A Personal Blog
This post will shock you. It’ll shock you first and then once what I share sinks in a bit, it’ll clearly demonstrate that, if you have a newborn child or a child who’s still very young, and if you make a decent living, you can easily make that child a multi-millionaire by his or her retirement. Easily. So easily. And legally. For very little effort.
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If you have even the slightest interest in finance or current events, you’ve likely noticed that Bitcoin has experienced a remarkable run. While it may be down from its recent highs, its value compared to its origins is still astronomical. That rise has turned people who were once ordinary, everyday citizens into millionaires and even billionaires. Whether they truly deserve that status is another debate entirely; what matters is that countless lives have been transformed by a largely abstract, highly decentralized form of currency.
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By this point, Laura and I have explored much of mid-coast Maine, with Freeport having been as far south as we’ve ventured and Belfast being as far north. In terms of sheer photographability, I’d rank the locations of Camden, Acadia/Bar Harbor, Rockport, and Boothbay Harbor from best to still the best, but not as good as the previous best. This is depending, of course, on what someone hopes to capture. If dramatic nature and sweeping views are your priority, Acadia is unbeatable. But for classic New England coastal charm, Camden wins hands down. I expect Kennebunkport will join the list once we visit, but for now, this is it – and it’s a big reason we return to Camden time and again. Simply put, there’s a lot to photograph. It offers the perfect mix of rugged coastline and human-made elegance.
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I don’t care how long someone has lived in a place where it snows – that first snowfall is always exciting. It doesn’t matter whether it’s just a flurry or a real accumulation. For some reason, no matter how many years a person has seen it, the moment those first flakes start to fall feels worthy of celebration. How long that celebration lasts is another story, of course. But for now, today, at this moment, the people of Maine are enjoying a snowy little honeymoon.
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October is the month we wait for all year. The anticipation is long, but when it finally arrives, we couldn’t be happier. And even though neither Laura nor I are true Mainers, we certainly feel like we belong once autumn settles in. October is autumn, and autumn is October – and it’s absolutely wonderful.
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September is truly one of Maine’s finest months. It’s always a toss-up between September and October for which feels more pleasant and comfortable – September for the warmth, October for the chill.
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The “extreme” red on the U.S. Drought Monitor has been steadily creeping toward our county here in Maine. I’ve never seen it so severe. We’ve had dry spells, but nothing like this.
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Have I been doing it right? I’ve read countless books and continue to do so, but have I rushed through some that deserved more of my attention? In this post, I attempt to answer that very question.
I’d like to start by sharing a little problem I’m wrestling with – see if it sounds familiar to you. I have this odd feeling that I need to read as many books as humanly possible before I die. I was talking about it with Laura last night, and she admitted she’s wrestling with something similar: “I better get moving because I’m never going to get where I need to be.” After she said that, I couldn’t help but think, Where exactly do you need to be? Where does anyone need to be in regards to their reading?
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There’s a region in England known as the Cotswolds. It stretches across gentle hills and honey-colored stone villages and is situated about 75 miles from central London. Much of it is easily accessible by train, making it a popular escape from the bustle of the city. The Cotswolds is celebrated for its rolling landscapes, charming towns, lush (notoriously English) gardens, and deep history. So enchanting is the locale that it’s been officially designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. With its storybook scenery and timeless character, it’s no wonder that countless authors, poets, filmmakers, and other creative souls have chosen to call it home over the centuries.
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Over the years, I’ve trained Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu full-time at three schools and have visited several others as a guest. Each academy had its own rhythm, its own way of doing things, and through that variety, I began noticing what resonated with me the most. Some instructors focused heavily on detail, others on pace, and a few managed to strike a balance between the two. Looking back, I realize that each experience shaped not only how I train, but also how I view the art as a whole.
As complicated as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu may sometimes appear, there really aren’t that many moving parts that lead to becoming proficient. There’s the fitness component, where the student grows stronger and develops a healthier appearance. Then there’s the technical side, where skills sharpen and the student learns what’s required of becoming eventually and effectively lethal. And, of course, there’s the fun. This is what keeps people hooked and coming back for more. Beyond that, there’s also the social side, though this is something in which the instructor plays a small part. Building friendships and connections is left almost entirely to the student. Some prefer to simply show up, train, and head home. Others make it a lifestyle, weaving the culture of BJJ into their daily lives. Either path is perfectly fine.
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