4-Minute Friday
April 10, 2026
Hello and welcome to 4-Minute Friday where I share, in four minutes or less, the latest things I’m doing to enhance my health, develop a better mindset, make day-to-day life easier, and other shenanigans.
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An Ode to Those Who Take Things Seriously:
Maybe it’s just me, but there’s something unpleasant about people who try something, don’t do as well as they’d hoped (i.e., fail), and then chalk it off to not trying.
It’s a normal protective response to have a reason for something not going well in your life. If you didn’t try, you give yourself a great out for why you weren’t successful.
But that’s no way to live.
It’s a shielding mechanism that gets you in trouble as you are unwilling to dive deep, accept failure, and then adjust and try again.
This goes for all things as “serious” as an occupation and as minor as a new hobby.
Someone close to me recently started the process of making sourdough.
And they spent hours researching the various methods, ins and outs of preparation, and testimonies from those with much more experience.
For me personally, this is satisfying.
It’s showing effort in doing something correctly.
Diving deep rather than just staying on the surface as an escape if things don’t go well.
This is a trivial example, but the major contributing factor people don’t lean into trying new things is that they are afraid of failure.
It’s uncomfortable to voluntarily be bad at something.
However, very few people who started something new were outstanding right away.
It could be investing yourself in a marathon plan.
Trying out new recipes and becoming a better cook.
Taking up needlepointing.
Whatever it is, opt to take it seriously.
Maybe it goes poorly, but at least you were in the arena.
And more importantly, it gives you more room for improvement if you’re willing to put your head down and keep going.
(Caveat: some hobbies are meant to be enjoyed for enjoyment’s sake and not for improvement at all, I attest to that!)
Reminder for Spring:
I think I’ve said it for the past six weeks, but spring has finally arrived.
Which means 50+ degree days, late sunsets, and hopefully a lighter work schedule to free up some time for other activities.
This timing fits perfectly with a short article I read this week.
There are endless predictive markers for how long someone will live.
Cholesterol levels. BMI. Blood pressure. Cognitive scores. Social connections.
But more than many of these, there was an interesting one that stood near the top of the list…
Walking pace.
At least according to the study cited, walking pace predicted premature death at a higher clip than most of the other traditional variables discussed.
In a similar study out of the United Kingdom, researchers even concluded that those who lived an unhealthy lifestyle but walked quickly lived longer on average than those who prioritized a healthy lifestyle and walked slowly.
Yes, this is just one piece of the puzzle.
But it gives you a good excuse to put a little spring in your heels as you get out for that morning and post-dinner walk.
Question We Should Ask Ourselves:
Are we looking at the donut or the hole?
I recently heard a statistic that if you make more than ~$40k per year, you’re in the top 2% of earners globally.
Of course, income is a small fraction of the picture, but we are often much more blessed than we realize as people living in a civilized country.
Yet, with comparison running rampant because of getting a sneak peek into the best versions of people’s lives with social media, we get stuck thinking we are behind.
Focusing on the holes in our lives rather than most of the surrounding area that many would sacrifice an arm and a leg to have.
Where you put your energy, your life goes.
It surrounds and envelops you, and you get to choose this direction.
Just an end of week reminder to take a minute to count your blessings!
(Caveat: this doesn’t mean donut holes aren’t a top-tier food.)
What else?
Reminder that if it matters, you’ll make time for it! Making time > trying to “find” the time. Applies to exercise, social activities, hobbies, etc.
At minimum, be willing to try.
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DISCLAIMER
This is NOT medical advice. Consult your medical professional before starting any supplement, diet regimen, or workout program.