🌐 Justin's Blog

A new addition to the family is almost here.

Lorena and I just visited Connecticut, this time the trip was for her older sister's baby shower. Our visit was short, a little less than a week.

It was great to see everyone, including her cousin and her family, who came from Chicago. What's wild is that I realized this is the first baby shower I have ever been to (it only took me 40 years).

I have this weird way of noticing “ends” and “beginnings” in life. Once the baby is here, it marks the end of an era in a way, and the beginning of a newer, bigger family. Our nephew is happy too for the changed because it means that he finally gets that younger brother that he has wanted.

We are now getting ready for our trip to Sedona, Arizona. It's the first trip of the year, and first one in a long time, that is just for us.

#personal

I need a break from the everyday insanity.

I need a break from all things politics. 😵‍💫

I don't know about you, but I find it incredibly exhausting seeing the headlines and outrage every day. I've been keeping tabs on all the executive actions, congress inaction, court cases and more. Lorena and I have donated to organizations that litigate against the current administration's nonconstitutional edicts, and we support independent liberal content creators.

But day after day watching our democracy getting ripped apart, and it's starting to impact my mental health. So, before it gets any worse, I'm taking a step back to catch my breath.

For starters, I am:

1. Turning off my Bluesky's “Trending” feature
2. Staying off of my Mastodon account
3. Using my other YoutTube account
4. Muting political words/topics on Bluesky

Someone on Bluesky recommended that I also check out the Freedom App, which helps you to limit time on certain apps (such as social media). I'll look into this during my current break as well.

The plan is to go a week without getting caught up in the day-to-day of the political shit show that we have in this country. I'll be back with more energy and a clearer mind. At whic point, I'll keep donating, and I'll keep speaking up. Fascism simply cannot win.

#politics

I made it.

I considered not even writing anything today, I think in part because I wish to just treat today like any other day. I feel old, not in spirit, but in the eyes of my younger self.

I remember quite vividly being 22 years old and meeting someone who was 30 when working an internship in college. They seemed so old to me. Like, they were married and well into their career... and they were only 30!

Never did I think I'd make it to this point. It was always a “grown up” number. The “you're officially old” age. Yet, here I am, and If I'm honest, it freaks me out that there is now a “4” in front of my age now, because I don't feel old.

I am Grateful

One of my favorite quotes is by Mark Twain:

“Do not regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many.”

I see just how much weight these words carry now, especially as I think about the people in my life that are no longer around, but should be.

I am so incredibly grateful to be alive. I am grateful for the life that I lived in my 20s, because by the time I reached my 30s, I felt like I was ready to enter into adulthood. My 30s had both the absolute worst days and best days of my life. I am grateful for both, because they have given me the growth and perspective that only come with age.

The Future

I don't know what the future holds for me, but that's nothing new. In fact, that's one of the lessons I've learned: stop planning life because ultimately we control nothing. My life to this point has gone a path that I would have never predicted.

What I do know is that I will continue to grow and learn. I'll live with an open heart, compassion & empathy, and love – for both myself and those around me. Every day is a reminder of just how lucky I am.

So here's to another decade. I hope that I'm lucky enough to reach 50.

#personal

He's really messing it up, and none of us are surprised.

Real talk: it has been a pretty shitty start to Trump's term. We are seeing increased inflation, rising prices of goods, deteriorating international relations, human rights violations, Nazis in key positions, and well, him just being a flat-out liar.

At this point, whatever Trump says, just assume the exact opposite will happen. It's no wonder he has abysmal approval ratings as of this post's date.

But Let's Not Forget...

• Escalation of Trade Wars: The imposition of tariffs on imports from countries such as Canada, Mexico, and China has led to retaliatory measures, disrupting global supply chains and increasing costs for American consumers and businesses.

• Rising Federal Deficit and National Debt: Significant tax cuts, particularly benefiting corporations and high-income individuals, coupled with increased government spending, will substantially expand the federal deficit and national debt.

• Deregulation Impacting Environmental Protections: The rollback of numerous environmental regulations has raised concerns about increased pollution and long-term environmental degradation.

• Undermining of Democratic Institutions: The dismissal of federal inspectors general and attempts to expand executive power, mass layoffs, and firings are breaking the foundation of our country (and hurting the people who rely on them).

• Increased Income Inequality: Economic policies are poised to disproportionately benefit the wealthy, exacerbating income and wealth disparities.

