Author: Lucky Stripe Designs

what I’ve created –

• Chaps on Tour | CO Edition

what I’ve listened to –

• Ready Player 1 — PRESSUREE
• Slugs — Slow Pulp
• OBSESSION — Boo Santana
• Sexy Lemon — Freak Slug
• Foe Tha Love of $ — Bone Thugs-N-Harmony

quote I liked –

“I’ve fallen in love or imagine that I have; went to a party and lost my head. Bought a horse which I don’t need at all.” — Leo Tolstoy 1851

“Grass is always out there just gotta go touch it” — Unknown

“Reading is faster than listening, doing is faster than watching. You should be too busy to “do coffee” while still keeping an uncluttered calendar. set and enforce an aspirational hourly rate. If fixing a problem will save less than your hourly rate. If outsourcing a task will cost less than your hourly rate outsource it. Become the best in the world at what you do.” — Naval Kavant

“Seek men with fire in their belly” — Joe De Sena 

“We must be broken and return to the primitive core needs of food shelter and water. Men who run at the highest capacity and speed need to reset with breaking down to primitive needs.” — Joe De Sena

“Walk away, never turn around. Never miss a meal, a workout, never miss.” — Jordan H

“God doesn’t make things that die, he makes things that chose to die” — Kyle S

an excerpt from an incredible book –

On the necessity of stillness—

• Stillness provides a pathway for remembrance of God.
  • “As I lie in bed, I remember you; all night long I think of you, because you have always been my help. In the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.” (Psalm 63:6-7)
• When anxious thoughts arise, revisiting the places where God has been our help allows us to shift from fear to faith.
  • “Samuel then took a large stone and placed it between the towns of Mizpah and Jeshanah. He named it Ebenezer (which means ‘the stone of help’), for he said, ‘Up to this point the LORD has helped us!’” (1 Samuel 7:12)
• Deliberately remembering the ordinary and extraordinary things God has done for us cultivates a heart of thanksgiving.
  • “I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.” (Psalm 77:11-12)
• These milestones form an altar of communion that reinforces our faith-connection with God.The altars we build will be visited by our children and grandchildren. Take care to build altars that glorify the Lord rather than idols that glorify man.

what I discovered –

• Throw the party you’d want to be at not the one you think others want to be at
• Escalators make great stair-masters at any airport 
• A river that’s low is one of the saddest things to see
• Best dating advice I’ve heard— ensure intentional time that’s dedicated to one another. Not at the end of the workday or with others but just for each other. 
• Take the trip with your friends. You’ll never regret it.
• Log your adventures and your journeys. It’s helpful to look back on but also a great way to reflect and reset your mind when it’s feeling full. 
• Family nearly trumps all other relationships. You may not need much more. 
• Maria’s Empanadas are the bomb in Denver

what I wouldn’t try again –

Don’t tattoo anyone after 10pm. It’s just too exhausting and the result is never up to standard.

Know when the season has ended. I believe this was the last 4th of July rager I’ll throw, it feels like it’s time to grow into the next thing.

how life is beautiful –

Spending a week with family and then friends in Colorado was a highlight. Mountain sunsets, summits, hot tubs, off-roading rental vans– it’s all better when you’re with people you love and laugh a lot with.

Getting lots of quality time with people who matter the most. Driving across the country with a brother and seeing old friends on the way was a big gift.

Being encouraged by brothers who know me well and are on the same mission was a reminder I needed. S/O the men in my life who push me higher and make me incredible steaks.

what I’ve created –

• Chaps on Tour | NZ Edition FULL EP
• Boys on Tour (Utah Edition)

what I’ve listened to –

• do I clench my fists? – ridgeclub
• 567AM — BL3SS
• Anthems For A 17 Year-Old Girl — Broken Social Scene
• Passengers — Deftones
• Glory — JID

quote I liked –

“Your outcomes are a lagging measure of your habits. Your net worth is a lagging measure of your financial habits. Your weight is a lagging measure of your eating habits. Your knowledge is a lagging measure of your learning habits. Your clutter is a lagging measure of your cleaning habits. You get what you repeat” — Atomic habits 

“To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did”

“Do something that sucks everyday. That’s how you grow.” — David Goggins  

“Many situations in life are similar to going on a hike: the view changes once you start walking. You don’t need all the answers right now. New paths will reveal themselves if you have the courage to get started.” — JC

“Curiosity will put you in rooms your intellect can never understand” — Ali Gallop

“The job market is so bad that you can only pursue your dreams now” — anonymous

“Call your mom, sweat a lot, scrape your knee, get a popsicle, read the Bible, make fun of your friends, be awkward, do things you’re bad at, be the first to reach out, try something new, forgive, live in the now, let it rip.” — anonymous

what films made me who I am –

• I’d encourage everyone to take 5-10minutes to think about the films that shaped their perspective on the world. Not their favorite films but the ones that actually shaped who you are. The films that you keep coming back to in your mind because there’s something that resonated deeply within your being. In the same way it’s important to log what you learn and what you see it’s important to reflect and track what shapes us and transforms us. It’s more than self discovery, it’s a blueprint of the pillars that uphold our worldview. For me those films are (in no particular order):
• The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
• Sing Sing
• Exhibiting Forgiveness
• Fury
• About Time
• The Godfather
• Fight Club
• The Revenant
• Cha Cha Real Smooth
• The Lord of The Rings (if we can count all three)
• Honorable mentions that shaped me in my youth include Moonrise Kingdom, Narnia, and Cars.

an excerpt from an incredible book –

“To make science the arbiter of metaphysics, is to banish not only god from the world but also love, hate., meaning, to consider a world that is self evidently not the world we live in. 

That’s not to say if you believe in meaning you must also believe in god but it is to say that if you believe science provides no basis for god then you are almost obligated to conclude that science provides no basis for meaning and therefore life itself doesn’t have any. In other words, existential claims have no weight. All knowledge is scientific knowledge. The paradox is that scientific methodology is the product of human hands thus cannot reach some permanent truth. 

