What I've learned since moving to D.C. (some of which should be obvious): 0224

11151.  Montreal has a nice mix of old and new architecture;

11152.  I can say I’ve been in an Olympic venue(, specifically the Montreal Olympic Pool);

11153.  You can live in the Olympic Village.  The (1976) Olympic Village in Montreal has been converted/turned into apartments;

11154.  One of the fundamental rules of likability and charisma is the concept of reciprocity.  Put simply, we are kind to people who are kind to us first.  Rarely do you see somebody who reacts very negatively when somebody gives them a gift or dresses their wounds or otherwise helps them;

11155.  You have to choose things to praise others for that will have the greatest impact.  In other words, it has to be something that they actually care about.  Otherwise, your compliment will come off as less than genuine and you will give the impression that you’re fake or manipulative;

11156.  Massaging/working on one place on the body can affect a different area of the body;

11157.  Apparently, I’ve got a lot of tightness in the pelvic region of my body especially in the buttocks/glutes;

11158.  Apparently, I have a shy scrotum;

11159.  Apparently, the circumcision scar on the underside of my penis towards the tip is very sensitive;

11160.  Apparently, I should try relaxing when I climax/orgasm;

11161.  Comfort is the worst addiction and a cheap ticket to depression;

11162.  Don’t tell people more than they need to know; respect your privacy;

11163.  The family you create is more important than the family you come from;

11164.  Train yourself to take nothing personally to save yourself from 99% of mental problems;

11165.  There can be knots and tight spots inside the body;

11166.  An internal massage is a thing;

11167.  It’s possible to stroke/touch a woman’s cervix;

11168.  The keys to giving an internal massage are communication (i.e., what feels good and what doesn’t), going slowly and being present and really paying attention to the other person;

11169.  The cutlet sandwich (i.e., breaded chicken cutlet, provolone, coleslaw, hot peppers, marinated eggplant & mayonnaise) at “BOSSA Pret a manger” (Bossa.ca) (in Montreal) is tasty;

11170.  Apparently, a Montreal(-style) bagel is smaller, thinner, sweeter, denser and with a bigger hole than a New York-style bagel and it’s always baked in a wood-fired oven;

11171.  The view from the Mount Royal Chalet in Montreal reminds me of the view from Victoria Peak in Hong Kong;

11172.  The smoked meat sandwich on rye (bread) with (yellow) mustard from Schwartz’s (SchwartzsDeli.com) (in Montreal) is so good. . . . It’s tender, flavorful, a little salty, but so good. . . . Their (French) fries are good too;

11173.  The (French) fries at Le Darling (instagram.com/Bar.Darling) (in Montreal) are great.  They have a slight sweetness to them;

11174.  Plattsburgh(, New York,) is known for the Michigan hot dog/red hot.  It’s a steamed all-beef hot dog on a steamed bun topped with a meaty, bean-less chili;

11175.  I can say I’ve had a Michigan hot dog/red hot( from Clare & Carl’s Hot Dog Stand in Plattsburgh, New York);

11176.  Abundance is not impressive when you have a lot of whatever it is you want to have a lot of.  Abundance is impressive when you don’t have what you want and you choose to believe the opposite of what reality is showing you at this exact moment.  If you can stay abundant in the face of scarcity then it shows your beliefs are immovable;

11177.  Scarcity and abundance aren’t based on numbers.  They’re based on beliefs;

11178.  According to Blake, I have a sweet nature about me . . . not exactly the vibe I’m looking to project to women/the ladies;

11179.  The lu rao fan (i.e., slow braised, 5-spice pork belly bits on rice, soy egg, scallions, ginger & arugula salad) at Bar Chinois (BarChinoisDC.com) in D.C. is tasty;

11180.  Here are the 2 key areas that are important as far as the focus of your compliments goes: things people have control over and things people have made conscious and specific choices about;

11181.  If you have to choose from many things to compliment someone about, pick the one that is least obvious;

11182.  Appreciating the things that go unnoticed makes people feel extra special because it tells them that you took the time and effort to pay close attention to them;

11183.  The iced pumpkin cream chai tea latte at Starbucks is tasty;

11184.  An Odesza concert is a spectacle.  It’s like a Vegas show.  There’s a good use of visuals, flame mortars, fireworks and lasers;

11185.  Odesza (sure does) love(s) a drumline;

11186.  Feelings drive action.  Feelings drive change.  Feelings drive connection;

11187.  People often claim to buy things because of logical decisions, but, most of the time, they buy based on feelings and then justify their decision with logic;

11188.  Logic doesn’t build deep connections.  Feelings do;

11189.  If you write in a way that doesn’t make people feel things, they won’t bond with you.  They won’t buy as much from you.  And they’ll likely stop paying attention to you overall at some point;

11190.  Don’t be afraid of upsetting people.  Don’t set out to piss people off, but don’t let someone else’s anger stop you from saying what you believe in.  Or stop you from having fun or doing things your way;

