Newsletter Archives
2/12/26: Take Two — Unseen. Not Unimportant
Pet Sounds once peaked at #10 and was called a disappointment. Decades later, it became a masterpiece. A reminder that unseen work is not unimportant.
Ideas and inspiration for a more intentional, extraordinary life.
February 12, 2026
WORDS TO WONDER
UNSEEN. NOT UNIMPORTANT
“Be faithful to that which exists within yourself.”
— André Gide, French writer, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature (1869–1951)
PERSPECTIVES TO PONDER
In 1961, The Beach Boys crashed onto the music scene.
By 1963, they were climbing the Billboard charts with “Surfin’ U.S.A.,” “Surfer Girl,” and “Be True to Your School.” Soon came three #1 singles: “I Get Around,” “Help Me, Rhonda,” and “Good Vibrations.”
They were America’s soundtrack to sunshine.
Then, in 1966, they released Pet Sounds.
It was highly anticipated but only reached #10 on the charts.
Compared to their earlier chart-toppers, it was considered a disappointment.
Fans expected more surfing, cars, and carefree fun. Instead, they got vulnerability. Longing. Emotional depth. Songs like “God Only Knows” that sounded less like beach anthems and more like prayers.
It didn’t fit the moment. But moments change.
Sometimes what feels like a miss is simply ahead of its time.
A decade later, Paul McCartney said:
“God Only Knows is the greatest song ever written.”
Then, in 2000, thirty-four years after its release, Pet Sounds was certified Gold (500,000 copies sold). Two weeks later, it went Platinum (1,000,000).
The first half-million took 34 years.
The second took two weeks.
The album didn’t change. The world finally heard what had been there all along.
Our work isn’t always recognized when it’s released into the world. Sometimes it’s misunderstood. Sometimes it feels invisible. Sometimes it feels like shouting into the wind.
It’s tempting to abandon what’s meaningful when no one seems to notice.
But greatness is often ahead of its time.
If you’re discouraged and it feels like no one is listening, don’t confuse delayed recognition with lack of value.
Trade the desire for immediate applause for the pursuit of lasting impact.
Keep building.
Keep writing.
Keep creating.
Great work is not measured by its first reaction.
It is measured by its staying power.
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
Am I chasing visibility—or impact?
Are the results I want the natural outcome of the actions I take daily?
If recognition were delayed for years, would I stay the course?
NOT-SO-ORDINDARY FINDS
Kindness in the Quiet
A couple of minutes that will brighten your day.
BEFORE YOU GO
Not everything meaningful is immediately noticed.
Not everything unseen is unimportant.
Press on with your purpose—even when the world doesn’t seem to notice.
Stay inspired by the life you are living.
Kevin
2/5/26: Take Two — The Cost of Staying the Same
Comfort has a cost. This reflection explores how habits, familiarity, and the past can quietly shape our lives—and the courage it takes to begin again.
Ideas and inspiration for a more intentional, extraordinary life.
February 5, 2026
WORDS TO WONDER
THE COST OF STAYING THE SAME
“The chains of habit are too light to be felt until they are too heavy to be broken.”
— Warren Buffett
PERSPECTIVES TO PONDER
After college, I lived in a small two-bedroom, one-bath house with four other guys. Our tiny house was never meant for five people. We assumed it would be temporary—but comfort has a way of extending timelines, and we ended up staying for years.
The landlord had one unusual rule: we were not allowed to change the phone number.
The house had belonged to his grandmother, and the number was etched into his memory. He cared about it so much that he offered to pay our phone bill himself, just to keep the number the same.
A free phone bill was a nice perk. Over time, it became a windfall.
A few of the guys were in long-distance relationships—some international. Phone use exploded. So did the bill. Eventually, the monthly phone charges exceeded the rent.
And still, the landlord paid.
He was losing money every month, not because the house wasn’t rentable, but because he couldn’t let go of something familiar.
It’s easy to see the mistake from the outside. But it raises a quieter, more uncomfortable question:
Where might we be doing the same thing?
Most of us carry at least one habit, belief, or pattern we’ve outgrown, but keep anyway. Not because it serves us, but because it’s familiar. Comfortable. Known.
Over time, the cost adds up.
Momentum slows.
Opportunities narrow.
Life becomes more expensive than it needs to be.
If you’re honest with yourself, where is your unwillingness to change costing you?
And if there were one change—just one—that would improve your life in the long run, what would it be?
Maybe it’s time to change the phone number.
WHEN THE PAST STILL LINGERS
This week I’m in Dallas, and I’m struck by how heavily history hangs over this city.
Dealey Plaza.
The X’s painted in the street marking where John F. Kennedy was struck.
The Sixth Floor Depository.
The theater where Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested.
The place where he had earlier killed Officer Tippit.
The Municipal Building where Jack Ruby ended Oswald's life.
Dealey Plaza, Dallas
Decades have passed, yet the past still looms.
And it made me think about how often we allow our own history to do the same.
Old failures.
Past mistakes.
Versions of ourselves we wish we could forget.
Unlike a city—where curiosity and remembrance will always keep certain chapters alive—we’re not required to live in our past. We’re allowed to turn the page. To begin again. To create distance between who we were and who we’re becoming.
So here’s the question I’m sitting with:
Where are you still lingering in the failures of your past?
And what might change if you decided—today—to write a new story?
THINGS WORTH THINKING ABOUT
The Difference Between a Successful Life and a Meaningful One
What if success isn’t the thing we should be chasing?
This short thought experiment reveals why a life can look good on paper—and still feel empty inside. A reflection on success, meaning, and the quieter question that determines whether a life truly feels worth living.
→ Read the full article
BEFORE YOU GO
Life is constantly inviting us to begin again—sometimes quietly, sometimes at a cost.
May you have the clarity to notice where change is needed, the courage to make it, and the wisdom to invest your days in what will still matter when you look back.
Stay inspired by the life you’re living.
Kevin
1/29/26: Take Two — Are You Fighting the Laws of Physics?
Newton’s First Law of Motion isn’t just physics—it’s a mirror for how we live. This reflection explores inertia, momentum, and the small forces that quietly shape the direction of our lives.
Ideas and inspiration for a more intentional, extraordinary life.
January 29, 2026
ARE YOU FIGHTING THE LAWS OF PHYSICS?
Isaac Newton’s First Law of Motion—the law of inertia—states:
An object at rest stays at rest, and an object in motion stays in motion, unless acted upon by an external force.
It’s a core principle of physics, but it’s also a quiet truth about how we live.
So it’s worth asking:
Are you at rest?
Not physically, but existentially. Have you lost momentum? Settled into routines that no longer challenge you? Stopped trying not because you chose to, but because it slowly became easier not to?
Or are you in motion?
You may be busy, productive, constantly moving—but motion alone isn’t the goal. Is your movement taking you closer to the life you want to live? Or is it carrying you farther away, just at a faster pace?
Newton reminds us of something important: motion doesn’t change on its own. A life at rest doesn’t suddenly spring forward. A life drifting off course doesn’t magically correct itself.
Change requires a force.
That force might be a decision you’ve been avoiding.
A conversation you need to have.
A habit you need to start (or one you need to stop).
A choice to pursue what matters most.
There are forces acting on you whether you choose them or not. Some energize you. Others quietly slow you down. Paying attention to which ones you allow into your life may matter more than you realize.
The laws of physics are at work every moment of every day. The question is: are you fighting them—or letting them work for you?
QUOTATIONS TO CONSIDER
“It’s not that we need to do more. It’s that we need to do less of what doesn’t matter.”
— Greg McKeown, leadership thinker and author
“You cannot find peace by avoiding life.”