What is the aspiring metaphysican to do? Give up? Almost. Struggle towards the capital “T” truth but recognize that the task is impossible. Or if a correct answer is possible, verification is certainly is impossible. In the end, it cannot be doubted that each of us can only see a part of the picture. The doctor sees one. The patient another, engineer the third, sheep farmer a fourth, economist a fifth, alcoholic a sixth. Human knowledge is never contained in one person, it grows from the relationships we create between each other and the world, and still it is never complete. And truth somewhere above all of them.” 

what I discovered –

• Great article I’d recommend to anyone wanting or trying to date.
• Atomic Habits is an excellent easy read, I’d recommend to everyone but especially someone deciding what they want or finding their footing as an adult.
• Austria is one of the best countries in the world and Innsbruck is an absolute gem of a town. Lots of athletic young hot people and great vibes.
• Ask for help. If you want to see change you must change what’s around you. Hire someone who knows more than you to get the result you desire. This month I hired a personal trainer. Not for accountability but for knowledge. I was tired of seeing 5% transformation year over year and although my physical health and fitness knowledge is strong I knew that if I wanted to see 20-30% change I would need a team around me to help me. In June I gained 5lbs of lean muscle and my body fat percentage dropped to 7.8%. Massive shoutout to Cameron Drake for being a stellar coach.
• Also take creatine. It feels great and helps your body in many ways. If you don’t understand how it works talk to a pro.
• Soundcloud has incredible niche music. You want archival VoiceOver from bodybuilders in the 90s hyping you up over a Nirvana song that’s slowed and reverbed? They got it. Grungy gym playlist here.
• Teach your friends the cereal box game for a free game full of the most laughter you’ll ever experience.

what I wouldn’t try again –

Don’t make any decisions or have any hard conversations within 3 days of international travel or a lot of back to back travel. A lot of feelings can be spared and a lot of your thoughts are not true so don’t listen to them. Rest, think, rest again. Then act. Don’t even trust your thoughts on day 2 after a good nights sleep. You need a real 3 days or more to reset.

Don’t go to Copenhagen and definitely don’t go out after dark.

Always check if your hotel is actually a hostel.

Help strangers but don’t befriend them. Trust your gut and don’t compromise.

If you gain weight (at least muscle) your intake must match your new baseline. I put on 5lbs of muscle in June and it took a minute to realize how much more fuel I needed for such a marginal difference. I’d argue that everyone is probably healthier with more (clean) food in their system.

how life is beautiful –

Seeing old friends in new places and countries is a gift. Making time to reset and connect and to make one another feel seen and known is one of life’s greatest gifts as humankind.

Dance well and dance often. Sweat and feel free. Dancing to a live band then a DJ at a friend’s wedding in Italy and just not caring about appearance was a highlight of the year.

Seeing a community of friends gather within an hours notice to mourn and celebrate the life of a friend who passed away suddenly was one of the hardest yet most beautiful things I’ve been a part of. 32 is too young to die but to leave a legacy that will live larger than the years alive is a beautiful thing to be celebrated.

Como se dice live laugh love.

what I’ve created –

• Houston 0126
• Feb / Mar on iPhone

what I’ve listened to –

• Phantom — Til Now
• Marginalia #224 — Masakatsu Takagi
• Meet — Soft Lipa
• fuego — BNYX
• I’m Still Fine — Red Clay Strays

quote I liked –

“Mountains are not stadiums where I satisfy my ambition to achieve, they are the cathedrals where I practice my religion.” — Anatoli Boukreev

“Greatness takes guts. And often, it’s the courage to eliminate the things you can do fairly well so you have the capacity to do one thing exceptionally well. Have the courage to take more off your plate.”— JC

“To love anything good is a bargain, at any cost.” — Wendell Berry, Jayber Crow

“What you reach for when things get uncomfortable tells you what you’re trying not to feel” .— MM

“Many situations in life are similar to going on a hike: the view changes once you start walking. You don’t need all the answers right now. New paths will reveal themselves if you have the courage to get started.” — JC

“What are you still carrying that isn’t yours and is weighing you down?” Rita Wilkins Source: A Heart-to-Heart Conversation

Luck flows through people and travels by conversation. The people you talk to determine the opportunities you find. Keep talking to the same people, keep finding the same opportunities. Start talking to new people, start finding new opportunities. If you want different luck, start walking into different rooms.” – JC 

No matter how busy you are, you must take time to make the other person feel important. Everyone has an invisible sign hanging from their neck saying, “Make me feel important.” Never forget this message when working with people.”  Source: Mary Kay on People Management (paraphrased)

“Most people chase a million dollars in the bank and ignore the million-dollar body that actually buys them” — anonymous 

“Do not merely think that you are going to become great; think that you are great now. Do not think that you will begin to act in a great way at some future time; begin now. Do not think that you will act in a great way when you reach a different environment; act in a great way where you are now. Do not think that you will begin to act in a great way when you begin to deal with great things; begin to deal in a great way with small things.” Wallace Wattles Source: The Science of Being Great

“Ego so high I love that you hate me” — back of a stranger’s t-shirt

what I think about modern travel –

We live in a world now where travel has become more accessible than ever before. Not only has the price and access become so low but we could practically wake up tomorrow anywhere in the world. A trip that would have been impossible for our grandparents is my spring break at 15 years old. Columbus’ route isn’t impressive but a Tuesday afternoon. Westward expansion happens in 2hrs.  

That said— we have a new order and generation of youth whose experiences are unlike anyone else in time. 

At its best, we can now more than ever become more learned of the world and its cultures. Travel opens our eyes to truth and exposes us to realize the world is much bigger than us and can provide a sense of grounding and perspective on scale—essentially removing ego. It connects us with others who share similar perspectives and experiences. We realize that the dynamics of siblings in the states may not be that different than siblings growing up in New Zealand. The result is realization that the world is really big, we are very small, and yet—so similar to our brothers and sisters all around it. 

The cost of the access is that the youth are more at risk of (1) becoming detached from their home or community and we lose localization. This negatively impacts families and legacy the most. Used to you would live where you were born, work with your father’s trade, marry someone in your town, and die there too. That has only really changed in the last 50-100 years. If youth now think they must travel or leave home and it only costs $50-$500 and they already “know” people via social media then there’s less preventing them from changing their life for better or worse. The American dream has shifted to experience and access and we’ve lost the family along the way. 

The second risk of this access to travel is we don’t realize its gift. Youth assume it’s owed to them because it’s seen so often in life—especially via social media. What we’re born into we imagine is how it always is and will be. But even our parents didn’t have this degree of access. 

For the American—  we must determine what the evolution of travel and the loss of affordable travel (spirit) AND the lack of high speed rail systems will have on the American culture, perspective, and youth. 

