We’d like to believe we can rationalize and justify every decision we make. When confronted, our first emotional response is defensive. We feel the need to defend ourselves to make ourselves feel better. That is emotional immaturity.

An emotionally mature person listens. 1. To who is speaking — do they have credibility, experience, etc. 2. They self-reflect, get honest with themselves, and own their part. 3. They take action. 4. They become completely honest in their intention

"If it is humanly possible, you can do it too." — Marcus Aurelius

This isn't just a quote from a Stoic philosopher. This is a belief. A mindset. The raw, unfiltered truth that separates the dreamers from the doers. I've lived it. I've seen it. I've studied it. And it never stops fascinating me — what each one of us is truly capable of when we finally decide to move.

You've seen the pictures and posts from Phoenix Raceway and the Daytona 500 with Michael Jordan, owner of 23XI Racing. You can Google Kurt's name and find what Wikipedia says.

You might wonder how someone like me ends up in his orbit. Maybe he uses me for courtside seats at Arizona basketball games or field passes to football. Maybe I use him for pit passes to the Daytona 500. There are plenty of people in this world who live by quid pro quo. This is not one of those situations.

I Can’t Fix You

There was a time I believed I had all the answers for your life. If you just listened to me, I could help you. I could get you sober. I could save you. I, I, I. I don’t remember the exact moment I let go of that belief, but I remember why.

This picture — a screenshot from a video of my son rolling down a hill — captures the innocent, simple joy of being a kid. A little grass and an incline is all it takes, which begs the question: who are the big parties, gifts, and elaborate trips really for?

Who are you without the title?

Without the jersey, the ring, the business card — or the substance that quietly became your anchor? These aren't just roles we play. For many of us, they are us. They shape how we move through the world, how we introduce ourselves at parties, and how we justify our worth on the days we feel we have none.

In a world where division seems increasingly prevalent, I want to address the one thing we all have in common: struggle, adversity, and hardship. Regardless of how much money someone has, what they were born with or without, the one truth I know is this — every single one of us has faced adversity. Chances are, you're going through something right now. I know I am.