Hey guys,
Sorry I missed the last few weeks. I hope you like this one and that you can forgive me. We’re so back.
Too many people optimize for their resume, their partner, their friends, or their parents. I understand that there are times in life where you need to optimize for certain things: a degree, a relationship, family even, but I think the majority of the time you can and should optimize for stories.
There is nothing quite like telling a fantastic story to your family, a new friend, an old friend, a random person on the plane and everyone in between. Everyone loves a good story. I don't think you could tell me a single time where a good story was not at least mildly enjoyable.
Stories bring people together. Stories make people laugh. They make them cry. They make them tell more stories. They connect you; they make you want connection. They make you want to be a part of a story.
I don't know about you, but every time I hear an incredible story it makes me wish I was there and it just makes me want to tell another story to compliment the first one. You all know how much I love to tell stories.
I was reading or listening to something the other day and someone said, "Optimize for hard hats and vests." Now I don't fully agree with the sentiment because I think that there are incredible stories and incredible lives lived far from physical work, but the premise stands. It's different than getting out of bed, making a coffee, and opening your laptop.
If you guys don't know the trend of my letters at this point, stop reading them. Honestly. You have to understand that life is about living not existing. And I think that most, if not all, of you know that I try to embody that as much as I possibly can.
What you guys need to realize is that time is one of the only finite things in our lives. My generation, and especially the generation below me, might live to be 100, 150, 250, or maybe even older. Brian Johnson thinks he's going to live forever. But honestly I don’t want that, because living forever is not what it’s about.
I have told my friends and my family (to their dismay), from a very young age, that I would rather live an epic 75 than an average 100 (and to throw me a party not a funeral), because at the end of the day, doing things is what is fucking special.
That's what we need to optimize for. Something that gets us out there and gets us doing things. It's been too long since the majority of us actually did something.
Life is too short to sit inside and only build things you can't touch. We were not meant for that sedentary lifestyle. If you don't want to build something, do something instead.
Go for a hike
Go for a swim
Do a cold plunge (fuck me I never thought I'd say that but do a cold plunge)
Go for a long slow jog
Just fucking do things that aren't sitting at your computer and doom scrolling.
We were built for more.
Love,
Mack
Disagree with me in the comments