• Negative Impact on International Relations: Unilateral decisions, such as imposing tariffs and withdrawing from international agreements, have strained relationships with traditional allies and trading partners.

• Erosion of Worker Protections: Some of Trump's executive actions have been viewed as undermining pay growth and eroding working conditions for workers.

Fighting Back

Trump's cognitive decline is only going to accelerate, which means he could actually become more dangerous as he becomes further disconnected from reality.

I've been reflecting on what we can do, personally, to help counter this administration's horrific policies. It can feel a bit hopeless at times.

However, there are organizations out there that regularly take on these atrocities in court. Lorena and I have been donating to these causes and plan to continue doing so, so that the legal teams can keep doing what they do: slow down, and in some cases, eliminate the policies altogether.

The goal now is to get to the midterms and win back some seats in Congress. The Democrats have some work to do if that is going to happen, but if it does, then we can begin to put more effective floodgates on the constant stream of chaos we've seen coming out of the White House.

#politics

You probably don't need to take that pill. Just dial-in your nutrition.

I've never been one to think much about what I ate, except for perhaps the number of calories. You know, the easy stuff like eating pizza every night is bad, while eating chicken and broccoli is healthy. From what I can tell, this is how the majority of people think about food.

In 2023, that all changed.

In late Spring of that year, Lorena was diagnosed with Graves' Disease. It's a form of hyperthyroidism with some pretty shitty side effects. It's incredibly disruptive. The struggle was real. Adjusting to the reality, trying to find answers, and working on getting better.

This is Lorena's story — the ups and downs, and hurdles along the way. But don't worry, it has a happy ending.

Can Graves' Disease be Cured?

According to the medical industry, no, it cannot. The remedies have remained largely unchanged regarding their approach. The options are:

• Destroy the thyroid with radioactive iodine, then take a synthetic hormone for the rest of your life.
• Remove all (or part) of the thyroid, and then take a synthetic hormone for the rest of your life.
• Leave the thyroid and take a drug (methimazole) for the rest of your life.

These are the only medical options that they give people.

I should note that while it's true it can never be cured completely, it is possible for Graves' to go into remission. This can happen for some people after using medication to get the thyroid back into normal range, but recurrence does occur, and doctors don't know what causes remission and recurrence in the first place.

Unfortunately, it's also not known why some people are able to achieve remission while others are not as lucky.

Graves' Disease Diet?

Lorena refused to believe that this was all that she had available, so she started doing her research. Western medicine is great, but it is one-dimensional. It's an industry built around medicines, prescriptions, and treating symptoms instead of the root cause.

She's always been an advocate for alternative health options in conjunction with Western medicine, especially as it relates to the food we put into our bodies. Yet, every single endocrinologist we went to (and we went to several) brushed aside the notion that her nutrition could change any of her outcomes.

Lorena didn't let that deter her. As she continued to take the medication to get her thyroid levels into acceptable levels, she read everything she could find about nutrition and diets that support the body in healing from Graves', which involved cutting out certain foods and incorporating others.

Testing the Theory

In December 2023, Lorena took herself off the medication that keeps the thyroid levels within range. We were hopeful as she was being pretty diligent with her diet.

Unfortunately, within two weeks, her symptoms came roaring back, and she had to start taking the medication again.

Most people would have given up, including myself. But she didn't. Honestly, her determination to find a path forward that didn't involve surgery and meds for the rest of her life was something I've never witnessed.

Finding The Answer

Lorena took a break in the beginning of 2024 from trying to find a solution. She had to let the medication get everything back into range, and we were busy with a wedding in January and another in February.

But come the Spring, about a year after her initial diagnosis, she came across the book Thyroid Healing. Without getting into all the details, it promotes eating certain foods and avoiding others. There is a heavy emphasis on juices as well, especially drinking celery juice every day.

In July, Lorena took herself off of the medication. I'll admit, I was a bit nervous. I hated seeing her suffering from the symptoms, but she had a quiet confidence that everything would be okay.

Two weeks went by, and still no major symptom changes.

Then four weeks.

And then two months.

In late September, she got a blood panel done prior to her next doctor's appointment, and the results that came back were astonishing: everything was within normal range! Like... everything!

The only thing she changed was her diet. She was off medicine, and her thyroid was seemingly working just fine. We went to her endocrinologist, who officially confirmed that she had achieved medical remission of her Graves' Disease.