Will it result in the access shifting to a higher income bracket or the elite? Will the American people lose even more perspective on the world and its people and as a result grow even more divided and scared? 

Separately we question if this access could mean that someone can be from “planet earth” rather than their town, city, state, or country? If we use the logic that if you are raised in Texas but then live the majority of your life in Florida, you’re now a Floridian not a Texan, we must ask at what amount of travel does someone become “from the world or earth” rather than any specific place? How does this affect identity and what does it mean for the youth who are raised this way or live this way? I met a girl who lives between Rome and Paris and was in LA for the time, but where does her identity of home come from? Is it the town or house she was raised in? Is it possible that the shifting and “un-grounded-ness” could produce a negative result? Or is she the most aware, both culturally and personally? 

Additionally— how does this new access impact relationships? The blessing of this technology is that we can FaceTime someone across the world instantly or travel to them tomorrow but the cost may be that we have a new area of life or value alignment that wasn’t a part of the equation before. Drawing from the earlier example of our hypothetical grandparents who were born, lived, met, married, worked, and died in the same town— they didn’t need to ask the questions of “would I move across the world for you?” “Do you want to travel as much as I do or to the same places I want to go?” These are modern problems and maybe even first degree ones at that but it truly is a unique time to be alive.  

what I discovered –

• Ancient Chinese proverb confirms that we should host dinners with our friends as often as possible, it’s always life-giving.
• Mercato Centrale – Incredible food hall in Florence with too many options to choose from
• La Buchetta – A return highlight from 2025, still the best gnocchi on the planet and maybe the best ravioli as well. Worth flying into Florence for.

what I wouldn’t try again –

Be a man and say everything with your chest. Own your mistakes and move with confidence.

Get tires a little sooner than you think you need them. Maybe you can squeeze out that 2000 mile road trip to Utah and back but you won’t want to change it on the side of the highway at 11pm after spending 8hrs getting a tattoo.

how life is beautiful –

Life feels beautiful. Spending time with friends and family will always feel worth it. May was filled with travel but lots of laughter and familiar faces and places.

Sitting in the river in Zion national park with the sun on my back, legs tired from Angels Landing, and cold water rushing around me was a moment of serenity and peace that I chase.

Standing over Florence with an old friend watching the clouds roll in silence for five minutes was one of the best five minutes of my life.

The Dolomites might be the most beautiful place on earth inch for inch. There’s not a dull area, every square foot is picturesque. I’m happy to have spent some time there.

From off-roading in Utah and biking through Denmark, to dancing at lakefront raves in Italy and laughing over dinner in California. From watching close friends get married to driving through Midwest cornfields at sunset with my sister or getting lost in the Dolomites with my uncle—May was a truly good month.

what I’ve created –

• Dubai

what I’ve listened to –

• Barely There – Gia Margaret
• Funeralopolis – Electric Wizard
• Road to Damascus – amen
• OFG! – Mike WiLL
• Here I Am – Dear God It’s Me

quote I liked –

“This is just a quick storage unit before eternity” – Jordan

“Your inherent power comes from your identity as his son” — Brad Lawson

“It’s rare to find your purpose for life, so instead look for your purpose for this season. What lights you up right now? What’s a good thing to dedicate this season of your life to? Perhaps more importantly, what purpose served you well in your previous season, but you have outgrown? Life is always changing. It’s okay to pick a new North Star.” — JC

“When someone takes just a few minutes of your time they’re not just robbing you, they’re also robbing your family, the people you serve, and your future. The same is true when you commit to too much at one time or agree to do unimportant things. Except this time you are the thief. Trying to please everyone ensures you please no one. To try to do everything ensures you’ll achieve nothing. This weaker part of ourselves that cannot say no to requests for our time or tries to go along with everyone maybe deep down wants the same excuse— if we agree to their thing we don’t have to answer for the poor performance of our thing when it’s time for a full accounting. It allows us to say if only I weren’t so busy. the self disciplined part of us on the other hand says-  I must decline. To say no is to become more powerful than some of the most powerful people in the world who happen to be slaves to their calendars, appetites, or ambitions. If the answer is always yes that’s not much of a choice. No one can achieve their main thing without the discipline to make it the main thing. If you don’t know where you’re sailing no wind is favorable — what is the most important contribution I can make. 

The secret to success in most fields is large blocks of uninterrupted time of focus. Yet how many of us actually carve out that time? — Ryan Holiday

“Focus on the seeds, not the trees. What seeds are you planting today?” — JC

“A good day — a meaningful and fulfilling day — requires small moments of discomfort. Growth demands discomfort. We need something to push against to learn how strong we can become.” — JC 

“As a man of God temporary is not in our vocabulary” — Zach

“Your 20s are for learning. Your 30s are for earning. Your 40s are for owning. Your 50s are for enjoying” — David Kazadi.

fantastic spiritual exercise from a friend –

Foster a relationship with the Unknown.⁣

It will always be a companion throughout your life, so why leave it a stranger?⁣⁣⁣ If you don’t know how to start, try this…⁣

“Hi. Unknown. ⁣It’s me ___________. ⁣

It’s nice to finally get a chance to talk.

⁣⁣Admittingly, I’ve been nervous to talk with you because you seem kind of mean and aloof. I’m not saying you’re mean and aloof…. you just kind of give off that vibe, you know?

Anyway I wanted to say hi because I know we’re going to do this whole life thing together and I was hoping we could be on the same team. I know you have your skills and I have mine…. I just think we can work together to make something awesome. How does that sound?

⁣I’ll go first…. besides being awesome at karaoke…. I think what I bring to the table is the capacity for Love, Imagination, Friendship, Laughter, Sorrow, Giving a Fuck, Tears, Hilarity, Creativity, Curiosity, Enjoying Pizza, Intimacy, Vulnerability…. and… oh… well I have so much more but I feel like I’m just hogging the conversation.

What are your skills?⁣⁣

“The Infinite Capacity to grow and flourish all that you have inside of you.” replies Unknown.⁣⁣

“Huh.

That was not the answer I was expecting. I think I can begin to trust that…”⁣⁣

MAY YOU GROW THROUGH WHAT YOU DIDN’T SEE COMING.

