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I Hope You Weren’t Listening to Anything I Said Before the Age of 34… Because, Yeah, It was Probably Pretty Dumb.

There are certain milestones in one’s life that create a “before and after” point.

Like graduating high school. Graduating college. Getting married. Having your first kid.

By default, life can’t continue on the same way after each of those occurrences. To try to move on with the same mentality after an event such as any of those, well, it’s pretty much pointless.

We are forced to evolve throughout certain points in life. If not, we become irrelevant to society and to ourselves, in the new stage in life we have just entered.

It’s once we start becoming familiar with the new version of ourselves, after being forced to evolve, that it becomes easier to look back before that milestone and realize, “Wow, I was kind of an idiot back then. I didn’t know better at the time, but still, I feel sorry for anyone who knew that version of me. Oops!”

I have felt that way at many points throughout my 36 years on this planet.

But I must say, I have never been more aware of any milestone in my life so far, than the one I surpassed two years ago at the age of 34.

The milestone? No longer internally allowing anyone to offend me, insult me, or hurt my feelings. It was at age 34 that I realized it’s actually a personal choice whether or not I allow other people’s words to emotionally disrupt me. I lived the first 34 years of my life not realizing or embracing that truth.

Back in 2015, I was very aware of my particular age, as a study had just came out claiming that age 34 is the happiest age to be. And sure enough, I couldn’t argue with that:

My family had just moved into a brand new house in a cul-de-sac far away from the bustle of Nashville. My wife and I found out we would be having another child. Not to mention, our son was 4 years old; more independent and easy to parent him than ever before!

Plus, I had just gotten serious about legitimately becoming a YouTuber on the side; having been inspired by watching the documentary, Please Subscribe, which was on Netflix at the time.

As I taught myself how to build a following on my YouTube Channel, I soon realized how important it was to remain emotionally unaffected by people who watched my videos and harshly criticized me; from a destructive, not constructive, point of view.

I recognized how many of my viewers were strangers to the concept of emotional intelligence; which I had studied in my Human Resources course that I voluntarily had taken a few years prior.

My experience as a new YouTuber inspired me to make a video where I eventually challenged the entire free world to insult me. I bet you can already predict the results…

That’s right. No one was able to offend me or hurt my feelings.

Why?

Because I went into it knowing that it was my decision whether or not I gave control to another human being power or control over my emotions.

And that it was when it hit me like an M. Night Shyamalan twist ending:

If it is my decision whether or not I gave control to another human being power or control over my emotions for some kid who I don’t even know on the Internet, then I also have that same power and control for when the person who “offends” me is someone I actually do know; even someone who I know extremely well. That includes my wife!

My life has never been the same since. I am in control of my own life now.

No one, not anyone, has the ability to disrespect me, offend me, insult me, or hurt my feelings anymore; because I do not allow them to, from within. Because it is a personal choice to give them that authority.

It is a choice to not be a victim.

Just as we choose everyday whether our words and actions will either build up or break down another person, we also have the same responsibility to choose whether or not we allow ourselves to be hurt after another person chooses to use hurtful words against us.

It is a choice. But for most of us, for most of our lives, we just let the default happen.

We allow ourselves to become offended, especially by the people we are closest to in life.

Can you imagine how freeing of an experience that was for me to realize that?

Can you imagine how the quality of my life has dramatically improved in the past two years?

Granted, I’m probably a little more disconnected from the world now. But not in a bad way, I don’t think.

I don’t get angry or emotional about stuff anymore. Nor do I get involved or influenced by O.P.P. (That’s “other people’s problems”, by the way.)

These days, I just get to live my own life. So yeah, forget anything I said before I turned 34.

That guy didn’t know what he was talking about. Sorry about that.

1 Comment Posted on food reviews, Uncategorized, vegan

Nashville’s Sunflower Vegetarian Café Also Caters to Vegan, Gluten-Free, & Oil-Free Dietary Restrictions

As The Manliest Vegan on the Internet, I have toured America in search of cities that cater to people with plant-based lifestyles like mine, from Lake Tahoe, California; to Asheville, North Carolina; to Atlanta, Georgia; to Pensacola and Destin, Florida; to Louisville, Kentucky, just to name a few.

But despite living in a bedroom community outside of Music City, I have pretty much not mentioned Nashville, Tennessee… until now.

Over the weekend, I made my way to Nashville’s Sunflower Vegetarian Café, which is fairly close to the I-65 exit, and fairly close to the Nashville Zoo. I have been craving a homemade garden burger (a vegan burger made of veggies, nuts, and/or nuts) ever since our family road tripped to Louisville last month but our schedule did not allow for it.

At last, I got my manly garden burger. For my side, I chose collard greens, and I am so glad I did!

Not only does Nashville’s Sunflower Vegetarian Café cater to my vegan needs, but they are very open and upfront about how their menu is friendly to anyone seeking food made without oils, gluten, or meat. They also have a children’s menu, as well.

So if you’re looking for a good vegan or vegetarian restaurant that also caters to anyone looking to avoid oils and gluten, but don’t want to drive into downtown Nashville to do so, I say just head over to Nashville’s Sunflower Vegetarian Café. The parking there is free and easy, too. Just drive behind the restaurant.

