I Needed a Change

It was 2008, the world was collapsing, my wife and I got married two years prior and I had just sold a business - but something had to change.

When you sell a business, something about it gives you perspective - what matters to me? to we? What am I going to do next?

I was listening, I was reading and then something got my attention from an old book I had on my shelf:

“The most favorable thing for character development is the care of plants and animals.”

I needed some of that - and then as I was reading about the ancient world and what worked and what didn’t:

“...every family had a home on the land with sufficient ground for cultivating. Thus were provided both the means and the incentive for a useful, industrious, and self-supporting life. And no human devising has ever improved upon that plan. The world’s departure from it has caused, to a large degree, the poverty and distress that exist today.”

That made so much sense to me.

But first, let me back up: I grew up as a kid in the woods, with a garden - and I took it all for granted. Decades later, I’m in my 20’s living in surburbia, sitting in traffic, trying to keep up the with Jones’s and it was exhausting. Was this all there was?

The Journey Began

That began a seven year journey for Annette and I to find some land where we could have a garden, get some animals and let the land teach us a thing or two. And boy has it!

We finally found 5 acres - not the most ideal - but we were ready to make anything work. We wanted to live far enough out to enjoy peace of mind but not too far to turn down lunch with a friend in Atlanta or Chattanooga.

What I Have Learned

I could write a book (instead my wife did) about why everyone should find a small plot of land, grow some food, care for some animals and enjoy time outdoors far more than most do. (which is why I think agritourism is booming)

But the key lessons, I keep learning in moments of chaos. As the world was melting down in Covid, Annette would leave her ICU Nursing job and drive an hour home and describe the juxtaposition of a world full of fear and crisis with the peaceful moments in nature we cultivated on a daily basis.

As I’ve traveled for much of my work in recent years, I often compare the noise of rush hour, racing to the airport, seeing people still playing the game and trying to keep up with the rat race, and then I drive home - often at night - step out of my truck and look up at the stars and feel like anyone who isn’t making time to get into nature is missing out.

I take it for granted until I’m in meetings or conferences in some city for a few days without being able to have my bare-feet touch the ground, without being able to take my shirt off, breathe fresh air, see the stars, pick fresh produce from the garden - all these things that connect us to the source of life.

The Future of Wellness

As I’ve been working on our latest venture and devouring all I can about the trends in wellness and hospitality - I can see two paths being forged.

One is full of technology and gadgets and gizmos (like this) - which are very cool - but often cater only to those who can afford them and often position themselves as the source rather than a synthetic version of the source. My sauna with my red-light therapy is nice on a cold, rainy winters day - but it doesn’t replace being as naked as possible on a warm summer day sweating, enjoying the real red light and uv light etc from the sun.

My vitamin D supplements are great when I need it but it doesn’t replace sunshine.

The other track is immersing yourself in nature and returning to the land. Getting out in the sunshine, breathing fresh air, pulling weeds and enjoying the deep sleep that follows. For all the tech to help us reset circadian rhythms and biohack our way to happiness and longevity - there is something about being at the beach all day, going on a long hike in the woods, chilling by the pool, working in your garden, carrying hay to your animals - all outside, physically demanding and absolutely life giving.

I’m excited to see more and more people finding the emptiness of materialism and turning back to the rhythms of nature and finding their own way to return to the land.

I’d love to hear your thoughts. 👋

I write this newsletter each week because I feel my best when my body, mind and soul are all healthy. I want the same for you. If you feel like you’ve seen something valuable here, please do me a favor and forward this newsletter to a friend or let me know what you think by replying to this email or texting me - (310) 879-8441

P.S. - This newsletter does not provide medical advice. The content, such as graphics, images, text, and all other materials, is provided for reference and educational purposes only. The content is not meant to be complete or exhaustive or to be applicable to any specific individual's medical condition.

Here are a few other links to things that have changed my life:

Whoop - Track your HRV and REM Sleep

Function Health - Optimize Your Health via 160+ BioMarkers

Here are a few topics I think you’ll love if you haven’t checked them out before:

How to Breathe for Better Health

How to Supercharge Your Sleep

The Power of the Sauna