This week I had a few moments where I wasn’t sure if I wanted to laugh or wine about something

1 - Pipes froze and burst

It started about a week ago with a pipe that burst in our barn. Despite trying to drip our pipes that give our animals water, the temperature got too cold and the pipes succumbed to the chaos. I began my repair journey only to have it all installed and turned the water back on - to see it still leaking and realize I had bought the wrong connections. I eventually got it working.

2 - Then it was nearly burning my house down - Here’s the video

What started out as a simple to do item to get rid of some weeds, turned into a grass fire…then brush fire that nearly turned into a house fire. It was 19 degrees outside, we had lost power, our well pipes had frozen so we had no water - and my genius self decided it was a great time to start a fire. I learned the valuable lesson of not starting a fire without a working water hose nearby.

3 - More pipes froze and burst

This past weekend, as our power went out all down our street, this included my in laws place next door to us. Their well water also froze. I was able to thaw ours out but they weren’t so lucky. I spent hours trying to diagnose the situation, turned heaters on, put heat tape all around pipes - and nothing.

Then a few hours later I saw water going everywhere - and saw that their pipes bringing water into their house - had burst and shattered.

This led to a 6-hour adventure playing plumber trying to repair those pipes.

I was trying to race to get it all fixed before the temperatures dropped again. Somehow yet again, the pipes leaked and I had to start all over. Apparently it was too cold for the glue or I didn’t let it sit long enough. I should have trained as a plumber instead of that glorious paper diploma that I’m sure has some value…to someone 🙂 

Laugh or Cry?

In the moment after I nearly burned my house down, I thought “well this is a great story to tell Annette and Ava once they get home, because they will probably ask why our lawn is no longer tannish brown but blackened to a crisp” - and in that moment I was able to laugh.

Later when recounting it I realized how foolish I had been and the laughter was non-existent.

It led me to dig into how we choose our emotional response in a moment of tension and trial - can make a big difference to our overall health. I’m all about flourishing and to think that the trials of life can keep us from savoring the joy, had me asking why so often I let those same stressful moments get the best of me. Perhaps you can relate.

I think our reactions can be trained like a muscle and over time we can start to put things into perspective even in the moment - that this too shall pass.

Think back to some of the ‘worst’ moments of your life -I bet some of them make for some fun stories to share over dinner.

My daughter loves my story of being thrown up on in a recent plane ride or the time my friend wanted to offroad with me in his new Range Rover only to roll the thing and totaled it never to be driven again - great story - awful in the moment.

The Science of Action and Reaction

The science seems to point to how we feel - our emotional state - makes more of a difference in our health than we have imagined. Laughter specifically - truly is medicine. 

What is the current of your emotional state? Are you mostly joyful, optimistic, happy? Or are you somber, frustrated, or stressed?

For example: Harvard shows most people doom-scroll to their own detriment. At times I am guilty of this, perhaps you’ve experienced that feeling of 45 minutes gone and life is no better because of it. If you people or profiles on your timeline not bringing you joy and happiness in what you see and hear and watch - change it up. That’s like eating at a buffet that you know makes you sick - don’t do it.

What we consume through the eyes, ears and senses impacts our health just as much or more than what we consume through our mouth  or nose or through our skin.

Emotional Check-up

How can you tell where you’re at? It’s all about how you’re reacting to moments of stress, frustration and trial. Are you always mad? Always asking ‘why me’? Or are you able to see that life has hiccups - some seasons more than others and if we can roll with the punches like water off a duck’s back - we can enjoy the ride all the more - and it benefits our health if we respond more positively. 

My reaction post burning the yard was gratefully one of humor. My reaction a few hours later was one of ‘dude are you an idiot’? It gave me room to pause to see what led to each emotion and why.

I am finding the smaller trials train us for the larger ones and if we aren’t advancing - somehow we keep repeating the same small trials that at least for me usually progress from - get annoying before they get my attention before they get me to think differently.

-Jared

P.S. - My wife has a beautiful newsletter where she shares her perspectives on tending the land, recipes, women’s health and more.

I’d love to hear how you deal with moments of stress. 👋

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