As a parent, I’ve done a tremendous amount of reading on how other parents do it. Parenting, that is. There’s […]

Marcus Aurelius penned an epic short read titled Meditations. It’s composed of his own reflections and observations on life; written from the […]

April 20th, 2022. A lot of things happened on this day, historically. It was the anniversary of Columbine (4/20/96), as […]

I spent most of my life under the identity of son and brother. One of six kids, I felt deeply […]

Over the last few years, I’ve felt a small tug in my spirit to revisit playing musical instruments. As a […]

The world seems to stop a little every time I watch him take a breath. He’s not just a little […]

Years ago, I found myself in the audience at a building I knew all too well; 4099 Karl Road in […]

Last year, I found out some shocking news about a good friend of mine. His bones and teeth had lost […]

Earlier this year, I found myself sitting at Rodeo Goat in Fort Worth, TX, with a good friend of mine, Michael Jackson. […]

This morning, I finished The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis. A book about Heaven and Hell, the author takes us through a […]

“Aaron, you’re too much.” I remember hearing those words, poured like a poison into my ears. They stung me in […]

When I was a young boy, I never really knew what I wanted to be when I ‘grew up’, because […]

Sometimes I look around at my life and wonder how things got to be the way they did. My life […]

I remember years when I had big dreams and ambitions for my life. There was once a time where I […]

It’s been a while since I’ve penned a blog. Usually when time goes by without an entry, a lot is […]

Earlier this week, I was listening to one of my favorite artists, TobyMac, who I’ve listened to since I was […]

“I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead and some come from behind. […]

When I first started my entrepreneurial journey, I bought a used copy of Oh, The Places You’ll Go! by Dr. […]

For many years, I’ve stared at an empty screen and watched as my words filled the blank canvas with their […]

Recently, I’ve been reading through Scary Close, by Donald Miller. The book covers the topic of intimacy, vulnerability, and accountability. The book […]

Over five years ago, I found myself in a place more unique than any of my experiences. One of my […]

It’s a week until my 33rd lap around the sun. 33 years-0ld. In some ways, I feel like I’m just […]

For want of a nail the shoe was lost. For want of a shoe the horse was lost. For want […]

In 1980, the world watched as a legend came to the end of his career. Muhammad Ali, having dominated the […]

There’s never a great way to begin a blog. At least, I’ve never found a compelling way to do so. […]

When the house fell asleep there was always a light and it fell from the page to the eyes of […]

On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. gave his historic “I have a dream” speech before the nation, where […]

One of my fondest memories as a child was playing with my little brother, Joshua. At the time, Toy Story had just […]

Toward the end of his life, Leonardo Da Vinci, one of the greatest minds of all time, began to pen […]

I was saddened to hear of the recent passing of Kirk Douglas (1916-2020), who was my favorite childhood Hollywood hero; […]

On a ride home from the office, I chatted with my Lyft driver, who shared stories from his family, upbringing, […]

The world as I see it;  Blink. It’s Friday morning. I look at my phone to see 6:27am. An early […]

With another new year around the corner, it’s time to look back and distill down a few lessons I encountered […]

It seems like a lifetime ago I remember listening to the radio (yes, FM radio) and hearing a catchy tune. […]

“Good morning, Sister J. It’s a beautiful day today.” “Every day is a beautiful day, Aaron.” With the holiday season […]

This afternoon, I had the opportunity to go grocery shopping with my older sister, Lydia. Strolling through the aisles of Aldi and […]

Hey Dr. Seuss Hope you’re having a swell day Today feels a bit broken I wondered what you’d say The […]

Several years ago, I was saddened to hear news of the passing (link) of a man who taught me a […]

One of the most beautiful transformations to occur in nature is the morphing of the caterpillar into a butterfly. The […]

It seems like the world is going crazy these days. Truth has been replaced with alternative facts, children manufacture $350 […]

“Aaron, always use the right tool for the job.” Wisdom from my Dad, harshly given after I broke one of […]

It’s been nearly a decade since I packed my life into the trunk of my BMW and set course for […]

