There's nowhere else in the world like it.

After eleven action-packed days in Hawaii, Lorena and I have returned to California. This also marks a temporary break in our travel for a few months, after a whirlwind of activity since February.

The trip was my idea. In January, Lorena asked me what I wanted to do for my 40th birthday. At first, I said “nothing.” But the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to do something special for reaching 40 years of life. I love the ocean, and I love the beach. I began to think about where I would want to go to celebrate with Lorena, and Hawaii came to mind.

An Activity Every Day

Something I enjoyed about our recent trip to Sedona was that we had a planned activity every day. Some days it was one thing, and other times it was two, but the nice thing was that we didn't have to figure out what to do when we were there.

So, I did the same thing for Hawaii. Each day I had an activity planned. I bought tickets in advance for the things that required tickets, so all we had to do was just show up. We did make one or two modifications to the agenda based on how we were feeling and the weather, but overall we stuck to it.

Some of the things we did:

• Pillbox Hike
• Koko Crater Stair Hike
• Snorkeling at Shark's Cove
• Waimea Valley Falls
• Spiritual guide session
• Kailua Farmer's Market
• Massages
• Lanikai Beach
• Iolani Palace
• Byodo-In Temple
• Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden
• Kualoa Ranch
• Swam with dolphins in the open ocean
• Waimea Bay Beach

And obviously, we took time to explore between the events that we had planned.

But we didn't love everything.

Overall, we enjoyed most things about Oahu, but there were a few things that started to become challenging.

First, we eat primarily vegan (except for fish now and again, which we enjoyed on this trip). Hawaii does not have a ton of vegan-only restaurants. In fact, they really only had one. We did find vegan meal options at the restaurants that we chose, but none of them were that great. Overall, we rated our food experience a 6 out of 10 for the trip.

Next, parking. My goodness, I've never seen a city that has been so poorly set up for parking. Living in the LA area, I'm used to hunting for parking. Honolulu is next level difficult. There is very little street parking, and also not many parking structures. We often needed to park several blocks away from where we were trying to go.

Finally, because the buildings on the island are a bit older, over half of the restaurants we visited didn't have bathrooms. This was annoying after some time. You usually had to walk around to find a public bathroom. Many of the restaurants did have one bathroom, but they were almost always “employees only.”

A Special Place

There is just something magical about Hawaii for me. I think it's because it's so isolated from the rest of the world, there's a sense of community and responsibility for nature. There is no arguing over climate change, what constitutes littering, pollution, and the like. Everyone just “gets it”. You just don't see this in many places.

Our trip was eye-opening on many levels. We have even started to talk about the possibility of living in Hawaii. Not anytime soon (we just moved), but we may take more trips to the islands to see if that's a feeling that grows. If that is indeed in our future one day, then it would certainly be the island of Oahu where there is access to Honolulu, the largest city. Oahu has about one million people on it, easily the most populated. Because of this, it has access to most of today's modern conveniences.

But for now, we are back in Culver City. I must admit, it feels great to be home. No trips are planned at the moment, but we have a few ideas – including a return to Hawaii.

#personal

Doing what must be done.

In April 2023, I signed up for Gracie Jiu-jitsu. I was nervous, but excited, to learn an art that so many people rave about. The Gracie approach, I learned, was a great introduction into the sport. Slow and methodical, without any hard rolling (sparring) until a little later.

The problem is, I never fully reached that “later” phase. And when I did, I had yet another injury setback.

The whole reason that I started BJJ in the first place was because of a bicep tendon issue I sustained from heavy lifting and Muay Thai (heavy bag work). I couldn't punch anymore, at least not regularly. So, I turned to BJJ. It was the perfect answer to my desire for learning martial arts. Or, so I thought.

BJJ Aggravated The Issue

While the slow pace of Gracie Jiu-jitsu allowed me to participate and learn, I was itching to do the fun stuff. The rolling. After 10 months, I actually left Gracie Jiu-jitsu to try other gyms where I could spar right away. I ended up really hurting my bicep tendon again, which sidelined me for five months or so.

I didn't want to give up, though. I slowly worked my way back through Gracie Jiu-jitsu. I came back and earned my third stripe and fourth stripe. When we moved, I joined a Gracie Jiu-jitsu affiliate in the area where I finally, after nearly two years, earned my Combatives belt.

But during my belt test, I hurt my bicep tendon yet again. I couldn't even do the easier classes without it flaring up, so I started rehab (again) with the goal of getting back as quick as possible.

Then things got worse...

