Issue #195: NBA Star to Barista to Championship Coach
Good morning. It’s Saturday, June 3rd.
Today’s Quick Win
Inspiration: NBA Player Turned Barista
Bucket List: Vjosa River, Albania
Moment of Fun: Marriage Fights
Brain Games: Animal Names
Question: Relationship with Alcohol
“Drink because you are happy, but never because you are miserable.”
This Week
This week we imbibed some alcohol to understand how it impacts our Health & Longevity.
Issue #193 - wondering how much we should really be drinking? Dive into the effects of alcohol on brain health and explore its interesting position as both a controversial topic and a pillar within Blue Zone populations
Issue #194 - so you’re planning to have a few drinks? No worries, we’ve got your back - let’s make sure your future self stays happy and full of energy by minimizing the effects
Click HERE to check out the entire Thrive25 archive.
PS: how’d you do with the Hydration Challenge - did you make it all 7 days? Here’s how one reader ensured they had 8oz (1 cup) every hour…
Inspiration
Ask Vin Baker - a 13-yr NBA veteran and 4-time NBA All-Star the best job he ever had…
…he’ll tell you it was the year he spent making lattes at Starbucks.
Baker was ready for a fairy tale ride - according to Sports Illustrated he was “America’s Best Kept Secret.” Playing his college ball at the University of Hartford (not exactly as a basketball powerhouse), the 6’11” power forward quickly rose to become one of the league’s best players.
At 22, Baker was shy and riddled with anxiety. Taking a cue from teammates, he found that alcohol and marijuana were the perfect medicine to relieve stress for his high-pressure job.
It quickly grew from periodic drinking to drinking Listerine (higher alcohol level than beer) before games to avoid hangovers - true story.
With the drinking came a downfall of his play and bad investments/choices that eventually led him to moving in with his parents completely broke - after earning $100M during his career.
He’ll be the first to tell you that it wasn’t his childhood (two loving parents in a supportive home) or anyone else’s fault for his problem. It just happened.
After another trip to rehab - he reached out to Howard Schultz (who happened to own the Seattle Supersonics when Baker was a star player). Rather than give a handout - Schultz told him to become a trainee in the Starbucks manager training program.
He regained his footing and his sobriety. This led to his path back to basketball as an assistant coach of the Milwaukee Bucks - he was there when they won the title in 2021.
He’s also started the Bouncing Back Foundation to reduce the impact of addiction and promote sobriety.
Sometimes we fall down. Sometimes we’re doing things that might seem like they are either beneath us or not on our “intended” path. But that’s life - it’s a journey with unexpected twists and turns - it’s putting one foot in front of the other to make tomorrow the best it can be.
Thrive25 Partner Spotlight
A growing player in the no-alcohol beverage market (see Stat), Hiyo includes a mix of adaptogens to create a sense of positive calm.
Hiyo is a non-alcoholic option that is inspiring more solace on the sofa, more happy hours without hangovers, more presence at parties, and ultimately, a happier, healthier you. All Thrive25 readers get 15% off - use code THRIVE at checkout - CLICK HERE!
Bucket List | Vjosa River
The Vjosa River is one of Europe’s last undammed rivers - flowing freely from the Pindus Mountains in Greece to the Adriatic Sea. It’s been a huge battle (check out the video below), but finally last year the Vjosa River was declared a national park and will not be dammed - preserving World Heritage sites and ancient communities. With this designation, eco-tourism is on the rise - especially rafting, canoeing and kayaking. If you’re up for some cycling, Albania opened a UNESCO Cycling Route in January that stretches over 1,000 km along the canyons and valleys of the Vjosa.
Moment of Fun | Marriage Fights
Brain Games | Animal Names
It’s the first week of summer, so I took the kids to the zoo (my 2-yr old was really impressed).
Can you figure out the names of these animals by adding back in the missing vowels?? (Source)
ttr
pnd
frrt
s ln
hdghg
chth
tdpl
plr br
lprd
grff
**For answer, scroll to the bottom of the post
Weekend Q | Relationship with Alcohol
What is your relationship with alcohol? How do you feel about your alcohol consumption?
Does it impact your physical, mental or emotional health? In a positive or negative way?
Product Recs
🛌 Impossible - trouble sleeping? This is a combination of magnesium and l-theanine powder (with no junk) to help you get and stay asleep. Click HERE.
💊 Momentous - backed with scientific research, direct clinical proof, and patented ingredients, Momentous has world-class products and protocols for high-performance seekers at all levels. Thrive25 subscribers get 15% off the entire product portfolio using code Thrive at checkout
🍴 Primal Kitchen - loving these sauces. Just used the Hawaiian BBQ Sauce for some pulled pork tacos and my wife loves the Buffalo Sauce. They’re clean and delicious. Give ‘em a go! Follow this link for 10% off
Thanks for another great week! Been 88 all week for Max in Chicago. We know our Thursday recipe was for spring, but it feels like summer - don’t worry about the heat and stay cool this weekend!
Check out the latest workout videos on our YouTube channel
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** Brain Games Answer **
ttr —> otter
pnd —> panda
frrt —> ferret
s ln —> sea lion
hdghg —> hedgehog
chth —> cheetah
tdpl —> tadpole
plr br —> polar bear
lprd —> leopard
grff —> giraffe
Why Thrive25
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.
This newsletter is for you and we truly value your feedback. Never hesitate to reach out to us at team@thrive25.com.
To health!
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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, Inc. does not provide medical, professional, or licensed advice. Please connect with your healthcare professional for medical advice specific to your health needs.