Fletcher Friday Five
Friday Five is a short weekly list of things I’ve been reading, thinking about, or enjoying.
The Meaning of Your Life: I have been reading more than at any point in my life since college. Then again, I am not entirely sure I read as much in college as I like to remember. Either way, I have a large stack of unread books waiting at home, so I resist the temptation to buy new ones at the airport. Arthur Brooks' The Meaning of Your Life broke that rule. And for good reason. It is one of the better books I’ve read in a while. Brooks argues that meaning comes from three things: coherence, purpose, and significance. He is also sharply critical of our relationship with technology, arguing that our endless pursuit of distraction robs us of both reflection and time with the people we love. Another idea that stuck with me is that a meaningful life is not about finding all the answers. It is about continuing to ask better questions. The book is thought-provoking, practical, a quick read and well worth the time. Here is an excerpt he published if you want to get a sample.
You Don’t Have to Die for Each Other: Lorena and I had a great time in Montana with Warriors and Quiet Waters. It was my honor to keynote their Legacy Day event. In this short clip, I share what I believe is the next mission for many veterans: looking out for each other. We spent years being willing to die for each other. Now we need to be willing to pick up the phone when life gets hard. That same lesson applies to all of us. If you'd like to watch the full speech, you can access it HERE.
When to Work Out: The fitness industrial complex loves the latest hack. Work out in the morning for best results. No wait, do it at lunch. Actually, the evening is best. A large study reached a refreshingly simple conclusion: it doesn't really matter when you exercise. You might feel stronger later in the day, while an early workout may help set the tone for everything that follows. The key isn't timing. It's consistency. Get your heart rate up, do some strength training, and keep showing up at least three times a week. It doesn’t matter when in the day you do it! And you don’t have to buy a supplement, an app or a membership for that advice!
Shared Wisdom: A Sunday short feature I’ve been experimenting with is called Shared Wisdom. The idea is simple. People have been wrestling with the same fundamental questions for thousands of years. It fascinates me how often very different traditions arrive at remarkably similar conclusions. Christianity. Islam. Buddhism. Recovery. Philosophy. Different words. Shared wisdom. Each one of these posts is very short and simple. Here are links to a few examples: sacrifice, forgiveness, resentment, helping others.
The GOAT: Colonel Victor Bianchini is a legend. A Vietnam combat veteran decorated for valor, he served in a number of leadership roles, including Commanding Officer of Force Recon. In "retirement," he built a distinguished career as an attorney, mediator, and respected Superior Court and Federal Judge. He is also exceedingly kind and always made time to help guide a wayward younger Marine. I know because I am one of them. What is he doing now? Just winning multiple fencing medals…in his 80s. Truly, the GOAT.
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Have a great weekend.
Nathan
P.S. In Case You Missed It: Earlier this week I wrote about one of the most underrated skills in life—learning to tell the difference between a real crisis and something that is, quite simply, just Tuesday. You can read it here.