As I was rehabbing my shoulder, an old soccer injury flared up: nerve damage from a herniated disc in my neck. Ever since 2013, I haven't had full feeling in my left index finger. I noticed that I was additional sensory loss in my thumb on the same side, and “zapping” pain when I would stretch my arm out too far.

So, off to the neurologist, who confirmed that my C6 vertebrae is impinging the nerve. The nerve is swollen due to some Lagree Method classes that I've been taking since January (and often what I chose to do while rehabbing from BJJ).

Deciding To Move On

I'm 40 now. And while not old, I'm not young, and part of being at this stage of life is knowing your body's limits. My spirit wants to do BJJ, but it's not a good choice for my long-term health.

I'll admit, it hurts. I am not just giving up learning a new, useful skill, but also giving up on an entire community that I enjoyed. That part sucks, and now I'm left feeling a little misplaced. I grew up with team sports and community around athletics. I wanted it so bad with BJJ, but I never could gain any real momentum. I'll miss the gym culture and the anticipation of learning something new.

For now, I rest and heal up as I search for something more sustainable for my body.

#personal

We made it back to Mexico City for a visit, possibly the only one this year.

Typically, by this point in the year, Lorena and I have already traveled to Mexico City to visit her family. However, with the move, selling our previous home, and going to Connecticut and Sedona, we just haven't had the time.

Until now!

We recently returned from a week visit in Mexico City to see Lorena's parents. We actually saw them a couple of weeks prior to the trip as they came to visit us in Culver City for four days. It was nice to see them in the heart of Mexico, a place that I've really fallen in love with over the years.

No Plans are the Best Plans

We didn't have any major plans for this trip. I went to Las Luchas (Mexican wrestling) with my father-in-law on one of the days as a delayed birthday present. It was unlike anything I've ever seen. These guys are true athletes. More akin to gymnasts than the stereotypical wrestler.

Aside from that, we went for walks in the forest (yes, there is a huge forest in Mexico City), at some good vegan food at a restaurant that we like, and just pretty much relaxed.

Hasta Luego

These trips to Mexico City always hold a special place in my heart. Even though I've been going for years now, they always remind me of some of my first visits. I remember how special it felt being there. I loved seeing where Lorena grew up, and discovering the depths of the culture. Now that I'm fluent in Spanish, it's even more enjoyable.

The downside to the trip was that on the second to last day, Lorena came down with something. She was achy and had a fever. That put a little damper on the trip as she tried to recover before the big travel day. Then, on the travel day, I came down with something similar... except I was puking on the plane. Yeah... that wasn't fun. Turns out, we had COVID. Our first time.

At this point, we don't know when we'll be back. I'd venture to guess it'll be sometime in 2026.

#personal

A soul's journey in the desert.

Lorena and I just got back from a five-day trip to Sedona, Arizona. It was our first time visiting, and I have to say, it was really nice!

The last time we were in a similar landscape was when we went to a wedding in San Carlos, but this was also right next to the Sea of Cortes. Admittedly, I didn't take the time to really appreciate the surroundings as we were rushing around a bit and the trip was only for a few days.

I'm typically not one for desert landscapes as my preference leans towards beaches, while Lorena likes the mountains. Our trips up to this point have incorporated one or the other. After this trip, that remains the same, but I think it's safe to say that we both have an appreciation for the beauty of the desert!

Working on our Higher Selves

While we took time for some small hikes, the major reason for this trip was for us to participate in a handful of self-discovery activities. Each day we had something scheduled.

We had some sessions together and individual ones revolving around meditation, mindfulness, inner-healing, and spiritual guidance. It was a unique and new experience for me – I really enjoyed it and would definitely do it again! For example, we did some “life purpose” sessions, massages, mini-hikes to see places of spiritual significance (called, “vortexes”).

I'm realizing at this point of my life that doing self-work should always be a priority, and it never ends. We are constantly learning and evolving over time who we are, and taking moments to set aside the noise of life to focus on yourself is always worth it.

I can't say if we'll be back. Not because we didn't like it, but we'll likely choose other places to visit for a new experience. If you haven't been to Sedona, then I highly recommend it, especially if you're into hiking and nature.

#personal

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 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

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

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

Another year in the books, marking the end of a long, long chapter.

It's the end of yet another year. Something I've started to become more grateful for is just the very gift of life. I was fortunate to live another year, and it was the most healthy during that time (barring a cold or two). For this, I feel very fortunate.

As I did in my recap post last year, I have categorized my recap from a professional and personal life...