There’s a saying that ‘diamonds are forever’ originally propagated by a James Bond film. My own variation of this phrase […]

There’s a saying in the bible, which goes: “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Growing up […]

“I could tell you my adventures—beginning from this morning,” said Alice a little timidly; “but it’s no use going back […]

At the start of 2019, I didn’t entirely know where the year would lead me. Freshly terminated from a job […]

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about technology and its’ impact on human beings. Specifically, I’ve been watching the impact […]

When I was younger, I wanted to grow up. The present never seemed like it was the right place for […]

When I was in my early 20’s, something inside of me told me to leave Ohio. I didn’t know what […]

In 2015, I made 362 orders through Amazon. Mind you, this was my number of orders – not items. It was a […]

Note from Aaron: Recently, I had the opportunity to speak to a class at my little brothers high school, in […]

I once saw a short film, which featured the story of a watchmaker and his young son. The story followed […]

One of my favorite movie scenes is from the 2008 film, August. In the film, we follow the main character […]

One lesson I’ve learned in my life is that the art of creating things can be a hair-pulling process. Before […]

One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received was from my mentor, Nate. He once told me: ”Aaron, […]

“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others” George Orwell, Animal Farm (1945) Recently, congresswoman Katie […]

“Have I gone mad? I’m afraid so, but let me tell you something, the best people usualy are.” It seems […]

Of the six children in the Plaat family, there is one for which I am especially thankful; my big brother, […]

I have to admit, this blog has been long overdue. For many years, I’ve bottled up these words; afraid to […]

A traditional figure in Indonesian culture is the Garuda; a mythical bird, often seen carrying a serpent in its’ talons. […]

Ancient Egyptians believed you were asked a series of 42 questions (link) upon entering the Hall of Judgement; the location […]

As a follow-up to my previous blog, I’d like to share a poem I recently received from a friend of […]

“Cor, my boy, if you feel scared to the point where your stomach is playing tricks on you, you’ve just […]

Nearly twelve years ago, I was sitting in a stark, white room in Columbus, Ohio. Sitting across from me was […]

It’s 2019 and I find myself, once again, in New York City. It’s been ten years since I (briefly) lived […]

During the war, Opa was stationed on an island near Papua New Guinea; Jefman Island. Used as an air base […]

Early this morning, I walked through the rainy streets of downtown Portland. In the morning hours, the streets begin to […]

I recently chatted with somebody about the decade-long journey I’ve had as an entrepreneur. The years have been rich with […]

There’s a saying in the scriptures about brothers; behold how good and how blessed it is for brothers to dwell […]

In 2009, I stood in the middle of a cold cemetery in Lockbourne, OH. I was soon to leave for a […]

Up until my late 20’s, working out was an important part of my life. That changed pretty dramatically when I […]

One of my favorite stories is a short poem, called “The little match girl” by Hans Christian Anderson. The story […]

With another birthday in my 30’s coming at the end of the month, I’ve been thinking a lot about my […]

Our family grew up with a very competitive spirit. From board games to arguments, we siblings enjoyed proving ourselves to […]

I once had the pleasure of working with a counselor in Dallas, TX. She was a sweet woman who made […]

Note: I started the note about Julia and Josh before this piece – then felt I should complete this piece […]

My adult years looked a lot more like a roller coaster than a smooth yacht ride; prone to extreme ups […]

Once upon an average morn An average boy was born for the second time Prone upon the altar there He […]

For a king or queen, battles are fought on the battlefield by knights in shining armor; riding gallantly to protect […]

Large families tend to carry a certain sense of camaraderie; everybody looks out for the other, or looks out for […]

One of my favorite ways to get to know somebody is to ask them about their greatest fear. It’s the […]

A lot of things changed after July 29th. I found myself caught somewhere in the middle of being a boy […]

In Iron John: A Book About Men, Robert Bly discusses the wound given to young children by their fathers; a […]

Every child should be so fortunate to have a favorite memory with their parents – or the people that raised […]

The older I get, the more I realize how rich memories are. They’re a treasure known only to the one […]

