It feels like we just celebrated the start of the new year, and yet we're more than halfway through a trip around the sun that seems to be passing quicker than its precedents.
While the first half of 2025 has my head spinning, I've learned from experience that when it seems like everything in life is going poorly, time seems to stand still.
Most recently, my wife Kendall and I returned from a road trip that took us to the Outer Banks of North Carolina - more specifically, the tiny town of Buxton on Cape Hatteras. Known as the "Lost Colony" by locals and numerous historians, a number of researchers argue that this little hamlet was the site of the first settlement in America, not Plymouth Rock.
Our ultimate destination was the house of close friends who have been fixtures in my life since we met almost ten years ago, Andy and Kate. Andy - Dr. Andrew Caputo - is an orthopedic surgeon from Connecticut who I met when I was working for LIVESTRONG. We have a special connection, one that is described in detail in the book.
But this visit was different, as Kendall hadn't met the Caputo family yet, and everyone - including the family of Andy's late wife, Aly - would be in attendance. We spent the week alternating between water sports like e-foiling, paddle boarding, and surfing and spending quality time over food, drinks, and plenty of laughs.
On the way out and back to the east coast, we stopped at two national parks: Hot Springs in Arkansas, and Great Smoky Mountain in Tennessee, well on our way to visiting all 63!
A week before our road trip, I was gifted the opportunity to support one of my best friends and personal heroes - Mitch Ammons - at the inaugural Bare Performance Nutrition (BPN) Go One More Ultra race at Bare Ranch in Liberty Hill, Texas. 130 runners were chosen via lottery (more than 5000 applied) in a Last Man Standing format.
Beginning at noon on May 24, the runners embarked on a 4.2 mile loop around the ranch, and would repeat this course every hour, on the hour, until a single athlete remained. Everyone else would "DNF" - meaning did not finish.
Another friend and mentor, Nick Bare, had competed in a LMS style event last year and wanted to host his own, but nothing could've prepared Nick - or any of us - for what would unfold.
Mitch dropped out at an impressive 127 miles and took third overall, but it was the two remaining runners - the German, Kim Gottwald, and Kendall Fallas from Australia, both just 21 years old, who put on a show.
Kendall and Kim battled lap after lap making it all the way into the 57th hour before a severe thunderstorm brought torrential rain, hail, and 80mph winds that swept over the ranch, forcing all of us to take cover.
In the end, the young men called a truce and decided to share the title of Last Men Standing at BPN's first year spectacle, but no doubt the fireworks will return in 2026.
Beyond Buxton and the backyard ultra, there have been plenty other memorable moments these past six months, including the CapTexTri - a Memorial Day multisport tradition in downtown Austin, a quick trip to Bentonville, Arkansas for the celebrated Rule of 3 bike race, a weekend in SoCal for some podcast recordings and visits with old friends, and more.
But I think the ultimate reason for 2025's expedient nature - now more than ever before - is an abundance of positively selfish endeavors of which I've intentionally pursued, including the return of my beloved Breakfast Club ATX group rides, producing popular races like The Austin Marathon and aforementioned CapTexTri with High Five Events, volunteering time with worthy causes like the American Cancer Society and Flatwater Foundation, and the ongoing journey of becoming a bestselling author and podcast host.
I tell you all of this not to sound braggadocious, but to give you a bit of insight into how FINDING GOOD works in everyday life. My friend Jeremy recently asked a pointed question: "How do you stay so positive all the time? It seems like you're endlessly filled with joy."
My response is simple - each day, I practice the three tenets of FINDING GOOD:
1) Be positively selfish
2) Surround yourself with good people
3) Leave the world better than you found it
I've received countless messages from readers and listeners about how this practice has provided the knowledge, confidence, and encouragement to make decisions that have led to profound life transformations.
Anyone, from anywhere, at any age, of any race, from any background, can implement these behaviors in their own lives.
When I said the words JUST LET IT KILL ME to my mom 25 years ago, I meant it. The experience of waking up during a surgery that was completed while I was fully alert was the final straw. It may have only lasted thirty seconds, but it felt like an eternity, as bad times are prone to feeling.
The ebbs and flows of life are inherent in the human experience; "this too shall pass" can be applied to the seasons we live, both good and bad. The key is to endure the lows and cherish the highs.
To quote my personal childhood hero, Ferris Bueller, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."
I've been looking around a lot lately, and FINDING GOOD, while sometimes more challenging than others, has become my prevailing course of action when things get tough.
We're about to kick off the second round of podcast production and have plenty of powerhouse guests lined up, and I've got some exciting news to share in coming weeks!
But until then, enjoy part one of The FINDING GOOD Podcast - all NINE episodes are linked below. And as always, my friends, keep FINDING GOOD!
As human beings we have an inherent desire to celebrate the victories of others. In her bestselling book Braving the Wildnerness, renowned psychologist Brené Brown discusses the bravery needed to show up for others in moments of severe pain, not just times of collective joy. My friend Mitch Ammons has experienced plenty of both. And despite his growing collection of accolades in both running and real estate sales, Mitch's journey toward greatness actually began on a road to recovery. We...
**If this is your first time receiving an email from FINDING GOOD (or you just need a refresher of why I am so cool 🤙), this little blog should do the trick.** My friends, It's hard to believe we are already halfway through the first month of the new year. As I'm certain it was for you, 2024 was easily one of the most memorable years of my life. As I continue revolving around the sun for the 40th time, much of this year so far has been spent reflecting on the journey that brought me to where...
Hello from MARFA! 39 years old. I never thought I'd live this long. At the same time this email lands in your inbox, I will be traversing the highways of West Texas with more than 100 of my friends. Every year for the last three, Breakfast Club ATX has escaped the humid heat of summer in Austin for the cooler, dryer mountain air of Santa Fe, New Mexico. While our excursions into the Land of Enchantment are cherished to be sure, this year - which happens to be our 4th birthday (August 7th) -...