Month: August 2025

151. Family Reunion

152. Nephews and Nieces

153. Raspberry Chip Frozen Yogurt

154. Hosting an Elite Runner

155. Toastmasters

156. A Coworker’s Kindness

157. Delicious Veggie Omelette

158. A Quick, Cheap Tire Fix

159. A Friendly Cashier

160. Abbot Elementary Laughter

#151: Family Reunion

Two weeks ago, I had the joy of spending a full week with my family at our annual reunion. The weather was hotter than I would have wished, but the chance to catch up, share old stories, play games, and explore local attractions was priceless. Like any family, it’s not always rainbows and roses—but at the end of the day, I’m deeply grateful for the love and connection we share.

#152: Nephews and Nieces

My nephews and nieces brought a whole new level of energy to the reunion. Unpredictable, hilarious, adventurous, and endlessly joyful, they made every moment more fun. Honestly, the gathering wouldn’t have been complete without their laughter and playful spirit.

#153: Raspberry Chip Frozen Yogurt

My partner’s family has a tradition of getting raspberry chip frozen yogurt whenever they’re together. Normally, I’m not a huge fan of chocolate, but there’s something magical about the crunchy chips blended into that black raspberry flavor. It just works. Yum!

#154: Hosting an Elite Runner

Last weekend, my girlfriend and I had the incredible honor of hosting an elite long-distance runner. She welcomed us into her world, introducing us to her teammates and coach, and the entire experience felt nothing short of inspiring. Our curiosity got the best of us—we asked her way too many questions—but she answered them all with kindness and patience. To top it all off, she finished 5th in her race, with her teammate taking 3rd. I’m still in awe, and deeply grateful for the time we shared. Thank you for your authenticity and brilliance—we can’t wait to see all the great things ahead for you.

#155: Toastmasters

I recently joined a local Toastmasters club to improve my public speaking, communication, and leadership skills. The group is welcoming, supportive, and full of insightful feedback. Every meeting feels like a step forward—and I’m grateful to be learning from such inspiring leaders.

#156: A Coworker’s Kindness

I can’t share too many details just yet, but I’m very grateful to an amazing coworker who connected me with an exciting potential opportunity. Fingers crossed—I’ll share more soon!

#157: Delicious Veggie Omelette

No explanation needed—just look at the picture below. Pure happiness on a plate.

#158: A Quick, Cheap Tire Fix

Last week, my car’s low-pressure light came on. At the gas station, I spotted the culprit: a nail in the tire. I braced for a headache at the repair shop, but instead, they patched it in under 30 minutes—for only $13! Fast, painless, and affordable? It felt like Christmas came early.

#159: A Friendly Cashier

Sometimes it’s the little things. At Whole Foods a few weeks ago, I had a cashier who was so cheerful and helpful that I left the store smiling. People who bring that kind of positive energy into the world deserve a shout-out.

#160: Abbot Elementary Laughter

My girlfriend and I have been binging Abbot Elementary, and it’s been laugh-out-loud hilarious. Sometimes we literally have to pause the show just to catch our breath from laughing so hard. Can’t wait to finish this season and gear up for Season 5!

Weekly Spotlight

At Toastmasters last week, our club president shared a quote that really stuck with me:

“Effort and courage are not enough without direction and purpose.”
A powerful reminder that it’s not just about working hard—it’s about knowing why we’re doing it.

Back to Routine, Full of Gratitude

There’s something refreshing about returning to your own rhythm after time away. The past two weeks have been a blur of travel, new faces, breathtaking views, time with family, and little moments that made me pause in gratitude. From standing on stage at a national conference to savoring Earl Grey ice cream under the Colorado sun, these days were rich with experiences worth remembering.

141. Great Talk at a National Conference

142. New Connections

143. Hiking the Rocky Mountains

144. Delicious Hand Rolls

145. Perfect Weather

146. Earl Grey Ice Cream

147. Strolling to the Red Rocks Amphitheatre

148. A Great Conversation with an Uber Driver

149. Running into an Old Coworker

150. Fishing

 

#141: 🎤 Great Talk at a National Conference

Two weeks ago, I had the honor of speaking at a national conference in Denver, Colorado, alongside the Dean of my program. Our presentation, Fostering Belonging for Students at a College, drew a little over 30 attendees. The reception was heartwarming. Several participants stayed afterward to share how impactful the talk was. My hope is that they bring what they learned back to their campuses and create practices that truly help students feel they belong.

#142:🤝 New Connections

I connected with higher education staff from across the country, swapping stories about both successes and challenges. Hearing about shared struggles and creative solutions was both validating and inspiring.

#143: 🏔 Hiking the Rocky Mountains

While in Colorado, my partner and I hiked a trail in Rocky Mountain National Park. The 3-hour trek was moderately challenging, but the view from the top was humbling—a sweeping panorama that made us pause in awe. I’m deeply grateful for the memory we made together. Look at the photo that I took above.

#144:🍣 Delicious Hand Rolls

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I love sushi. On this trip, I tried hand rolls—like sushi, but in a crisp seaweed cone. Just writing this makes my mouth water.

#145: ☀️ Perfect Weather

We lucked out, sunny skies, dry heat, and hardly a drop of rain the entire trip.

#146:🍦 Earl Grey Ice Cream

Move over, black raspberry, there’s a new contender. Earl Grey ice cream was a surprising, fragrant delight. I may have found my second favorite flavor.

#147: 🎶 Strolling to the Red Rocks Amphitheatre

We made a stop at Red Rocks Park in Jefferson County, home to the iconic amphitheater. A concert that night kept us from going inside, but the walk around the park was stunning. We even spotted a mother deer with two fawns, an unforgettable sight.

#148: 🚗 A Great Conversation with an Uber Driver

One of my favorite ways to experience a place is by talking with locals. Our driver, a towering 6’6” artist, had traveled the globe—from China to Ethiopia to countless U.S. states. His stories were as colorful as his life.

#149: 👋 Running into an Old Coworker

This weekend brought an unexpected joy: running into a coworker I hadn’t seen in 12 years. We swapped updates and reminisced about old colleagues.

#150: 🎣 Fishing

Over the past two weeks, I went fishing a couple of times. I’m no pro, but being out in nature with the water lapping nearby is pure relaxation.

Weekly Spotlight

A parable: The Monk and the Minister
Two close boyhood friends grow up and go their separate ways. One becomes a humble monk, the other a rich and powerful minister to the king. Years later they meet.
The minister, seeing his friend’s worn robes and thin frame, says, “If you could learn to cater to the king, you wouldn’t have to live on rice and beans.”
The monk replies, “If you could learn to live on rice and beans, you wouldn’t have to cater to the king.”

Most of us fall somewhere in between. As for me, I’d rather be closer to the monk.
—J.L. Collins, The Simple Path to Wealth