The older I get, the more I realize how rich memories are. They’re a treasure known only to the one […]

“You can choose your friends but you sho’ can’t choose your family, an’ they’re still kin to you no matter […]

As a child in a family of eight, I was raised with a different perspective than a lot of the […]

This week, the world learned of the suicide death of both Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain. I was surprised to […]

I recently read an article which described love as the “astrolabe of the seeker”. For the uneducated, an astrolabe is […]

 ‘I could tell you my adventures—beginning from this morning,” said Alice a little timidly; “but it’s no use going back […]

As a child, I remember hearing stories of about the ‘widow’s mite’ as an example of sacrifice. The story goes […]

I remember a line from the movie The Bucket List, a tale about two men with terminal cancer, which made […]

Robert Bly tells the medieval story of a boy who would become king, in his masterpiece Iron John: A Book […]

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to realize that every moment can be full of meaningful intersections that make you […]

The last ten years have felt akin to living many lives. The decade brought a mixture of places, faces, times, […]

“A mother’s love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity. It […]

Several years ago, I sat in a comfortable armchair in the living room of one of my best friends in […]

Exactly one year ago, I sat in the lobby of a hostel in Montevideo, Uruguay. The internet speed was mediocre, […]

It’s been nearly a decade since I purchased a copy of Dr. Seuss’s Oh, The Places You’ll Go! I opened the (used) […]

As a young man, I remember reading from The Empty Hourglass, the book written by my Opa to chronicle his life. While […]

When I was a very young child, I remember going to the local recreation center to be vaccinated. Those times […]

“Aaron, if you can touch your toes, I’ll get you a pony.” A ten year-old me remembers hearing the words […]

There’s a saying in the bible about being ‘yoked equally’ with others. Earlier in the afternoon, I was thinking about […]

What if we could rise up from where we are rooted, meet each other like a long lost harmony Dance […]

1. Talk with your family Your family is your role model for your other relationships. Your family relationships can be […]

“Your 20’s are for f*cking up and being able to write it all off as a learning lesson in your […]

I was deeply saddened to hear of the loss of a beloved family friend, Mr. Anderson. Ed was one of […]

“Honor thy mother and thy father and you shall live a long life” I grew up hearing this phrase as […]

“I never take on a restoration project without a donor vehicle. You never know when you’re going to need an […]

My last blog was an introduction to the passion I’ve discovered for massage healing. It was really nice to jot […]

It seems like only days ago that I encountered a woman that would change my life (for the better) at […]

Earlier this year, I took a journey to Tijuana, Mexico, to visit an orphanage operated by the Corazon De Vida […]

It’s been a while since I’ve written a product review/suggestion. This is related to the ceasing of my old binge-purchase […]

Morality. Does it exist? Do unicorns exist? If I asked you what a unicorn looked like, you’d be able to […]

When I was a little boy, I remember shopping with my mother for seeds to plant in our family garden. […]

explaining the #resistance A few weeks ago, I was chatting with my older sister, Lydia, who asked me to write […]

I am the problem. It doesn’t take much sense to see the outside world and realize there’s something very, very […]

“It’s a beautiful day, Sister J.” “Every day is a beautiful day, Aaron.” This is a blog I hoped I […]

When was the last time you hugged your friends? I’m reminded of a question found in Opa’s book; “have you […]

Happy International Siblings day! Apparently today is the day for siblings. While I think it’s important to think of every body as […]

Come in hot, boys. The enemy is all around. During this past weekend, I was witness to a sight I […]

When was the last time you stopped to watch the clouds? My Opa had a way with his words. He […]

As a millennial, I’ve been blessed to see the world from several angles. It seems like only days ago that […]

In the past few years, I’ve done a lot of reading on the topic of the ego. There are a […]

“We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery, we need humanity; more than cleverness, we need kindness […]

I recently chatted with a longtime friend of mine. We’re pushing a decade of friendship, and have seen each other […]

This morning, I was riding the BART to San Francisco and stumbled across a few thoughts I felt were worth […]