11191.  Marcello Hernandez (from “Saturday Night Live”) is pretty funny;

11192.  Not surprisingly, Michael Che is dirtier doing stand-up( comedy);

11193.  Colin Jost went to Harvard( University). . . . Michael Che didn’t go to college. . . . They ended up with the same job;

11194.  Identify your problems, but give your power and energy to solutions;

11195.  In life, lots of people know what to do, but few actually do what they know.  Knowing is not enough!  You must take action;

11196.  If you talk about it, it’s a dream, if you envision it, it’s possible, but, if you schedule it, it’s real;

11197.  The path to success is to take massive, determined action;

11198.  Persistence overshadows even talent as the most valuable resource shaping the quality of life;

11199.  Engaging conversations require active listening, the kind that makes the other person feel heard and understood.  It’s about giving your undivided attention, maintaining eye contact and genuinely empathizing with their words.

11200.  One of the most powerful tools in your conversational arsenal is the art of asking thought-provoking questions.  These are the kinds of questions that dig deep, spark curiosity and invite the other person to open up on a whole new level.  It’s through these questions that you’ll unlock hidden stories, passions and insights, forging a connection that goes far beyond surface-level chitchat;

What I've learned since moving to D.C. (some of which should be obvious): 0223

11101.  The Peruvian (rotisserie) chicken at “Chicken + Whiskey” is good, but I still like the chicken at Nando’s Peri-Peri more;

11102.  The Trader Joe’s raisin rosemary crisps are so good.  I ate the whole box in a day;

11103.  Apparently, you can make oat flour by putting whole oats in a blender or a food processor;

11104.  Emily Haines (the lead singer of “Metric”) has nice legs;

11105.  (Surprisingly, )Emily Haines is 49. . . . She was born on January 25^th, 1974;

11106.  A conversation without reactions from the other party is like a movie without background music.  At first, things seem fine, but you quickly notice that it feels empty and something is missing.  You feel as if you’re speaking to a wall you can’t read and one that you’re not even sure is listening to what you are saying.  You’re not sure what to feel and how to proceed because there are no cues given;

11107.  Reactions show people that you are more than just physically present; you are emotionally and intellectually present;

11108.  If you match the energy of the person you’re talking to, you’ll also make them feel like you understand them better than you actually do;

11109.  As with many things, reactions have a cumulative effect.  If during a 5-minute conversation, the other person does not react to 1 or 2 statements you make, you might not notice.  But suppose that person doesn’t respond 10 times in a row to something you’ve said?  Wouldn’t you start to feel anxious, as if you’ve said the wrong thing and they are punishing you with their complete lack of reaction?

11110.  There are a few different levels to reactions that make it clear you are listening and present.  You don’t have to be an expert at reacting or make a big show of it; you just need to let the other person know you’re engaged;

11111.  The first element is to make sure you react with the appropriate emotion;

11112.  The easiest way to make sure you react appropriately to a story, statement or question is to take a step back and ask yourself, “What is the primary emotion being shared here?” and then give that back to them;

11113.  Keep in mind that the intensity of your emotion matters as well;

11114.  As such, once you recognize the emotion they’re looking for, take care to also return it in equal measure as they expressed it to you;

11115.  Here’s a tip: the vast majority of emotions people share and want reciprocal, congruent reactions to are: joy, annoyance, anger, sadness and humor.  Note that 3 out of 5 are negative;

11116.  When your responses accurately fit what the other person is saying (and feeling), it tells them you understand them – that you can walk a mile in their shoes.  You create a lot of subconscious comfort when you react in a way that accurately corresponds to their feelings;

11117.  To reinforce such expression of understanding to the person you’re talking with, take it up a notch by also mimicking their facial expression and gestures;

11118.  The second way to make your reactions great is to react just a little slower than you think you should;

11119.  If you are stone-faced and unreactive, people fell as if they are speaking to a wall.  But reacting too quickly can impart a similar frustration;

11120.  If you react too quickly, no matter your reasons for doing so, it make you look dismissive;

11121.  When you react too quickly, it also makes people feel rushed;

11122.  If you have a problem with reacting too quickly or overreacting, try the 2-second rule.  Wait 2 seconds after the person is done speaking before you say anything.  It makes it look as if you are processing and considering what they’ve just said.  Moreover, people are likely to perceive you as smarter if you take a few moments to respond;

11123.  Noel Gallagher (from the band, “Oasis”,) is crotchety;

11124.  When you’re ordering food at “Jimmy John’s,” get your sandwich with French bread.  You get more food than if you ordered it with thick-sliced wheat;

