I've witnessed people change for better and for worse. It's encouraging to watch someone who once struggled with life's course emerge like a butterfly bursting out of its cocoon, totally transformed. It's equally disheartening to watch someone with great potential, positive morals, and a lovely personality become self-centered, condescending, and greedy. In both scenarios, you can trace the behavior changes to model changes.

There's a growing mob of apathetic warriors who confuse theatrics with action. They don't wear uniforms, but their constant outrage identifies them (you'll find them all along the political spectrum, but they tend to cluster on the edges). No matter the hot topic, they have a take and fervently display it - if only for a minute. It'd be commendable if this were genuine concern accompanied by a burning desire to fix injustice. But these cultural soldiers are only passionate about one cause, demonstrating their good character to the world.

While out for a stroll at the park, my daughter Natalie looked up at her mother and me and said, "I'm happy." Those simple words transformed a casual family outing into a micro-moment of pure joy, during which all was perfect in the world. I wondered where she learned the phrase because, unfortunately, those words aren't uttered enough, even when we are happy.

If you would've told me ten years ago that I'd own a candle company, I'd have laughed hysterically at the ridiculousness of the notion. Yet, it wasn't long ago that I had transformed my basement into a candle manufacturing factory. I morphed into a combination of Martha Stewart and Walter White, and I'm almost sure my neighbors suspected I was operating a small drug operation. To their credit, they never called the cops.

We cannot reduce the human experience to a series of mathematical calculations or algorithms. Scientists and mathematicians have been working endlessly to explain our existence with theories, and maybe they’ll be successful one day. Even then, they will have only explained the beginning, and as each day passes, the number of inquiries expands infinitely.

As a child, my afternoons were filled with neighborhood pickup football games on the Baptist church's lawn that only ended when we ran out of light. On weekends, my parents ushered me to rec league soccer games, spending their mornings with other parents in the makeshift stands. And in the cherished summer months, we'd walk to the local park to play tennis or volleyball. Back then, playing multiple sports was the norm, a cherished rite of passage for those of us without the privilege of 'country club' specialization.

"Busy" -  the new canned response when asked how you've been. What will your colleagues think of you if you answer with anything else? You're lazy, unproductive, uncommitted, not in demand? There's a significant disconnect between busyness and production in many organizations - performative busyness is the norm.

She slowly planted one small foot before moving the other, occasionally stopping to make sure she was being watched. Her face swelled with pride when she caught an encouraging look from her mother. She flashed a grin as if to say, “you haven’t seen anything yet.”

Syncretism most commonly describes beliefs derived from different theologies and schools of thought. And while this utility applies to me, I'm more interested in exploring how this methodology applies to other parts of my life.

I write a lot about ignoring the noise. You have to be careful in the midst of geopolitical events when the information war is raging at total capacity. During periods of chaos, there are false reports, propaganda machines at work, and journalists (both professional and amateur) desperate for clicks and likes. 

Counterintuitively, these moments also provide the most signal.

In 1999 Putin was confirmed as Prime Minister after Yeltsin chose him as a successor, accelerating the inevitable clash between Russia and the west. Of course, Russia has never returned to the prominence of the USSR, despite Putin's deepest desires. Since his swift rise to power, Putin has regularly flexed his muscle, testing the international community's appetite for war - but his latest invasion of Ukraine is a sequel to the Cold War that will likely end in his demise.

Awkward silence.

During a recent interview (link at the end), Elon Musk took 21 seconds to start answering a question. Prominent scientist and podcaster Lex Fridman interviewed Elon and asked, "When do you think SpaceX will land a human begin on Mars?"

My Dad is the most punctual person I've ever known - and it's not even close. I can't specifically recall a time when he was late to anything, no matter how casual the occasion. Fortunately, I seemed to have inherited this trait. But a few years ago, my wife pointed out my growing tardiness.

My heart sank as I listened to author Greg McKeowen describe his young daughter Eve's sudden neurological symptoms. A once thriving, joyful, and vibrant teenager suddenly struggled to write her name. At first, the slide seemed like normal teenager behavior. She started talking less, disconnected from her family, and generally seemed less vivacious. It wasn't long before it was clear that Eve's behavior wasn't a teenage phase but something far more severe.

Just like the dogs, we're chasing false rewards. Instead of the greyhound track, we waste our energy on the hedonic treadmill. Like the short high of a drug, we chase pleasure after pleasure, often at the expense of long-term happiness. We convince ourselves that catching these hares will unlock the next level of happiness. But they don't. In fact, in hindsight, the satisfaction is hardly noticeable at all, and we're left feeling as we were before, unfulfilled.

Starting and growing a business during a pandemic with a newborn at home? Launching a podcast amid a boom in an already crowded category? Creating a blog when you have no clue if anyone cares what you have to say? 

It's a bold strategy, Cotton. Let's see if it pays off for 'em.

Albert Schweitzer is credited with saying, "my life is my argument." I don't know much about the man, but I know he was a humanitarian, theologian, philosopher, musician, charitable doctor, and mustache extraordinaire. He was controversial, but he wasn't one to lash out at his critics, name-call opponents, or strike back at detractors. In describing his intellectual pacifism to a friend, he wrote,

James Clear wrote in Atomic Habits that “every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.” IT REALLY RESONATED because developing and maintaining positive habits has long been something I’ve tried to achieve. Maybe due to being raised by two military parents or possibly an inherent personality trait, I’ve always needed an elevated level of structure.

The phrase "meeting with my wife" sounds a bit strange, as if we show up with briefcases and presentation decks, shake hands, and negotiate a deal. It's not that kind of meeting, but it's the most important one I have (almost) every week.

Technology provides a gateway to information. I read about Yale's Well-Being course, a popular choice among first-year students, and decided to check it on Coursera. The class helps students be happier and more productive.

In a series of posts, I'll share my favorite lessons from the course, along with thoughts and a few criticisms.