrics that speak to us personally. Chances are, if they struck a chord with you, they’re worth sharing again with someone else. Music, art, poetry… these things are often giving the rest of us language to the emotions we’re feeling by “taking the ache and making it sing,” as so eloquently puts it. It’s up to us to recognize that significant beauty, take note of it for ourselves, and share it to the world at large.

The most interesting facts that you find along the way

We are capable of learning so much these days. We have more access to information in our pocket than they had when they first sent humans to space in a rocket ship. When we learn something new, useful, odd, or cool, it’s important to write it down. If you’re researching a specific topic, write down what you learn. If you stumble across a tidbit of information that tickles your fancy, snag it and add it to your personal fact bank. You never know when you’ll need it! Learning is the best way to teach. If you wanna be great at anything you gotta be willing to keep learning everything you can.

The themes that tie all of these things together

This is the secret to taking your commonplace book to the next level. Writing down cool things is fun and all, but categorizing it turns your book of quotes into a library of your soul. Writing down facts is one thing, but identifying the common themes is what helps you see what you value and where you’re naturally drifting toward. If you want to know yourself better, try this exercise: write down every cool thing you hear for a week, then go back at the end of the week and identify the theme of everything you wrote. You’ll quickly see what you value, where you’re drawn, and essentially who you are! The reverse idea of this method is how people write great books, by the way. An author picks a theme, then deep dives into as many things related to that theme, and keeps a commonplace book to use for their own book! It really is that simple!

I have one word of advice with this type of journaling that I’ll share with you before I end this week’s writing. Don’t make a commonplace book feel like homework, unless you enjoy doing homework. Personally, I go through really great stretches where I write in my commonplace book multiple times a week, and then I have really rough stretches where I forget and don’t write in it for multiple days or weeks at a time. I try to make it a point to remember one cool thing that I consumed that day and write it down, but I’m not perfect at it by any means. Some people are very serious about their commonplace book practices, but I’m just not there yet. I like to keep it fun and light. After all, if it was really important, I won’t be able to forget it and I’ll have no choice but to write it down.

Happy treasure hunting! I hope you find the best stuff ever!

Here’s seven things worth sharing this week:

1. We’ve all been jamming to End Of The Line by Traveling Wilburys in our house this week. I couldn’t believe this song was released in 1988. It feels so much older than it is (complimentary).

2. My daughter and I watched Survivor this past season, and now she’s gotten me hooked on Beast Games. It’s official, I’m a Mr. Beast fan. He’s a genius, and his game show is some of the most entertaining television I’ve ever watched.

3. I watched 21 Jump Street for the first time, and as much as I liked it, I instantly knew I would’ve loved it more if I had seen it upon its original release. That being said, here’s my list of movies that I’ve collected entitled I wish I had seen this in high school.

4. I turned thirty two last week, and per tradition, I read The Great Gatsby and then posted an essay about it.

5. My beautiful bride’s birthday is today. Go find her anywhere you can and tell her she’s amazing, because she deserves all the love in the world… not just today, but every single day!

6. Some handwritten hoopla from my journal:

   

7. A haiku for you:

   the life that you want

   takes a little bit of work

   and positive thoughts

   

   See you next week!

Today I celebrate my thirty second year of being alive. And while I often agree with the sentiments of Nick Carraway… “there are only the pursued, the pursuing, the busy, and the tired…” I’d like to add a fifth category.

There are also the grateful. And that’s where I find myself today.

Life can be extremely difficult and even soul crushing from time to time. But when I look around at all that I have been given, all the goodness that I have been afforded, and the gift of incredible people such as yourself who surround me with love… I have no choice but to burst at the seams with gratitude.

It’s hard to express genuine affection through written word, especially when I know you’re reading this from your phone, computer, or some other glowing screen. But from the bottom of my heart and the depths of my soul, I want to say thank you. Thank you for taking time to spend a couple of minutes with me here on this platform whenever my words find their way to you.

I don’t believe the lie that my best years are in my yesterdays. And honestly, I’m not really sure what my tomorrows may bring. I just know that I am here today and grateful to have you along for the ride.

In a cruel world that convinces us that attention is currency, it is a great joy to know that you give a damn about what I put out here into the world. Things aren’t perfect in this world, as much as we wish they were. But with folks like you in my corner, I will continue to spew my thoughts, wear my heart on my sleeve, and let you into the inner-workings of my mind as long as you stick around. And I’ll always do so with this same humble gratitude and deep affection.

I would give each of you a hug if I could, but for now I’ll quote Nick Carraway again… “You’re better than the whole damn bunch of them put together.” I mean that with my whole heart. There are some pretty rotten people out there, but you, my friend, are not one of them.

Sometimes I’m the pursued… constantly being chased by the demand to do or be more. Most times, I’m the pursuing… Like Gatsby with his green light, incessantly drawn to the next idea. Other times I’m simply the busy or the tired… a normal human just like you, trying to make it through this crazy life day by day.

But not today. Today… I can only be in that fifth category.

On this first day of my thirty-second year, I can only be grateful.

The month of July over here on this lovely corner of the internet is sponsored by my journaling systems! Last week, we dove into my logbook and why you should use one. This week, I’m giving you the rundown on a pocket notebook, along with 5 ways that I use mine on a daily basis. Before we get started, let’s go over the specifics…

“What tools do you use?”

As far as for the pocket notebook itself, you want something that’s small (what good is a pocket notebook going to do if it can’t fit in your pocket?). In the past I’ve used this Field Notes book. It’s durable, looks cool, and has both ruled paper and graph paper. I’ve recently switched over to these ZICOTO books because I could buy them in bulk, they look cool, and they’re the perfect size for my pockets.

Here’s the big secret when it comes to pocket notebooks: your notebook only works if you’ve got a pen to write in it with. That’s why I only use a spiral topped book. My secret weapon for pocket notebooks is this little guy… the NarWhalCo pocket pen. It fits perfectly into the spirals of the notebooks I’ve mentioned above, it writes perfectly, and after almost 2 years of using it, it hasn’t run out of ink yet.