Per usual, I find it harder to come up with a beginning line for this blog. Happy Hump day. When […]

Alice: How long is forever? Sometimes, just one second. The truth can be a hard pill to swallow. Whenever I […]

Life is a journey through choice, consequence, and the battle between learning from our lessons and painful recovery through failure. […]

There are some weeks that seem to float by without a care. Other weeks feel heavy and exhausting. This past […]

Joyous, blissful moment, sitting on the porch, you and I two forms, two faces, yet one soul together, you and […]

This week, I was having a chat with Steve about the healing process behind emotions and our past memories. “In […]

Yesterday, I sat at an outdoor restaurant and spent an hour observing the flow of activity happening around me. It […]

“I wonder if I’ve been changed in the night. Let me think. Was I the same when I got up […]

I recently heard a saying that in order to remove a demon of its power, you must learn the name […]

I’ve spent the last three weeks traveling in the beautiful country of Uruguay. Each week has been spent in a […]

This weekend, I found myself laying by a moonlit pool and staring at the stars. In some ways, looking up […]

“For what it’s worth: it’s never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to […]

A little fun fact: it’s incredibly hard to start the first few words of a blog. Most entries are spawned […]

My heart was very heavy to hear of the tragedy that occurred in Oakland. Over 36 have been confirmed dead […]

As a writer, the way in which you process your life is a unique way of experiencing the world. You […]

  During this past weekend, I sat down to collect a few thoughts that had been running through my mind. […]

I’ve heard it said that we ought to be thankful every day and have one day, per year, to complain. […]

Since as far back as I remember, I’ve made a conscious decision to become a regular at as many coffeeshops, restaurants, and […]

Having just turned 29, I’ve been putting some thought into the past decade of my life and evaluating some of […]

I gave several attempts at writing a birthday blog to jot down a few harvested thoughts from the previous year. […]

“I only have one of you…” This weekend, I was sitting on the patio with Azar, enjoying the beautiful and […]

“In the endless universe there has been nothing new, nothing different. What has appeared exceptional to the minute mind of […]

Have you ever stopped to think about the idea of Heaven?  I sometimes just think of a place with no more […]

Lately, I’ve been pondering the subject of God. There are so many different viewpoints about this topic, I find myself […]

I recently read a book called God’s Debris, by Scott Adams, the author of Dilbert. The book was so compelling, I had to read […]

Every day, I wait at the Lake Merritt BART station for my morning ride to work on San Francisco’s public […]

On Sunday, I like to look back and spend some time in reflection of the previous week/month/year, as well as […]

During an afternoon chat at the office, I laughed with several co-workers about the perceived value of money we held […]

With 5% of my laptop battery left, I’m running against the clock for this blog. Laziness (for a charger) tends […]

I brought to my attention that my writing has diminished in the past few weeks. While it is one of […]

The past few weeks have carried a few milestones in my life, worth noting. 7/5/16 marked the 1-year anniversary of […]

I’ve found that as I grow older, the constant change I find is in the perspectives I gain from the […]

Since it’s been just over one year since my move to SF, I thought it would be nice to jot […]

 “Its for us, Yegie!” I exclaimed, while looking at a beautiful sunset cradle the clouds of another beautiful Oakland sky. […]

The story of Superman spins the tale of a young baby that falls to earth, is adopted by a loving […]

During an audition for a play, two men were competing for the main role. It was decided the role would […]

“A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of […]

As a writer, the world presents itself to me in ways that I translate through the strokes of a keyboard. […]

In Robert Bly’s book, Iron John, he writes of the transformation a young boy makes as he descends from the heights of […]

On the steps by Lakeside Chalet, near Lake Merritt, there are words written on the ground: “SERVICE ABOVE SELF” When […]

In my college years, I read heavily into the writing of Ayn Rand; the author and creator of objectivism. Objectivism, […]

Last Sunday, our group was arriving to brunch to celebrate Michael’s birthday. As we were arriving,  we lost our seats at […]

There’s a story in the Hebrew scriptures, telling the story of Moses. Upon receiving the message from God, Moses began […]