To make sure it wasn't a fluke, she had blood tests again in January of this year, about four months after the previous one. And once again, everything came back in the normal range.

Nutrition is Everything

I've seen how hard Lorena has fought. We had our moments of joy, and some really defeating moments as well. We grew closer as a couple through the hardship, while at the same time, I feel like I was taught a very valuable lesson: medicine is as much an art as it is a science. We don't have the answers to everything, despite doctors believing they do. And look, I love myself a confident doctor.

Western medicine is not the be-all, end-all. We are experiencing more disease today than ever before, and a large part of the reason is due to the food we put into our bodies. I'm not just talking eating organic, either (thought obviously important). It means knowing on a deeper level how foods impact your body and ability to resist illness. Just by way of example, maybe certain foods cause more inflammation in you than others. Those should be avoided. Not sometimes. Always.

This post is a bit lengthy now, but I wanted to share Lorena's journey, and what we had learned over that time. No matter what you're battling, give your body a fighting chance. You always have supplemental approaches to health to complement Western medicine.

#health

It was a long journey, but I finally hit my first milestone.

In April 2023, I enrolled in a Gracie Jiu-jitsu gym. Now, after almost two years, I finally took the test and passed their Gracie Combatives program! This means I'm eligible for the Master Cycle which includes a lot more rolling (sparring), and an infinite number of new techniques.

The journey to this point has been a long one, and it was my own fault. I got bored with the program after about six months or so, and I was still a long way off from being permitted to take the test (I needed four stripes, and at that point I only had two). So, I left the gym to try some others.

I liked the other gyms, but the first one was way too intense. So, I decided to switch to a Gracie Barra location and I really liked it. However, I injured my bicep tendon again and after two classes, I had to stop all training, of any kind.

Returning to GJJ

While I was injured, I exchanged emails with my instructor who was super cool in answering my questions and addressing my concern. The injury ended up bringing me back to GJJ as it was a place that I would experience the least number of injuries. This is especially important as I get older yet plan to continue doing this activity for years to come.

The way GJJ is structured meant I could continue to learn, even with my injury. I began to participate as some of the pain subsided, and then I slowly incorporate private training sessions with the instructor around the July or August timeframe. I was about to take my test, but we ended up moving.

Once I got settled in the new place, I found another GJJ gym, and jumped right into the classes. I was ready. I took two private sessions to sharpen up some areas, and then I scheduled my test, which I took last night.

The test is broken up into five sections (guard, mount, side mount, standing, and light sparring). The point is to demonstrate all the techniques as they are called out on a passive opponent, and it all has to be done within a 25min time period. I ended up getting a 94 out of 100 (you need to get a 90 to pass). I was hoping to do better, but I made some silly mistakes. I still have some things to clean up. Nonetheless, I still passed, and I move on!

Moving to Master Cycle

Now that I have passed, I no longer have to take the slow-moving technique classes. I probably will still take them from time to time, and if I ever have a flare-up of my injury, then they are always an option.

Now I move onto Master Cycle. This class is about 30 minutes of instruction and drills, then 30 minutes of live sparring. More pressure testing, and a lot more tapping out.

I'm excited for this next stage as I continue my march towards achieving my blue belt.

#personal

We do it every day. It's the slow, steady, reliable rhythm of our lives.

We do it all the time without thinking, but when our breathing is off, like when fighting a cold, we notice it. We try everything to get it back to normal. Back to the point where we don't notice it again.

Have you taken time recently to notice your breath? I mean, really notice it? The way your chest rises, or stomach fills up and the slow and steady exhale. The air, is it warm? Or is it cool? Do you fill up your entire lungs, or is your breathing shallow?

Your breath says a lot about you. It can also be used to ease your mind.

Use Breathing to Quiet Your Mind

Our days are full of events, reactions, thoughts, and feelings. These swirl in our heads every second of every minute. From the moment we wake up, to the moment we close our eyes to sleep, our minds never stop. Depending on the thoughts we have, this can become tiring. We get worn out.

Focusing on your breath can quiet your mind, and help to alleviate your stress. I promise you, after just 10 quiet minutes where you focus on your breathing, you'll feel a new sense of calm.

How To Do It

1. Find a quiet space.
2. Close your eyes, and take a deep breath through your nose.
3. Let it out through your mouth, slowly.
4. Repeat this process three or four times.
5. Return to normal breathing.

