[UP 032] - My favourite sentence of the year so far

Hello friend.

Hope life’s good.

We’re here again, edition #032 of UP.

This week, we're diving into the power of perspective, the science of metabolic health, and the art of gift-giving. Let's take a closer look:

⏳Second Chance Saloon: We'll explore a profound lesson from my reading this week about living as if for the second time and its broad application in our lives.

🍃Exhale Insight: We’ll discover a new innovation in the world of metabolic health monitoring through breath analysis, and how this could be a game-changer in our wellness journey. Or maybe not.

🎁 Gift-giving Redefined: We'll delve into the deeper impact of gift-giving, understanding how experiential gifts can strengthen relationships more than material ones.

You ready?

Second Chance Saloon

I’m trying to hit my goal but I may come up short.

I wanted to read (not listen to! An argument for another day) 52 books this year. But I’ve fallen behind.

Yet still with that very much Goggins’ sense of ‘What if I can pull this off?’, I’m swinging hard before the year is out.

I’m upping my reading time and strategically choosing shorter books to focus on.

With those conditions set, and trying to also read things that will actually expand me it was time this week to confront a book I’d been putting off for quite some time:

Viktor Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning."

I'm just a few hours on from turning the last page and well, yeah.. turns out this book isn't just a read; it's an experience.

It’s a journey through some of the most testing times a human can endure.

If you’ve read it, you’ll know this first hand.

If not, please don’t be like me and delay. Make the time to read this. This will enrich and expand your life that’s my promise.

The first part of the book takes you through Frankl's personal experiences in concentration camps.

It's a vivid, often shocking account that really opens your eyes to what people can go through but also what people can subject others to.

It's tough reading, but it's important.

It shows us the worst of what we can be, and that's something we all need to face.

Evil lurks among us today still as it did then, and will tomorrow. It’s not comfortable to acknowledge that but that’s reality. This book reminds us of that repeatedly.

Then, the book shifts gears.

We move into Frankl's thoughts on his psychotherapy practice, logotherapy and it’s here where this week’s insight I want to share lies.

Here, I found so many gems but the one that really hit home was this:

Again. Just for emphasis:

“Live as if you were living already for the second time”

It's a simple idea, but it's powerful.

Imagine if we could live with the knowledge of our mistakes already in mind, choosing differently, better this time around.

This got me thinking…

How often do we rush through life, making choices without really thinking them through?

Or worse not thinking or acting with full intention?

What if we paused, thought about our past actions, tried to seek the lessons, and moved forward with that wisdom in hand?

Or even if we forecasted.

Thinking ahead to the moment unfolding where we choose the easy, safe, comfortable, wasteful or half-hearted action?

How might our life unfold if we lived with this real sense of intention and urgency?

Sure it’s not easy to keep up all the time, granted, life is chaotic we can all agree.

But man imagine a life where for the most of it, we’re living with that sense of ‘carpe punctum’, seizing the moment.

I suggest that’s how we ought to operate.

That’s where we want to be as much of the day as possible.

Frankl's story and his teachings are a reminder of the human capacity to endure, to our ability to find meaning in our struggles and in our ability to create a future worth striving for.

It's a powerful message for all of us, no matter where we are in life.

Now onto something that comes as close to a silver bullet for your health as I’ve found.

Exhale Insight

This week, I stumbled upon something that feels like it's straight out of a 90s Arnold sci-fi movie: devices that manage your metabolic health just by analyzing your breath.

Yes, really. We’re here.

So what is this device?

Meet Lumen.

It's a sleek, handheld gadget that measures the CO2 levels in your breath.

(Kinda looks almost like a vape, but does pretty much the exact opposite ha!)

This CO2 measurement tells you whether your body is burning fats or carbs for energy.

Why’s this important?

Unlocking Metabolic Secrets: Determines your body's current energy source, providing key insights into your metabolic state.

Personalized Health Approach: Guides you in optimizing your diet for either fat or carb burning, crucial for balanced nutrition and energy management.

But after the reading it goes on.

Based on your score (higher fat burning or carb burning), it suggests what to eat that day to reach your ideal metabolic flexibility – that sweet spot where your body seamlessly switches between burning fat and carbs based on their availability.

And yes, this is grounded in science too.

Metabolic health monitoring is a rapidly growing field, and this breath-based method is probably the least invasive I've seen.

No finger pricks or patches required like the rest of the market (though arguably they’re more accurate).

Just a simple breath into a device. Talk about a silver bullet!

Buttttt is it essential?

I watched a YouTube review (always the source of truth right(?)) where the user noticed that actually just regular fasting naturally increased his goal of moving into fat burning.

This then makes you wonder if we really need high-tech gadgets to tell us what traditional methods like fasting have been showing us all along.

It's an exciting development, sure. But it also raises questions about the balance between technology and simple, time-tested health practices.

Perhaps sometimes the best solution is the simplest one.

As more of these health-tech innovations come on the scene (and I excitedly geek out on them), it's worth us considering what the high-tech path is actually showing us vs what we know the low-tech path does if we put in the effort.

Sure these tracking tools can be useful to provide some initial insight into our current lifestyle’s lag measures e.g. Not moving enough, sleeping too little, high stress during work etc.

This data is great and helps us see where we can improve.

But when it comes to actually improving these lead measures?

Sometimes, the answer might just be in facing up to the basics and doing the work.

Let’s round off with some creative ways to strengthen your relationships these next few weeks.

Gift-giving Redefined

With Black Friday upon us and the gift-buying season in full swing, it’s that time of year we start going a little crazy loosening the purse strings on ourselves, and why not damn it!

But it’s also the perfect time to think about meaningful presents for our loved ones.

In fact I even came across an article not long ago that suggests experiential gifts, like a concert ticket or a cooking class, often strengthen relationships more than material items.

Makes sense if you think about it.

So with that said, this Black Friday, I say, let’s choose experiences over things.

Memories over materials!

And to help you do just that, I got the perfect little list for you.

Here are some experiential gift ideas for those special people in your life, no matter where you’re reading this from. Let’s have a look:

For the Adventure Seeker: Book an outdoor experience at GetYourGuide.com. From rock climbing adventures to guided hiking tours, it’s perfect for those who love a rush of adrenaline.

For the Art Lover: Find unique art experiences, like special exhibit tickets or pottery classes, at ClassBento.com. It’s a great way to immerse in creativity together.

For the Food Enthusiast: Try a cooking class or gourmet food tour through Viator.com. Also GetYourGuide.com too. Exploring new dishes hands-on can be a great experience.

For the Music Buff: Secure concert tickets to see their favorite artist on SongKick.com. Live music shared can create unforgettable moments for young and old.

For the Wellness Guru: A yoga retreat or meditation workshop from BookYogaRetreats.com offers a serene and mindful gift option. Don’t knock it before you try it.

For the Curious Learner: Discover lectures and workshops on various topics at Eventbrite.com. It’s a gift of knowledge and shared learning. I’d love this.

This holiday season, let’s make our gifts more about experiences that bring us closer, creating memories that last far beyond any material item.

Needing more socks is one thing but receiving them is another. Don’t be a sock giver!

Happy memory-making.

***

That’s your lot for this week.

You know the drill. You keep opening, reading and clicking and I’ll keep click-clacking and sending.

Thank you for keeping your end of the bargain.

If this was forwarded to you, you can subscribe here.

I’m gonna go and reassess if my gift-giving is really reflective of me, if it were the last gifts I ever bought someone.

See you next week.

Always Forward,
Utkarsh