Posts

One of the reasons I sign up to both enjoy and suffer through ultra-marathons is for the experience of sheer adventure. The nature. The people. The camaraderie of the trail running community. Another more personal reason: ultra-marathons provide excellent opportunities to get to know myself at deeper levels. I intended to finish the 62 miles of this race on very little training. While I only made it through half the race, I left with far more valuable lessons than I would have had I finished. ...

It was summer 2020 and I was alone on my way back home from a short stay at the coast with family and friends. I often listen to podcasts while driving so what a perfect opportunity to listen to a new one by the author of a book I had been reading at the time: John Kim’s The Angry Therapist, a no BS guide to self-improvement. I’ve been reading self-help / personal-growth books casually since I was in my teens for reasons I am unable to express eloquently. The podcast though … the podcast was intriguing because it offered a glimpse into a place I had been seeking for a long time. At the end they advertised their coaching training program and there was something about the idea of becoming a life coach that was incredibly appealing. Within 15 minutes of getting home after a 4-5 hour drive, I was signed-up to the program and ready to go. I felt completely in alignment for the first time in forever (there’ll be magic, there’ll be fun). ...

I started running again recently. After taking a solid eight month break after successfully running my first 100 miler last November I no longer felt great in my body. And I felt my thought patterns sliding back into a time in my twenties where I was surviving through life rather than fully living. No thank you. I don’t care much about surviving by itself. That shit is soul-suckingly boring. Life is for the living. The goal is to thrive. And we thrive by creating things that entertain us simply because they are entertaining to do so. Simply because we find beauty in our creations. Simply because stuff is fun. ...

After so many months off, I’m officially back to practicing the yoga of simple kettlebell lifts and running. Today I reached Program Minimum standards from the Kettlebell Simple & Sinister book. This is essentially 10x10 one-armed swings within 5 minutes, followed by 10x Turkish get-ups within 10 minutes with a 1 minute rest in-between swings and get-ups. Am I capable of more weight right now? Yes, absolutely. At what cost? I’m not sure. ...

I’ve spent so much time working away from home the past couple of months as it’s hard for me to concentrate on anything at home while living in the midst of renovations. Native Coffee Co is one of my favorite places to sit and work because the coffee is delicious (I almost always drink black), it’s close to the house, and … well, it’s comfortable … the vibe is good. ...

Hi! It’s time to refresh things once again. I’ve reached 40 years of age, am definitely a different person than I was over 20 years ago when I first started posting on the internet. I have big plans for the next decade and beyond. And to begin, I’m collecting a lot of my random posts on the internet over the last 20 years and back-filling this site with this random content. Enjoy. Or don’t. I hope you do you.

The thing about radically changing your reality is that it is likely out of your present awareness. And that’s okay because the journey getting there is the best part anyway, living in the present moment. So after you figure out what you want in life, you gotta get out in the world and do something that you feel will lead you there, being open to receive and having faith in the process itself. Enjoy it. ...

… and to find them takes consistent practice, consistent inner work to tap into the universal energy where the answers are dancing around in space like feathers, waiting for you to get still enough to gracefully fall into your lap. This requires quiet. Quieting thoughts – the endless, mindless chatter of the ego self. The goal is to connect with the higher Self, thereby connecting with the universal energy of the universe. ...

It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not. – André Gide I need you to really, truly believe that you are unique and possess precious gifts to share with the world. Why? Because it’s true. And. Because the world becomes even more gorgeous than it already is when you do. Let go of negative self-talk. Let go of comparison with others. Let go of guilt, resentment and criticism. Learn your lessons and forgive yourself. ...

I’ve been in a mental funk the past few days and was hoping things would improve on my drive out to Huntsville State Park yesterday. Things didn’t pick up for me mentally until I set foot on the trail, albeit slowly. As much as I wanted to be completely in service to everybody passing through the #Damnation aid station for Rocky Raccoon, I wasn’t. Not at first anyway. I put on a show, yes. I was doing my best, yes, but I wasn’t being authentic. I put on a social mask that sort of looked like normal, positive Justin. But I wasn’t in integrity with myself, no. ...