Hey there –

I’ve been in a bit of an internet slump lately—no YouTube videos or newsletters going out. It’s something that hits me every now and then. Since I don’t make a living off this stuff, my day job sometimes takes over, especially these past few months when work’s been demanding. On top of that, I’ve had some big personal stuff happening—like becoming a grandpa, which has kept me busy and distracted. Plus, honestly, sometimes I just don’t feel the spark to create, and I don’t think I should force it when the urge isn’t there.

But I’m feeling my urge to create coming back slowly now… so I’m hoping to get back into the swing of things.

📕Books I finished reading

Rudy: My Story by Rudy Ruettiger, Mark Dagostino ★★★★★ This guy’s determination is impressive. Even if the movie stretched the truth and even if he was offsides during his half-sack 😉. His drive to get into Notre Dame, join the football team, and inspire a film about just 27 seconds of playtime is remarkable. I think he could make a sequel to Rudy which could focus on how he got the movie mad his motivational speaking career.

“By December 1976, I was desperately in need of some inspiration. I didn’t realize it at the time. I was unconsciously seeking it out. I didn’t prepare for it. I wasn’t looking for it when it came. It was a typical Saturday night, and all I was doing was going to the movies. But as I sat in that South Bend theater and the lights dimmed, a whole new path was set in motion right in front of me. A whole new path that God laid down that would take me places I had never even dreamed.

The film I was there to see was Rocky, and it was unlike any other movie I had ever seen.”

🎸Music I’ve been listening to

Live at Joe’s Pub by Puddles Pity Party A tall, bald middle-aged man dressed up in full clown dress singing Lorde. Why would this be any good? I can’t pinpoint in, but it is very good. I also like his live cover of Holy Diver with Primus.

Greatest Hits by Bob Seger I’ve been revisiting Bob Seger lately. His music is timeless and makes you feel young or nostalgic or a sense of another era. My dad had this album when I was growing up and I’ve found the older I get the more and more I agree with my dad in taste of music.

📃Articles I thought were worth reading

The Tyranny of Convenience by Tim Wu Some thoughts on how much emphasis we place on convenience these days. A lot of times it’s a good thing, sometimes it’s not.

“Struggle is not always a problem. Sometimes struggle is a solution. It can be the solution to the question of who you are”

Podcast episodes I thought were interesting

‘Rocky’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Van Lathan, The Rewatchables The Rocky’s are probably my favorite movies of all time. And the older I get the more and more I like the original.

“it’s crazy how this is like, in a lot of ways., a world-changing movie. Like video games, cartoons. It creates an American mythology. Rocky is not a movie character, he’s like more akin to Paul Bunyan”

🎥Videos I thought were worth watching

The Secret to Dollar Cost Averaging, Mike’s Financial Edge Since the stock market’s been sliding, this video’s worth checking out. I’ve always heard the DCA’ing is one of the best approaches – but these examples really make it clear why and drive the point home that we should continue investing as the market goes down.

🎬 My new YouTube videos

I haven’t put out any YouTube videos lately—like I said, I’ve been in a bit of a slump with my online stuff. I did record one today, though, and I’m planning to share it in my next newsletter. And be on the lookout for other new videos coming soon.

🖋 Quote I’ve been thinking about

“Most of us spend our idle moments thinking about the things we want but don’t have. We would be much better of to spend this time thinking of all the things we have and reflecting on how much we would miss them if they were not ours.”

– William Irvine, A Guide to the Good Life