— Scott Erickson 

what I discovered –

• Paint for fun. Get a big canvas and play. Forget about the result, enjoy it. It’s incredibly therapeutic.
• French toast is surprisingly easy to make really well.
• El Taco de Jerez is fantastic and makes a killer burrito
• When in doubt, go to the gym, even 15 minutes will feel worth it.
• When I’m healthy, I have eyes for others and to serve. I’m where I need to be.

what I wouldn’t try again –

Going to an unknown beach party.

how life is beautiful –

Hosting friends from out of town to throw a party will always bring joy and is a sure fire way to build new, beautiful memories. Friends laughing, dancing, kissing, smiling, exploring, calling the cops, it’s all so rich.

Spend as much time under the sun as possible, watch as many sunsets and sunrises, walk as much as you can with your friends, laugh together when you get flat tires, host a going away party for a friend, meet all the new people, get your feet dirty, stay out too late, live life to the fullest. I spent more time outside, at the gym, and with friends in this month alone than in the past nine months combined. Every minute felt intentional, present, and rich. Fill up your days, new memories feel rich.

what I’ve listened to –

• Couple Reasons – afterthght
• Ain’t No Sunshine – Bill Withers
• Body Roc – UnityTX
• Hang Wit a Bad B!tch – Sexxy Red, Key Glock
• Lift Up Holy Hands – Bethel Music

quote I liked –

“Make a decision that can’t be undone. Send the message, start the draft, cancel the thing. Then let me know what happens.” — Mark Manson

“You don’t need more time… you just need to decide.”

“When you can’t decide, ask yourself: Which option minimizes future regrets?  Then do that.” — Mark Manson

what I discovered (learned, ate, watched) –

• Emirates is hands down the best airline. Book with them any chance you get.
• Get Your FIX was hands down the best chicken and waffle or airport food I think I’ve ever had. I will go back to Dubai just for that.
• Some top films I watched this month:
  • The Godfather — Absolutely flawless. Possibly the best movie ever made. This was either the best time in my life to watch this or the worst. Catch me in 80yrs to find out.
  • Fury — Top ten all time. One of the most real, consuming stories studying manhood and masculinity. First war film that felt truly authentic to the brutal horror of what it must have been like. Watching the full range of experiences and decisions unfold was nothing short of fascinating. Felt like one of those movies where you walk out realizing life is bigger than whatever you’re experiencing.
  • Bugonia — An absolutely gory great time. Richest real characters and riveting all the way through. Amazing imagery, story, pacing, and arguably the most authentic characters and pacing I’ve ever seen. Super contained and beautifully done. Ending was elite and unforgettable. Top 10 best thrillers and top 100 all time. Lots of WTF moments.
  • The Darjeeling Limited — The most non Wes movie Wes has made. Fun tone and pace and plenty of unexpected. Extremely immersive and lovely story. High on my “watch on a plane” list.
  • When Harry Met Sally — Huge fan. Dialogue was so human and characters so real. Movies were so simple in the best ways in the 90s.

what I wouldn’t try again –

Don’t get sidetracked and don’t settle for less. Life is too short.

how life is beautiful –

Sitting on the sound stage watching our film be mixed and played at its true scale was immensely rewarding. It was the culmination of years of work at the one yard line.

Competing in the Dubai Games and representing my hometown with friends was one of the best moments of the year. Incredibly challenging yet gave such hope for my future in terms of athletics. Felt like this was a sport I could thrive in and wanted to train for. The atmosphere felt like the olympic village and sharing the stage with other countries was an incredible experience. Laid it all out there and felt fulfilled.

Running the NAPA Half Marathon after a long month was absolutely worth it. When in doubt, do the hard thing and take the trip. Got to spend the drive with my grandfather and have some rich conversation and quality time together while seeing the whole coast and Big Sur.

Location scouting in LA, hosting my mother and brother, roadtripping California with my grandfather, producing a smooth production with friends, and doing hard things is where it’s at. Feb was good.

what I’ve created –

• the last camp

what I’ve listened to –

• WHERE IS MY HUSBAND – RAYE
• Little Spouse – Taylor Demp
• Two Cents – Alumni Cloud
• ITS HOT – Alex Jean
• Balaclava – Ivy Lab

quote I liked –

“There are two ways to grow: by adding or by shedding. Do you need to add something or do you need to shed something?”

“Are you continuing to do it mostly because it makes you feel interested and alive — or are you continuing to do it mostly because you know what to expect and you’re hesitant to make a change?” – James Clear

“Don’t stay somewhere you already hit the ceiling” — Rebecca 

“The eyes can only see what the mind has been educated on” — Craig

“Work is endless. Exercise is endless. Parenting is endless. Same with marriage, writing, investing, creating, and more. You get to choose the parts of your life, but many of the important things in life cannot be ‘finished.’ Do not approach an endless game with a finite mindset. The objective is not to be done, but to settle into a daily lifestyle you can sustain and that allows you to make daily progress on the areas that matter. Embrace the fact that life is continual and look for ways to enjoy the daily practice.” –– James Clear 

“If you find yourself wanting something month after month, year after year, yet nothing happens and you never come any closer to it, then maybe what you actually want is a fantasy, an idealization, an image, a false promise. Maybe what you want isn’t what you want—you just enjoy wanting. Maybe you don’t actually want it at all. Sometimes I ask people, “How do you choose to suffer?… But even then it was never a question of if I’d ever be up playing in front of screaming crowds, but when. I was biding my time before I could invest the proper amount of time and effort into getting out there and making it work. First, I needed to finish school. Then, I needed to make money. Then, I needed to find the time. Then… nothing… A question that perhaps you’ve never considered before—is what pain do you want in your life? What are you willing to struggle for? Because that seems to be a greater determinant of how our lives turn out. ‘What pain do you want in your life? What are you willing to struggle for?’” – Mark Manson The Most Important Question of Your Life

what I discovered (learned, ate, watched) –

• Conduct a PAST YEAR REVIEW (credit Tim Ferris), learn how he does it here.
• One easy way to show you care about others is to ask them questions about their life.
  • What are they excited about?
  • What are they working on?
  • What are they hoping for?
  • Simply asking the question and listening thoughtfully is an act of generosity. You’re giving them the gift of attention.”
• Some top food discovered or re-visited:
  • Best chicken and waffles I’ve ever had was at Bitty & Beau’s Coffee in Frisco, TX. A “Human rights movement disguised as a coffee shop.” They have locations nationwide, check it out.
  • Snooze’s Habanero Pork Belly Breakfast Fried Rice is a must.
  • Can confirm, Local Food’s crunchy pretzel chicken sandwich and kale salad is still an all time best.

what I wouldn’t try again –

Sign up for the event, race, or challenge. Sucks to miss out and you’ll never regret putting it on the calendar. Loved cheering on my brother and Emily for the Houston marathon but wish I had ran it with them.