“Why should I use a pocket notebook?”

A pocket notebook is the most useful type of journaling in my humble opinion, because it is the most accessible. It’s literally in the name… you can carry this bad boy in your pocket! If you really want to know how my brain works, my pocket notebook gives you a pretty clear idea. It’s messy, sporadic, scratchy, chaotic, and a mix of nonsense and practicality. It’s really up to you how you decide to use one, so I thought I’d just give you five ways that I currently use mine.

“Okay, but how do I actually use a pocket notebook?”

1. Smartphone substitute

Everything I do in all of my journaling processes leads back to this simple idea… I’d much rather do just about anything except spend more time on my phone. The pocket notebook serves as the perfect replacement for a smartphone in many circumstances. If you’re anything like me, you’ve started noticing that having your cellular device at your beck and call without restraint is actually bad for your overall well being. Carrying around a pocket notebook serves as a physical substitute for the ever-distracting piece of glass that you feel tethered to. Instead of using the notes app, I write down my thoughts. Instead of checking the endless apps, I use my endless imagination to write down ideas. Instead of doomscrolling, I doodle. Instead of wasting a way, I give way to wonder by letting my mind wander and then writing down those thoughts using pen and paper. There’s fancy scientific research that shows you’re more likely to remember things when you write them by hand. There’s also research that shows that endless attachment to technology is hurting us. Who knows? The pocket notebook might just be the missing piece to your mental health improving!

2. Insane ideas

The best ideas often present themselves in the most unsuspecting times. Ideas are also a lot like fishing… when something bites the line, you’ve got to reel it in before it’s gone. That’s why I love having a pocket notebook to fill with all of my crazy ideas as soon as they come to mind. There’s something inspiring about taking the effort to write it down on paper, rather than letting it live in the graveyard of ideas (The Notes App on my phone). When I write down the idea, no matter how incredibly wild it might seem, it triggers my brain to believe that it’s possible. And if it’s much too far-fetched to be a reality, the act of writing it down by hand has reinforced the narrative in my mind that some sliver of the idea has potential to come to life. For example, here’s some big ideas I wrote down earlier this week:

• Print media regimine

• How to get newspaper

• How to gather collage stuff

• media diet

3. Little lists

I’m a forgetful person. I have trouble staying organized and keeping up with multiple tasks at once. No matter how many reminders I put in my phone, I still find a way to let things slip through the cracks. My only solution for this problem has been to write down lists in my pocket notebook. Again, writing things down by hand helps us to stay focused on what we want or need to accomplish. I can’t tell you how many times it’s come in handy. Groceries, to-dos, instructions for my kids to follow, books I want to read… the list goes on and on. I even found this list of people I want to write a letter to using my typewriter:

Any list that needs to be made, whether for fun or for functionality, can be made here. And as an added bonus, you can easily tear out whatever you’ve written and keep it or give it to someone else! How cool is that?

4. Dumb doodles

One of my new favorite ways to pass the time is to doodle what I see. It’s an exercise I’ve practiced recently, and it’s been so fun. Every time I want to reach for my phone, I pull out my pocketbook and doodle something instead. It’s an incredible alternative to the endless pit of doomscrolling that can so easily entangle me. My kids know that I also carry this notebook around as well, and from time to time, I’ll find their own doodles that they’ve snuck in:

Doodling doesn’t always mean pictures though. Sometimes, I’ll doodle down a random thought I had, like this:

Or I’ll write out a poem that I’ve previously written like this:

Whatever the case, having a place handy to doodle down whatever dumb thing you want or need feels like a breath of fresh air in comparison to the suffocation of a smartphone.

5. Endless entertainment

The fun doesn’t stop there though. Having a notebook with you at all times opens you up to endless possibilities for fun. When we’re waiting in line, I’ll play tic tac toe with my kids. Sometimes I’ll write notes to my wife, then tear them out and hide them in random places for her to find later. I’ve even used pages as a fire starter for our backyard campfires. Who knows what else it could be used for! I’ve only been practicing these pocket notebook shenanigans for a couple of years, but the more I use it, the more I find it vital to my life. It really is a simple way to keep life fun.

7 things worth sharing this week:

1. I’ve just scratched the surface on Internet Archive, but what I’ve found is incredible. I like to use it by searching for old movies that I can’t find anywhere else. All you have to do is type in the name of an old movie in the search bar followed by “internet archive” and most times, you’ll find it. For instance, here’s a copy of Buster Keaton’s 1924 film Sherlock Jr.

2. Reysu was the one who first introduced me to the magic of pocket notebooks via this video. It only feels necessary to cite my source material!

3. Here’s my ongoing list of movies that have made me cry like a little baby. Watch these when you need to let the waterworks flow!

4. Back Pocket by Vulfpeck feels oddly appropriate for a song recommendation this week.

5. I recently started following who is all about this pocket notebook madness. I highty recommend it if you’re ready to dive headfirst into this world!

6. Here’s something I shared on Substack Notes this week. Have I mentioned lately that I love The Great Gatsby?

7. a haiku for you:

Distribute your weight

Lighten all the heaviness

Carry what’s careless

See you next week!

I live and die by notebooks. Think I’m being dramatic? Look at my current workstation right now:

I have at least 4 different notebooks present at all times. These little books are how I make sense of the world, how I adequately collect my thoughts, and how I keep myself consistently creating. These notebooks are my most prized possessions, and I have been keeping them for almost a decade now.

Throughout this month, I’m going to give you a peek into all of my notebooks, explain how I keep each of them, and encourage you to start keeping some notebooks for yourself in the process.

We’re kicking things off with a style of journaling called the logbook.