— Virginia Woolf, English writer
“Inspiration is perishable—act on it immediately.”
— Naval Ravikant, entrepreneur and investor
“I was in darkness, but I took three steps and found myself in paradise. The first step was a good thought. The second, a good word; the third, a good deed.”
— Friedrich Nietzsche, German philosopher and writer
THINGS WORTH THINKING ABOUT
Why Indecision Is the Biggest Reason You’re Missing Out
How much life are you missing because you’re waiting to decide? This article explores why indecision is often more damaging than a wrong choice—and how small decisions can restore momentum.
BEFORE YOU GO
This week’s ideas all point in the same direction: momentum matters. Whether it’s physics, perspective, or choice, small decisions shape the direction of our days—and, over time, our lives.
I hope you’re finding meaningful momentum as you pursue what matters most.
Stay inspired by the life you’re living.
Kevin
1/22/26: Take Two — A Perfectly Logical Error
A story about a perfectly logical mistake, the limits of certainty, and why asking better questions may matter more than having the right answers.
Ideas and inspiration for a more intentional, extraordinary life.
January 22, 2026
A PERFECTLY LOGICAL ERROR
My dad once told me a story about growing up in Ireland during World War II.
Out of concern that the country might be invaded, many signs were stripped of their English, leaving only the Gaelic text. The idea was simple: make navigation harder for any invading force.
After the war ended, English signs were slow to return. Most of the time, this caused only minor confusion—until international travelers began passing through Shannon Airport.
The restroom doors were labeled only in Gaelic:
Fear — men
Maighdean — women
To travelers unfamiliar with the language, the reasoning seemed obvious. Fear starts with an F, so it must be female. Maighdean starts with an M, so it must be men.
Perfectly logical. Completely wrong.
People kept walking into the wrong restroom until airport officials finally added English translations.
The travelers weren’t thinking poorly—they were thinking clearly. Their logic worked. What failed was the information underneath it.
Life is full of moments like this. Times when our reasoning is sharp, our conclusions feel obvious, and yet we’re still heading for the wrong door.
Because logic is only as reliable as the understanding it’s built on.
We don’t usually go wrong because we aren’t thinking. We go wrong because we’re thinking from incomplete information—and treating it as if it’s complete.
So perhaps the quiet wisdom isn’t to distrust our thinking—but to hold it lightly enough to ask, What might I be missing here?
Sometimes the most important course correction isn’t a better answer, but a better question.
QUOTATIONS TO CONSIDER
“It is easier to see the mistakes in other people’s thinking than in our own.”
— Simone Weil, French philosopher
“The eye sees only what the mind is prepared to comprehend.”
— Henri Bergson, French philosopher
“It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.”
— Mark Twain, American writer and humorist
“The problem with the world is that the intelligent people are full of doubts, while the stupid ones are full of confidence.”
— Charles Bukowski, American poet and novelist
BOOK RECOMMENDATION
Same as Ever by Morgan Housel
At its core, Same as Ever is about human behavior. Housel explores the timeless forces that shape success, failure, progress, and frustration. Technology changes. Circumstances change. People don’t—at least not in the ways that matter most.
Same as Ever is a reminder that progress always comes with friction. Every meaningful pursuit has an “overhead cost”—stress, uncertainty, inefficiency, and inconvenience. The challenge isn’t eliminating these costs; it’s learning how much of them to accept so you can keep moving forward. Another great book from Morgan Housel. Check it out.
BEFORE YOU GO
This week, I’m focused on asking better questions—exploring what I might be missing—and remembering that a little inefficiency is part of the deal. I hope you find the right balance between progress and imperfection as you pursue the life you want.
Stay inspired by the life you’re living.
Kevin
1/15/26: Take Two — Sunshine and Shadows
We imagine a future version of life with fewer problems and more joy. But real happiness isn’t waiting somewhere else—it’s found in how we live, notice, and attend to life today.
Ideas and inspiration for a more intentional, extraordinary life.
January 15, 2026
WORDS TO WONDER
Sunshine and Shadows
“If you think of your future self living in a new mansion, you imagine basking in splendor and everything feeling great. What’s easy to forget is that people in mansions can get the flu, have psoriasis, become embroiled in lawsuits, bicker with their spouses, feel wracked with insecurity and annoyed with politicians—which in any given moment can supersede any joy that comes from material success. Future fortunes are imagined in a vacuum, but reality is always lived with the good and bad taken together, competing for attention.”
— Morgan Housel
PERSPECTIVES TO PONDER
One of the most subtle ways we make ourselves unhappy is by comparing our full, lived reality to some imagined future.
We picture a future version of life with more perks and fewer problems than we have now. Our imagination makes it easy to believe we can have success without cost, happiness without interruption. But as Morgan Housel reminds us, those futures exist only in theory. Real life is never lived in a vacuum.
Every life (no matter how enviable it looks from the outside) is lived with a mix of beauty and burden. Joy shares space with inconvenience. Success coexists with insecurity. Love does not eliminate worry. Even the lives we most admire still include sickness, conflict, boredom, and doubt. That’s not failure—it’s simply what it means to be human.
The mistake isn’t wanting things to improve. Growth and progress matter. The mistake is believing that happiness lives somewhere else, that it will finally arrive once the variables line up just right. When we do that, we overlook the quiet goodness already woven into our days. We trade presence for projection.
A better way to live is to hold both perspectives at once. To acknowledge the hard without letting it eclipse the good. To pursue a better future without dismissing the life we’re already living. Not because it’s perfect, but because it’s real.
My future (and yours) will come with a mix of sunshine and shadows. It always does. But so does today. And if we’re paying attention, there is almost always something here, right now, worth noticing, appreciating, and enjoying.
QUOTATIONS TO CONSIDER
1. "Tend to the small things. More people are defeated by blisters than mountains."
— Kevin Kelly, founding executive editor Wired magazine (b. 1952)
2. "If we only wished to be happy, this could be easily accomplished; but we wish to be happier than other people, and this is always difficult, for we believe others to be happier than they are."
— Montesquieu, French judge, philosopher (1689-1755)
3. "People from a planet without flowers would think we must be mad with joy the whole time to have such things about us."
— Iris Murdoch, novelist and philosopher (1919-1999)
THE COMPLIMENT MOST PEOPLE NEVER GIVE
C. S. Lewis, the author of The Chronicles of Narnia, died on November 22, 1963, at the age of 64. His passing went largely unnoticed—not because his life was insignificant, but because that same day the world’s attention was consumed by the assassination of John F. Kennedy.
Lewis was buried near Oxford with only a few dozen people in attendance. At his funeral, his friend Austin Farrer offered a simple but striking tribute: “His characteristic attitude to people in general was one of consideration and respect. He paid you the compliment of attending to your words.”
When is the last time someone truly attended to your words?
We live in a distracted world where people attend to their phones more than they do people. The result? Half-heard conversations, eyes drawn elsewhere, attention divided and diluted. We may be physically present, but mentally we’re a hundred other places.
Leo Tolstoy once wrote, “The most important person is the one you are with in this moment.” Imagine what might change if we lived as if that were true. If we offered others the rare gift of undivided attention.
In a world starved for presence, attending to another’s words is no small thing. It is an act of respect. A form of generosity. And a quiet way to set yourself apart.
BEFORE YOU GO
We’re 15 days into 2026. If you repeated the past two weeks over and over for the rest of the year, would you be content with how you lived it?
Not every moment will be productive or wonderful. But I hope you’ve already made time to connect with people you care about, tried something you’ve never tried before, or created a memory you’ll enjoy revisiting for years to come.