Last night, I sat in the living room to watch the golden state warriors game. (Dub nation – at least, […]

“A ship is safe in harbor, but that’s not what ships are for.” There’s a saying in the bible that […]

“Life isn’t fair. Anyone who tells you otherwise is selling something.” I recently read an article that discussed the  process […]

Last year, I moved to San Francisco, after four years in Dallas, TX. What brought me here was a job […]

“I could tell you my adventures—beginning from this morning,” said Alice a little timidly; “but it’s no use going back […]

I remember reading a book in college called Jesus With Dirty Feet. It talked about Jesus in a way that made sense […]

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding […]

Today, we  celebrate Mother’s Day and recognize the wonderful gift we have in our mother. I’m personally very thankful to have a […]

I’ve read many writers describe “thirst for a water that will quench them.” Sometimes it is found in the lustful […]

During my first trip to Burning Man, I learned how to give a massage, from a massage therapist. Since then, […]

Have you ever stood in front of a mirror and counted your imperfections? I’m sure you have, as have we […]

My mother once told a story about the day her father took the family to the local ice cream parlor. As […]

I used to begin every blog with “Featured image by Deviantart” with a link to the photo used. For a […]

  Gratitude is a very simple gift to give yourself and those around you. Two powerful words can change your […]

From the beginning of time, there has been a voice inside of us that whispers for us to remember…remember. It’s […]

Today, I’d like to tell you a story you already know, about a character you’ve met, in a place you’ve […]

Modern schooling has trained us to view our individual progress as a vertical score; A-F at any given time. This […]

With the new year brings a time of resolutions, promises, parties, and reflection on the previous year. Rather than write […]

As a writer, I often find myself uncovering snippets of thought that snowball into fully-written blog posts. With time, these […]

While we are not full-swing into the holiday[s] season, one topic comes to mind that has been heavy on my […]

As the new year is approaching and we are working on creating resolutions, I like to reflect on the year […]

Tonight, I crossed an intersection of understanding; realizing span in which I’ve traveled – the long road ahead towards a […]

A wolf and a sheep came across each other in a pasture. The sheep asked the wolf “What do you […]

….and there you were. Eyes right across from mine. the universe eclipses in this moment Time laps. laps. laps. being. […]

Inside of me is a heart that longs for every ounce of goodness life has to offer, without the confines […]

Compassion is one of the biggest gifts my parents bequeathed me as a child. I can’t ever remember receiving a […]

Last year, I posted a blog series in preparation for my Mom’s birthday. This year, I’m doing a follow-up. I’m […]

Throughout the years, our family has had quite an interesting journey through this thing called “life”. In some cases, there […]

concrete paths of glittering diamonds a sharp leather throne thrown the king raises his scepter tumbling down his thrown away […]

One of my favorite terms in the world of design is the word ‘restraint’. I first heard the term in […]

I recently read a blog (link) that focused on the topic of entrepreneurship. Knowing the author – and being the […]

Ironically, these past few months have been the most sparse I’ve been with blog writing. I’m finding that sometimes we […]

They’re a saying “life imitates art” and I have to agree with new depth and appreciation as I’ve gotten older. […]

This is probably the longest I’ve gone without blogging. Even in the dense forests of Northern Laos, I took time […]

On my last trip to Washington, D.C., we visited one of the Smithsonian museums and walked through the display for […]

  Over the past few years, I’ve watched countless interviews with famous entrepreneurs that have accumulated a lot of wealth. […]

In other news, there seems to have been a drastic change of plans. For my blog, life, location, and state […]

Note From Aaron: This will be the last ‘personal’ blog I write publicly, and will be temporarily shutting down AaronPlaat.com to […]

There continue to be a number of items in my life that have had their perspective changed. Some of the […]

“I don’t know” The above line has saved – and ended – the lives of many people. The points in […]

Middle-child. That uncle. Prodigal son. Free-spirit. There’s a semi-connected trend I’ve seen among people. Life continues to depend the depth […]

Their lives often follow a pattern of defeat, recognition, redemption. They have moments of pain and suffering. But they turn […]

