In the words of Stoic philosopher, Epictetus, “No man is free who is not master of himself.” This simple phrase carries a profound significance when it comes to eliminating unnecessary stress from our lives and approaching our individual struggles with clarity and...

Consistency and the Gift of Small Beginnings One of the greatest tools in our arsenal as evolving human beings is consistency. It is consistency in any field or task that leads to growth, understanding and ultimately, mastery. Whether a white belt in karate who must...

When I look back on the struggles I have overcome in my life, I am buoyed by the fact that I was never in it alone. In my darkest moments, I’ve had my family to lean on, a tried-and- true support system consisting of my loving parents, united in all things, including...

My Sister’s Testimony of New Favorites ContinuedMaybe you have met Lisa A at a group run or race, but do you know why she startedrunning 1½ years ago? Read on to find out why…and where it has taken her now!   Lisa A started running to be able to do 5Ks with her...

The story of Sam and the transformative power of knowing oneself. ​ A mother’s journey of redemption and the profound impact her son had on her life. Discover the strength of character, differences that brought them closer, and the beauty of seeing the world through Sam’s eyes.

We have talked about the various forms of change that may alter our lives through time and circumstance. Even the friendships we form are subject to great change. Of course, it is natural for friend groups to change over time; bonds diminish, people grow apart. The...

We often take for granted life’s subtle moments. When we slow down and sit with the stillness of an instant, the beauty of a sunrise, the laughter of a loved one, we can appreciate what is often overlooked. This mentality was crucial in my recovery from drug addiction...

The Gift of Desperation I have walked a long road to reach the place I am at today. It wasn’t a straight and narrow path, nor was it always easy to practice the principles I talk about here. Healing, acceptance, forgiveness and moderation were ideas I struggled with...

For as long as I can remember, my mother Beth has been the linchpin of our family. At 76 years old today, she remains the most consistent, reliable person in my life. And with this consistency comes comfort, support and a nurturing motherly instinct that kept us all...

Life is filled with change and compromise, both planned and unplanned. As we have discussed, our reaction to this change plays a significant part in its impact on our lives. To this effect, I often think of my 75-year-old father, Sam, who has been retired for the last...

Sometimes life’s late discoveries are borne out of necessity, as unforeseen complications cause us to course correct. In these “crossroads” moments, we are free to go down a different path, leaving behind what came before for something new entirely. My sister, Lisa,...

We have discussed the fulfillment that comes with discovering new favorites or passions later in life, however for others, there are constants or favorites not so easily subject to change. For many, reading serves as a lifelong hobby, fostered as early as adolescence....

Today I’d like to explore instances where one discovers a passion or hobby later in life. After all, we are complex beings, constantly changing and evolving through the sum of our experiences. It is only natural for new interests to take root and form along this...

In our ongoing examination of It’s time to change your favorites, we have explored the topics of time and change in previous entries, which now brings us to the third piece of this guiding trinity of self-improvement, the what of it all of which all our decisions may...

While we have spoken a great deal about the various types of change and their influence in our lives, none of these types is more relevant to our phrase “It’s Time to Change your Favorites,” than Internalized Change. Unlike inevitable change, it will not merely occur...

Change is a concept so malleable to an individual’s will and circumstance that it can be difficult to specifically define in terms that are relatable to all of us. The word alone may conjure up feelings of hope and promise in some yet dread and anxiety for others....

Time is a concept that history’s great minds have grappled with through the centuries, with many of them reaching varying conclusions. Specifically, the time that we will be examining is the time in “It’s Time to Change your Favorites,” or that window of reflection in one’s life that might serve as a catalyst for deep and personal growth. And if we examine both the conflicting ideas of great thinkers like Plato and Aristotle on time with that of time as an introspective tool, we may uncover universal truths that heighten our understanding and relationship with time in our own lives.  

In the high-stakes world of professional sports, many athletes reach peak levels of performance in their 20s, with even fewer able to maintain this into their mid-30s. With rigorous physical demands and steep competition from their own teams and as well as their...