11125.  Always have these double explanations prepared (i.e., 1.  a short, witty, layman’s response; and 2.  a more detailed, expert’s response).  Lead with a layman’s explanation because these make you look interesting and prevent you from missing a chance to make an impression.  They make you appear witty and they open the conversation to deeper levels of engagement.  However, ensure that your responses do not seem rehearsed.  It can be fairly easy to spot someone who is mechanically repeating lines they’re rote learned so pause for a moment or 2 before replying;

11126.  Once you know the conversation won’t remain superficial, you can unleash your expert explanation on people to create engagement and immediately capitalize on a common interest);

11127.  Compliments can help your conversations last longer and make you the object of someone’s attention and affection.  The trick is you need to know how to use them properly;

11128.  I can say I’ve been to an MLS All-Star Skills Challenge;

11129.  I can say I’ve seen Arsenal F.C. (from the Premier League) play/practice;

11130.  Compliments from someone who gives them out easily and frequently have little value.  However, if you’re perceived as the kind of person who compliments or appreciates things only when s/he genuinely sees value in them, your words will carry much more meaning;

11131.  People like to feel validated and appreciated.  Paying compliments can go a long way in producing these feelings;

11132.  In conversations, compliments create an air of positivity, which can boost the overall level of comfort people have with you;

11133.  When somebody says something positive to you, your brain produces neurotransmitters that are associated with a sense of well-being and happiness;

11134.  If one of your friends constantly compliments you and never fails to make you feel better about yourself, you probably start looking forward to seeing that person;

11135.  What has actually happened is that your brain has paired this friend with the positive feeling of being complimented, thus creating an automatic reaction of feeling good every time you’re with that person.  Eventually, this positive conditioning becomes somewhat addictive;

11136.  If you come across people that are predictably negative and put you in a bad place mentally and emotionally, your tendency is to run away from them;

11137.  You don’t get what you want by wanting it.  You get it by becoming it in your mind before you become it in reality.  Reality follows energy;

11138.  Accept what is.  Let go of what was.  Believe in what will be;

11139.  I can say I’ve taken a road trip to Montreal;

11140.  Most of the buildings in Montreal are brick;

11141.  Most of the apartments in Montreal have balconies;

11142.  There are Wal-Marts in Montreal;

11143.  There are not a lot of Starbucks in Montreal;

11144.  They have very steep (entrance) staircases in Montreal;

11145.  Montreal has a lot of public parks;

11146.  You may want to have a deeper relationship with someone, for example, your father, but, at this point, he’s set in his ways and probably won’t change. . . . And that’s okay;

11147.  Apparently, I had a lot of repressed/suppressed anger/hatred against/towards God;

11148.  Apparently, I had a lot of repressed/suppressed anger/hatred against/towards an old girlfriend;

11149.  The left side of the body is regarded as the feminine side and represents(, among other things,) the mother.  It’s also the channel of our past emotions and memories;

