Issue #169: Don't Keep Score
Good morning. It’s Thursday, April 13th.
Today’s Quick Win
“Gratitude is the ability to experience life as a gift.”
From the Lab: Gratitude Journal Alternatives
Speed Read: 45 is the New 50
Thursday Night In: Baked Salmon with Asparagus
Moment of Fun: Kids
We only receive, on average, 10 pieces of personal mail per year (excluding holiday cards). Compare that to the number of emails or slack messages. (Source)
From the Lab
So if gratitude is a game-changer (Issue #168), then we should all keep a gratitude journal, right? Well, maybe not.
My journal continues to sit untouched next to my bed.
It feels like a heavy lift to do every morning and/or night - sometimes creating more stress that I haven’t done it, and completely negating the entire point of the exercise.
Turns out - I’m not alone here.
Don’t let me stop anyone from continuing their journal or starting it. Most of the time writing down 3 things you’re grateful for on a daily basis increases our motivation, boosts our happiness, and helps us appreciate the little things.
It’s just that there are other ways to boost gratitude if that one doesn’t hit for you.
Here’s an alternative - a gratitude letter or visit.
When life is crazy busy with a long to-do list, it’s easy to skip over the “write a note to Dan.”
But no one ever regretted taking the time to write down that you’re grateful for someone and then actually send it to them. I’m not talking about a text (although better than nothing). I mean the power of the pen.
The joint value both the sender and receiver get from a handwritten letter is massive - especially if it’s not in response for a specific gift (tit-for-tat), but something completely unexpected.
Imagine what your friend would think if you just wrote a note out of the blue.
Try to write to someone that makes your life better.
We’re all different so make your own goals - but whether it’s weekly or monthly I promise it’s pretty amazing to reconnect with those who might live across the country, who we’ve just grown apart with our own busy lives, or who sleeps right next to you every night, but you don’t tell them enough how much they mean to you.
Life is about the human connection and our relationships - don’t let time slip away without telling these people they made a difference in your life.
Final note - the dark side of gratitude is keeping score. If you send a note to your partner, it’s not about getting anything back. Any act of kindness out of obligation misses the point - so here’s one game where we don’t need a scoreboard.
Thrive25 Partner Spotlight
It’s the final countdown - T-minus 17 days until the big race! Time to load up with all the right fuel for the training and race day. Good thing I’ve got Phat Fudge!
Mary Shenouda (@paleochef) created a proprietary blend of beneficial fats and performance enhancing ingredients - if it’s good enough for Steph Curry, it’s good enough for me.
Eat Clean. Play Often. Crush Life. That’s the Phat Fudge motto. Short and sweet, like the ingredient list - you're too busy crushing life to worry about weird, hidden junk in your food. Check it out HERE.
Speed Read
Health & Longevity in the News
Pioneers of the Pavement: …and dirt. Horatio Jackson and Sewall Crocker are the first people to drive a car across the country. The feat happened 120 years ago and all started with a $50 bet. The 63-day journey from SF to NYC encountered several challenges and cost $8,000 (roughly $260,000 in 2023 dollars). (Big Think)
45 is the New 50: Colon cancer rates are rising among younger people. The C word has always been an unwelcome present associated with turning 50, but colonoscopies are now recommended at 45 (most health insurance should cover it). If you have a family history, it’s not too early to check into when you can be screened. (WSJ)
Can’t Trust Vitamins: The maker of Nature’s Bounty vitamins was fined $600K for stealing reviews of other products on Amazon to boost their own ratings. If it wasn’t enough to verify if the product was legit, now we have to worry if the reviews are real too. Always use the best brands for supplements and vitamins. (TechCrunch)
Thursday Night In | Baked Salmon
We heard you all loud and clear - simpler recipes that take less time! Well here’s a one pan dinner. Just a little drizzle on the fish and veggies with some super healthy foods and herbs (garlic, lemon, parsley - see benefits) and you’ve got dinner in no time - with very little clean-up.
Moment of Fun | Kids
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We’re 40-something dads that felt our bodies and minds start to slow down and we’re not ready for that. We found too much information on every subject. So we started Thrive25 to transform what we’ve learned into something useful for the rest of us to spend just 3-5 min a day to optimize our health & longevity.
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The information in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and may not be appropriate or applicable based on your individual circumstances. Thrive25 Labs LLC does not provide medical, professional, or licensed advice. Please connect with your healthcare professional for medical advice specific to your health needs.