Spend your time doing exactly what you want. Be kind and intentional, but don’t let any social obligations force you to spend any more than the bare minimum in environments you don’t want to invest in.

how life is beautiful –

Starting the year with difficult physical activities with friends is one of the best ways to feel fresh. Getting up at 6am to run and cold plunge, climbing 163 stories with friends, lifting with your brother and father, it’s the kind of reset everyone needs.

Many slow beautiful moments in Houston, dinners with family, driving to Dallas, slow mornings, saunas, shopping, life there, reseting is key. The focus is the reset. It’s important to keep your head down and prioritize what you need to but after a few years of swimming it’s critical to bring your head above water, breathe, and look in the direction you’re swimming. This process of asking yourself “is this the direction I want to continue swimming?” is not done enough and it’s important to pause sometimes to ask it.

Reflecting on what I want to keep for this next season and what I will let go of.

what I’ve created –

• Chapter 9 – il museo
• iPhone 17_camera_test

what I’ve watched – 

• The Thinking Game – Riveting & consuming, truly does not let you go with exceptional attention grabbing
• Wake Up Dead Man – A blast, the third installment of Benoit Blanc does not cease to draw in and create an environment of pure chaos and fun
• F1 – I felt like I did when I was 6yrs old watching Cars. 4.5 for filmmaking and story, extra half star for ingenuity in capturing Formula 1 authentically and full immersion.
• Blackberry – I love manic electric intense high stakes screaming smashing things the world will end and I have more power and money than you and will it work or will it crumble extreme energizing entrepreneurship lightening. What a watch.
• Bob Trevino Likes It – Big shoutout to my friends who made this real, this story needed to be made and felt like the emotional release I didn’t know I needed. Still weeping but in the best ways.
• Cha Cha Real Smooth – “reconciling the life we thought we’d have and the one we’re living” – Had no clue what I was signing up for. thought I was going to watch just half during dinner and didn’t stop through the end. Never seen a movie with more natural and beautiful dialog around growing pains, uncertainty of which path to choose, and the life questions we all asked. Had no idea hoe many layers of connection and care were woven in until I was crying. Just fantastic.
• Avatar: Fire & Ash – Before anybody gives me crap I’ll own the fact that I need saw the first move. Or the second. But I believe a sequel that’s in theaters needs to be able to stand alone in its own. That being said what was that? 4hrs of man vs alien looking like someone vomited black light and neon all over the place? Tail hair sex and Tarzan lookin Justin Bieber being emotional about daddy issues without any character depth or layers is all too much. Poor kid had goggles on for half the film which didn’t help him either. This felt like watching a more CGI filled avengers without any of the context of who’s who and why. Also who took away their clothes? Not a fan of the weird quadrant of erotic, dark spirituality, and violence. But maybe I just needed to watch the first two films to care…

what I’ve listened to –

• Dreams – RUBII
• Be Quiet and Drive – Deftones
• You Gave Me Love – Bob & Gene
• Cello Concerto in E Minor, Op 85: I. Adagio Moderato
• WHAT YOU NEED – LIAR

Listen to my 2025 list of top 5 songs I discovered each month

travel hack –

When camping with minimal gear or prep time- turkey slices on a cast iron skillet right on an open fire will always make a bomb quesadilla.

what I ate –

Steak 48 – Phenomenal NY strip and even better sides. Exceptional.

Momma J’s Cinnarolls – Espresso flavored icing and handmade dough will always be one of the best desserts.

quote I liked –

“We are not just our behavior. We are the person managing our behavior.” – Kenneth Blanchard

“You can’t build the roof of the house without building the walls first. Gratitude and presence are primary. Everything leads back to it.” — Colby Banks

“Being rich is not having wealth but having a lot of options” — Zach Gray

“If you want to be alive nourish your body. If you want to feel alive, nourish your soul.” – Joseph Nguyen

“The key is to keep asking yourself the same question, again and again and again: this is your life—what do you want to pay attention to?”
— Catherine Price 

“All external things are just reminders for what we actually feel at our normal state. Most of us are chasing external things innocently forgetting that all feelings generated within us — what is external is only a reminder of what we feel within us. What you most desire is within you- don’t wait for something outside you to feel how you want inside.” – Joseph Nguyen 

“Reflection requires stillness. One cost of rushing from thing to thing is that you lose the space to think. Hard work matters, but nonstop motion often hides a quiet truth: you could have used your time better. If you never pause, you confuse activity with effectiveness. Make time to think. Walk outside. Sit quietly. Create space. Then move again, but this time on purpose.” – James Clear

“…stillness is magic. Neuroscience calls this the ‘Default Mode Network’: the brain’s most creative state, activated when we stop forcing our thoughts and let them meander.”  – Amy Leneker

“Before I start any brief, I let my brain walk before I work. While everyone else scrolls for references, I go offline and take a walk in my local park, surrounded by nature and people. That mix of movement, observation, and quiet is the perfect launchpad for ideas. Science even proves it – walking increases oxygen to the brain, especially to the prefrontal cortex, which is directly linked to creative thinking. I look for inspiration in niche corners and unexpected places: far-flung bookshops, dusty old records, forgotten archives. For our Adidas Originals x Childish Gambino collaboration, I drew from a 1970s performance artist to create a deep, emotional live experience that sold out within minutes. One of my favorite campaigns was replacing all branding and screens in Uniqlo’s London flagship store with a guided breathing exercise. It came to me while staring at a tree. The best ideas come when you notice something small, strange, and true. And when inspiration hits, I don’t write it down – I draw it. Sketching helps me process, focus, and remember. It turns thoughts into visuals others can see. So step away from your desk. Look where no one else is looking. Sketch it out. Those tiny shifts will push your ideas closer towards true originality.” – Ollie Olanipekun

TO RESET: Joseph Nguyen’s PAUSE method –

PAUSE – Breathe, reflect.  Make space, close a new experience.

ASK yourself. Is this thinking making new feel the way I want. You can choose to decide how you want to think.

UNDERSTAND you have the choice. You will have the option to continue or change. You must decide what you want. 

