The author shares their struggle with skipping morning routines, particularly stretching, despite being athletic. They emphasize the importance of routines in maintaining good habits and achieving success. Skipping minor routines can lead to unwanted habits and pain. Adapting habits while staying consistent, even in challenging circumstances, is key to personal development.

The post discusses the challenges of navigating life's choices and the importance of self-discovery. The author reflects on personal experiences of feeling lost, the pressure to conform, and the realization that true leadership involves finding one's own path. Emphasizing the significance of trusting one's inner voice, the author encourages embracing personal growth and making choices that align with individual values.

Where Do I See Myself in 3 Years? Honestly, doing many of the same things—unless something new comes along that I fall in love with enough to turn into a passion project and finally let go of working for others. I don’t see myself doing what I’m currently doing forever. My passion is my passion, and I’ve been steadily working toward something that allows me to be free—to do what I want, when I want.

I'll Keep it Short and Sweet You are great! Because... You're alive You have everything that everyone else has, and you just need to find a use that provides you the happiness you deserve. You're beatiful I honestly believe everyone is intelligent, just some people have a different niche YOLO Strength is internal, not external (I learned that from all the great women in my life)

Finding Your Passion in Art ExpressionDiscovering new ways to express who you are is essential to the core of humanity. We often fall into patterns—funnels—and try to fit into what we think success looks like. But when you lock who you are in a dark room, it eventually calls out to be seen, to be heard, to show both you and the world who you really are.

Baked Foods I really like making cheescakes. It started with pound cake, I appreciate my grandmother showing me how to make it, it sparked something in me. The process is very cerebral, has a lot of steps, but if done correctly, the person eating the cheesecake gets a very nice surprise for their tastebuds. I wish I could make it more, but with my schedule, and the amount of time it takes, I usually avoid making it.

Unproductive This was gonna be a lazy post, I have been on vacation and wanted to keep this one short and sweet. This question though, I found intriguing. Primarily, on a lazy day, I feel unproductive. It's the idea of stacking positive things, or habits. If I miss a run day, that's one less day of getting better. I don't seek to seem maniacal, but with my background in sports, that's how you're supposed to view off days.

Learning I love to learn about people, life and interesting subjects. I ask a lot of questions, I believe learning more about people, helps you understand yourself, but also improves my communication in other settings. I also genuinely find people and there thoughts, desires, quirks just interesting. It's nice to understand what makes everyone tick, how they became who they are and why they chose to do and say things they do.

Everything I love the idea of being a master of none. I want to know a little bit about everything. If I had to pick one thing, becoming a writer. While Atomic Habits essentially states that the type of person I am now becoming, is a novelist, or a writer, due to the fact that I am performing the necessary actions, I am waiting for this to become as simple as picking up a pen and writing with my natural hand.

Myself I like to help everyone else, but sometimes at the cost of taking care of myself. I have always felt, what's the point of enjoying anything if you don't have people to enjoy it with? My wife and I do a lot for our grandmother, and our daughter. Everything that we do is to make sure our grandmother is comfortable, but I am thinking about my mortality, and how it could affect our daughter, so I purchase and plan with her in mind.

The Strength, Resilience, and Beauty of Black Culture At first, I thought much of what makes us unique had been stripped away. But when I look deeper, I see the qualities that make me proud to be Black — resilience, inclusivity, art, and intelligence. These traits not only define Black culture but also demonstrate our ability to endure, to create, and to inspire.

Muted Music Brings me JoyFirst song that came to mind when I started writing this, even though I don't listen to it that often is "Just Like Music" by Eric Sermon ft. Marvin Gaye. How can it not lift you up? My Inner VoiceMusic helps calm my inner voice sometimes. It allows me to think clearly and understand my feelings.

Reset I consider the holidays a chance to reset. The entire rest of the year seems like a sprint. ChristmasI like to pull up all of my favorites, even if I am not actively watching it. Home Alone 1/2, Jingle All The Way, Die Hard 1/2, Bad Santa's, Harold and Kumar, etc. RICE, is a must. I run a lot, but also just work and push myself really hard.

Key Lime Cheescake This was my most epic fail, but I was able to actually save this one. The beginningMy grandmother got me into baking. It started with a pound cake. Then I started to bake on my own, just for the love of the process. She's shown me how to make pound cake, but also sweet potato pie. My wife and I make as good a sweet potato pie as you can imagine, just top it with whip cream, the first time I did it, I ate only sweet potato pie for thanksgiving day.

Born to Lead Leading by ExampleAs an athlete, I was taught to lead with my actions. I found it difficult to understand why others couldn't/wouldn't work as hard. Why some wouldn't take it as serious, but also wouldn't view the moment the same as I did. My coaches told me, I can only control what I do, and how I react.

Hypocrite I was told by a friend this is generational. I despise nothing more. The thought of someone telling me what I can or can't do number 1 just drives me insane. Then that person doing what they told you that you shouldn't, then them trying to rationalize why it's different... Yah fuck off. Usually though, I feel like this is an intimate situation often, and you're usually not going to see this situation play out with someone you've just met, but if you do, it's a massive problem.

Tough one for sure.. My ideal week starts with getting to work on time and restarting what I finished mid day Friday from the previous week. I don't like to start new things in the afternoon on a Friday, you often get stuck. When I finish the work day, obviously go home. On Mondays, I don't let myself play games, I try to do something that can improve my life, in a small or large way, not kidding at all, just do something prosperous.

Depends.. After a long Day of WorkI find something to do that I enjoy. Could be vegging out and watching Tv. Playing a video game, cleaning, or doing laundry. Something that doesn't require a lot of physical energy or brain power. It could also be building something, software, or something physical or working on the house. During WorkWe all get frustrated at work.

This one I could only visualize metaphorically. Trying to Fit inI'm not a person who does well trying to fit in. I do best when I am doing what I think is best for me. I also think, when I am doing what is best for me, I make sure it also benefits the ones around me. I've tried many things in my life.

Life is like a game of cards. We don’t get to choose the hand we’re dealt, but we can choose how to play it. Hardship, suffering, and setbacks may shape us, but they don’t have to define us. Strength comes when we refuse to fold, discover our gifts, and create our own luck.

Seeing people work together. It feels rare when it's done, but also it often seems purposeful for a chance to look good doing something good. When it's done out of love, care but also because it's the right thing to do, it's nice to see. I just believe kindness in general is great. I forget how kind people can be in a world with so many people that are unkind.

In 2012, feeling stagnant, the author was inspired to return to college after meeting a teacher who recognized untapped potential. Pursuing Mechanical Engineering, they found motivation from supportive educators and embraced lifelong learning. This journey transformed their perspective on life, emphasizing growth, adaptability, and the importance of continuous education in all aspects.

MorningThis may sound like I am saying this to seem edgy or energetic or maybe even sound like I am trying to say this is a key to success. I admittedly am a nightowl. I would prefer to work hard/late play hard/late and get up late. I was forced to start getting up early while attending school and working full time, but also in order to make sure I could have some semblance of a normal life with my family in the afternoons.

I would say this blog, but I think the 7 Habits, Atomic Habits and The Subtle Art. I pick those solely on the fact that being self reliant and building through personal habits and using repetitive behavior is something I just get, but also it landed me on working on this blog. I've listened to The Subtle art an Atomic Habits multiple times now, and it's like having a key to a door that gives you a short cut.