Getting Up to Speed

This is the first one, where we begin our magnetic relationship. I’ve spent the last few days immersed in a few different things: practicing L-Sits on homemade PVC parallettes, studying biology, doing deep squats with my kids, trying to start a bonfire (failing, as Yoda said), blaming wet wood, getting acclimated behind two different bars, and learning the muscles around the elbow. Brachialis has a reputation for being a troublemaker, but we’re getting along just fine. Building steam through my first semester back in school in a long time feels pretty good. This time last year, I thought I’d be slinging cocktails forever. Well, exclusively forever.

Here I am, after having made the decision to enroll in June. The plan is to get my mom’s generation moving again – long story short. Of course, there’s more to it than dumbbells and a Mongo Santamaria playlist, so I’m learning the science behind it. That’s why I’m back. In these past few weeks, I’ve met some really awesome people. Older, younger, calmer, crazier – you name it. MC has it all. I’ve realized a person like me needs to learn with others, and study groups have been a great way to learn things through other people’s minds. Creepy, but I ask permission first. Literally: “You guys wanna form a study group?” Commence symbiotic relationship. It’s been a bit of a balancing act (see above), but as long as I give myself breaks here and there, I can stay pretty focused. Sleep has taken a high position on the priority list, and as a result, my mental clarity and willingness to meditate first thing in the morning have increased exponentially.

For a guy with three kids under five years old, sleep is gold. But so is everything else. All of it. That’s something that I’ve come to realize. Every little thing is a gem. Especially the coffee. (Side note: have y’all tried ground cacao!?) Okay, enough of that. I’ll throw in some stoicism later to balance everything out – I promise. So No Spend September just ended, and we are hoping to be equipped to actually end it pretty soon here 😉 We’ve gone through the cabinets and made magic from all the grains, the legumes, the flours, the canned tuna, all of it. It was an extremely successful financial experiment. One born partly out of necessity, but that’s the mother of innovation, right? Or is that invention? She’s a motha all right! But we’re crushing it. Brushing my teeth with homemade toothpaste, wearing homemade deodorant – sorry study group people- and cold brewing coffee (and cacao) myself. We were inspired by The Tao of Seneca (I keep my promises), following some of his advice: “Set aside a certain number of days, during which you shall be content with the scantiest and cheapest fare, with coarse and rough dress, saying to yourself the while: ‘Is this the condition that I so feared?’” Boom. Stoicism. It’s okay to be a student! I will say, however, having Apple Pay at the vending machines and in the cafe when my protein shake and PB sandwich just won’t do is soooooo great.

Don’t tell my wife.