Stay inspired by the life you’re living.
Kevin
1/8/26: Take Two — Not Ready, Not Set…Go
We often wait to feel ready before we begin. But clarity rarely comes first—it follows action. The path forward is made by walking, imperfectly and anyway.
Ideas and inspiration for a more intentional, extraordinary life.
January 8, 2026
WORDS TO WONDER
Not Ready, Not Set... Go
"The path is made by walking."
— Antonio Machado, Spanish poet (1875-1939)
PERSPECTIVES TO PONDER
I was listening recently to an interview with Ed Sheeran, and he was asked about his songwriting process. Did he start with lyrics or music? Did inspiration come from a particular place? Did he follow a system?
His answer surprised me in its simplicity.
“I don’t really have a process,” he said. “I just do it. I pick up a guitar every day and write one or two songs.”
Then he added something even more important: most of those songs aren’t good. Some, he admitted, are downright terrible. But by writing a lot—by showing up day after day—he sharpens his craft. And every so often, hidden among the forgettable songs, something beautiful emerges.
I love that approach—not just to songwriting, but to life.
So often, we wait. We plan. We prepare. We tell ourselves we’ll begin once we feel ready, confident, or clear. We try to create the perfect conditions before taking the first step. But clarity rarely comes before action. More often, it comes because of action.
That’s what Antonio Machado was getting at when he wrote, “The path is made by walking.” The way forward isn’t revealed on a map—it’s revealed through movement. The path appears only after we begin to walk it.
There’s wisdom in planning, of course. But there’s also wisdom in starting before we feel ready. In increasing our volume of effort. In allowing ourselves to produce imperfect work, have awkward conversations, take clumsy steps, and learn as we go.
Most of what we do won’t be remarkable. And that’s okay. Because somewhere in the middle of the mess—amid the false starts and failed attempts—we begin to find our stride. We discover what works. We learn what we're capable of by trying.
So instead of asking, “What’s the perfect plan?” try asking, “What will I do today, and again tomorrow?”
Write the rough draft. Make the call. Take the walk. Begin badly if you must—but begin.
THINKING OUT LOUD
1. Busyness is the most socially acceptable form of underperformance.
2. Sooner or later, we learn that time (not money) is what we're really spending.
3. What we avoid says as much about us as what we pursue.
A TALE OF TWO KICKERS
This past weekend, the final regular-season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens came down to the final play of the game.
The winning team would advance to the playoffs. For the losing team, the season would be over.
The game swung back and forth all night. It was a battle. And in the final seconds, with the season hanging in the balance, the Ravens sent their kicker, Tyler Loop, onto the field.
The snap was clean.
The kick was up.
And it missed.
Just like that, the season was over.
Kicker Tyler Loop after missing the kick
What followed was heartbreaking. In the days after the game, the kicker became the target of an avalanche of anger and abuse. Online harassment poured in. His fiancée’s social media accounts were flooded with hateful messages. The hostility grew so intense that the couple required security for their own safety.
One missed kick and Tyler Loop was now the most hated man in Baltimore.
Now consider a similar moment from another era.
On January 27, 1991, the Buffalo Bills were playing in their first-ever Super Bowl—Super Bowl XXV. With seconds left on the clock, the Bills trailed 20–19. Everything came down to a 47-yard field goal.
Their kicker, Scott Norwood, lined up.
The kick was up.
And it sailed wide right.
The Bills lost. Norwood and the Bills were devastated.
But what happened next is one of the most beautiful responses in sports history.
Instead of turning on Norwood, Buffalo showed up for him. Fans sent letters of encouragement. The city held a parade—not to mourn the loss, but to honor the team. And during that parade, the crowd began chanting, “We want Scott!”
Norwood, overwhelmed and unsure, was standing in the back. Slowly, sheepishly, he made his way forward. And when he did, the crowd erupted—not with anger, but with applause.
Crowd supporting Scott Norwood after his missed kick
Two kickers.
Two devastating misses.
Two very different responses.
Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone misses. Everyone has moments they wish they could do over.
The question is not whether people will fail.
The question is how we will respond when they do.
Will we pile on—adding shame to disappointment, cruelty to pain?
Or will we offer what every one of us hopes for when it’s our turn to fall: grace, encouragement, and support?
I can’t help but think the world would be a better place with more fans like those in Buffalo.
BEFORE YOU GO
We’re one week into the new year.
Maybe you’re energized—making progress and feeling hopeful about what lies ahead.
Or maybe you’ve already stumbled, lost momentum, or feel discouraged.
Either way, it’s not the past seven days that matter most. It’s the 358 days still ahead—and the one you’re living right now.
Life isn’t built in perfect streaks or flawless starts. It’s built in ordinary moments, small steps, and quiet course corrections. There’s no need to catch up. No need to restart. No need to have it all figured out.
There is only now—and what you choose to do with it.
Stay inspired by the life you’re living.
Kevin
1/2/26: Take Two — Course Correction, Not Reinvention
A meaningful life isn’t built through dramatic reinvention. It’s shaped by small course corrections—made often—that slowly guide us toward the life we want.
Ideas and inspiration for a more intentional, extraordinary life.
January 2, 2026
Course Correction, Not Reinvention
We often approach the New Year as if it requires a total overhaul of our lives. New habits. New goals. A new version of ourselves.
But meaningful change rarely happens that way.
Commercial airplanes offer a helpful reminder. After a plane takes off, it's slightly off course for much of the journey. What matters isn’t flawless precision—it’s the constant course corrections made along the way.
Small adjustments. Repeated often. That’s how a plane arrives where it intends to go.
Our lives work much the same way.
Most New Year’s goals fail not because we lack motivation in January, but because we don’t revisit them in February… or April… or October. We set a direction once and hope momentum will carry us the rest of the year. When life inevitably drifts us off course, we don’t notice—or we notice too late.
The alternative is simpler and far more effective.
Instead of asking, How can I reinvent myself this year?
Try asking, What small correction would bring me closer to the life I want to be living right now?
Improve your sleep.
Reduce screen time.
Watch less television and read more books—even a page or two each day.
Give more time and attention to your health, your relationships, your spiritual life.
Course correction doesn’t demand perfection. It requires awareness.
And the good news is this: you don’t have to wait until next January to begin again. You can recalibrate today. Tomorrow. As often as needed.
A meaningful life isn’t built through dramatic resolutions. It’s shaped through small, repeated adjustments.
What small adjustment can you take today that will help you move in the direction of the life you want to live?
THREE QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
A New Year is an invitation to ask better questions—because the quality of our lives is often shaped more by the questions we ask than the goals we chase. Here are three worth sitting with as you begin the year:
1. Fast forward to December 31, 2026—what one thing would need to have happened for you to feel this was a good, meaningful year?
2. If you knew 2026 would be the last year of your life, how would you live differently than you did last year? What conversations would you want to have?
3. What routines, habits, or time-consuming activities are no longer serving you? Remove one that's not working and replace it with something that will help you create the life you want.
NEVER MISS THE CHANCE TO START AGAIN
A new year doesn’t magically change our lives—but it does offer something precious: the chance to begin again with more wisdom than before. I wrote a short article that explores the value in starting again. You can read it here.
QUOTES TO CONSIDER
Quote #1:
“You do not have to be the same person you were five minutes ago.”
— Alan Watts
Quote #2:
“The truth is each of us are only one or two decisions away from a more beautiful and winsome life.”
— Bob Goff
Quote #3:
“Although no one can go back and make a brand-new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand-new ending.”
— Carl Bard
BEFORE YOU GO
I hope the year ahead is filled with wonderful moments and memories you’ll carry with you for years to come.