SAY to yourself. Repeat to yourself. Thinking (not thought) is the root cause of suffering. 

EXPERIENCE your emotions fully. When we ignore or fight or feelings we make our suffering worse – we are not trying to by pass our emotions , rather accept and feel them fully.  It is much more liberating to feel your emotions without judgement. How much easier is it to let them go.” – Joseph Nguyen from his book Don’t Believe Everything you Think

what I’ve learned –

• BEST REMINDER OF 2025:
  • If your mind is loud – write.
  • If your mind is empty – read.
  • If your mind is racing – walk.
  • If your mind is tired – sleep.
  • If your mind is sharp – build.
  • Most problems are just mismatched energy, get the inputs right and the rest will follow.
• Prioritize camping. It’s one of the fastest ways to reset and feel centered again. Especially if you can do it with brothers.
• Prioritize sunlight. Watching a sunset or sunrise is one of the healthiest things one can do.
• VIA Tim Ferris’ newsletter– DOPAMINE by WING. Worth the two minute watch. I clearly had no idea what beatboxing has turned into. Absolutely wild.

what I wouldn’t try again –

Order your Christmas presents in October/ November. I just received my order from Dec 4th (it’s Jan 3rd).

Check to make sure the house you rent hasn’t had pets.

Updating Monthly Archive for 2026 – removing what I’ve watched, moving the travel hacks to the what I’ve learned section, and re-ordering the format.

how life is beautiful –

Seeing a mountain lion in the wild was truly one of the most beautiful experiences even though it was so brief. It’s composure and stoicism and knowledge that I was in its territory and it was the dominant force was unbelievable to see. Couldn’t get a photo but could see its length was about as long as my car. Truly worthy of the title lion.

2025 had it’s moments- I like to track my “firsts” as I experience new things to keep a posture of childlike wonder. Here’s a few of my 2025 FIRSTS—

• First time all over Italy and driving through the countryside

• First time in Switzerland

• First time running a half marathon

• First time tattooing myself

• First time creating a 30min+ film for myself not for work

• First time in CDMX

• First time doing karaoke 

• First time giving a portrait tattoo

• First time not competing on Ninja Warrior since I was 19.

• First time touching a dolphin in the ocean

• Bought my first piano 

• Ran my second half marathon with a faster PR and a poop break

• First camping trip solo in a remote area

• First time seeing a wild mountain lion

• First time driving a 57 corvette while dragging people on skateboards behind it

• First time getting stuck in London

• First time snowboarding in the Alps

• First time running out of gas on the highway

• First time attending a symphony in my adult life

• First time shitting my brains out in Tijuana

• First time helping a child tattoo their father

• First and second time at a Michelin Star restaurant

• First time helping someone out of a car crash

• First time being best man

• First and second time being a legal witness in a wedding 

• First time jumping in a pool at a wedding

• First time tattooing a stranger

• First time working with a church

• First time producing my own film units

• First time having a show released on amazon

• First time creating multiple larger scale running ads

• First time learning what living water really tastes like and how to drink it consistently

• First time creating a year of consistent monthly archives that I get to look back on and enjoy. This is for remembering who I am and what I learned and I’m proud to have made it for a year.

I am a leader & creator by name, son of the most high by identity, and friend to many. Cheers to 2026.

“Then imitate the action of the tiger; stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood.” – Shakespeare

prepare to act.

what I’ve created –

• Chapter 8 – Sunset

what I’ve watched – 

• Fantastic Mr. Fox – Super fun, definitely adding to the list of films to show my kids
• The Martian – Captivating and consuming, not airtight but solid. This was excellent and a fun new setting to watch a survival story.
• Frankenstein – Exceptionally done. Just re-read the book so it was easy to pick apart where it wasn’t true but overall I’m pleased with how authentically to its origins it was. My biggest complaint was around the creature’s plea for a companion, in the book that conversation takes all day and breathes a lot of light and nuance to his story. It brings the reader into the decision and the ethical dilemma. The film is strong but had a bit more room to dwell on the challenge both men faced. This will definitely age into an all time classic.
• The Running Man – Great theater watch, game night, or plane popcorn. Characters felt a bit one dimensional especially at the beginning but maybe that’s how it had to be(?) Ending felt a little weak / expedited but still a very fun very gripping film. Minus a point for gore / unexpected gore. Plus a point for Glen & Edgar Wright.
• Blade Runner 2049 – Villenueve’s films don’t feel like sci-fi action gun fights they feel like walking in a museum in a world you’ve never been to. Been a while since the first time I saw this and in a radically different life stage- first time related to Joe a lot but this time felt sympathy but no connection. There’s a handful of loose ends that would be perfect to build a sequel with which noted the 4/5 but otherwise a fantastic film and the twists are just so good and unexpected. Visual style and light is one of my all time favorites and most stunning. Forgot about how much nudity was in this tho- wouldn’t watch with under 21. Jared Leto’s God role felt overly gross and didn’t have closure but maybe that’s the point? While I loved Ana’s character and her presence in the story I really did love that we don’t see her humanized and her life is snuffed quickly and unexpectedly. I think there’s a strong mirror between her and porn/onlyfans. Men hear the voice say “you look lonely, I can fix that” and try to fill that void with something that isn’t real and the further in you look and deeper you go the more “personal” or “real” it seems. But it can in an instant evaporate because it isn’t real. And I like that there’s some symbolism there. All in all— easily top 100 all time best

what I’ve listened to –

• Really Wanna Know – Ol 60
• If You Know Me – Hudson Freeman
• Flower Child – Nash Howe
• Pool – Stripped – Samia
• The Sound of Myself – Disasterpeace

travel hack –

For any trip less than 2 weeks, pack 1 or 2 sets of workout clothes. There’s no need for more and it’s easy to recycle.

what I ate –

Gabriela’s Homemade Cinnamon Rolls with cream cheese frosting. To die for.

Shake Shack & Five Guys are the perfect post-move burger.

Tried and true, Toppers Hot Honey pizza is one of the best in the world.

quote I liked –

“Documenting little details of your everyday life becomes a celebration of who you are” – Carolyn V. Hamilton

“My high school wrestling coach used to say, ‘I’m not a doctor, but you might want to rub some toughness on that.’ I’ve found that it applies to almost everything in life.” – Nate Gomez

“No scarcity with wanting. In the world of wanting, there’s no scarcity, because it’s a world of innovation– not of taking. Wanters are creating things that didn’t exist before” – Dan Sullivan

“Shiny paint causes stress” – bumper sticker on a rusty truck I saw in Texas

“You have to run your own race. Problems begin the moment you start comparing your results to someone who is playing under different conditions.