Logbooks are the easiest kind of journals to keep because they don’t require any original thought. To keep it very simple… all you have to do is write down all of the “boring” details of what happens every day. What you ate for breakfast, where you went to the grocery store, who you saw in town, which tv show you watched. That’s it! Or, as Austin Kleon puts it in Steal Like An Artist…

Here’s two pages straight out of my logbook from this month…

Side note: I personally like to write things down as I go through the day, but life doesn’t always work to our likings. Most times, I spend a few minutes at night recapping as much as I can remember or catching up where I’ve left off. The key is to keep it as factual and boring as possible. Don’t overthink it, and don’t feel like you’ve got to constantly update it… just write down what you did each day a couple of times a day.

I know it seems crazy, but keeping a personal logbook feels like discovering a magic trick or secret hack to your life. Here’s five reasons why I think so…

Keeping up with the mundane stuff is actually the most magical.

When you keep a logbook, you’re essentially just asking yourself “what did I do today?” People think that the masters of the craft are constantly meditating on a magic mountain or constantly working their fingers to the bone to crank out their best work. But honestly, it’s the boring stuff that really makes creativity possible. And even more-so, our ability to notice the pockets of magic within the boring stuff is where our greatest opportunity for a happy and healthy life lives. When you keep a logbook, you’re training yourself to do that work. Sure, in the moment you feel like you’re just writing down facts about your day. But in time, you’ll start to see that all of the magic parts of life are actually found within the mundane stuff. And lucky for you, you’ve got a documented record of all of those magically mundane moments!

The day keeps the score.

In the same way that our body carries all that we’ve experienced and endured, our life is measured by the way we spend our day. One of the great secret powers of journaling is that keeping one allows you to collect data on your life (and therefore the quality of the life you’re living). Keeping a logbook grounds you in the truth of your days. Yes, I did eat a brownie for breakfast, had 3 cups of coffee, and drank an energy drink before lunch… no wonder my afternoon sucked! I ran into an old friend that I hadn’t seen in a while and had a great conversation… maybe that’s why I was happier on this day. Making sense of your inner world is a vital step to making sense of this great big world in which you live. Keeping a logbook dumbs the grueling process down to a simple science, and gives you real data to keep up with to help make sense of things, both big and small.

Patterns are everything.

The beauty of all journals is that they work on a principle of compound interest. Put simply… the longer you keep a journal, the more valuable information you have to work with. The longer you stick with a process, the more likely you are to notice patterns. And when you start noticing patterns, then you’ve discovered one of life’s great cheat codes to the game of life. Want to figure out why you have a bad habit you can’t shake? Notice the patterns. Want to figure out why you work better late at night rather than early in the moring? Notice the patterns. Want to figure out why your relationships are going either north or south? Notice the patterns. See what I’m getting at here? When you write down the boring details over time, you’re getting down to the nitty-gritty of why things are happening the way that they are. For example, I’ve discovered over time that most of my favorite creative work takes place during the early mornings or late at night. I may have never recognized this if I hadn’t kept a journal for an extended period of time.

You’re making history.

Whether you realize it or not, your journals can actually double as ancient relics. I distinctly remember finding one of my grandfathers old journals from the 1960s, and I thought it was incredible to see his day-to-day life. When he first wrote it, I can’t imagine that he ever thought his grandson would find it and read it one day… but I did. Ever since then, I’ve made a point to keep up with any and all of my journals that I can. One day (hopefully long down the road) these journals will be part of all that is left of me for my kids to remember me by. They will (hopefully) always carry the important lessons I’ve taught them and values I’ve instilled in them, but I don’t think they’ll remember that on June 17th, 2026 we played an intense game of wall ball and saw Toy Story 5 together in theaters. If this doesn’t sell you on keeping a logbook, I don’t know what will.

You are the story you tell yourself.

Fancy scientific research shows that we have to intentionally train our brains to remember the good things. For some reason, we are naturally wired to remember the bad stuff and less likely to remember the good stuff. By keeping a logbook, you’re working out your brain in the best way. You’re forcing yourself to write down as many tiny moments of joy that you can remember each day. You’re forming a habit to remember the good stuff more. You’re intentionally writing it to record it into your own history. In a sense, you are re-writing your own story every single day. That’s what really measures the quality of your life when it’s all said and done… the story you tell yourself about the life you live. Why not do everything you can to make it the best story possible?

I really hope this helps you! I am always open to chat with you more in-depth and answer any questions/dig deeper into the nuts and bolts of keeping a logbook (or just about anything else) so feel free to reach out. I’ll be running this journaling series through the rest of the month, so be sure to follow along!

Here’s 7 things worth sharing with you this week:

1. “God is a big invisible lamb beaver made of bread…and they eat him on Sundays. Poor God.” Needless to say, The Sheep Detectives was one of my favorite movies of 2026 so far.

2. One of the joys of running this beautiful little newsletter for multiple years is that you get to share old writings that are still relevant. Here’s one in honor of yesterday’s holiday.

3. What Can Be Done by McKenzie Lockhart is a must listen this time of year (or any time of year for that matter). Sobering truths matched with wonderful musical talent. Well worth the add on all your playlists.

4. In June, we doodled bugs! Here’s what my doodle page looked like after it was all said and done…

5. “And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.” I’m reading The Great Gatsby for probably the 10th time as part of our unofficial summer book club. I love this book so much that I re-read the first chapter twice this past week. In due time, I’m going to write a line by line commentary of it… just watch me!

6. The 4th of July scene from The Sandlot when they play baseball with the fireworks… does it get any better?

7. A haiku for you:

It is not our noise

But how we make others feel

That makes the impact

I think we’ve got a problem, folks. We’re putting way too much pressure on this life to be turned up to 11 at all times. The water we’re all swimming in is infused with caffeine, and we’re crashing out in the process. I think I’ve found a simple solution to this epidemic of constant entertainment.

Be floored with what makes you bored.

It’s a new mantra I came up with while journaling a few weeks ago, and I haven’t been able to shake it since. To put it more simply: decrease your expectations, increase your capacity for curiosity and wonder.