11150.  According to Igor, I have a calming energy about me;

What I've learned since moving to D.C. (some of which should be obvious): 0222

11051.  (Try) say(ing) “How’s your day going?” v. “How’s it going?”
11052.  Loneliness is not the absence of people.  It’s the absence of connection;
11053.  I used to think the worst thing in life was to end up all alone.  It’s not.  The worst thing in life is to end up around people who make you feel all alone;
11054.  Address the pain so you can return to work with full focus;
11055.  Communication is the exchanging of information.  It’s processed in the frontal lobe;
11056.  Connection is a feeling of understanding and ease of communication between people.  It’s processed in the insular cortex;
11057.  Technology enables communication not connection;
11058.  Communication is dealt.  Connection is felt;
11059.  Time-constraints severely limit our willingness to connect with others;
11060.  Happiness is only real when shared;
11061.  Knowledge: noun; acquaintance with facts, truths or principles, as from study or investigation;
11062.  Love: noun; a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person;
11063.  Wisdom: noun; knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action;
11064.  When you’re angry/infuriated at someone( in particularly your partner), ask, “What if I was curious instead of furious?  What if there’s a good reason?  What if it’s not what I think it is?  Can you tell me the reason you did that?”
11065.  Ways to apologize: 1.  I’m sorry I hurt your feelings; and 2.  I’m sorry I disrespected you;
11066.  Ask( your partner), “How do you ask for sex? . . . How do you signal you want sex? (i.e., If I say this . . .; If I mention such and such . . .);”
11067.  Ask( your partner), “What do you need me, to give me what I’m asking for?”
11068.  Ask( your partner), “What do I need, to give her/him what s/he’s asking for?”
11069.  Ask( your partner), “What are your pumpkin hours (i.e., not a good time to ask for sex)?”
11070.  The next woman I meet that I’m attracted to is, most likely/probably, not the “One.”  This is (both) liberating and disheartening/sad at the same time.  It takes the pressure off, but it’s sad too;
11071.  (A slice of) grilled pineapple on a (ham)burger is (really) tasty;
11072.  Apparently, Meghan (Wallen) likes to kiss/make out with other women;
11073.  Meghan (Wallen) has (small) pink nipples;
11074.  Apparently, Meghan (Wallen) likes to suck fingers;
11075.  The King Street Trolley in (Old Town) Alexandria doesn’t start operating/running until 11:00 AM. . . . It runs from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM daily, year-round( including holidays);
11076.  The (Taco Bell) “Breakfast Crunchwrap” is tasty . . . and so is the (toasted) breakfast burrito;
11077.  Virginia Distillery Co.’s (VaDistillery.com) American whiskies are made of only spring water from the Blue Ridge Mountains, yeast and barley;
11078.  After the distillation process, whiskey, made with barley(, which contains gluten), is gluten free;
11079.  Rum can be made with a coloring agent that has gluten;
11080.  Whiskey pairs well with fatty meat, sushi and chocolate;
11081.  You should stay away from spicy food(s)/food(s) with a lot of capsaicin, when pairing whiskey( with food);
11082.  The fruitiness in whiskies is from the esters created by the fermentation process.  Fermentation is usually between 24-72 hours with the longer fermentation periods producing the fruit like flavors;
11083.  Apparently, Darius Rucker likes (covering) ’90 music/songs;
11084.  If you go to a Darius Rucker concert, you might hear a/some “Hootie & the Blowfish” song(s);
11085.  Brandi Carlile thinks Rufus Wainwright has a great voice;
11086.  Brandi Carlile’s favorite covers of “Hallelujah” are by Jeff Buckley, K.D. Lang and Rufus Wainwright;
11087.  Apparently, Brandi Carlile lives with her bandmates (i.e., Phil & Tim Hanseroth);
11088.  Visualization itself doesn’t cause reality to shift.  Visualization causes a shift in behavior . . . a shift in energy . . . a shift in identity . . . a shift in vibration . . .  a shift in action;
11089.  The “Air House,” the official residence of the chief of staff of the Air Force, is at Fort Myer in Arlington, Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C.;
11090.  On January 21^st, 2009, the day after his inauguration, President Obama signed a United Nations protocol banning the use of incendiary weapons (e.g., napalm).  115 nations have signed the disarmament treaty, first introduced in 1981;
11091.  I didn’t think I’d like a heated toilet seat. . . . It reminds me of a heated car seat. . . . It’s rather nice when the air is chilly/cold;
11092.  I can say I’ve stayed/vacationed in a cabin with a(n) (senior) associate director of athletics (for academics and student-athlete support services) (specifically Justine Miller from Mount St. Mary’s University);
11093.  “Spicy Sweet Chili” Doritos are (pretty) tasty.  Apparently, they’re the only vegan Doritos (besides the “Toasted Corn”);
11094.  Apparently, a “glizzy” is a hot dog . . . or a pistol magazine;
11095.  Apparently, “trappin’ out the bando” means selling drugs at an abandoned house;
11096.  I can say that I’ve smoked in the vegetable garden terrace at Monticello;
11097.  Tomato preserves taste like grape jelly with a slight tomato aftertaste;
11098.  A good conversationalist’s talent is making sure the other person is comfortable;
11099.  With comfort comes openness, then comes rapport, then comes an environment ripe for witty banter.  We can do this by remembering to ask broader questions that aren’t looking for a right or wrong answer; 
11100.  The Peruvian rotisserie chicken at “Chicken + Whiskey” (ChickenAndWhiskey.com) is a little salty;

