Sunday Sendoff #42: Spend More Time With Your Elders

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Brickwall's Sunday Sendoff

I saw my dad briefly the other day.

Just a quick moment. In passing.

And it hit me…I don’t see him that much.

Not really. Not like I should.

And then another thought came in—quiet, but heavy:

We don’t have that much time left together.

Not in the grand scheme of things.

And that’s true for all of us.

Our parents. Our grandparents.

The older men and women who were here before us.

We move through life like they’re permanent. Like there’s always another weekend. Another holiday. Another chance to sit down, talk, ask questions, listen.

But there isn’t.

Not unlimited, anyway.

Time is undefeated.

And one day you’ll wish you had one more conversation. One more story. One more ordinary moment that didn’t feel important at the time.

So here’s the move:

Spend more time with your elders.

Call them. Visit them. Sit with them longer than you planned.

Ask them about their life. Their struggles. Their wins. Their regrets.

There’s wisdom there you won’t find anywhere else.

And more importantly, there’s connection.

Because being a Builder isn’t just about building your future.

It’s about remembering and honoring where you came from.

It’s about recognizing that you’re part of a line—and one day, you’ll be the elder.

And when that day comes, you’ll hope the younger generation will make time for you.

So don’t wait.

Make the call. Make the visit.

Sit a little longer.

Because one day…you won’t be able to.

Guiding Principle

Catch up today. Tomorrow may be too late.

Something to Ponder

Who have you been neglecting? Maybe it’s time to build that relationship…before it’s too late.

See You In the Arena

This week is just about over. Next week is just about here. Let’s keep building.

Brick by brick.

Sonny the Alien: The Sink

by
Sonny the Alien

Earth Log Entry #14: The Suspicious Faucet

Sonny and Chad were at the mall.

Chad needed new pants for work. Sonny needed new joggers.

Sonny stopped mid-stride.

“I seem to have imbibed a bit too much hydrogen hydroxide. I am going to utilize the public restroom.”

Chad didn’t look up from his phone. “Cool. I’ll wait here.”

Sonny entered the restroom.

After successfully navigating the urinal—an achievement he had quietly begun to take pride in—he approached the sink.

And stopped.

It was like nothing he had ever seen before.

Sleek. Chrome. Minimalist.

Suspicious.

No knobs. No handles. No clear way to operate it.

Sonny narrowed his large, glowing eyes.

He gently touched the top.

Nothing.

He tapped it.

Nothing.

He leaned down and inspected the underside like he was analyzing a lightspeed accelerometer.

Then stepped back.

Arms crossed. Hand on chin.

Thinking.

He approached again.

“Perhaps it requires a verbal command.”

He cleared his throat.

“ON!”

Nothing.

He tried again.

“WATER!”

Nothing.

Now louder—

“WATER, ON!”

Silence.

The door creaked open. Chad walked in.

“Dude, what are you doing? They can hear you on the other side of the mall.”

Sonny didn’t look away from the sink.

“Chad…this sink appears to be a decoy. Water does not emit from it.”

Chad chuckled. “It’s automatic, man.”

Sonny blinked.

“Automatic…what?”

Chad stepped forward, dropped his bags, and casually placed his hands under the faucet.

Water flowed instantly.

Sonny’s eyes widened. “…it recognizes you.”

Chad paused. “…what?”

Sonny leaned in. “Be honest. Have you bonded with this machine?”

Chad smirked. “Yeah, we went on a date last week. It didn’t call me back though.”

Sonny stepped closer to the sink. “Does it know your DNA?”

Chad grabbed his bags. “A gentleman doesn’t kiss and tell.”

Sonny turned, dead serious. “Chad, you are my closest Earth ally. Tell me the truth…how does this faucet know you?”

Chad started walking out. “BRO, IT’S AN AUTOMATIC SINK.”

Sonny slowly turned back, and stared at the faucet. “I’m on to you.”

He pulled out his Earth Log device and began typing.

Chad claims certain water dispensers operate via motion detection. However, the sink responded immediately to him…and resisted me. I suspect a selective recognition system. Possibly emotionally-based. DNA may also be involved. The machine seems to be forming bonds with its users.

Sonny slowly extended his hands under the faucet.

Nothing.

He froze.

Then—

Water.

