How To Get Clarity in Life, The Grocery Store Paradox, & More
Thursday Three: Episode 19
read time 3 minutes
Here are three interesting ideas you won’t find doom scrolling.
TL;DR
Tool: How To Get Clarity in Life
Paradox: The Grocery Store Paradox
Tip: Why You Get Cavities Even When You Don’t Eat Sugar (And How To Prevent Them)
How To Get Clarity in Life
The other day I was on Twitter and stumbled on this post from my friend Matt.
It made me stop and think, "What will my signs be when I 'make it'?"
So I sat down for an hour yesterday, looking at a bucket list of experiences and stuff I want in life, finding photos that capture those things, and pasting those photos into a Google Slide.
Here's what I landed on.
It doesn't capture everything, but it at least gives me some clarity on what I want in life. Life is obviously more than just stuff — nice house, car, garden, and a sick home gym — but this little exercise gave me peace in some weird sort of way.
Let me explain...
The photo of the kitchen makes me think about cooking meals with Rachael and hosting holidays and dinner parties with family and friends.
The photo of the garden makes me think about learning how to grow plants and vegetables, and sharing those foods with friends and family I love.
The garage gym, sauna, cold plunge, and volleyball photos make me think about spending time with family and friends and living long healthy lives together.
The photo of the home office makes me think about where I'll do my work and writing.
And the photo of the Tacoma? Well that's just a sick truck. But for real, I can also envision Rach and I driving around to farmers markets and exploring new places in that thing. And then driving our future kids around to sports games and what not. Just good vibes.
I always thought vision boards were kind of dumb, but I was wrong. It gives you clarity into what you want. Like, “This is what you are working towards. And here is what it looks like.”
Shoot me your vision board if you end up making one.
The Grocery Store Paradox
I was scrolling through Instagram yesterday and between two hilarious Reels, I stumbled on one that put my mindless scrolling to a halt.
Listen, I’m not aware of the specific foods that have been proven to cause cancer. I’m not in the weeds like that. But it’s the story and the systems at play here that we have to pay attention to.
90% of food sold in grocery stores is processed garbage, then they ask for a donation to the American Heart Association at checkout. That way, you’re taken care of once you’re diagnosed with heart disease after eating a bunch of shit your whole life!
You want to lose some weight, so your doctor prescribes you Ozempic. You might shed some pounds, but now you’re dependent on this drug for the rest of your life. More money in Big Pharma’s pockets!
You’re emitted to the hospital because you are sick, then they feed you a bunch of highly processed foods to keep you around a little longer. ;)
Big Food feeds people garbage that gets them sick. Then Big Pharma swoops in to save the day.
Corporations get richer. People get sicker.
This is the world we live in.
Why You Get Cavities Even When You Don’t Eat Sugar (And How To Prevent Them)
A couple months ago, I had to get not one but TWO cavities filled. I rarely eat sugar, brush my teeth twice a day, and floss daily. How in the world did I get two cavities? I had to find out.
So I watched a two hour Huberman video on mouth health and learned how it was possible. Contrary to popular belief, sugar isn't the only cause of cavities. PH levels in your mouth give you cavities. When your mouth is more acidic — which happens when you drink a lot of coffee (BINGO) — you have a greater likelihood of getting cavities.
I drink a lot of coffee. Therefore, my mouth runs a bit acidic. Which therefore increases my likelihood of getting cavities.
So, how am I decreasing the likelihood of future cavities?
Two recommendations from my dentist and Huberman:
Drink less coffee
Chew gum after meals — and drinking coffee