What I've learned since moving to D.C. (some of which should be obvious): 0221

11001.  Champagne bottle sizes: 1.  Quarter/Split – ¼ bottle, 187 ml; 2.  Half/Demi – ½ bottle, 375 ml; 3.  Bottle – 1 bottle, 750 ml; 4.  Magnum – 2 bottles, 1.5 L; 5.  Jeroboam – 4 bottles, 3 L; 6.  Rehoboam – 6 bottles, 4.5 L; 7.  Methuselah – 8 bottles, 6 L; 8.  Salmanazar – 12 bottles, 9 L; 9.  Balthazar – 16 bottles, 12 L; 10.  Nebuchadanezzar – 20 bottles, 15 L; 11.  Melchior – 24 bottles, 18 L; 12.  Solomon – 26.6 bottles, 20 L; 13.  Sovereign – 33.3 bottles, 25 L; 14.  Primat – 36 bottles, 27 L; and 15.  Melchizidek – 40 bottles, 30 L;
11002.  Crème brûlée and crème caramel are two different types of custard desserts.  Crème brûlée is made with a rich custard base that is topped with a layer of hard caramel.  Crème caramel is made with a caramelized sugar syrup that is poured over a layer of custard;
11003.  Pots de crème is typically richer and denser than chocolate mousse which tends to be lighter and airier.  Mousse generally contains both whipped cream and whipped egg whites to give it a lighter texture.  Alternatively, pots de crème are more commonly heated for a thicker and denser consistency;
11004.  You can refrigerate/freeze doughnuts.  To thaw( them), microwave them in 10 second increments;
11005.  (Choceur) dark chocolate covered coconut almonds taste like an “Almond Joy” candy bar;
11006.  Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin (really) does have a(n herbal) tea flavor( to it);
11007.  Gryffin (the deejay) looks like a surfer or a grunge band guitarist;
11008.  Reese’s Sticks are just Little Debbie nutty bars;
11009.  Timmy Trumpet (the deejay) reminds me of Robert Duvall’s character from “Apocalypse Now;”
11010.  Kygo is actually pretty good;
11011.  (Red) grapes seem to last a long time when they’re stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator;
11012.  “Cirque de la Symphonie” (CirqueDeLaSymphonie.com) is a cross between “Cirque du Soleil” and the symphony;
11013.  Luisa wears (athletic) thong underwear;
11014.  Luisa likes her feet massaged/rubbed;
11015.  I can say (that) I’ve been to a NCAA men’s volleyball championship game;
11016.  (UCLA’s) Andrew Rowan is a talented (volleyball) setter;
11017.  UCLA has won 20 NCAA men’s volleyball championships;
11018.  When talent is the most important thing, it teaches you one of the most dangerous lessons of all.  If you’re not good at it right away, give up.  If you have to practice then you’re not good enough. . . . Most dangerous of all, it binds your identity and self-worth to winning/succeeding;
11019.  We don’t get what we deserve in life.  We get what we believe we deserve;
11020.  The pork pipian (i.e., slow roasted pork shoulder served over cilantro rice and black beans, topped with a green mole sauce & crunchy pepita seeds) at Tequila & Taco (AlexandriaTaco.com) in (Old Town) Alexandria reminds of the pork morsels (i.e., marinated pork bites served with house-made cilantro sauce) at Havana ’59 (Havana59.com) in Richmond(, Virginia);
11021.  A scarab is a dung beetle;
11022.  Studies show that men with deeper voices tend to have higher testosterone levels (i.e., an indicator of dominance) and a more athletic body type;
11023.  Luisa sometimes goes commando when she’s working at home in sweats;
11024.  Luisa has nice feet;
11025.  Meghan (Wallen) said I have a nice voice;
11026.  According to Sam, if a woman invites you over to her home/place to hang out, she’s willing to sleep with you;
11027.  Apparently, the peanut oil used at Chick-fil-A is refined, bleached and deodorized, which means the proteins in the oil are stripped out so the oil is not considered a major food allergen;
11028.  The chicken at Wooboi Chicken (WooboiChicken.com) is tasty. . . . Level 3 is pretty hot/spicy. . . . The “Junior” (i.e., chicken tender, ciderslaw, butter pickles & Comeback sauce on a bun) is enough food for most people;
11029.  Apparently, there’s no “advantage” at deuce in college tennis;
11030.  Play the games you want to play.  Live the life you want to live.  Chase your dreams, not someone else’s;
11031.  Steve Aoki’s father, Hiroaki “Rocky” Aoki, founded Benihana(: Sushi & Japanese Steakhouse) and “Genesis” magazine;
11032.  According to Dimitrios( Lazaridis), the keys to a good pasta sauce are tomatoes you’d want to eat by themselves and olive oil you’d want to use by itself;
11033.  Apparently, that (decorative) plate at your seat at a (wedding) reception is called a charger;
11034.  Who makes the cake and desserts for their own wedding?  The answer is: Amira does;
11035.  Justin Trudeau does look like a young Fidel Castro;
11036.  Jasper (Ribbers) said I have a good soul;
11037.  Apparently, Ian (Bednowitz) is a (closet) rapper;
11038.  Having dueling pianos at your wedding reception is a (pretty) fun idea;
11039.  Apparently, you can use black bean to make a sugar free fudge-like dessert. . . . Just ask Amira;
11040.  The Mexican free-tailed bat is the fastest animal going horizontally. . . . It can reach speeds of 100 miles per hour;
11041.  The peregrine falcon is the fastest animal. . . . It can reach speeds of 242 miles per hour when diving;
11042.  The United States (Army Air Force) (in World War II) created bombs that housed (Mexican free-tailed) bats with timed incendiary devices on them (in order) to start fires on the largely wooden buildings in Japan;
11043.  Apparently, I can say I had my kayak pulled out of the Colorado River (in Austin, Texas,) by the lead singer of (the reggae band,) “Lion Heights;”
11044.  Apparently, you shouldn’t swim in the Colorado River in Austin(, Texas).  There’s a lot of runoff and industrial waste in the water;
11045.  The Texas State Capitol (building) was paid for by giving 3,000,000 acres (in the Texas Panhandle) to the builders;
11046.  All 3 of Terry Black’s Barbeque (TerryBlacksBBQ.com) sauces (i.e., “Central Texas Original,” “Sweet & Tangy” and “Spicy”) are tasty;
11047.  Life hack: When at Terry Black’s Barbeque, sit at the table with a person by himself/herself, who has a beef rib and is on his/her way to the airport.  You may get part of said/that beef rib;
11048.  Apparently, Elizabeth is a kleptomaniac . . . at least for barbeque t-shirts;
11049.  Subaru (Corporation) was the Nakajima Aircraft Company during World War II and was responsible for a large share of all Japanese combat-aircraft engines;
11050.  Napalm was created at Harvard( University).  It was tested in the middle of Harvard’s soccer field/pitch;