Spend some time imagining what this year could bring—but remember, you don’t have to have the whole year figured out. You don’t need a flawless plan or perfect follow-through. You only need a direction, and the willingness to make small course corrections along the way.
If you’re looking for ideas and inspiration for living a more meaningful, purpose-filled year, I invite you to read my first book, A Life Worth Living. I wrote it as a reminder—to myself most of all—to live intentionally and to make the most of my one wild and precious life. I’m reading it again now, because I’ve learned I always need reminding to live the life I’ve imagined.
Stay inspired by the life you’re living.
Kevin
12/25/25: Take Two — A Christmas Classic That Almost Wasn’t
Some of the most enduring gifts begin when someone chooses to believe—before anyone else does. A reflection on courage, presence, and remembering what matters.
Ideas and inspiration for a more intentional, extraordinary life.
December 25, 2025
A Christmas Classic That Almost Wasn’t
In 1843, Charles Dickens found himself at a crossroads. Though he was already a successful author, his latest idea—a short Christmas story centered on generosity, redemption, and human kindness—failed to excite his publisher.
Dickens believed deeply in his vision for the book. He wanted to produce something beautiful, with high-quality paper, gilded edges, and colored illustrations. These choices raised costs and convinced his publisher the project was too risky.
Dickens believed otherwise.
So he did something uncommon—almost reckless by the standards of his time. He paid for the book himself. He covered the printing, the illustrations, the binding—every detail—because the story mattered to him. A Christmas Carol was released just days before Christmas and sold out almost immediately.
The story went on to shape how generations think about Christmas, compassion, and second chances. It has become the quintessential Christmas classic.
As this year comes to a close, maybe you felt supported and encouraged. If so, be grateful and celebrate. And if you didn’t—if encouragement was scarce and reassurance never arrived—remember this:
You don’t need approval to begin.
You don’t need perfect conditions to take the next step.
You only need the courage to move forward.
Maybe this is your season to bet on yourself.
To brave standing alone.
To bring your ideas into the world, even imperfectly.
After all, some of the most enduring endeavors begin the same way A Christmas Carol did: with one person choosing to believe before anyone else does.
THE GIFT THAT CAN'T BE WRAPPED
Most of the gifts we give this week will be unwrapped, admired, and eventually forgotten.
But one gift never goes out of style: your full attention.
Not the half-listening kind while your phone buzzes nearby. Not the distracted nod while your mind drifts to what’s next. The kind of attention that says, I’m here with you—and nowhere else.
It’s the choice to put your phone down.
To listen without planning your reply.
To sit with someone you love and be fully present—not distracted, not rushed.
Attention is rare. And because it’s rare, it’s valuable. In a world competing relentlessly for our focus, presence has become a quiet form of generosity.
Years from now, people won’t remember every gift they opened. But they will remember how they felt in your presence—whether they felt seen, heard, and valued.
This season, give what can’t be bought, wrapped, or returned.
Give the gift of being fully present.
A TREE FULL OF STORIES
I love Christmas—the lights, the music, time with family. One of my favorite parts of the season is decorating the tree.
Our tree isn’t coordinated or themed. It’s layered with memories.
Each ornament marks a place we’ve been, an experience we’ve shared, or someone we love. There are reminders of national parks we’ve wandered—Denali, Joshua Tree, and Zion. There are ornaments from our annual Delaney Family Adventures—Whistler, Costa Rica, and Ireland. And there are mementos from cities whose streets we’ve walked and stories we’ve brushed up against—Edinburgh, Berlin, Amsterdam, and Florence.
Each ornament is small. But together, they tell the story of the lives we are living.
I’ve come to believe that milestones and markers matter. They remind us not just where we’ve been, but who we were becoming along the way. Life moves fast, and without reminders, even the best moments can fade into the blur of time.
Life, after all, is a collection of experiences. And once collected, it’s a gift to return to them—to reminisce, to remember, to feel gratitude for the journey.
My hope for you this holiday season is that it’s filled with moments worth remembering. Take a photo. Save a token. Frame the memory for next year’s tree.
May your Christmas tree become a yearly reminder—not just of the season—but of the beautiful journey your life has been, and continues to be.
BEFORE YOU GO
Christmas is a sacred time for many—myself included. It’s a celebration rooted in the belief that God loved us so deeply that He chose to enter the world as a baby, so that we might know Him.
And whether or not you celebrate Christmas, I hope you have sacred days of your own—moments that invite you to pause, reflect, and remember the beauty and gift of life.
As the year comes to a close, may your final days of 2025 be merry and bright.
Stay inspired by the life you’re living,
Kevin
12/18/25: Take Two—Looking Back to Live Better
As the year comes to a close, reflection helps us turn experience into wisdom. In this issue, I explore the value of looking back—on our days, our moments, and the people who shaped them—and share a few reminders found on the streets of New York about beginning again, embracing pressure, and clearing the dust to see what matters most.
Ideas and inspiration for a more intentional, extraordinary life.
December 18, 2025
Words to Wonder:
Looking Back to Live Better
"We do not learn from experience… we learn from reflecting on experience."
— John Dewey, philosopher and psychologist
"We don't remember days; we remember moments."
— Cesare Pavese, poet and novelist
"How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives."
— Annie Dillard, poet and author
Perspectives to Ponder
As the year comes to a close, I find it invaluable to pause and reflect on all that has filled it. Reflection has a way of quieting the noise and revealing what truly mattered—and what didn’t.
Looking back helps me notice patterns: whether I’ve been paying attention to what’s good or fixating on what’s wrong; whether I’ve lived reactively or intentionally; whether my days reflect the life I hope to be living. As Annie Dillard reminds us, our lives are simply the sum of our days—and how we choose to spend them matters.
One simple exercise I return to each year is this: set aside 20 or 30 quiet minutes and reflect on your favorite moments—and your least favorite ones. Naming them brings clarity. It becomes easier to schedule more of what energized you and to gently avoid what drained you in the year ahead.
Take time to reflect on the people you spent the most time with. Did those interactions leave you feeling encouraged or depleted? Did certain relationships bring out your best—or your worst? Awareness creates choice. And choice creates change.
As Cesare Pavese observed, we don’t remember days—we remember moments. What were your defining moments of 2025? The places you went. The experiences that stretched you. The challenges that taught you something important. Reflection turns experience into wisdom—and wisdom helps us move forward with greater intention and meaning.
Some people quickly jot down a list of New Year’s resolutions on January 1. Others skip reflection altogether. I prefer a slower approach. I take the entire month of January to reflect, reimagine, and review the systems and goals in my life—asking whether they truly support the way I want to live.
Socrates famously said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Reflection doesn’t have to be heavy or burdensome. Think of it as an invitation to relive the moments that made you smile, grow, and feel alive.
One of my favorite ways to begin is simple: scroll back to January in your photo reel and move forward, moment by moment. It’s a powerful reminder of just how much life you lived this year—and a beautiful way to appreciate it all.
I hope reflecting on 2025 brings gratitude for the moments that mattered—and clarity for how you want to live in the year ahead.
THREE REMINDERS FROM THE STREETS OF NYC
When I travel, I try to slow down enough to notice the details—the things you’d miss if you were rushing from one destination to the next. While walking through New York this week, three images caught my eye. Each felt like a reminder worth carrying home.
1. YOU CAN BEGIN AGAIN
“New York is the end of your past and place of rebirth.”
Many people come to New York to leave something behind and start over. A past version of themselves. A chapter that no longer fits.
The good news? You don’t have to move to New York to do that.
