HAPPY NEW YEAR! In this episode I rant about 2020. Obviously it was an unexpected and crazy year, but there were also many positive memories that I don't want to forget. Thank you for checking in with me! 

In August 2020 I experienced one of the most blissful weeks in recent memory. I felt connected and engaged. Inner peace was present in each moment. The minor details of life felt important and purposeful. I was reminded not to be distracted by busyness, and to give meaning to the experiences I go through. In Seneca’s essay on tranquility, he uses the Greek word euthymia, which he defines as “believing in yourself and trusting that you are on the right path, and not being in doubt by following the myriad footpaths of those wandering in every direction.”

Powerless. Uncertain. Agitated. I don't know what to do... I'm learning that the best thing to do when I don't know what to do is get back to the basics. Work on fixing my brokenness, disarm my ego, strive to understand other people's experiences. In this episode I talk about recent feelings of frustration and what I'm doing to overcome stagnation. 

We all go through times when we wish we were further along in our journey. In this episode I talk about patience, persistence, and the benefit of incorporating these two words into my life. I believe patience is the best gift we can give to ourselves, and when balanced with persistence we can learn and accomplish anything. One of the best lessons I’ve learned is that I will never stop learning lessons. Thanks for listening!

I realized that I was not loving to do the things that I love to do! (Does that make sense?) Fortunately I caught myself feeling overwhelmed and was able to flip the switch. Being insanely intentional about generating gratitude and positivity during moments of stress is proving to a great way to stay connected. I'm excited to discuss ways to continue to love what we love while also taking on more responsibility in an organized and structured way.

I trash picked a basketball net, started watching The Wire, and busted out my N64. These are just a few of the activities that I've been up to the last month. This update covers what quarantine has been like and how I'm hoping to use my time moving forward. Thanks for listening. Stay safe!

One month ago my daughter Quinn turned one! This episode is dedicated to her and all the great memories and lessons from her first year on Earth. It's impossible to express how much I love her and how proud I am to be her dad. This has been the best year of my life and I know they will only get better. I love you Quinn!

Being intentional about forming healthy habits has been a priority of mine in the last few years because I believe my habits determine my life. Everyday is an opportunity to make an effort and right now I can feel momentum building. I'm not as consistent as I want to be but I keep the practice going. Thanks for checking in with me. Hope you're doing well. 

April 2nd is a special day in the Welde household. This year we celebrated Julie's birthday at home but many of our friends and family did a drive-by to say hi! I'm so thankful for my amazing wife and all the support she gives me. In this episode I talk about one of the proudest moments of our relationship and share some fun travel stories. I'm looking forward to having her on the show to discuss these stories in more detail. 

During this time of social distancing I realized that certain situations require us to decide to have fun. Despite the seriousness of this scenario, there is only so much that most of us can do: Stay inside, social distance, donate to causes that can help, try to be productive, focus on gratitude, and have fun. We’re all responsible for our actions, so rather than isolate ourselves and quarantine our positivity... text, call, or Face Time a friend to have some fun! It could change your entire week. What activities do you do just for fun? 

Certain situations cause us to experience the unpleasant feeling of walking on eggshells. I've grown through many scenarios and relationships in my life that included this exhausting sensation. In this episode I discuss those seasons and the one I'm currently in which includes feelings of walking on eggshells around myself. (*During the recording I wrongfully said "Welcome to Episode 42" when in fact this is Episode 43) Thanks for listening!

"This is what I'm doing now" has become my go-to reminder to bring awareness to the present moment. I know that many recent episodes have been about presence and slowing down to appreciate life, but this episode was recorded during a time that I'm struggling to find joy. So my hope is that I'll take my own advice, begin to practice this method more intentionally, and get reconnected to life. 

I've become thankful for life by thinking about death. Knowing and accepting that I will die is a gift that helps me be more present and intentional. One day will be my last, which makes every day I'm alive a chance to humbly serve others and do my part to experience love and share love. So yeah, I’ve been thinking about death recently, and I figured I could share my thoughts with you.

Everyone has tough days and difficult weeks. The reason it’s worth talking about these frustrating times is because maybe we can offer each other new perspectives for the next time we’re fed up and feeling annoyed. Right now I believe that I need to seek clarity in order to generate gratitude and enthusiasm for where I'm at. Hopefully this episode doesn't make me sound ungrateful or unaware of my privilege to be alive – I just felt like I needed to get this off my chest. And I think it helped. 

Realizing that you are the silent observer of your thoughts will begin the process of accepting what is and living in the moment.  "When you honor, acknowledge, and fully accept your present reality ­– where you are, who you are, what you are doing right now – when you fully accept what you have got, you are grateful for what you have got, grateful for what is, grateful for Being. Gratitude for the present moment and the fullness of life now is true prosperity." – The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle

I don’t want to tell you how to live, what to do, or why certain ways are better than others, but I do want to offer you a chance to contemplate how your decisions are impacting your happiness. I believe optimism is a decision and that being optimistic can cure many of life’s issues. Sometimes all you need is hope that things will turn out good. Feeling secure is the first step to reaching peace, and security is found through surrendering what you can't control and cultivating an optimistic perspective toward all of life's challenges. 

The fact that you woke up today is enough of a gift to now pay it forward! Sharing positivity and being kind are things that I want to take full advantage of while I'm alive. My friend Dan recommended I discuss this topic and it gave me a chance to evaluate my habits and realize that I need to be more intentional about listening to the voice in my head that encourages me to do little acts of kindness. You should too!

I talk about a wide range of topics on this podcast and this episode is to clarify one thing: I KNOW NOTHING! This was a tough one for me to post but in the spirit of full transparency and vulnerability I figured it was worth letting you know that I don't expect others to always agree with my thoughts and methods for living a meaningful life. My experience with anxiety, addiction, and self-loathing aren't exactly the same as yours but that doesn't discredit each other's insights. I love having the chance to contemplate what it means to be human and I appreciate you being on this journey with me.

I'm sorry the audio is so messed up ... However this episode is filled with some of my most passionate moments on this podcast yet.  I’m going to be a creator throughout my life because it's what brings me life and fulfillment, and although consuming content can be a relaxing use of time I often find myself using consumption to numb feelings of dissatisfaction. Let's talk about it.

Be the reason that someone smiles today! In this episode I discuss my experience with creative expression and sharing content online. I go in-depth regarding the concept of documenting my life through video and written word, plus I talk about the lessons I’ve picked up along the way, most of which I've learned through failure. Finally, I reflect on the different stages I’ve gone through including the good, the bad, and the cringe-y.