We need a little more friction and a little less “free-for-all.”

It’s time that we are marveled by the mundanity of things again. When’s the last time you laid in the grass, looked at the clouds, and asked yourself “what weird animal or creature does that cloud look like?” When’s the last time you recalled old memories that made you happy instead of sad? When’s the last time you’ve listened to music without hitting skip on the AI-generated playlist?

You see what I’m saying?

It’s not big stuff I’m talking about here. I just think we have grown too accustomed to consistent entertainment and stimulation. In the process, we get over-compensate, over-complicate, and get emotionally constipated in the process from the amount of BS we pile on ourselves. For God’s sake, we’ve got televisions on the gas pumps and above the urinals. We’ve got to simplify somehow if we’re gonna survive.

Being floored by what makes us bored is a way to level our internal playing fields in this game of life again. When we simply suffer, we allow ourselves to be reminded of simple pleasures. It works both ways… you know that, right? When we get too big for our britches, we either get bloated or butt-hurt. But when we simplify, it makes it easier for us to access life’s small (but significant) pleasures.

The less we demand, the less we are disappointed. The more tiny friction points we put in place of the constant stimulation, the more we’re able to slow down and enjoy the simple and sweet stuff that makes life worthwhile.

I know this sounds crazy, but it’s really not that difficult. All it takes is a loosening of the grip on life. It just takes two open eyes… one of curiosity and one of commitment to see is in front of us to a better, simpler life.

So, be well this week, and be floored with what makes you bored.

here’s some stuff worth sharing this week:

1. Log Books are all the rage in our house right now. It’s the easiest way to start journaling, because all you do is write down all the boring stuff you do every day. It’s actually magic in how helpful it is for seeing patterns and making sense of all the stuff in your life. I’m planning to do a deep dive on all my journaling practices in July, but for now, here’s a sneak peek of what a page from my Log Book looks like next to my son’s:

   

   

2. Last week, I ate a plate full of carrots immediately followed by a jumbo Cosmic Brownie… you know, just to keep things in equilibrium. Give it a try sometime.

3. The Emperor’s New Groove is one of the most underrated Disney films of all time. My daughter and I watched it for Family Fun Fridays this week, and I was reminded of just how amazing it truly is. It’s so great that I had to add it to my ongoing list of movies that you have all slept on.

4. “The time of business does not with me differ from the time of prayer, and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several persons are calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees at the Blessed Sacrament.” - Brother Lawrence. I just finished The Practice of the Presence of God for my unofficial Summer Book Club, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. Each chapter will take you no longer than 5 minutes to read, and Brother Lawrence will give you incredibly helpful nuggets of wisdom and practical spiritual insight on each page.

5. ’ newest EP Praise Songs is the stuff of genius. Four of the best songs I’ve heard in quite some time that feel like they’re coming straight from the soul. I recommend reading along with the lyrics as you listen. It makes for a holy experience.

6. My kids demanded to get one of these squishy dumpling things that everyone is freaking out about, so we went to the local Five Below and waited 45 minutes before the store opened. While I hope that we never do it again, I can honestly say that everyone needs to experience an in-person product launch at a discount store. Words cannot describe the fever dream that it is.

7. A haiku for you:

   loosen up your grip

   be floored with what makes you bored

   and simply enjoy

   

   ---

And in some ways, they (whoever this mysterious “they” are) were halfway right. becoming who you were meant to be means losing some parts of who you were. But here’s the other half (the true part): all of those pieces needed to be lost in order to become the you that you were always meant to be.

Sure, I’m not ripping up concerts with a band, and I’m not up until sunrise every day trying to burn both ends of the creative candle ‘til they burn out. Because my form of creativity now takes a more elevated and practical form. I quite literally created human beings with my wife… talk about the world’s most amazing creative endeavor.

Being a parent is absolutely one of the most difficult things you will ever take on, and if you aren’t careful, you will lose parts of yourself that ARE necessary. But if you can give it some time, give yourself some grace, and learn to get creative with your perspective of who you TRULY are and who you’re TRULY meant to become, you’ll see that your truest self never really leaves you. Better yet, it can’t.

i’ve learned to find ways to get creative with my creative side. To channel my creative energies into endeavors that are less about me and more about my family having the best life possible. And when I am wanting to be a little selfish with my creativity (which is totally fine, good, and a little necessary from time to time), I’ve learned that a little constraint to creativity is actually the secret sauce to some of your best work ever.

If you’ve believed the half lie that your life ends when you get older, I’m here to tell you that you shouldn’t believe it as a whole one. The path to any real growth takes pruning. I genuinely thank God for wrecking my best laid plans by letting me be Dad to two kids. Sometimes what feels like a death is actually a birth (sometimes a literal one) in disguise.

Here’s seven things worth sharing this week:

1. Mario Kart. Find a way to play it on any console and thank me later. Bonus points if you can get with some folks you love to play along with you. I’ve been spending my nights tearing up the tracks before bed (don’t tell my kids, they’ll get jealous).

2. Another SIXTAPE coming in hot! I recently started a little playlist/mixtape project called SIXTAPES: six songs for various occasions. This one is called FOR THE MAMAS & PAPAS.

   

   Some real tear-jerkers about parenthood that I felt needed to be shared with you! Take a listen on Spotify…

3. “He robbed me of so much, but he has given me myself.” A quote from a really great book called Siddhartha, which I highly recommend reading.

4. If you’re in the mood to read another parent-coded subtle steadies, here’s one form the archives (which is also one of my most popular, so you know it’s probably worth reading).

5. As promised, here’s the recap video from our trip to Disney last month!

6. You know the World Cup is going on, right? The U.S. team looks better than ever right now, and the whole thing is happening in AMERICA! Get on board and watch that “COMMUNIST SPORT” as some of y’all like to call it.