Any day can be a reset. Any moment can be a turning point. Starting fresh isn’t about geography—it’s about choice. We can all leave the past where it belongs and begin again, if we’re willing to decide that today is different.
2. PRESSURE IS A PRIVILEGE
Pressure only exists when something matters.
If no one expects anything of you, if nothing important is at stake, if no one is depending on you—there’s no pressure. But there’s also very little meaning.
Pressure can be uncomfortable, even heavy at times. But it’s also a reminder that you’re in the arena—engaged, responsible, alive—rather than standing safely on the sidelines. The weight you feel is often the cost of doing something that matters.
3. WASH THE DUST AWAY
“Jazz washes away the dust of everyday life.”
Life gets messy. Repetition dulls our senses. Routines pile up, and before we know it, the wonder is covered in dust.
Sometimes we need to pause and clear it away.
For some, that might be music. For others, a deep conversation, time in nature, prayer, movement, or quiet solitude. Whatever does it for you, take a few moments to wash the dust away—so you can see clearly again the extraordinary things that are already happening all around you.
BEFORE YOU GO
I’ve spent a lot of time in New York. Vicky and I were married in Central Park, and we return every year.
This time, we arrived in fresh snow and 20-degree weather. That single change—snow—made everything feel different. Of all my years visiting New York, this one stood apart. Central Park—so familiar to us—had been transformed into a winter wonderland.
It was a simple but powerful reminder: sometimes one change can transform everything.
As you look ahead to 2026, consider one action—one habit, one decision, one shift in focus—that could quietly change the trajectory of your life. You don’t have to overhaul everything. You don’t need a long list of resolutions.
Sometimes, one intentional change is enough.
Stay inspired by the life you’re living,
Kevin
12/11/2025: Take Two — Is It a Wonderful Life?
A reflection on It’s a Wonderful Life, quiet meaning, and how seeing your life with new eyes can reveal more purpose than you realize.
Ideas and inspiration for a more intentional, extraordinary life.
December 11, 2025
Words to Wonder:
Is It a Wonderful Life?
“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new lands but in seeing with new eyes."
— Marcel Proust, novelist (1871-1922)
Perspectives to Ponder
In the timeless film It’s a Wonderful Life, we meet George Bailey. He dreams of traveling the world and living a life of adventure—but he sacrifices those dreams to help others in his small town of Bedford Falls.
When a financial crisis strikes, George is on the verge of losing everything. He feels like a failure and even contemplates ending his life. That’s when he meets Clarence.
Clarence is an angel who shows George what Bedford Falls would have been like if he had never been born. It’s a dark and hopeless place, and the people he loves are suffering. Realizing how deeply he’s impacted others, George gains a new appreciation for his life.
George’s external circumstances didn’t change. He’s still in the same town, facing the same struggles. But his perspective shifts dramatically. Instead of seeing himself as worthless, he now sees a life full of meaning and purpose.
I think we could all benefit from an encounter with someone like Clarence. We all have moments when we question our impact or wonder whether we’re making a difference. But sometimes, like George, we just need to see life from another point of view. A shift in perspective can help us realize our lives may be far better than we thought.
What if the life you’re living is already more meaningful than you realize? Maybe it’s not your life that needs to change—but the way you’re seeing it.
As we move through this holiday season, may we all find moments to see our lives with new eyes. And may you catch a fresh glimpse of the purpose your life carries—and a renewed appreciation for the many quiet ways you make the world better.
From my new book, Words to Wonder, #20 in the Perspective chapter.
REMINDERS WORTH REMEMBERING
I’ve learned that the most meaningful lessons aren’t always new ones. More often, they’re things I already knew but simply lost track of in the busyness and noise of living—like an important note buried somewhere in a stack of papers on my desk. Then I stumble across it again and think, Oh right… this matters. And I move it back to the top where it can actually get the attention it deserves.
Jane Kenyon's poem, Otherwise, is one such reminder.
STORIES WORTH KNOWING
What Krispy Kreme Can Teach Us About Living a Better Life
We live in a world that equates speed with success. But sometimes the very thing we rush toward gets ruined in the process. This week I wrote about Krispy Kreme—a company whose dramatic rise holds an unexpected lesson for the rest of us.
It’s a story about donuts… but even more, it’s a story about how we move through our lives, and what we risk missing when we push too hard or too fast.
If you’ve ever felt the pressure to hurry, hustle, or do more, this short article may offer a fresh perspective.
Read the story HERE
BEFORE YOU GO
This week’s stories all point in the same direction. George Bailey reminds us that our lives may be far more meaningful than we realize. Jane Kenyon’s Otherwise nudges us to notice the ordinary gifts we usually rush past. And Krispy Kreme shows us what happens when “more” and “faster” start to ruin what was already good.
As this year winds down, maybe the challenge isn’t to do more, but to see more—to slow the pace, shift your perspective, and appreciate the life you’re already living.
Stay inspired by the life you’re living,
Kevin
12/4/2025: Take Two — When Kindness Rewrites the Story
Ideas and inspiration for a more intentional, extraordinary life.
December 4, 2025
Words to Wonder:
When Kindness Rewrites the Story
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”
— Aesop
PERSPECTIVES TO PONDER
Two years ago, in Ferrum, Virginia, a fire broke out in a residential neighborhood. The volunteer fire department rushed to the scene and battled the blaze for four hours. The fire was contained to a single home, but that family lost everything. And as if that weren’t hard enough, it happened just a few days before Christmas.
When the firefighters returned to the station, they couldn’t shake the image of the children standing in the cold, watching their home—and everything they owned—disappear in flames. So they decided to do something about it.
They took up a collection, went shopping together, and filled their fire trucks with toys, clothes, and Christmas surprises. On Christmas Day, they delivered everything to the family’s temporary home, determined to help the family still celebrate Christmas.
As the holidays approach, crowds will grow, traffic will slow, and tempers may flare. But even in the midst of the season’s chaos, opportunities to choose kindness are everywhere. And as Aesop reminded us, no act of kindness is ever wasted.
Wishing you a season filled with kindness.
THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE LIBRARY
The Almanack of Naval Ravikant
If you are looking for a book full of thought-provoking ideas and insights, I highly recommend The Almanack of Naval Ravikant by Eric Jorgenson.
The book distills Naval’s most valuable insights on wealth, happiness, and intentional living. It's a book worth revisiting often as you consider how to design a more meaningful life.
Check out my favorite quotes from the book here.
STORIES WORTH KNOWING
The Power of Initiative and the Courage to Act
History often turns on the bold, visible actions of famous leaders. But just as often, it hinges on the quiet courage of someone whose name never makes the headlines.
This week I wrote about Andrew Higgins, an entrepreneur most people have never heard of, yet a man Eisenhower credited with winning the war. His persistence, foresight, and refusal to wait for permission changed the course of history.
Higgins’ story is a reminder that impact isn’t reserved for the extraordinary few. It belongs to anyone willing to notice what others overlook, step into a gap, and take action. If you’ve ever wondered whether your actions can make a difference, this story will encourage you.
Read the story HERE
BEFORE YOU GO
Our stories change with the choices we make. Firefighters chose kindness and gave the gift of Christmas. Andrew Higgins chose initiative and helped win a war. What will you choose this week? This season? In this final month of 2025?
Stay inspired by the life you’re living,
Kevin
11/27/2025: Take Two — Alive in the Moments We Notice
Ideas and inspiration for a more intentional, extraordinary life.
November 27, 2025
Words to Wonder:
Alive in the Moments We Notice
"We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures."