Don't try to change your breathing at this point. Just keep it steady, simple, and normal paced.

Stay Focused on Your Breath

Now, as you breathe normally, think about how the air fills your lungs. Take note of where you feel it in your body. Is it your chest rising? Or, do you feel it in the stomach? What is the temperature of the air on the way in, versus on the way out?

Just notice these things. Don't think about them, simply observe.

If you find that your mind is starting to wander, don't get upset. It happens to everyone. Just gently bring your attention back to your breathing.

You can also count the breaths. The inhale is one, then the exhale is two. Inhale again is three, then the exhale is four. Count to 10, and start again at one. This helps you to keep your focus on breathing.

Commit Daily

Just like you make a point to work out, set aside some time for your mental health each day.

I've been getting a lot of benefit doing this every day, for 10-15 minutes at a time. Every time I think it won't change much, but when I'm done, I feel more at ease.

#mindfulness

I had no choice.

During the post-inauguration rally for his boy toy Trump, Elon Musk threw up not one, but TWO, Nazi salutes. On MLK Jr. Day, no less.

That marked the end of Twitter in my life. I simply can't continue to use the platform in good conscience.

Going forward, you can find me on Bluesky and Mastodon.

#personal

Everything we know about time to be real... isn't.

I've been tripping a little bit lately thinking about the fourth dimension of time. I suspect it's because I'm quickly approaching my 40th birthday, and that in itself is messing with my head!

Time, as we know it, is a construct that we've created based on two primary factors: the earth's rotation on its axis, and its rotation around the sun.

The daily tracking of time makes sense to me, and has probably always existed to some extent in the evolution of humanity. But when I start to think deeper on the topic, I start to recognize the fabricated nature of time, and its relativity.

Our Perception of Time is Fake

The Gregorian seven-day week is an example of a construct that we've created at a certain point in time, and have just stuck with because... well, because we became used to it.

Over the course of our history, there have been several calendars with a different system for tracking our journey around the sun.

1. French Revolutionary Calendar: Divided the year into 10-day weeks (décades), with Décadi as a rest day.

2. Ancient Egyptian Calendar: Used 10-day weeks (decans), aligning with star phases and the Nile’s cycles.

3. Balinese Pawukon Calendar: A 210-day calendar with overlapping cycles of different week lengths (1 to 10 days).

What if one of these became more popular than the Gregorian calendar?

First, we'd all perceive time a little differently.

And, we'd all be different ages.

Think about that for a moment. Everything we know about time, human history, events that took place, and our own personal ages would be different from how we understand it now.

Space Time is Mind-Bending

If we had the ability to go into a spaceship and travel the speed of light, then the concept of time really starts to bend the mind.

We experience linear time based on our experience here on earth. One full rotation around the sun is “one year”, as we call it. If you got into a spaceship and traveled the speed of light, then returned after 10 earth years, then you wouldn't have aged, but all of us still on earth would look 10 years older.

Yeah. What?

I learned this years ago as a child, but it just didn't land. Being more aware of my time now (and how finite it is), has made me reflect on this fact differently.

“Fake” Time Matters

Look, time is important. It's valuable, and how we universally measure it matters, too. It may be “fake” in nature, but it's real to us and our social constructs. That is what makes (and keeps) it real for us.

Everyone should value their time more than anything else in this world. It helps you appreciate those in your life, and the experiences you live.

Live with intention, and appreciate your time. None of us know how much we have left.

#mindfulness

The new year is about setting daily intentions.

I regret to say that over the course of my life, I've lived many years without intention. I think this is to be expected in youth, and I'm not hard on myself for that time. But in my adult life, I've coasted at times, getting wrapped up in the day-to-day without a clear understanding of my bigger picture.

There isn't anything wrong with living in the present moment for a day. In fact, there is beauty in that. I am, however, becoming keenly aware that my future days aren't promised. Each day that I get to live is a gift that, quite frankly, I don't deserve.

This year, I'm not making New Year's resolutions, in the traditional sense. I'm setting intentions:

• Set a daily intention
• Make someone happy
• Assume the best
• Choose patience
• Laugh daily
• Give more, take less
• Let go of the uncontrollables
• Be mindful

I've been trying to do these things more for the last quarter of 2024. I've gained a little practice, and I'm ready to go into 2025 with these driving my daily actions.

#mindfulness