What I've learned since moving to D.C. (some of which should be obvious): 0220

10951.  It’s possible to experience stress without getting stressed out;
10952.  Stress is manageable if you put boundaries on your stressors;
10953.  Most high-achievers think being stressed out is inevitable because they’ve only learned to work hard not smart;
10954.  If you can learn to set healthy boundaries on your stressors, you’ll be amazed at how much high-quality work you can do with far less stress than you imagined;
10955.  There’s a big difference between being disciplined and being hard on yourself.  Unfortunately, most people grow up believing these two things are the same – that discipline is being hard on yourself.  And because they manage to do well in school, work, etc., it reinforces the belief that they succeeded because they were hard on themselves;
10956.  In reality, most successful people succeed despite their self-criticism not because of it;
10957.  Your discipline and work ethic will indeed help you succeed.  But your habit of beating yourself up with self-criticism and self-judgment is just making everything unnecessarily hard;
10958.  Self-criticism is not a sustainable strategy for staying motivated, but it will make you miserable;
10959.  If you can learn to let go of the habit of beating yourself up all of the time and instead practice some self-compassion, you’ll find that you can be at least as motivated as you’ve always been and far, far happier too;
10960.  Just because other people don’t appear to struggle with their emotions, doesn’t mean that’s actually the case.  Many people, especially people who are historically very high-achieving, are just really good at hiding their emotional struggles and coming across as cool and collected;
10961.  Trying to control difficult emotions always backfires in the end.  You don’t have direct control over your emotions.  You can’t just turn down the anxiety dial or raise the happiness lever!  And when you try to control them, you often end up feeling bad about feeling bad, which of course only makes things worse;
10962.  You don’t need to avoid or control your emotions to stay productive; you need a different relationship with them;
10963.  If you spend all of your time trying to avoid or control difficult feelings, you’ll be so exhausted that you have no energy left to actually get anything done;
10964.  There is no failure only feedback.  You win or you learn.  Both are equally good.  All negative feedback just provides the contrast to make the eventual win more appreciative;
10965.  Rejection does have to be personalized, it could be a wrong approach;
10966.  The world is your experiment lab to try new things and play;
10967.  You’re a unique person who has value (in the eyes of God) and the ability to learn specific skills and to provide value to others;
10968.  People enjoy you for your unique perspective energy presence and life experiences.  You always have something to add in a social interaction with your energy and words;
10969.  Reputation is temporary; character is forever;
10970.  No one can push down your value because of your inherent worth;
10971.  You’re a spiritual being having a temporary physical experience;
10972.  People are generally good and friendly when you show a win-win to them and you set boundaries if they behave badly;
10973.  People are deserving of love even those who have done you wrong;
10974.  When limiting beliefs invade every waking thought, they become self-fulfilling.  Soon enough, you believe one bad moment, word or decision impacts every aspect of your life;
10975.  No problem is permanent.  Only your soul is permanent and every problem can be solved;
10976.  What’s wrong is always available and so is what’s right;
10977.  Abraham Alexander was born in Greece.  His parents moved him and his brothers to Texas when he was 11;
10978.  I can say I saw Abraham Alexander (in concert) the day before his debut album, SEA/SONS, was released;
10979.  Bear Rinehart (the lead singer of NEEDTOBREATHE) looks like he’s having a lot of fun singing/performing;
10980.  Bear Rinehart’s solo project, “Wilder Woods,” is named after his two oldest sons;
10981.  Bear Rinehart was the 2002 South Carolina Player-of-the-Year as a wide receiver for Furman University.  He caught a (then) record 70 passes for a (then) record 892 yards;
10982.  Donovan Woods wanted to name( the song), “Man Made Lake,” “Lake Dad;”
10983.  Donovan Woods’ (ex-)girlfriend from college/university married a woman;
10984.  Apparently, Henry Jamison’s lawyer (i.e., the singer) is now Jack Harlow’s lawyer (i.e., the rapper);
10985.  A lot of famous artists have played at “Jammin Java” (JamminJava.com) in Vienna, Virginia;
10986.  Abundance is non-linear;
10987.  A true belief in the inherent goodness of yourself, of your heart and your soul, from your head to your toes, and in every fiber of your being is, unfortunately, rare;
10988.  Sitting underneath the scarcity belief of “there is not enough” is usually another, deeper belief, which is the belief that “I am not enough;”
10989.  It’s vitally important that you truly choose yourself.  Until you make that choice, on a deep level, nothing else can happen.  No matter what it is that you need to work on inside of yourself, you must first choose to give yourself the gift of focus before the shift can happen.  Make the time, create the space and do the work you need to do to change your old patterns and behaviors to allow more abundance to flow in.  Making that commitment is a demonstration that you are willing to choose yourself, to make yourself and your unique journey a priority;
10990.  Recognize that like everything in life, it is a journey.  The richness is in the path itself and we can often miss that when we fixate too much on a destination.  The truth is, there is no destination just a constant evolution of the ways in which we express ourselves in our lives.  A deepening of the fullness of that expression.  A deepening of abundance.  There is no “good” or “bad” on this journey (though there may be highs and lows).  Everything is an opportunity for learning and further evolution.  So, stop beating yourself up;
10991.  Whatever it is that you want to enjoy in your life of abundance, give yourself permission to have that.  Really want it for yourself, for no other reason than because you love yourself;
10992.  The pursuit of gratitude and compassion will make you happier than the pursuit of happiness;
10993.  Dr. Amit Sood’s insight shows that the quickest way to greater happiness is not by chasing happiness itself.  He says it is instead by cultivating and actively practicing gratitude and compassion in our lives;
10994.  It’s not in chasing the things you think you want that leads you to a lasting feeling of abundance or happiness especially if you want those things in order to heal some sense of “not enough-ness” in yourself;
10995.  You need to put in effort, especially by working on your internal state, if you want more abundance and not just sit around waiting for things to magically fall out of the sky;
10996.  It matters what kind of energetic place you’re coming from when you do things;
10997.  The practice of gratitude for what you already have is what makes your life feel full more than anything else and that, in turn, attracts more abundance to you.  In other words, abundance is not something you chase down like a predator.  Abundance is something that you put yourself into the right state to receive as you walk towards it in faith;
10998.  Seeking love and acceptance from others is not what makes you feel valued( and validated).  Practicing empathy and compassion for others is what leads you to feeling truly connected to love and to life;
10999.  The barbecue sauce at Sweet Fire Donna’s in (Old Town) Alexandria is Sweet Baby Ray’s( barbecue sauce);
11000.  The escargot sauce of diced tomatoes, garlic, parsley and butter at Le Refuge Restaurant (LeRefugeAlexandria.com) in (Old Town) Alexandria is (really) tasty;