— Thornton Wilder, American novelist
PERSPECTIVES TO PONDER
This week in the United States, we celebrate Thanksgiving. The holiday traces back to 1621, when the Pilgrims of Plymouth and members of the Wampanoag Nation gathered to give thanks for a successful harvest. That first winter in Plymouth had been brutal, claiming nearly half the Pilgrims’ lives. It was the local tribes' agricultural knowledge, shared generously, that made the following harvest abundant and ensured the Pilgrims’ survival.
In 1863, during the height of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation designating Thanksgiving as a national holiday. His message acknowledged the nation’s blessings—agricultural abundance, industrial progress—but also urged Americans to remember the immense suffering of widows, families, and soldiers whose lives had been torn apart by war.
It’s striking that both the origins of Thanksgiving and its formal establishment as a holiday came at times of deep hardship. We often slip into the idea that gratitude is reserved for when life is wonderful. But in truth, life is always a blend—good and difficult, joy and pain, simple and complicated. And it’s precisely within those mixed seasons that gratitude becomes most powerful.
As the year draws to a close, it’s a chance to slow down and really look at your life—to notice the things, people, and moments that have carried you. Not because everything has gone smoothly, but because even in difficult seasons, there are gifts that quietly sustain us.
May you enter this season with open eyes and a grateful heart, recognizing the treasures already in your life—and in the simple act of noticing, become truly alive.
QUESTIONS WORTH CONSIDERING
• What is one thing you did this week that will improve your future?
• What did you do that may hurt it?
• Where did your choices reflect the person you want to become—and where did they fall short?
BEFORE YOU GO
Gratitude isn't about having more—it’s about seeing more. May you notice the many blessings and wonders in your life this week.
Stay inspired by the life you’re living,
Kevin
11/20/2025: Take Two — When the Ordinary Becomes Extraordinary
Ideas and inspiration for a more intentional, extraordinary life.
November 20, 2025
Words to Wonder:
When the Ordinary Becomes Extraordinary
“Life is a matter of contrast. If you only had good things, you wouldn’t notice them.”
— Alan Watts, British philosopher and writer
Perspectives to Ponder
For many years, I traveled to Mexico to help build homes for families who had almost nothing. The conditions were harsh. Even being there for a week stretched me—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
When we finished building the house, we handed the family the keys, said our goodbyes, and began the long drive home. We had a tradition of stopping at Disneyland for the day after crossing the border. The contrast was jarring. After a week in dirt, dust, and scarcity, the place felt impossibly pristine—almost unreal.
It’s not the rides I remember, or even the magical atmosphere—it was the food.
We ate at the Plaza Inn and ordered turkey with mashed potatoes and gravy. It tasted amazing, better than a Michelin-star meal. Of course it wasn’t, but after a week of rice and beans, it felt luxurious.
I’ve felt the same thing after backpacking trips. After days in the wilderness, a simple Coke from McDonald's became an indescribable treat of bubbly deliciousness—like nothing I'd ever experienced.
But the lesson isn’t about food.
It’s about contrast.
Ordinary things become extraordinary when contrast brings their beauty into focus.
A change of environment, a break in routine, a shift in perspective—these small contrasts can wake up your senses and bring your life back into vivid color.
We don’t need dramatic changes to feel more alive.
We need contrasting experiences that make the familiar feel new again.
If you’ve been living on autopilot, maybe what you need isn’t more effort or more discipline—it’s simply something different. A change of scenery. A new challenge. A break in the pattern.
Contrast is the secret sauce of life. Add a little, and the extraordinary begins to shine again.
THINGS WORTH THINKING ABOUT
Approximately 160,000 people die each day around the world—that’s more than 58 million every year.
Of this total, about 4.4 million deaths each year stem from injuries and violence (accidents, traffic crashes, homicide). That's nearly 1 in 12 of all deaths. (World Health Organization)
Two take-aways:
If you’re reading this, be grateful you weren’t one of yesterday’s 160,000.
With millions of unexpected deaths each year, tomorrow isn’t promised to anyone.
What will you do today to live more intentionally and appreciate your one wild and precious life?
THINGS WORTH TRYING
Where has familiarity dulled your sense of wonder and appreciation?
Here are a few simple ways to restore excitement to your days:
Do something for the first time.
Novelty is pure contrast. Try a new restaurant, a new flavor, or a new route home. First-time experiences wake up your senses.
Expand your circle.
Talk with people you don’t normally interact with. New faces bring new stories—and new stories bring fresh energy into your life.
Add one small moment of discomfort.
Take a cold shower, park in the farthest spot, or tackle a task you usually hand off. A touch of discomfort sharpens your appreciation for everything else.
Change your inputs.
Swap your usual media for a podcast, book, or playlist outside your typical preferences. New ideas create new energy.
BEFORE YOU GO
Sometimes it’s good to experience less-than-ideal conditions—they remind us how much we have and how much we often take for granted. I hope you find at least one moment this week that feels exciting and new.
Stay inspired by the life you’re living,
Kevin
11/13/2025: Take Two — The Art of What Comes Next
Ideas and inspiration for a life less ordinary.
November 13, 2025
Words to Wonder:
The Art of What Comes Next
“When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one that has opened.”
— Alexander Graham Bell
Perspectives to Ponder
This past weekend, my wife, Vicky, and I went to the Stranger Things premiere at the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. It was an epic people-watching extravaganza—the red carpet, the cast, the first episode of the final season, and the after-party under the lights of Hollywood Boulevard.
But it wasn’t until the Duffer Brothers (the show’s creators) spoke that I realized something. For many, a premiere is a glitzy celebration. But for the cast and crew, it’s also a goodbye. After ten years of working together, this was their final bow.
Transitions are fascinating things. We often focus on what’s ending instead of what’s beginning. I’ve felt that myself this week. After 18 months of writing Words to Wonder, it’s finally out in the world—which means, in a way, that chapter is over.
Fortunately, I’ve learned that momentum matters. So, the day after Words to Wonder launched, I started writing my next book, The Rules of Money, The Laws of Wealth. I can’t wait for you to read it... someday... after I write it.
Maybe you’re standing in a doorway too—between what was and what’s next. If so, don’t spend too long looking back. The best beginnings start before we feel ready. A year from now, you might be amazed at where you are... simply because you decided to start today.
THINGS WORTH THINKING ABOUT
Every minute, your body replaces 300 million cells. In seven years, nearly every part of you will be different from who you are today. You are, in a very real way, becoming an entirely new person.
What habits, stories, or fears might you shed to match the person you’re becoming?
Your heart beats about 100,000 times a day—steady, tireless, and unwavering.
What else quietly sustains your life that you rarely notice? Gratitude begins in the things we forget to see.
YOU’RE INVITED!
Join me for a 45-minute live experience—part workshop, part book club.
Thursday, November 20 at 12:00 PM PT.
This is a chance to pause, reflect, and connect as we explore a few of the themes from my new book, Words to Wonder.
Through stories, conversation, and shared insights, you’ll leave feeling inspired to live with greater intention and perspective.
[Register here] — space is limited, so sign up today.
BEFORE YOU GO
Whether you’re in a season of beginnings or endings, I hope you find hope in what comes next. Life will always be changing, but there will always be wonder and possibility—if we choose to look for it.
Stay inspired by the life you’re living,
Kevin
11/6/2025: Take Two — The Value of Anything
Ideas and inspiration for a life less ordinary.
November 6, 2025
Words to Wonder:
The Value of Anything
“The value of anything is its ability to help you live the life you want. Nothing more.”
— Morgan Housel
Perspectives to Ponder
If you’re anything like me, you’ve got a lot of stuff—tucked away in drawers and bins, stacked on shelves, carried from one stage of life to the next. Books, papers, souvenirs, gadgets, keepsakes. Thousands of things in all.