7. A haiku for you:

   don’t buy the half lies

   the ones that promise you life

   without any deaths

Love y’all. See you next week. Bring a friend if you want, but know that bringing your attention for a couple of minutes is more than enough!

I like to call this feeling alive again “reverse hibernation.” Don’t get me wrong, my job is awesome, and most days I feel like my profession of choice is nothing less than a perfect fit for my personality. But I’d also be lying if I said that the 9 months of the school year feel like a season of survival a lot of times. Constant conversations, big to-do lists, bell schedules to follow. It’s a lot of fun most days… but I’ve come to realize that you can easily lose your sense of self in the process if you’re not careful.

That’s why I love the idea of a reverse hibernation. It’s not just a season of rest, but one of waking back up to my deepest self again.

We’re prone to operate by labels, us humans. It makes us feel safe and helps us to make sense of things. However, those labels can become our identities. It’s important to differentiate between the two, and to remember that deep down, we’re still just us. Before I was a professional, or a parent, or a spouse, I was just me. I don’t want you to forget that theh same applies to you. No matter what title you hold, name you go by, or label you place (or have placed) upon you, don’t forget that you’re still just you at the bottom of it all.

If you haven’t found the time, I suggest carving out space in your life to remember who you are deep down. Maybe you’re not afforded the gift of a summer break, but you can still take on the task at a micro level. Find some time (even if it’s 30 minutes) do reconnect with yourself again. For me, this looks like reading books, trying new hobbies, writing poetry, watching movies, and catching a nap when I can sneak one in.

I’m inviting you to take part in your own reverse hibernation as well. We all lose ourselves in seasons, but thankfully, we can all rediscover that deepest self again all the same.

Here’s 7 things worth sharing this week:

1. Holy smokes, Steal Like An Artist by is a life-changing book. You know something is good when you send texts to friends about it out of the blue. I’ve already recommended this book to 5 friends via text just this week, so you better get yourself a copy as well. Here’s how I describe it…

   

2. Hanks vs. Cruise is still deep in my heart. So much so that one of my 5 minute journal writings came out like this: “Wanna be more of a Hanks and less of a Cruise. More earnest and every-man, and less badass and know-it-all.” Here’s the full writing from that day…

   

3. Speaking of Hanks, I watched That Thing You Do! for the first time this week, and it’s one of my new favorite films. Starting a band, Beatle Mania, 1960s Americana… it hit all the right notes for me.

4. The song That Thing You Do! is also an absolute smasher. One of the greatest songs made for a movie ever? A strong contender in my eyes! Adding it to my iPod ASAP.

5. My daughter bought a Rubiks Cube at Disney World, and I’ve been absolutely consumed by trying to solve it. My wife has even hidden it from me to make me take a break from the quest to solve it. I know that I should probably start with the standard colored starter cube, but I’m too proud to go and buy another one, so I’m diving into advanced mode first! Any and all help with how to solve picture cubes would be a great help to my mental sanity!

   

6. I forgot to show y’all all of my BAD DISNEY DOODLES from my May doodle challenge. (DON’T FORGET ABOUT THE JUNE BUGS CHALLENGE FOR THIS MONTH!) Please roast me and tell me which one looks the funniest to you!

   

7. A haiku for you:

   in all of my deaths

   numerous as they may be

   new life awakens

   

Get your hands on something and go to work. For me, this meant digging up drainage pipes two feet under our yard in the blazing heat. My hands are blistered to hell and back, and my back is obliterated by both the sun and the strain. But as for my soul? I feel refreshed. It’s amazing how manual labor (especially the tiring, monotonous kind) works as a form of prayer to bring all things back to balance and make room for that Still, Small Voice to speak with utmost clarity.

Or maybe you could find something dirty and disgusting and degrading to partake in. Something that will bruise your ego and purge the selfishness out of you. Bonus points if you are forced to do such a task rather than willingly choosing it. For me, this looked like assisting my child through the turmoil of a stomach bug. Nothing will humble you quite like cleaning up liquid bowel movements multiple times a day. The walk of shame with the dirty undies to the hose pipe feels like a strange baptism of sorts. It’s incredible how God can speak to you through things like unwanted bowel movements.

Here’s the bottom line… The Divine lives everywhere. We’re just too complacent/busy/closed-minded/unaware to realize it. Maybe you won’t have to find out your house’s foundation is secretly retaining water or have your child come down with a stomach bug to come to that realization. But maybe we all need some Holy Disturbances to our routine to see more clearly a simple truth… that everything is holy.

Here’s seven things worth sharing this week:

1. Kellen has become fascinated with Borat recently. I’ve had to break the news to him that he’s not quite old enough to watch it. I’m currently rewatching it for the second time this year as I edit this newsletter. Good grief, it’s hilarious. Only about 7 more years before I’ll consider letting my son watch it, but you definitely should go and watch it again right now.

2. While scheming up this post, I kept thinking about one of my favorite Jason Isbell songs, “God Is A Working Man.”

3. “Made for Another Place” by was my favorite Substack read of the week. It made me want to book a flight to a foreign country with my wife and just disappear together for a while.

4. One of my favorite podcasts, WHAT WENT WRONG, deep dove into Breakfast at Tiffany’s and it reminded me of how much I love Audrey Hepburn as an actress. Has she ever made a bad movie? I don’t think so!

5. I’ve been starting my mornings by reading the daily meditations from The Center for Action and Contemplation. Every entry feels like a breath of fresh air! Highly recommend!

6. Did you listen to my SIXTAPE called “SONGS FOR BUG CATCHING (in animal crossing or real life)” yet? If not, what are you waiting for? Not sure what a SIXTAPE is? Go back and read last week’s week ten check-in!