9:03am – my phone alerts me to recite 3 things I’m grateful for. It’s a habit I’ve recently started doing […]

One of things I’ll always remember about my father was the note he had written on his desk, that said: […]

I once heard a pastor talk about his trick to having successful sermons. His secret? “Break everything down into the […]

Hollow moments of happiness filled with the chasing hands of time; eternally looping in a frantic chase to outpace and […]

Young Composer: “Herr Mozart, I am thinking of writing a symphony. How should I get started?” Mozart: “A symphony is […]

Life reminds me of an hourglass; constantly draining away, one piece of sand at a time. Our life can be […]

There’s something incredible about our dreams; being able to close our eyes on the day-to-day reality we experience, only to […]

I could tell you of my adventures… Life continues to provide a plethora of experiences I never thought I’d see […]

“My life is in the hands of any fool who is able to make me lose my temper” One of […]

I woke up this morning with a voice in my head.  A bodybuilding motivational track was on repeat. “Forget everything […]

I recently watched a documentary about Nikola Tesla; world-renowned scientist, visionary and inventor. He seemed to have lived many lifetimes […]

On my website has been the phrase “Committed to success through integrity and innovation” for several years. One might find […]

There’s a certain trend that desperately needs to be reevaluated, redefined, or simply forgotten. “Doing your time” is the simple […]

1.3 Million – Annual Deaths From Car Accidents 480,000 – Annual Deaths From Cigarettes 300,000 – Annual Deaths From Obesity […]

Earlier this year, I realized my mind was a dwelling place for negative energy and thought. There was a part […]

Sometimes you blink and wake up to find the day has gone by without notice. Other times, you blink and […]

Supposedly, it’s better to have ‘loved and lost’ than to have ‘never loved at all.’ It irritates me when people […]

Sometimes you don’t know how to start a blog. Other times, you question your starting sentence too much; wondering whether […]

Life tends to happen when we engage. I’ve had experiences that never would have happened were I to have hit […]

Coltrane pouring through my speakers. Jazz, baby. Jazz.  Twenty-seven. 27. Flip through pages of GQ and it’s easy to figure […]

Dear ______ (That’s us), I’ve been thinking about Us. That’s “Us” with a capital “U”. The story of us. How […]

I was tickled pink to be able to restore an old hard drive I had that contained a backup of […]

It wasn’t all that long ago that I was flipping through the Robert Kiyosaki book, Before You Quit Your Job in the […]

I suppose I ought to thank the universe for the timing of this blog entry. Grammarly is already screaming at […]

I woke up. More than any other quote, I’ve repeated the quote from Alice In Wonderland (I could tell you of my […]

Auto-correct and pre-served cups of k-coffee. Someday our kids won’t even know what it’s like to make a typo or […]

One of the things I’m coming to appreciate as an adult is the relationship I have between my siblings. In […]

You’ll be hard-pressed to find somebody who loves the internet as much as I do. I mean, I really love the […]

As somebody who grew up in the church environment, the topic of sheep was not a foreign concept to my […]

“I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it’s a way of […]

Wake up in a fuzzy bathrobe with coffee brewing in the kitchen. None of that fancy french press coffee. Black […]

Slathering on anti-aging cream and disgustedly looking at a packet of heart-healthy popped corn kernels. Leftover pizza looks far more […]

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where […]

Sitting in the terminal at CMH, I’m pausing to reflect on this past trip to Columbus. By a long shot, […]

Over the years, I’ve heard many various definitions and lessons concerning the topic of integrity. As I’ve grown older, it’s […]

Ohio. Home? Home. Not home. Ohio. Every time I return to visit my family, life seems to be undergoing a […]

While I’ve written several blogs referencing the gratitude I have for the parenting I received as a child – sprinkled […]

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” At the age of 27, there’s a part of me […]

They say “home is where the heart is.” It’s taken a few years to understand what this means. But, I’m […]

Reflecting on a conversation I had with my younger brother, in attempts to sell him on the idea of moving […]