But instead of thinking about how much we have, maybe we should think about what it’s really worth—not in dollars, but in meaning. Morgan Housel defines value as anything that helps us live the life we want. By that measure, how valuable are the things that fill our lives—our possessions, our commitments, even our relationships?
Author Bob Goff once said, “The more I quit doing things that are distractions, the better my life becomes.” Maybe the path to a richer life isn’t found in adding more, but in letting go—of the things, habits, or pursuits that no longer help us live the life we want.
What’s taking up space in your life that no longer adds value? Maybe it’s time to clear the clutter and make room for what truly matters.
THINGS WORTH THINKING ABOUT
WORDS TO WONDER IS AVAILABLE ON KINDLE
The Kindle edition of Words to Wonder is now live on Amazon! The official launch is Monday, November 10, but as a special thank-you to my newsletter readers, I’m offering early access to the Kindle version this week at a Friends and Family price of just $0.99.
It’s my way of saying thank you for being part of this community and for supporting my work. I hope Words to Wonder inspires you to pause, reflect, and see your life with new perspective.
LESSONS IN LIFE
BEFORE YOU GO
If there’s a thread running through this week’s thoughts, it’s this: value what helps you live well, not just what feels comfortable and safe. The life we want often requires us to let go of what no longer fits. This week I hope you find yourself surrounded by the things that truly help you live the life you want.
Stay inspired by the life you’re living,
Kevin
10/30/2025: Take Two — The Antidote to Fear
Ideas and inspiration for a life less ordinary.
October 30, 2025
Words to Wonder:
The Antidote to Fear
“Courage is not the absence of fear; it is the making of action in spite of fear, the moving out against the resistance engendered by fear into the unknown and into the future.”
— M. Scott Peck
Perspectives to Ponder
I have an unusual relationship with fear. There’s ample evidence in my life that I’m willing to do things that scare me. My curiosity has led me to swim with sharks, compete in martial arts tournaments, backpack through the wilderness, jump off cliffs, and—perhaps most terrifying of all—raise kids.
Yet I still get anxious when I fly. I dread going to the doctor. And despite having given thousands of talks to all kinds of audiences, I still face fear every time I share something I write—whether it’s this newsletter, a quick post on LinkedIn, or especially, a book.
When I speak, the words vanish once they’re said. But when I write, they live forever. There’s a vulnerability in that permanence. No one wants to look foolish, and publishing words always carries the risk that someone will find them stupid, irrelevant, or meaningless. And yet, we all want what we create to matter.
So why am I telling you this? Mostly to remind myself (and maybe you) that action is the antidote to fear. Moving against the resistance, into the unknown, is scary—but it’s also where growth begins and new adventures take shape.
Where has fear been holding you hostage from the life you want to live? Where could you take one step forward today, even while afraid?
I’m always grateful for the quiet voices that whisper courage into my own fears—reminding me to keep going. If you need someone in your corner, let me know. I’ll gladly cheer you on as you brave new waters.
THINGS WORTH THINKING ABOUT
MORE TO THE STORY
Last week I shared my disappointment at discovering there was no cherry pie hiding inside the Crisco can in my cupboard. Turns out I wasn’t alone in my pie-related disappointment.
One reader wrote to tell me that when she was four, she dug a hole in the yard, filled it with Crisco, covered it with dirt, and watered it faithfully for days—hoping to grow an apple pie tree.
Turns out, the recipe for disappointment starts with a can of Crisco.
EARLY KINDLE RELEASE—Words to Wonder
The Kindle edition of Words to Wonder comes out next week—one week before the official November 10 launch. For a short time, you can get it for just $0.99.
I’d love for you to grab a copy, enjoy it, and share it with a friend.
LIFE LESSONS IN A LINE
BEFORE YOU GO
If you’re anything like me, you’re probably hoping for a week free of fear. But in the (unfortunately) likely event that we’re not so lucky, may you find the courage to take action — even a small one — and step into the unknown adventures your fears would keep you from.
Stay inspired by the life you’re living,
Kevin
10/23/2025: Take Two — When Life Serves You Crisco
Ideas and inspiration for a life less ordinary.
October 23, 2025
Words to Wonder:
When Life Serves You Crisco
“Disappointment is the ache of unmet expectation—and an invitation to awaken new dreams and travel farther than you ever planned to go.”
Perspectives to Ponder
From the time I was a kid, I loved cherry pie—the flaky crust, the mix of sweet and tart cherries, pure perfection. Unfortunately, cherry pies were rare in our house, as rare as solar eclipses or winning lottery tickets.
One afternoon after school, rummaging through the cupboards for something to eat, I spotted what looked like a cherry pie in a can. It didn’t make sense, but there it was—a bright blue label with a picture of a golden-baked cherry pie practically begging me to open it.
Curiosity (and hunger) won. I peeled back the lid, ready to enjoy a rare treat—only to find a white, pasty substance staring back at me. I convinced myself it must be some kind of astronaut food—a space-age cherry pie reimagined for the modern snacker. So, naturally, I grabbed a spoon and took a big bite.
It was awful, possibly the worst thing I’ve ever tasted. To say I was disappointed is an understatement—a memory that still lingers today, equal parts comedy and cautionary tale.
Years later, I discovered that the “pie” in a can was actually Crisco—lard used to make pie crusts, not pies. Oh, the evils of advertising.
We all face disappointment. No one is spared. We’re disappointed by people, by circumstances, and sometimes most of all, by ourselves. For some, disappointment becomes a way of life—something inescapable. But we needn’t let it derail or drag us down.
So what do we do when disappointment crashes through the door, uninvited and unwelcome? Here are three practices that help me keep it in perspective:
Shift the story. Disappointment lives in the gap between what we imagined and what actually is. When you shift from what’s missing to what could be, its hold begins to fade.
Practice gratitude in the gap. Instead of wallowing in disappointment, take a few moments to name the things you're grateful for right now. Gratitude counters disappointment if we give it the opportunity to compete.
Separate outcome from effort. You can do everything right and still not get the result you want—that doesn’t make the effort meaningless. With the Crisco encounter, my curiosity didn’t pay off—but so many other times, it has.
Disappointment is inevitable. Defeat is optional. Each time we face it with honesty, reflection, and perspective, we take what's undesirable and let it refine us.
So the next time life serves you a can of Crisco when you were expecting cherry pie, smile — and remember: the ingredients for joy are still in the cupboard, waiting to be found.
THINGS WORTH THINKING ABOUT
Wayne Dyer on what comes out when life squeezes you → Watch on TikTok
Instructions for Living a Life by Mary Oliver
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.
19 DAYS TO GO — Words to Wonder
I’ve already read and reread this book half a dozen times. I can’t wait to finally share it.
LIFE LESSONS IN A LINE
BEFORE YOU GO
Disappointment has a way of disrupting our days and distracting us from what truly matters.
But it doesn’t get the last word—not unless we let it. I hope you meet whatever disappointments you encounter this week with perspective and the quiet confidence that for every can of Crisco, there’s a cherry pie waiting to be found.
Stay inspired by the life you’re living,
Kevin
P.S. Know someone who could use a spark of inspiration for a life less ordinary? Share this newsletter and brighten their week.
10/16/2025: Take Two — The Trade We All Make
Ideas and inspiration for a life less ordinary.
October 16, 2025
Words to Wonder:
The Trade We All Make
“The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts... Our life is what our thoughts make of it.”