Sonny’s eyes lit up. “I HAVE GAINED ITS TRUST.”

In Frame Vol. 14: The Fog

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In Frame Vol. 14: The Fog

Some seasons don’t give you clarity.

No clear path. No clean answers. No visibility on what’s ahead.

Just cold and fog in front of you.

Most people stop here.

They wait for certainty. They wait for perfect conditions. They wait until they can “see” the outcome.

Builders don’t.

They move anyway.

Rep by rep. Step by step. Day by day.

Not because the path is clear…but because stagnancy isn’t an option.

Bioengineered Foods: The Real Truth

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Bioengineered Foods: The Real Truth

I was standing in the cereal aisle the other day.

Holding a box of Honey Nut Cheerios like it was some kind of moral dilemma.

“Contains bioengineered ingredients.”

Sounds intense.

Like I’m about to eat something cooked up in a lab by a guy in a hazmat suit.

And it got me thinking…

Are we looking at one of the greatest achievements of human ingenuity?

Or are we slowly poisoning ourselves?

Is Bioengineered Food Good or Bad?

Depending on who you ask, it’s either:

A scientific breakthrough that feeds the world

Or a corporate experiment gone wrong

You’ll hear talking points from both sides:

“Bioengineering has been happening forever.”

“It’s a small change—completely harmless.”

And then:

“It’s humans meddling with nature again.”

“It causes cancer.”

Strong claims.

But here’s the problem…

Almost anyone can say anything. That doesn’t make it true.

If you want real answers, you have to look at the actual science.

What Bioengineered Food Actually Is

“Bioengineered” (formerly GMO) simply means:

We modified a plant’s DNA to give it a specific trait.

Usually for things like:

  • Pest resistance
  • Herbicide tolerance
  • Better yield or shelf life

That’s it.

No glowing apples. No sci-fi mutations.

Just targeted changes to make crops more efficient.

The Real Truth (Cutting Through the Noise)

Here’s what matters:

Major scientific bodies like the World Health Organization, National Academy of Sciences, and the FDA have found that approved GMO foods are safe to eat.

No solid evidence showing:

  • Increased cancer risk
  • Hormonal disruption
  • Long-term toxicity

So no…

You’re not slowly dying because you ate cereal.

But Here’s Where It Gets Murky

The real concerns aren’t the genes…

They’re the systems around them.

  • Some crops are paired with heavy herbicide use.
  • Many GMO ingredients show up in ultra-processed foods.
  • Industrial agriculture has trade-offs.

So when people say “GMO food is bad”…

They’re usually reacting to the modern food environment—not the genetic modification itself.

How the Builder Operates

You don’t build a strong mind and body by obsessing over labels.

You build it with:

  • Real food
  • Plenty of protein
  • Healthy fats
  • Micronutrients and fiber
  • Discipline
  • Consistency

Would it be ideal if everything was organic and perfect?

Sure.

But that’s not the world we live in.

A mix of organic and conventional works.

A bowl of cereal once in a while? Fine. Going out to eat? Fine. Dessert? Fine.

Brickwall’s Way

Yeah…I’ll still crush a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios with whole milk.

Because I understand what it is.

And more importantly…

I control how it fits into my life.

Mostly real, whole food meals.

Some organic. Some conventional.

The cereal? Ice cream? Pizza?

That’s relief—not the foundation.

In the End

Bioengineered food isn’t the enemy.

Confusion is. Fear is. Lack of discipline is.

Don’t get distracted by buzzwords.

Focus on what actually moves the needle.

Build your body. Build your health.

Brick by brick.

Sunday Sendoff #41: Ups and Downs

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Brickwall's Sunday Sendoff

I played a little blackjack the other night.

Not for real money—just for fun.

But I couldn’t stop watching my chips.

Sometimes I was up.

Sometimes I was down.

Stacks high…then suddenly gone.

And it hit me:

This is life.

Sometimes you’re riding high.

Everything’s clicking. Money’s good. Body’s strong. Energy’s up.

Other times?

You’re scraping.

Low energy. Setbacks. Doubt creeping in.

Chips disappearing faster than you can stack them back up.

And in both moments—you’re faced with a choice.

When you’re up…

Do you stay disciplined?

Or get reckless and lose it all chasing more?