December is here. And what a December it is turning out to be… I’m hoping there’s a bit of inspiration […]

“We’ve got it all wrong. We should be thankful every day, and have one day to complain!” My life is […]

  I recently sat down with a friend of mine and discussed the lies that we hear from others on […]

Some recent conversations I’ve had have involved the subject of ‘mirrors’ and the reflection we see when we look in […]

“Aaron, when you wake up, you need to stand as 10,000. That’s how the world is changed.” I’m standing tall. […]

“Meet the bell, kid.” When I was younger, I heard the phrase “Show me your friends and I’ll show you […]

Life looks so much different in ‘real life’ than it does on television. In Asia, one of the marketing methods […]

“Build a man a fire, and he’ll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he’ll be […]

My beloved blue lobster died this weekend. He recently molted and had everything to look forward to in life. He […]

It’s easy to say “life is good” when you’ve known no hardship. It’s easy to steer a boat when it […]

The world’s most expensive diamond is called the ‘Pink Star’ and sold for a whopping $46M. Think about this for […]

A man once said it was time to arrive. Step to the plate and pick up my stride. Life isn’t […]

I believe all of us are on a journey in life. How we choose to pay attention to this idea greatly […]

Hey Blood Brother… Blink. Wake up, Plaat. Wake up, Plaat. Wake up. When I was younger, we took endless pottery […]

It’s a bit interesting how I happened to stumble upon the ‘featured image’ for this blog post. I recently watched […]

Our yesterday’s seem so much more clear and obvious during the today’s that always follow them. The tomorrow’s continue to […]

While I was in Ohio, my brother and I drove drove to a shopping center we had been to hundreds […]

Something many people don’t know about the lilac flower is that it releases its strongest scent once it has already […]

When you’re a  young child, every dark closet is capable of being a forbidden kingdom. Every dog is secretly a […]

“When all of your wishes are granted, all of your dreams will be destroyed.” I read this quote a very […]

“I could tell you my adventures—beginning from this morning,” said Alice a little timidly: “but it’s no use going back […]

I grew up hearing the term “unconditional love” on many occasions; preached from behind the pulpit, discussed during “table time” […]

One of my [least] favorite childhood movies was Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. A family classic, I loved every moment of the movie […]

I recently read an article that discussed the way painful experiences have a way of creating depth in our hearts. […]

I’ve gotten to know a lot of people who have varying levels of connection with their family. Some are close; […]

With the Mr. Olympia competition coming up, I wanted to jot down a few notes I’ve learned from Kai Greene […]

Hey Blood Brother… It doesn’t seem that long ago that my brother, Mark, and I were driving along Duvall Road […]

This morning, I sat down to read the book Epic, a book about the journey of life and our internal desire to […]

In our face-down-glued-to-our-cellphone culture, it’s very easy to feel as if we are connected to the world; we have instant […]

“There’s gold to be found in the morning” was a quote I’ve heard many times, in some variant or another. […]

Since I was a child, I’ve been obsessed with the ocean and the beautiful life it contains. I’d eagerly listen […]

Reading the book Iron John: A Book About Men, Robert Bly tells a multitude of stories about folklore, mythology, and poems […]

In the movie 25th Hour, there’s an incredible scene at the close of the movie where Edward Norton’s character flies through his […]

As the final blog entry of my 3-part “Happy Birthday, Mom” blog set, I wanted to write about three quality […]

“Today you are you! That is truer than true! There is no one alive who is you-er than you!“ Dear […]

As part of a 3-part string of blogs leading up to my mother’s birthday, I thought it would be nice […]

“We can’t grow outside of relationships.” is a quote I believe to be true. Looking at the relationships I’ve had […]

“I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. […]

When you get older, you realize the idea of relativity is seen in more day-to-day situations than you might have […]

Since the past few blogs I’ve written have been a bit different than my usual ramblings, I thought it would […]

It’s been said you can’t trust somebody who doesn’t like dogs. Regardless of your stance on this quote, there’s a […]

I’ve been an avid gym rat since the age of 16. I’ll never forget my first ‘real’ experience in the […]