What I've learned since moving to D.C. (some of which should be obvious): 0219

10901.  Relatively, we are living.  Life is our résumé.  It is our story to tell and the choices we make write the chapters.  Can we live in a way where we look forward to looking back?
10902.  Inevitably, we are going to die.  Our eulogy, our story, will be told by others and forever introduce us when we are gone;
10903.  The soul objective: Begin with the end in mind;
10904.  Matthew McConaughey’s 10 goals in life: 1.  Become a father; 2.  Find and keep the woman for me; 3.  Keep my relationship with God; 4.  Chase my best life; 5.  Be an egotistical utilitarian; 6.  Take more risks; 7.  Stay close to mom and family; 8.  Win an Oscar for best actor; 9.  Look back and enjoy the view; and 10.  Just keep livin(g);
10905.  Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say and not giving a damn;
10906.  You know who you are when you become independent enough to believe your own thoughts and become responsible for your actions and you not only “believe” what you want, but you live what you believe;
10907.  Live the questions first then what you believe . . . then you have your own personal style;
10908.  To appreciate a place, a character, a time, think of it as a place to live permanently; find the likeness, the goodness;
10909.  It is a necessity of man to leave what he knows so he can see what he knows.  Man must exit the comforts, the luxuries, the friendships, the advisors, the advice, the ears that listen, the pillows that he rests on and force himself into a corner, into a place where, when his mind has a thought and his mouth goes to speak it, there is no one there to listen, but himself and his god;
10910.  Technology is basically “good,” but we must respect it as a luxury because it is man-made not God-given;
10911.  One must leave home if s/he is to find home;
10912.  Create, appreciate, respect;
10913.  Beliefs are better than conclusions because you can drive them instead of just look at them.  Conclusions are the Model T on the showroom floor, there for all to ooh and ahh, while belief is the ‘81 Z28 (Camaro) on the highway;
10914.  Language rich in verbs is the most powerful.  Language built on nouns is weak.  If you rely on adjectives and adverbs you have lost your way;
10915.  The “country chicken dinner” at the Birchmere (Birchmere.com) in Alexandria tastes like Boston Market( rotisserie chicken) to me;
10916.  Stephen Kellogg (the singer-songwriter and former lead vocalist of “Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers”) loves the movie, “P.S. I Love You;”
10917.  Stephen Kellogg was once in a hot tub with Gerard Butler in Park City, Utah, during the Sundance Film Festival;
10918.  (Unsurprisingly,) freemasons are (a bunch of) old, white men. . . . During the 2023 George Washington Birthday Parade (in Alexandria, Virginia), I saw one nonwhite member and no one (I thought was) under forty;
10919.  The hamburgers at Burger King have gotten smaller;
10920.  Coca-Cola Move tastes like a (coconut) rum and Coke to me;
10921.  Almost everything everyone says is just a reflection of their own internal environment and it rarely has anything to do with you. . . . You just happen to be the victim of their rage or sadness in that moment;
10922.  Choosing to take the rage/sadness in and become a victim is up to you. . . . Getting offended is a choice. . . . Seeing yourself as a victim is a choice. . . . Living a life of freedom is a choice. . . . Choose the thing you want;
10923.  The work you do on yourself is for you, but the effects it has on the world around you is profound and rewarding.  So don’t avoid the dark/fucked up parts of yourself.  Use them as opportunities to light up the darkness within you;
10924.  If it’s in the way, it is the way;
10925.  Mike Krzyzewski (i.e., “Coach K”) was the head coach at the U.S. Military Academy Prep School at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, for 2 years before getting a graduate assistant coaching position at Indiana University;