7. A haiku for you:

   the divine pathways

   are found in unlikely spots

   we just need to look

Hi! If you’re reading this, I’m at Disney World right now, having the absolute time of my life (and probably plotting our next trip back here soon). That being said, it’s time for your regularly scheduled life check-in from me! I’ve got lots of fun stuff to share with you, like…

1. My mp3 player came in the mail!

Music has lost its personality in the age of exclusively using streaming platforms. I’ve decided that even if it feels like a de-evolution to some, it’s time to feel alive again when it comes to art/music/media/etc. So I’ve done some research and found ways to reclaim music for myself with the help of this handy-dandy mp3 player! If this is something you’re also interested in doing, reach out, and I’ll give you all the details.

Speaking of feeling alive again…

2. I miss making art like this!

I used to make little doodles like this all the time. I found this one in my camera roll the other day, and it has inspired me to get back to the process of making art that feels fun again. Hoping to share more of that stuff with you soon.

Speaking of sharing art…

3. THE ART STAND is open for business!

Haddie and Kellen set up a pop up shop on our street the other day. Neighbors stopped by and give them ideas of what to draw, then we would whip up some artwork and deliver it to them. THE ART STAND operated on a “pay whatever you want” business model. I’m going to do the same thing! Since I have some free time in the summer, THE ART STAND will remain open for business, with the addition of me as an employee and an expansion to you wonderful people of the subtle steadies. If you want Haddie, Kellen, or me to make you any kind of art (physical or digital), hit me up and we’ll do it! You tell us what you want, we give you what you want, and you pay what you want (even if that’s zero dollar bills).

Email me at elliffjake@gmail.com if you want something made for you!

Speaking of my kids…

4. Weekly home videos are making a comeback!

Did y’all know I had a YouTube channel for this here little newsletter? It’s basically a dumping ground for anything and everything! Haddie and Kellen have asked for me to bring back the weekly home videos, so there will more than likely be some on the channel soon… probably starting off with our current trip to Disney. Follow along if you wanna see all of our summer adventures!

Speaking of new adventures…

5. Go, go away! Read some books!

It ain’t a bonafide book club, but if you wanna be friends and read something along with me for any of these books, here’s what I’ve got queued up for June and July:

• Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon

• Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

• Practicing the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence

• The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

• The Creative Act by Rick Rubin

• Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

If you legitimately are interested in reading along, let me know! Reading is such a simple way to transform your life.

Speaking of small things that are also life-changing…

6. This ink pen is the best I’ve ever used!

I’ve been using the Pilot Dr. Grip Gel pen and it brings me so much joy every time I use it. Crazy how something like a little ink pen can change everything for you!

Speaking of using pens…

7. June’s daily doodle challenge is called… JUNE BUGS!

These past few months, I’ve been doing daily doodle challenges where I draw something every day (even if it’s bad). April was flowers, May was bad doodles of Disney characters, and this month it’s… BUGS! We’re gonna illustrate some insects! You can follow my daily outline below, or you can come up with your own. Because remember… You should always make a bunch of crap, but not give a single one!

• June 1st: Ladybug

• June 2nd: Firefly

• June 3rd: Dragonfly

• June 4th: Bumblebee

• June 5th: Monarch Butterfly

• June 6th: Luna Moth

• June 7th: Praying Mantis

• June 8th: Caterpillar

• June 9th: Grasshopper

• June 10th: Cicada

• June 11th: Ant

• June 12th: Beetle

• June 13th: Stag Beetle

• June 14th: Snail

• June 15th: Spider

• June 16th: Jumping Spider

• June 17th: Scorpion

• June 18th: Pill Bug (Roly Poly)

• June 19th: Stick Bug

• June 20th: Leaf Insect

• June 21st: Mosquito

• June 22nd: House Fly

• June 23rd: Wasp

• June 24th: Termite

• June 25th: Cricket

• June 26th: Earwig

• June 27th: Centipede

• June 28th: Millipede

• June 29th: Dung Beetle

• June 30th: Atlas Moth

Speaking of making things…

8. I made you a mixtape!

Trying something new called SixTapes… a mixtape of six songs for various occasions. When I feel inspired to do so, I’ll curate a playlist of six songs around a specific mood or feeling and share it with you. This one’s called SONGS FOR BUG CATCHING (in animal crossing or real life).

It’s got all the vibes of hot summer days, catnaps in the shade, and glowing fireflies in jars at dusk. Here’s the lineup:

• Edge of Lost by Jeffrey Martin

• Garden Song by Phoebe Bridgers

• O by Coldplay

• Old Pine by Ben Howard

• Field Song. by Mon Rovîa

• Hot Tears by Leif Vollebekk

Listen on Spotify (or send me your address and I’ll mail you a physical mixtape of some kind).

Speaking of things you should consume…

I need you to watch The Secret Life of Walter Mitty!

I rewatched Ben Stiller’s 2013 adaptation of the film, and it brought me to tears. I haven’t seen a film like this in quite some time… one that evoked a response that I can only describe as holy. It made me believe in God, in love, and in living an authentic life all over again. I beg you to watch it.

Speaking of believing in things…

10. A message from my student to me (and me to you)!

    

    I believe in you. Keep up the good work. Be good. See ya real soon!

The more I look around, the more I see apathy as the automated system of thinking, way of being, and overall motif for our day and time.

I blame a lot of things for this. You know, it’s not entirely our fault for operating so carelessly. After all, everywhere we look, we’re being handed new ways to life-hack our way through life. But is life-hacking actually hacking our life into pieces? Are we losing a sense of life by trying to make life easier?

I think for this ailment, there is a simple antidote, even if a small and weary one. I think it’s curation (rooted from the words “care and attention”) that could save our souls from being stolen from us by algorithms and automation and apathy.

In large capacities, this looks like getting involved. Less pointing fingers and more open hands to help. Less disgruntling and more doing. Less apathy and more attention. Helping your neighbors roll their trash to the road. Striking up conversation with a stranger and trying to listen more than you speak. Getting involved in your local community and doing your part. For some of us, it might just mean being a present Mom or Dad above all else. In short, it simply means giving a rip.