— Marcus Aurelius, Roman emperor
Perspectives to Ponder
When I was about 10 or 11, I collected baseball cards. I wasn’t an expert—I judged a card’s worth by whether I knew the player. One afternoon, while flipping through cards with some older kids, a boy offered me a trade. He’d give me a handful of new cards of players on the San Francisco Giants, my favorite team, in exchange for an old card I had—some guy named Ted Williams. I’d never heard of him, so I made the deal.
Years later, I realized what I’d given away—Ted Williams was a legend, and I’d traded greatness for the familiar, lasting value for something all but worthless.
Looking back, it’s easy to see how naïve that trade was—yet we still make trades like it every day, only now the cards are our thoughts.
We trade gratitude for grievance, patience for urgency, wonder for worry, depth for distraction. And slowly, thought by thought, our inner life becomes colored by those choices.
Marcus Aurelius reminds us that our thoughts don’t just describe our life; they design it. They determine what we pursue, what we see as valuable, and how we experience the world. The quality of our thoughts becomes the quality of our life.
Choose your thoughts with care. In time, they’ll become the portrait of your life.
Not-So-Ordinary Finds
Click Here to read the article.
A beautiful reminder to slow down and notice life as it’s happening. About Time is tender, funny, and quietly profound—a story about love, time, and finding wonder in the ordinary moments we often overlook.
Help Me Launch Words to Wonder
Every book begins with a few helping hands — I’d love yours to help launch Words to Wonder. [Click here for more info]
Life Lessons in a Line
Before You Go
The quality of our days often mirrors the quality of our thoughts. Guard your thoughts well this week. They’re shaping more than your mindset — they’re shaping your life.
Stay inspired by the life you’re living,
Kevin
P.S. Know someone who could use a spark of inspiration for a life less ordinary? Share this newsletter and brighten their week.
10/9/2025: Take Two — Are You Brave Enough to Slowly Listen?
Ideas and inspiration for a life less ordinary.
October 9, 2025
Words to Wonder:
Are you brave enough to slowly listen?
“Communication moves in two directions, even when one person speaks and another listens silently. When the listener is totally present, the speaker often communicates differently... Formulating an opinion is not listening. Neither is preparing a response, or defending our position or attacking another's. To listen impatiently is to hear nothing at all. Listening is suspending disbelief.”
— Rick Rubin, legendary music producer and creative sage
Perspectives to Ponder
We have a bias for speed in our communication.
Not just in texting or instant messaging—but in conversation itself. We admire the person who always has a quick, articulate reply. Their readiness feels like intelligence; their ease, like confidence.
But I wonder if our bias for speed sometimes undermines our ability to truly connect. Because if we were to fully listen—without preparing our reply or rehearsing our thoughts—we might have to sit in silence when the other person stops talking. And silence can feel uncomfortable. It can make us look like we don’t know what to say.
Yet something powerful happens when we resist the urge to rush and instead listen with our full attention—without agenda or interruption. In that quiet space, we give others room to think more clearly, to speak more freely, and we vastly increase our chances of actually understanding what they mean.
Rick Rubin’s insight is profound: “When the listener is totally present, the speaker often communicates differently.” Your attentive presence can be the catalyst that helps someone else find their voice.
Listening—real listening—isn’t passive. It’s thoughtfulness and respect in action. It’s being strong enough to give someone else the stage so you both walk away with a deeper, fuller understanding than when you began.
Are you brave enough to slowly listen?
Life Lessons in a Line
Listening is the patient art of making another person feel heard and understood—proof that your presence and attention speak louder than any quick reply ever could.
A New Chapter Begins
I’m excited to share that my new book, Words to Wonder, releases November 10.
Words to Wonder: 100 Quotes with Reflections and Stories to Inspire the Life You’ve Imagined.
A companion to my first book, A Life Worth Living, it’s filled with timeless quotations, engaging stories, and thought-provoking reflections—a daily dose of perspective and inspiration to help you live the life you imagine.
Stay tuned for more soon.
More to the Story
During his eighteen-year career as a Major League Baseball pitcher, Lee Smith was known for his long, slow walks from the bullpen to the pitcher's mound. Most believed it was part of Lee's strategy to intimidate the batters he would face. But there was more to the story.
Smith was friends with the stadium groundskeepers. He found out that they got paid extra wages if the afternoon games stretched beyond 4:30 pm. Wanting to do his part to help his friends earn some extra money, Smith started the practice of taking his time and walking slowly to the mound in order to delay the end of the game.
Lee’s gesture didn’t cost him anything, but his actions were thoughtful and helped his friends. Sometimes it’s the smallest gestures—an encouraging word, a few extra minutes, a simple act of consideration—that leave the deepest mark. What small kindness could you offer someone today to make their load a little lighter?
There’s more to Lee’s story — and it’s worth the read. [Read it here.]
Before You Go
Life expands—or contracts—in proportion to our awareness and attention.
May you live this week with enough stillness to notice the beauty and wonder that hurry too often hides.
Stay inspired by the life you’re living,
Kevin
P.S. Know someone who could use a spark of inspiration for a life less ordinary? Share this newsletter and brighten their week.
10/2/2025: Take Two — Discomfort—The Price of Wonder
Ideas and inspiration for a life less ordinary.
October 2, 2025
Words to Wonder:
Discomfort—The Price of Wonder
“A ship is safe in harbor, but that’s not what ships are built for.”
— John A. Shedd
Perspectives to Ponder
I’m in Scotland this week—my first visit here. I was excited to come, but I knew there would be challenges too. Driving on the opposite side of the road was one. On our first day, we faced a 3.5-hour drive that turned into an unplanned detour. We relied on Google Maps, only to find ourselves hopelessly lost on narrow, winding backroads. Already tired from a long travel day from London, it felt overwhelming. At one point, I honestly wished I could turn the car around and skip Scotland altogether.
But we eventually found our way, and since then, Scotland has been breathtaking—wildly beautiful, rich in history. The ratio of good to bad is overwhelmingly stacked in favor of the good. And yet, those moments of frustration are part of the story too.
Ruins near Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh
Glenfinnan Viaduct, Scottish Highlands
It’s a healthy reminder: you don’t get the wonder without some discomfort. You don’t discover new places without the risk of getting lost. No one’s life is all good, all the time—and in our desire to avoid the difficult, we often miss the magical.
The Quiraing on the Isle of Skye, in the Scottish Highlands
The truth is, life’s most extraordinary moments often come wrapped in a little discomfort. Getting lost means you’re exploring. Struggling means you’re stretching. Frustration means you’re learning something new. If we insist on avoiding the bumps in the road, we also miss the breathtaking views along the way. The challenge and the wonder are inseparable. To live fully, we must embrace both.
Life Lessons in a Line
Every extraordinary moment carries a hidden cost: the willingness to be uncomfortable along the way.
Not-So-Ordinary Finds
The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter
Modern life is too easy—and it’s making us restless, anxious, and unfulfilled. Easter argues that embracing challenge, discomfort, and even misadventure is the key to meaning and vitality. A field guide to getting uncomfortable in all the best ways.
The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday
Based on Stoic wisdom, this book flips frustration on its head: the problem in front of you isn’t blocking the path—it is the path. A sharp reminder that every challenge carries the seed of opportunity.
The Problem with Perfection
Still pursuing perfection?
Perhaps you’re looking at it all wrong. I wrote about a man named Wayne whose idea of “perfect” might change how you see it too. Read the story here.
Before You Go
The week ahead may hold its share of bumps and frustrations, but it can also offer the beauty beyond them—the discoveries that only come when you’re willing to be uncomfortable. Here’s to leaning into both, and finding wonder along the way.
Stay inspired by the life you’re living,
Kevin
P.S. Know someone who could use a spark of inspiration for a life less ordinary? Share this newsletter and brighten their week.