• The 40-year-old entrepreneur with three kids has different constraints than the single 27-year-old.
• A painter with 20 years of practice shouldn’t be the benchmark for someone in year two.
• Someone caring for aging parents is not in the same position as someone with no obligations outside work.

Play your own game. Emphasize gradual progress and keep the comparison internal. Are you getting a little better today?” – James Clear

“Take care of the minutes; the hours will take care of themselves.” – The 4th Earl of Chesterfield, Philip Dormer Stanhope Source: Letter to his son (November 6, 1747) 

“No need to hurry. No need to sparkle. No need to be anybody but oneself.” – Virginia Woolf Source: A Room of One’s Own 

“I like to make promises that I’m not sure I can keep and then figure out how to keep them” – Sophia Amoruso

“Anytime I’m telling myself ‘but I’m making so much money’ that’s a warning sign that I’m doing the wrong thing.” – BJ Novak

“Feelings are the prophets of the body” — Jake Zeigler 

“There’s a difference between what we value and what we attend to. That is the core of the pain we’re feeling. This dichotomy between what I spend my time doing vs what I intend to spend my time doing is a real gut-check.” — Mother J 

“All self discipline begins with the body… Dress for yourself- we look sharp to stay sharp because we are sharp” – Ryan Holiday 

what I’ve learned –

• Run in the rain. Feel cold and wet. The modern American lifestyle does not allow us to feel certain sensations that are part of primal existence. Feel your heart beat hard. Feel sweat drip into your eye. Feel cold drops of water hit your face. Get scared. Run far. Feel strong. Run free.
• The older you get, the more critical it is to say no. What you say yes to matters much more than what you say no to. Protect your peace, protect your time.
• Running a half marathon makes you feel great and accomplished. Do it often. The race day feeling is incredible and impossible to replicate. Get up early for a challenge.
• Doing 160flights of stairs is easier than expected. Controlling heart rate is key. Pacing is crucial. Doing it with others is of the most importance.
• AFM is a wild experience, lots to love and learn.

what I wouldn’t try again –

Moving isn’t hard, settling in is. Always allocate more time to settle in than you’d expect to need. It just takes time.

Make sure to sign up for whatever you want to do. It sucks to be half way through marathon training to realize the race had already sold out a month ago.

Melatonin and Magnesium can cause very weird dreams and / or sleep walking. I don’t particularly think the juice is worth the squeeze with either.

Find the line. Then take ten steps back. That’s where you should be. Walking on the edge is not problematic till you slip.

Measure twice, purchase once. Take an extra week to decide what you want for your new home. That light fixture or table or accessory might not be the right fit. That couch may be too big. Don’t rush the settling in.

Don’t rush. Don’t split time trying to be in two places at once. It may be better to focus on one thing, relationship, or moment than it is to try to cram lots into one day.

how life is beautiful –

Surprise your loved ones. Seeing their faces and getting to hold them close is an amazing thing we can do.

Take time to pause. Say goodbye to the places you loved. Say hi to new faces. Always take time to pray and do it away from your phone, watch, or distractions.

Lifting / working out with old friends can bring some of the most joy. There’s a familiarity and a confidence. It’s good to go back to things like they never changed.

Sitting in my new home with my brother and father after an unexpected move in the rain was so good. Old friends and family truly are above all else.

Playing with kids is one of the best ways to reset. It’s akin to spending time in nature or the mountains– a reminder that things are bigger than us and it’s good to step out of our skin long enough to see what’s around us. To watch someone learn, to watch them struggle, to watch them grow.

what I’ve created –

• Chapter 7 – Sunrise

what I’ve watched – 

• Mickey 17 – Unexpected and absolutely fantastic, Bon Joon Ho will always be one of my favorite directors.
• The Last Samurai – An Incredible all time classic type. Appeals to the deep desire for adventure and awakens the masculine heart and reminds us of the real battle to fight for and with. Can’t wait to show my sons this film.
• Hostiles – Larger than life, heavy but beautifully captured. Wish there was a bit more from the native perspective or more dialogue with those characters. Feels like this will age into a classic. You either have the character for what it takes or you don’t. True authenticity and development. Big fan of Rosalind Pike’s transformation of inner strength. Loved the natural open skies and knowing they filmed on a real location.
• 28 Days Later – A pleasant encounter with the undead. Great plot and motive, excellent execution and journey. Not too gory, plenty of tension, I’ll probably make this my kids first intro to zombie movies
• 28 Years Later – Fantastic. Had zero expectation or standard but wow. Modern zombie films are incredible… or at least this one is. Characters– intricate, strong independent moral agency. Tone– tight up until the fire montage near the end. World– real and immersive to the point I forgot I was watching a movie, isn’t that the whole point? Sound design– seamless and enveloping, better than most films I’ve seen. Soundtrack– all time best, I saved about half immediately after watching. Costume/makeup/locations– perfect. Editor– to be praised. incredible timing. The “boots” montage early on was truly amazing and the first cue that I’d love it. Glitch cuts on kills really brought it to life but also made it feel less gory than it was which I appreciated. Not for the whole fam but I loved this.
• Grand Piano – Great rewatch, would rate this as one of my all time favorite thrillers

what I’ve listened to –

• #Lie2Me – Pigpen
• I’ll find the dark – Varials
• .futureofwar – Dead Poet Society
• Murder Your Memory – Title Fight
• I Just – Kdfromthepack

travel hack –

A “red-eye” flight that requires a 3am wakeup is better than a flight that ends at 3am.

Airlines rarely flag your “personal item” if you put shoes on the outside and it saves lots of space within your pack.

what I ate –

Shaved steak strips from trader joes make one of the best tasting fastest meals. A new “must buy” every trip.

Tijuano Tacos – A nice taqueria in Tijuana that had some bomb barria.

Lighthouse Coffee – A chain in Santa Barbara that provides good coffee, wifi, and food. Worked there twice this month and enjoyed it both times.