But sometimes, that big stuff can scare the hell out of us. So maybe it’s small ways that are better. Maybe it’s pulling out our old CD cases and popping one of those bad boys into the car stereo, rather than allowing Spotify AI DJ to automate more garbage for us. Maybe it’s putting our phones on the kitchen table and pretending it’s a landline, rather than an extra limb on our body that can’t be detached from us. Maybe it’s simply paying attention to the thoughts in our brain, and filtering those thoughts to channel positivity rather than pain. In short, it means paying attention rather than paying for what we mindlessly give our attention to.

I don’t know. I’m rambling and frustrated and at a loss. But I guess that means I still care. I refuse to be like those humans on WALL-E who are fat and strapped to a chair and unable to do anything for themselves anymore because of their subtle apathies. I want to stay curious. I want to keep trying. I don’t want to lose my attention in the process of trying to make my life easier. I’d much rather be a curator than a cog in the wheel, and I’ll keep fighting the machine with all my might.

Here’s 7 things I wanted to share with you this week:

1. Born and Raised by John Mayer continues to be one of my favorite albums of all time. I distinctly remember listening to it on the day of its release, which was also the day I graduated from high school. It’ll always be a special record to me. Give it a spin.

2. The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 is such a cool little camera. I ordered one a few weeks ago, and haven’t stopped playing around with it sense!

3. “The surest way to become Tense, Awkward, and Confused is to develop a mind that tries too hard - one that thinks too much.” - Benjamin Hoff, The Tao of Pooh. This was such a great read. It felt like one of those books I’ll revisit over and over again.

4. The Daily App is such a cool add-on to your iPhone. You can set end dates/goals/deadlines, and then automate for your wallpaper to update on a daily basis to show your progress. For example, here’s what my wallpaper looked like on Thursday. I’d been counting the days to our Disney trip since last year.

   

5. I watched every Toy Story movie last week in preparation for Toy Story 5 next month. I cried more times than you can count. Which is your favorite?

6. I made this daily coloring sheet, where I’d fill in one box every day until we left for our big trip to Disney World (btw, if you’re reading this, we are there right now and I’m more than likely crying actual real tears of joy).

   

   It just goes to show you how serious I am when I say that creativity is my cope.

7. A haiku for you:

   i want something real

   not a cheap substitution

   give me here and now

Thanks for reading my weekly brain/heart/soul dump every week! It truly means the world to me and I don’t take your attention for granted. Much love to you!

As a high school teacher, this time of year is filled with goodbyes, endings, and the strange sense that some kind of new life is beginning again.

I’ve been doing this teaching thing professionally for eight years now. That means I’m only about a quarter of the way through my career. Maybe you can call it growing up. Maybe it’s circumstance. Maybe it’s a quarter-life career crisis. Whatever the case, I didn’t feel the same deep emotion that usually surrounds the end of a school year.

I think it’s because my perspective has changed about what my profession really means in the grand scheme of things.

I grew up watching movies like Freedom Writers, Dead Poets Society, and even School of Rock… stories where the teacher is the main character, the hero who changes the lives of every student in the classroom. My parents were both educators too, and I saw the difference they seemed to make in the lives of their students. I guess I grew up expecting that to always be the case.

But after almost a decade in this profession, I’ve realized something different:

I am not (and should never be) the main character in the story of my students.

My job is not to change the world through incredible lessons or life-changing wisdom. My purpose is not to be remembered or immortalized by the students I meet. My value is not found in what I teach, who I inspire, or how students remember me years from now.

Because they leave. They grow up. They move on to bigger and better things. And they should.

I’ve come to realize that being a giver of gifts, and in my case teaching, often means being a very small side character in the story of someone else’s life. I’m not supposed to be a big deal to them. If I am, maybe the student never fully stepped into the life waiting for them beyond high school.

But oddly enough, this doesn’t just apply to teaching.

We all give pieces of ourselves away every day… through our time, energy, effort, money, attention, and care. Maybe it’s time we let go of the hero complex and stop pretending that the giving our gifts deserves prolonged gratitude.

We are not big deals. We are blips on the radar of the lives around us.

And strangely, I find peace in that.

It’s not our job to determine what gratitude comes from the giving of our gifts. We give because we can. We keep shining our little embers of light regardless of whether anyone else brings a log to the fire.

As this school year comes to a close, I find comfort in knowing the pressure is not on me. The praise and power are not in my control. The simple process of giving my gifts… knowing I still have some light left to shine and choosing to shine it anyway… that’s the real reward.

May you do the same in all that you do.

Keep being a blip on the radar of the lives around you, regardless of the recognition you receive. May we all be little blips of light. Like stars across the dark canvas of the night sky, may our small lights become something beautiful together.

Here’s 7 things worth sharing this week:

1. My buddy Blaine runs a website called The Alabama Take, where they cover pop culture, media, and the like! I’ve written a few movie articles over there, and now that summertime is rolling around, it might be time to get back at it again! His weekly newsletter is worth the free price of admission that it costs to sign up. Go do it, ya dingus!

2. Planning to read some classics in the coming months, and this article provided a really great starter kit for anyone else who’s interested in reading good books but doesn’t know where to start.

3. It’s about time to break up with Spotify. I found this video and it was the straw that broke the camel’s back for me.

4. I recently compiled a list of movies that you should show someone who isn’t really into movies. Maybe that’s you, or maybe it’s someone you know! I originally made this as a secret list of movies I want to show my wife one day, but I figured I’d let y’all join in on the fun as well. Check it out and help me add to the list.

5. Goofy said “Getting there is half the fun!” in my favorite movie ever, but I think that’s also a great mantra for just about anything in life. Enjoy the ride, folks.

6. Up until a couple of weeks ago, I had never seen a Star Wars movie. It reminded me of one of my first ever subtle steadies writings about Yoda and trying things.

7. a haiku for you:

   the givers of gifts

   should not do it for the praise

   but to shine their light

Thanks for showing up this week. I hope you know that your attention means more to me than you’ll ever be able to fathom. If you feel so inclined, share this with someone who needs it!