You will immediately feel welcomed and accepted just as you are. No one at Nashville’s Sunflower Vegetarian Café thinks you’re weird or sees you as a label on the fringe of society. You don’t have to explain the reason for your dietary choices. It’s a really great environment.

And obviously, the food is superb. I am very much looking forward to going back!

1 Comment Posted on reviews, Uncategorized

Hockey Guide To Stench Control (by Guest Blogger, Pro Stock Hockey)

Hockey fans and players can describe with great enthusiasm the feelings they get when they hear the whoosh of skates on the ice, see the flashing red light of a goal scored, or the feel of a clean hit against the boards. What they won’t be as enthusiastic about, however, is the way hockey can smell from time to time. Over the course of a grueling hockey season, even the youngest players put a lot of blood, sweat and tears not only into their game, but also into their gear. Although that can be a formula for a winning season, it’s not so good for keeping hockey gear smelling its freshest. Even the sweet smell of success on the ice can be tainted by the stench of overripe equipment.

Pungent equipment is unpleasant enough by itself, but keeping players’ gear clean and properly maintained is important for other reasons. For example, keeping your gear clean helps prevent the spread of serious infections that can cause health problems. Smelly equipment can be a warning sign of something much worse, so keeping everything clean does more than help you smell better.

Hockey gear is high-performance equipment, and treating it like a common sweatshirt or pair of boxer shorts won’t be enough to prevent the stink of a long season from settling into it. Equipment managers for the pros have their tricks for keeping players’ gear free from hockey stench, but hockey parents don’t need professional experience to keep their teams’ hockey gear smelling like Game 1 even after Game 7. The following guide provides you with some tips for keeping your hockey gear clean and smelling better. Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll help ensure that the smell of your team’s gear won’t be one of the most memorable experiences of the game for the wrong reasons.

 Hockey Stench from Pro Stock Hockey, an online resource for authentic pro stock equipment
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Guest Blogger, Education.Com, Presents “Number Sense” Activity for Kindergartners

 

 

Education.com works with teachers and curriculum developers to create educational activities and other resources for kids.

Today, gather your kindergartner and their friends together for this fun number matching game.

Your little one will recognize numbers in no time at all!

What You Need:

  • Deck of playing cards
  • Up to 4 players

What You Do:

  1. Ask one of the players to be the dealer. Have him give each player 4 cards.
  2. Place the remaining cards face down in the center of the table.
  3. Have the first player turn over the top card and set it face up to start a discard pile.
  4. Have the other players look at their cards and if they have a matching card, they must also put it face up in the discard pile.
  5. Continue playing until only one of the players has cards left, or the deck runs out. Alternatively, the first player to get rid of his cards can be declared the winner.
1 Comment Posted on fatherhood, Health, People, Storytelling, Uncategorized

3 Steps for Making over $100 a Month as a YouTuber, Like I Do

You know me as a road tripping father and husband who happens to be the manliest vegan on the Internet and who is trying to meet his doppelganger from the Campbell’s Go soup package.

But to my 1800 YouTube subscribers, I am a hair loss expert.

Are you laughing yet? Because you should be.

I know it seems like a joke. I know it seems like I’m not qualified. But for the past couple of months, I have been receiving checks from YouTube, all of which are a little over a hundred dollars each.

To nearly 2,000 men, most of whom are under the age of 23, I am a mentor. I make 3 videos each day during my breaks at work, or after the kids are asleep at home. These videos help my subscribers psychologically sort out the process of going bald at a young age.

I know. I know. I still have most of my hair.

But that doesn’t get in the way of them listening to what I have to say.

Here’s the good news. You too can become a YouTuber, and make at least as much money as I do. I will now share with you the 3 fundamental steps that got me to this point:

1. Discover your topic of expertise. Do not simply assume that the thing you know the most about or enjoy talking about the most is going to be the thing that people will want to hear you talk about. For 30 days, create 3 videos per day about whatever is going through your head. After the month is over, take a look to see which video surpassed on the others on views. That is now your topic of expertise.

2. Exploit your topic of expertise. Now start making 3 videos per day about that same topic. It’s not about quality, it’s about quantity! People will subconsciously believe you are worth listening to if you invest enough time talking about it that consistently. And of course, you are building a library of videos, which will eventually start bringing in comments of the videos.

3. Respond by making videos that directly and positively respond to the comments you receive on your level of expertise. Just simply give your unrehearsed response, as you begin the video by reading the comment and say the user name of the person who left it. This will help engage your audience. Plus, you will learn more about the topic as well; which helps make you more of an authority on the subject, even if you’re not actually one. As for negative comments, simply thank the person for taking the time to watch the video and to comment on it, even though they did not agree with what you had to say.

As the number of subscribers grows, the number of people who watch each new video grows, and the dollar amount on the monthly checks you get from YouTube grows; as you get a cut of the ads that show before your videos.

It’s true. I make over $100 a month as a YouTuber.

I’m a Millennial dad who not only works a full time job, but who also knows how to side hustle; not only with this blog, but also as a YouTuber.

And somehow, that makes me a hair loss expert? Hey, it’s making me money, that has to make me at least a little bit of a professional. That’s the way I see it.