When you’re down…

Do you fold?

Or stay in the game and fight your way back?

Because here’s the truth, brother:

Nobody stays up forever.

And nobody stays down forever either.

The only thing that matters…

Is that you keep playing.

Smart when you’re winning.

Steady when you’re losing.

And relentless through both.

Because the man who stays at the table—

The man who doesn’t panic…

doesn’t quit…

doesn’t go on tilt…

That’s the man who builds something real.

Ups and downs are part of the game.

But quitting?

That’s the only guaranteed loss.

Stay in it.

Builder Principle

You’re going to win. You’re going to lose. How you handle both is everything.

Something to Ponder

What kind of streak are you on right now? Are you up? How can you keep it that way? If you’re down, what are you going to do to start winning?

See You In the Arena

This week is just about over. Next week is just about here. Let’s keep building.

Brick by brick.

-Brickwall

No Radio Edit: Why You Need to Run the Full Track

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No Radio Edit: Why You Need to Run the Full Track

The full version is the only way to listen to “When Doves Cry”.

Why?

Because the radio edit cuts the best part of the song…the ending.

The harmonizing. The guitar. The synth. The…screams. 🤣

I could listen to that ending on repeat forever.

And it’s not just with music.

It’s with everything.

How many people want the radio edit version of life?

How many people cut the work? Cut the struggle? Cut the moment just before the breakthrough?

They just want the payoff.

It doesn’t work like that.

You cut the end…you cut the meaning.

You cut the struggle…you cut the strength.

You cut the process…you cut the result.

The full version hits different because of what’s built before it.

But you don’t get the ending you want without the beginning and the middle.

Same with your body. Same with your relationships. Same with your wealth. Same with your life.

You don’t get to cut your way into being a Builder.

You don’t get to skip the reps and keep the presence.

Listen to the full version…or don’t listen at all.

Do the full work…or don’t do it at all.

Half measures give you half-built men.

And brother…

we don’t build half men.

We build the full thing.

There is no “radio edit” path to a strong life.

Respect the full process.

Turn off the shortcuts.

Run the full track.

Do the full work.

Brick by brick.

Getting Older? No, Getting Better

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38

Today is my 38th birthday.

They say age is just a number.

That’s partially true.

There are realities to aging.

Recovery takes longer. You feel things you didn’t used to. You can’t get away with what you did in your 20s.

But here’s where most people get it wrong…

They accept it—and start coasting.

That’s not the move.

You double down.

You train smarter. You recover better. You dial in your habits. You become more disciplined, more intentional, more dangerous.

You don’t decline.

You evolve.

At 38, I’m not trying to hold on to who I used to be.

I’m building someone better.

Stronger. Leaner. Sharper. More experienced.

A man my younger self couldn’t touch.

You’re not getting older…

You’re getting better.

Now, do I hope we crack the code on aging someday?

Of course.

But until then?

I’m embracing every year.

Because every year I get older…

is another year I’ve been building.

Sunday Sendoff #40: The Grass Isn’t Always Greener…But Sometimes It Is

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Brickwall's Sunday Sendoff

You’ve heard the phrase:

“The grass isn’t always greener on the other side of the fence.”

It’s true…

Sometimes.

A lot of life comes down to discernment.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot recently.

What’s working for me? What’s not? What should stay? What needs to go?

The hard part is knowing when to throttle down and keep pushing…

…and when it’s time to walk away and try something new.

Sometimes the grass is greener on the side you’re standing on.

Sometimes it’s greener on the other side.

And sometimes…

there’s a patch of grass somewhere you’re not even looking that’s the greenest of all.

It’s your call. You’re the CEO of your own life.

And here’s the truth:

Deep down—really deep down—you already know what the right call is.

You might be held back by fear. You might be held back by comfort. You might be held back by circumstances.

But you can feel it.

And usually…

your first reaction is the truest.

It behooves you to listen.

Because you’re the one who has to live with the consequences. You’re the one who has to live that life.

No one else does.

Builder Principle

Make the call. Then own it.

Something to Ponder

Is there something you’ve been sitting on the fence about? Maybe it’s time to choose.

See You In the Arena

This week is just about over. Next week is just about here. Let’s keep building.

Brick by brick.

-Brickwall