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I don’t know how to fix those things. I jsut do my best to wake up every morning, take care of my wife and kids, go to work at my job, do my best, and then come home and try to get a couple hours of sleep at night. I help out my neighbors when they need something. I try not to be a jerk to the people around me. I try to keep things small when the problems of this world feel so big. It’s really all you can do when everything feels the way they do.

When something is fragile, it means one of two things. We can either find ways to be extra careful, or we can very easily find ways to break it. I think I’ll keep keeping things small… it seems like a more careful path to take.

Here’s 7 things worth sharing this week:

1. Happy Mothers Day to all the moms out there, whether genetically or figuratively. You’re all so special, and we quite literally would not be here without y’all.

2. I started my Disney World Marathon, a movie challenge where I try to watch as many Disney movies that are featured at the parks before we go later this month.

3. My theory about Pooh being a philosopher actually has some merit to it, apparently. Excited to read The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff later this month.

4. Nurture by Porter Robinson is one of my favorite albums of the decade so far. I especially love this song called “Mother” (which seems oddly appropriate for Mothers Day).

5. “When you’re in grief, you’re not having coffee with somebody you don’t want to have coffee with... It just strips away the fog.” This quote came from a podcast from Armchair Expert featuring Jack Antonoff (one of the world’s best music producers) this week. Highly recommended listen!

6. This substack article titled “you don’t need a miracle, you need a job” from was my favorite read this week. He’s quite possibly one of my favorite writers out there, and I bet he’ll quickly become one of your favorites as well.

7. a haiku for you:

   sometimes the small things

   are just the things that you need

   to turn it all around

   

He approaches each day with a sense of immense presence… a simplistic humble approach that never looks too far behind or too far ahead. He’s a stoic if I’ve ever seen one… never really shaken by life’s troubles or circumstances. He’s gentle and thoughtful in his approach to just about everyone he encounters. And when things get real, he doesn’t really do much of anything He just remains exactly where he is, and allows his presence to take precedence.

I love that everyone in The Hundred Acre Wood refers to him as a “silly old bear” or “a bear of very little brain.” It reminds me that being smart and being wise are hardly the same thing. You don’t need to be smart to be wise. In all honesty, I think you just need to be painstakingly aware of your very existence and sit in it long enough to realize that you’re here… and that’s good enough.

Call me crazy, but I think we need more of that Pooh philosophy. Maybe the solutions to our problems aren’t in trying to fix them, but instead sitting in them long enough for them to pass.

Here’s 7 things I wanted to share with you this week:

1. I’ve started a daily practice of typing in the date on my camera roll and taking a trip down memory lane. Oddly enough, the camera roll is a very simple way to see the rhythm that your life is constantly in. It’s also a great way to delete the photos that you no longer need! A beautiful practice in many ways indeed.

2. Noah Kahan’s new record is great, obviously. I think my favorite song is Dan. Listen through the whole record, and then let this final track wreck you beyond recognition.

3. My wife and kids have gotten me on the Animal Crossing bandwagon. I now spend most late nights planting trees, building houses, catching fish, and running an island. It’s both highly addictive and extremely relaxing.

4. Last month’s doodle challenge was called “April Flowers bring magic powers” because why not! I’m really proud of so many of these!

   

5. My new obsession is trying to watch as many old western movies as possible. They’re a perfect way to wind down each evening, and I’ve already started watching some greats. Hit me up with your suggestions of must see cowboy western movies! I want all of them!

6. “But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, “Do it again” to the sun.; and every evening, “Do it again” to the moon. It may not be automatic monotony that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never gotten tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.” - G.K. Chesterton. Gah lee bum… I need to read a full book by this guy very soon.

7. A haiku for you:

   it is the present

   where we feel past and future

   all at the same time

Uncovering new Beatles lore is one of my favorite things to do. Sure, their music is revolutionary, but I think it’s the cultural significance that I find equally (if not more) intriguing. Of all members of The Fab Four, Paul is by far my favorite. I love his undying desire to protect the image of The Beatles after all these years. And yet, as prolific as his career has been, he’s always been able to toe the line between working hard without taking himself too seriously. It’s incredibly humbling to see one of the greatest artists of all time also recording a rendition of Mary Had A Little Lamb.

We live in a world of over-ing things. Overworking, overanalyzing, overcompensating, overdoing, overacheving… we try to do it all, and to do it well. I think we might be looking at it all wrong.

We are so pent up as a human race. Our need for more and more often is actually leading us to a place where we always feel a sense of lacking. I think we need to loosen up a little bit. To not take ourselves too seriously. If I can call a fast food fish sandwich gourmet dining, and one of the greatest songwriters of all time can cover a nursery rhyme, maybe you can give yourself a break as well. It’s okay to play. This whole things is just one big joke that we’re all trying to figure out the punchline to.

Here’s 7 things worth sharing this week:

1. I just worked my way through the new Dermot Kennedy album, and as always, I was blown away. If you’re into folk music, Irish accents, or heartfelt songs, this is the record for you.

2. Peter Pan continues to be a film that grows on me each time I watch it. I loved it as a kid, then hated it in my mid-20s, and now it’s becoming one of my favorite Disney films ever.

3. I also just read the original Peter Pan novel, which made me love the story even more. I highly reccomend reading the original source material for stories you’re interested in.

4. I watched The Silence of the Lambs a few days ago, and I wasn’t completely blown away like I thought I would be. However, one of my students made this poster remake for me, so I felt the need to share because of how awesome it is.

   

5. WHAT WENT WRONG has a new episode out where they talk about Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, which is amazing! It’s definitely worth checking out if you want a little behind the scenes of the film’s conception.

6. Silly Love Songs by Wings feels appropriate for this week’s installment

7. Here’s a haiku I wrote this week:

take it serious

this artistic work you do

but also play around