Mrs. W’s granola – A homemade delicacy I didn’t know I needed.

quote I liked –

“The worst that can happen is not crashing and burning but accepting terminal bordem as a tolerable status quo. Boredom is the enemy not some abstract thing. – Tim Ferris

“Man does not fight for what’s ahead but for the love of what’s behind him” – G. K. Chesterton

Success is being excited to go to work and being excited to come home.” – Will Ahmed 

“Many of the moments when you think, ‘I wish I had handled that better,’ or ‘I should have seen that more clearly,’ aren’t really about poor judgment. Often, the root cause is either rushing through the task or skipping basic self-care. Get an extra hour of sleep. Stop trying to do so many things at once. Go for a walk or get a little exercise. Take a breath and actually think for a minute. You can do a few things well. You can’t do everything well if you keep scattering your attention across seven different priorities, you’ll keep making mistakes that your rested and thoughtful mind would never make.” – James Clear

“Running one mile has more in common with running a marathon than sitting at home. Investing $100 has more in common with being a millionaire than being broke. Writing one sentence has more in common with writing a book than never writing one. It always feels small in the beginning and the big goals seem far away. It’s easy to talk yourself out of the early attempts because they feel kind of meaningless. But every race starts with one step. Every fortune starts with a small deposit. Every book begins as one sentence. The real question is not “What is my current position?” but rather, “What is my current trajectory?” Doing nothing builds nothing. Put yourself on the path to something better. Start small, but make sure you start.” – Kayla Henry

“With the decline of the inward reality of the Christian faith, an increasing tendency to stress the only thing left, the outward form, developed. And whenever there is a form devoid of spiritual power, law will take over because law always carries with it a sense of security and manipulative power.” (On fasting in the modern western church) – Richard Foster

It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly… who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who have never known neither victory nor defeat” – Teddy Roosevelt

“Art goes beyond language, beyond lives. It’s a universal way to send messages between each other and through time” – Rick Ruben

“If we can tune in to the idea of making things and sharing them without being attached to the outcome, the work is more likely to arrive in its truest form.” – Rick Ruben

“As human beings, we come and go quickly, and we get to make works that stand as monuments to our time here. Enduring affirmations of existence. Michelangelo’s David, the first cave paintings, a child’s finger-paint landscapes– they all echo the same human cry, like graffiti scrawled in a bathroom stall: I was here” – Rick Ruben

what I’ve learned –

• If I’ve become too caught up in my work, career, or whatever and I’m too “busy” to take a few days off to go spend time serving I’ve lost the point. I believe it’s important to set up life to be flexible enough to take some time off and spend a week in Mexico hanging out with orphans or serving the community in whatever need. May I always be reminded to re-focus and see what is true. It’s all a gift. I’m lucky to have been born in the environment I’m in. I’m lucky to have the opportunity to grow and transform into something new. I’m lucky to breathe clean air and drink clean water and live past 38 years old. I did not “earn” any of this. It’s all a gift from Him, I’ve been trusted to steward this life and everything in it.
• Drive slow, drop the windows, take the scenic route, eat something weird, do whatever it takes to break habits and molds and “norms”. Life is more than autopilot and repeats.
• Symphonies are one of the most restorative and peaceful environments, it’s always worth going.
• Always host the party, you never know which will be your last and it’s worth doing while you have the ability.
• Invest in quality time outside of a work environment with the leaders you’ve chosen to follow. Sharing a roadtrip, room, meal, and service, shows more of who someone is and gives a deeper insight to what they believe AND who they are that a brief encounter wouldn’t otherwise provide.
• Spending a day or two a month in a new environment, whether it’s just a day working at a new coffee shop or biking at sunset on a road you’ve never seen, is life-giving. Expand the horizons and life fully, taking advantage of what you have access to.
• Nothing changes if nothing changes. I realized if I did not change my actions I would likely enter 2026 as roughly the same person I am today. Sure I’d probably hit my marathon goal and have some good laughs on instagram but my screen time would be high, my sleep bad, I wouldn’t have read the books I’ve bought and want to read, I wouldn’t be in “healthy” shape, etc. I think we sometimes need a hard reset and there’s no reason to wait till Jan 1 to change your life. It’s a constant adjusting, fine-tuning, polishing, and re-balancing. In the midst of change controlling what you can begins to matter even more.
• When your work, home, or life feels tossed or messy, we must remember that our circumstances do not define us. While it may feel or even be true that the waves of life are crashing from every direction, it does not dictate the way we carry ourselves, what’s true about our identity, and how we respond. There is always space to change your perspective:
  • I GET to walk across terminals at LAX looking for my bags or a bus to get my body loose and my steps in.
  • I GET to walk around at the airport after flying across the country to see friends and family.
  • I GET to move into a new home even though I wasn’t ready to move and wasn’t expecting to and I’ll still have what I need.
  • I GET to pay the mechanic to repair my car that I love and get to take with me on adventures.
  • I GET to do hard things and prove to myself I can.
  • I GET to do scary things and test my courage.
  • I GET to be sad about something I was hoping for.
  • I GET to be thankful for things I wasn’t expecting.
• It’s all His provision and a privilege for me.

what I wouldn’t try again –

Running over 6mi without a goo. Did 9mi along the Santa Monica boardwalk and deeply regretted not having any goo. I feel best running with goos every 3-4mi or 30-40min.

I know not to drink water from the dumps in Tijuana but I should’ve been more careful. I now know I can’t even brush my teeth with that water. The devil couldn’t get me so he got my stomach instead.

how life is beautiful –

Listening to real stringed instruments tune together and play Beethoven’s best was surreal. One of the most peaceful moments of the year.

Exploring a museum with someone you love will always be one of the most fun experiences for me, it was beautiful to re-visit the museum of natural science I grew up in as an adult.

Filming with special needs children will always be a highlight of my life. It reminds me of some of the “why” I do what I do.

Spending a week in Tijuana serving orphans, families in the dump, and sex workers who are trapped was incredibly eye opening. the last night we got to send a small team out in the red-light district (30k sex workers in about a four block radius) to bring coffee to the sex workers and to connect with them in hopes of bringing new life. Most stayed back to worship and pray while a few went out. During worship I realized we were literally charging one of the darkest depths of hell with nothing but a bucket of ice water. It was about 30 of us vs 30 thousand. We were in the pit of the lions den and our war cry is YOUR NAME IS THE HIGHEST. YOUR NAME IS THE GREATEST. The workers are few, the harvest is ready, and we are the smallest army charging hell.