Professional Life was Slow... for Once

I'll get to the reasons why in my personal life update, but I'll just say that for the first time in my entrepreneurial life, things were slow in 2024.

At times this was difficult for me, but there were more moments where I was grateful that I didn't have as much going on. This afforded me the mental space to disconnect and not worry about constantly trying to make a project or vision a reality. It also meant that when I was working with clients, I was more focused on helping them with their situations (and they benefited).

Very Little Outbound Sales

At the end of 2023, I was having free consultation calls with a lot of people for my coaching and mastermind group. This involved a lot of cold outreach on my part, which was fine, but time-consuming and not all the free calls turned into paying clients.

This year, I think I had maybe two free calls in the January timeframe, one in the summer, and that's it.

As you would expect, my pipeline began to dry up, and there was a moment where my mastermind group became lean and mean.

But you know what? I liked it.

First, these folks were the most committed entrepreneurs. It comes as no surprise that they were all seeing success and making more money.

But second, it freed up my personal schedule quite a bit. This was something I needed because of the life events I had going on. Truth be told, I had zero motivation to try to get more clients this year.

Still Landed More Clients

Despite the lack of outreach on my part, I was still able to get some more clients. Sure, the pipeline was dry for long periods of time, but occasionally someone would reach out to me unsolicited, and after a little back-and-forth via email, we'd end up working together.

Overall, I'd say that I have a core group of clients who really get a lot out of my coaching because they listen, brainstorm, and implement the ideas that we discuss. There are others who are less active, but still appreciate the perspective that I can offer regarding their situations.

Finished the BrightGrowth Playbook

It took me way longer than I anticipated, but I finally finished writing the BrightGrowth Playbook. I've given access to everyone that I am currently coaching, and I continue to add content to it as I remember strategies and tactics I've used over the years. I also add insights that I gain from my coaching calls.

I think that next year I'll try selling access, but I'm in no rush to figure that out right now. The content is great, but I find that coupling it with coaching is what really enhances its applicability. In any event, it's a nice mini-project for next year, should I indeed decide to sell it.

Product Only Clients in 2025

I've had the opportunity to coach people across a variety of industries, both in and out of WordPress. Something I learned this year: while I enjoy coaching anyone in the WordPress space, I much prefer coaching product-based companies.

That's not to say I won't coach individuals with service-based offerings, but I will be focusing my outreach next year on founders of WordPress products. It's more fun for me, and seeing as I do coaching for fun, that's of critical importance.

Higher Education

I really enjoy coaching, and I'll continue to do it as long as that is the case. I am, however, becoming curious about other ways to spend my time professionally.

I've always had an interest in academia, so I recently reached out to my undergraduate and graduate school to share my story and desire to be a guest lecturer. Both replied with interest, so I'll be having some conversations as to how that could look in the new year.

I hope something works out. It could be a good way to “dip my toe” into the industry. If I like it, then I may pursue it more formally.

An Eventful Personal Life

From a personal standpoint, this year was good, but wow, it has been a bit of a rollercoaster of expectations.

Before getting into all of it, I'll start off by saying that I feel incredibly fortunate to live the life that we do. Despite the challenges we've faced, Lorena and I are both healthy. That in itself is arguably the most important thing, and it can't be overstated.

Which is actually a good introduction to the first, and most important, win of this year from a personal standpoint...

Lorena's Graves' Disease is in Remission

This was the biggest win of 2024.

Lorena was diagnosed with Graves' disease in May 2023, and it was quite the mental and physical battle for her. One thing that she did not want to do was take medicine for the rest of her life, but this was what every single doctor told us was necessary.

To her credit, Lorena refused to accept this. She started researching more about how the food we eat can have a profound impact on our health. She talked to nutritionists, dieticians, homeopathic doctors, and more. She tried some things, and when they didn't work out, she kept searching.

I'll write about it in more detail in the new year, but she finally landed on a whole food protocol designed specifically for people with thyroid issues. Well, it worked! She's in remission, and taking zero medicine for it!

Lorena Now a U.S. Citizen

Lorena has held a U.S. Green Card since she was a child. When we got married, we talked about the possibility of her becoming a U.S. citizen. Even before we met, she had always felt very comfortable with her life in the United States, both personally and professionally.

Well, in December 2024, she took her oath and officially became a U.S. citizen! It was a really cool event with over 1,300 people in attendance. The top five countries represented, in order:

1. Mexico 🇲🇽
2. Vietnam 🇻🇳
3. South Korea 🇰🇷
4. China 🇨🇳
5. Philippines 🇵🇭

The event took about four hours total, with the actual ceremony lasting about 40 minutes. With over 1,300 new citizens, there was a lot of family in attendance!

