Newsletter Archives
Take Two—12/11/2025
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
Take Two—12/4/2025
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