10926.  A Papa John’s “papadia” is just a (round,) flatbread pizza folded in half;
10927.  You meet your destiny on the road you take to avoid it;
10928.  You might weigh more the day after eating (fried) pickles.  The salt (in the pickles) may make you retain water;
10929.  The Chinese were the first (culture) to distill alcohol;
10930.  (I can say) I witnessed Alexander Ovechkin’s 40^th goal of the ‘22-‘23 NHL season, making him the only player to score at least 40 goals in 13 (different) seasons( and passing Wayne Gretzky for the record);
10931.  Patrick Laine (the left winger for the Columbus Blue Jackets) is a massive man. . . . He looks slow and lackadaisical moving around the ice;
10932.  Alexander Ovechkin is tied with Mike Gartner for the most NHL seasons with at least 30 goals( at 17);
10933.  Crown Royal (Deluxe Canadian Whisky) is peaty;
10934.  Most people die a little every day while they’re alive.  “Living” while you’re alive is the goal;
10935.  Meghan( Wallen)’s favorite cake is chocolate cake with chocolate frosting/icing;
10936.  Meghan (Wallen) said she loves me( when she was drunk);
10937.  According to one of the owners, the food at the Royal Restaurant (RoyalRestaurantVa.com) in (Old Town) Alexandria is better before 11:00 AM and after 2:00 PM on weekends( when the brunch buffet isn’t being served);
10938.  The Royal Restaurant in (Old Town) Alexandria opened in 1904;
10939.  I can say I’ve been a part of a (street) magic show;
10940.  Eating lunch outside on a warm, sunny day seems like a wonderful idea.  In actuality, it’s less appealing when you have to guard against the wind blowing away your food, bugs landing in it, sticky hands/finger and spills on to your clothes/clothing;
10941.  In the absence of love and belonging, there’s always suffering;
10942.  True belonging is a spiritual practice.  It’s the ability to find sacredness in both being a part of something, but also the courage to stand alone;
10943.  Don’t walk through the world looking for evidence that you don’t belong because you will always find it;
10944.  Don’t walk through the world looking for evidence that you’re not enough because you will always find it;
10945.  Our worth and our belonging are not negotiated with other people.  We carry those inside of our hearts;
10946.  Braving is all about trust: 1.  B(oundaries): You set boundaries.  When you don’t know what they are, you ask.  You’re clear about what’s okay and not okay, which is (so) hard for people; 2.  R(eliability): You do what you say and you say what you do.  You’re not hustling for worthiness so you’re not completely over committing and not delivering; 3.  A(ccountability): You don’t back-channel and blame.  You hold people accountable in a straightforward way; 4.  V(ault): It is not only do you not talk out of school between us, don’t share things that are not yours to share; 5.  I(ntegrity): Choosing courage over comfort.  Practicing your values.  Choosing what’s right over what’s fun, fast and easy; 6.  N(onjudgment): You can ask for help without feeling judged and I can ask for help without judging myself; and 7.  G(enerosity): When something happens I assume positive intent;
10947.  There will be times when standing alone feels too hard, too scary and we’ll doubt our ability to make our way through the uncertainty.  Someone somewhere will say, “Don’t do it.  You don’t have what it takes to survive the wilderness.”  This is when you reach deep into your wild heart and remind yourself, “I am the wilderness;”
10948.  When you pay attention to what’s challenging, you become comfortable with the uncomfortable;
10949.  When you pay attention to what’s positive, you become more inclined towards it;
10950.  If you want to feel less stressed you need to stop managing your stress and start managing your stressors;