We Finally Moved

We bought our new home in May 2024, but didn't move until this month (December). There were a variety of reasons for this — flooding and water damage in both homes, being unable to sell the existing home, and design work in the new home taking longer than expected.

We finally just set a date and went for it. We live in Culver City now, and we're loving the conveniences and lifestyle. We live on a peaceful, tree-lined street that is only a five-minute walk to downtown. This means we can walk to coffee shops, restaurants, various gyms, and activities (my daily walk to the cafe is becoming a favorite activity).

It's about 15 minutes away from the beach by car, which is a tad longer than my two minutes in San Clemente, but that's the only tradeoff I feel that I've had to make.

I can't wait to get involved in the LA area. I'm already enjoying same-day Amazon deliveries!

Fewer Trips than Normal

The beginning of the year was busier with trips due to two weddings, but then we had to cut back on the travel because of the house situation. That lasted about six months longer than we anticipated, and it really hindered our ability to go anywhere.

This year, we were fortunate to go to:

• Cuernavaca for a wedding
• Playa del Carmen for a wedding
• Connecticut for a quick trip
• Mexico City for a family visit
• Chicago to visit my brother
• Connecticut again and New York to visit Lorena's sisters
• Michigan to visit my parents and friends
• Culver City, many times to do house stuff 😅

Most of our travel was for family, which is definitely not a bad thing. We will try to go to more places in 2025, including more long weekends driving around California. There is so much to see here, and we've only scratched the surface.

Spanish on Point

I haven't written much about my journey in Spanish lately, but probably because since I've reached fluency, I feel like I've just been slowly getting more solid in my conversational comprehension.

If I'm honest, I'm not entirely sure if I have the drive to get to that “next” level. I can say pretty much everything now. Maybe not eloquently, but it works. I'm also able to follow most conversations.

Currently, I listen to a Spanish news podcast a few times a week, take one to two private lessons with a tutor, and speak to Lorena and her family in Spanish. And now that I'm in the LA area, I speak Spanish with anyone who is willing. The more I just strike up conversations, the more confidence I get, and I always find myself learning something new.

All that said, the best way for me to improve at this point would be to read more. I'm terrible at making time to read in English, let alone Spanish. But, according to my tutor, reading is where it's at for my level. I'll make this a goal for Q1 next year.

Started Regular Mindfulness

This year, I started to be more deliberate in taking time to quiet my mind with mindfulness techniques. I've taken time to reflect upon this here on my blog. I find that even 10 minutes can leave me feeling more calm and less controlled by emotions. It has helped me to better recognize and live in the moment. I highly recommend it if it's not something you've done in the past.

I'll absolutely continue this practice. I'm trying to gain more inner balance and peace. So far, this has worked well.

Feeling Good about 2025

Something I've learned in my life is that I need to stop trying to predict the future. So with that in mind, I'll just say that I am optimistic about 2025.

I'm most looking forward to creating a new life in Culver City — exploring the neighborhood, hopefully making some friends, getting involved in various activities, among other things. If we're lucky, we'll throw some trips in there as well, and our health will continue down the right path.

Here's to making the next year the most eventful one yet!

#personal

It's November, so that means it's travel season.

Every November, Lorena and I begin our rounds visiting family. Typically, we make an annual trip at this time to Connecticut to either celebrate some birthdays or Thanksgiving. This year, we are going for some birthdays for a week.

There were a handful of visitors, so we stayed in a hotel in Norwalk, which was only 10 minutes or so from everyone. We celebrated our nephew's birthday, as well as the birthday of Lorena's youngest sister. As usual, we had some good laughs and made memories. There is comfort in tradition, and for about five years now, this has been a regular part of our lives.

After that visit, we flew directly to Michigan to stay with my parents and to see our other two nephews. My brother and his family drove in from Illinois, which gave us an opportunity to all be together (similar to when we visited them over the summer and my parents joined us).

Unfortunately, my brother could only stay for the weekend. Lorena and I spent more time with my parents (celebrating my dad's birthday), and then made a point to see some of my best friends, including one who just recently had a baby last month. That was really fun — we are very happy for them.

Thanksgiving this year will look different. Even though we're still trying to sell the house, we are moving to our new one in December. So, this year for Thanksgiving, we are going to be preparing for the big move. It'll be a lot of work, but it's exciting!

#personal