While getting ready this morning, it dawned on me that part of parenthood is the belief that you’ve ‘done something […]

“Achievement of your happiness is the only moral purpose of your life, and that happiness, not pain or mindless self-indulgence, […]

“The arrow can’t be shot forward if it isn’t first pulled back” I saw this quote on Facebook and it […]

It’s been nearly (if not more) three weeks since my server was hit by a very malicious attack that took […]

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where […]

“Sleep in peace when the day is done. That’s what I mean” It was around this time, last year, that […]

Acceptance isn’t something that comes naturally to human beings. Even as children, we’re resisting the delicious chocolate pudding our parents […]

One of my usual routines involves checking the news on my iPhone. Yahoo news digest makes it incredibly easy to […]

Today has definitely felt like a Monday. In light of server issues and imposing deadlines, I was saddened to see […]

“We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery, we need humanity. More than cleverness, we need kindness…even […]

“Advertising has them chasing cars and clothes. Working jobs we hate, so we can buy sh*t we don’t need.” Chuck […]

Waking up. I became so used to living a stressful life that demanded I wake up with a racing pulse […]

Note From Aaron: For several years after the passing of my Dad, I would write letters to him – on and […]

I’ve seen far more people talk about how hard, difficult, and ugly life is, than those who call it beautiful, […]

A man told me once that all the bad people Were needed. Maybe not all, but your fingernails You need; […]

“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver; “don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t […]

One of my favorite moments from Spartacus: Gods Of The Arena is the moment before the last fight of the season; the […]

Given the number of ads I’ve seen over the past few weeks for the celebration of Father’s Day, I thought […]

Fancy victorian lettering and foreign-sounding organic ingredients still don’t cover the fact that I question whether or not the $25 […]

“Raised on MTV…raised on you and me…” Many young men face an unknown enemy they feel the need to strike […]

Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Kindness. Goodness. Gentleness. Self-control. in christian culture, these are known as the ‘fruits of the spirit’ […]

“A building has integrity just like a man. And just as seldom.” What has changed most in my life this […]

I once knew an individual, who I will not mention, who prided himself as being a social anthropologist and coining a […]

Hey blood brother, you’re one of our own. Your sharp as a razor and your heart is a stone. Hey […]

Watching a documentary about World War II, I’m a bit flustered at the realization that our entire world seems much […]

“Don’t open doors. Kick down walls.” I believe that as we get older, our level of intentional consciousness increases or […]

“In psychological terms, the issue of man’s survival does not confront his consciousness as an issue of “life or death,” […]

“In the endless universe there has been nothing new, nothing different. What has appeared exceptional to the minute mind of […]

 Tell me what you know about dreaming, dreaming.  Two trips in a row and I’m left sitting on my porch […]

Home is where the heart is. I’ve never seen this statement to be truer than in the past few weeks […]

I don’t want to lose the moment. Flipping through old family photos, lovingly passed on to me by my mom, […]

7:16am and I’m wishing i had taken 15 minutes to stop and fill up my rental car with gas before […]

If I ever have a son, I’ll want him to feel valued and strong, capable of achieving whatever it is […]

Now connected. DIsconnect. One of my favorite images from Calvin and Hobbes involves Calvin kneeling before his television with a bowl […]

“I could tell you my adventures—beginning from this morning,” said Alice a little timidly; “but it’s no use going back […]

I want to create the innovative, interesting, unique, beautiful, and indispensable. Life is far too short to be missed. Yet, […]

Even the greatest among us were never really original. Most of the originals ended up bankrupt, dead, or excommunicated. She’s […]

‘I could tell you my adventures—beginning from this morning,’ said Alice a little timidly: ‘but it’s no use going back […]

Back. Guess who’s back. Whose back. Back. Back. back. Back. Back. Back. Back. Back. Back. Back. it’s time. Time. Time. […]

Older. Wiser? Older. I’ve been thinking a bit about what it means to be a leader. In the book Where Have […]

Choices. Choices. Choices. I remember one of the first moments I had to myself in Dallas. Sitting on the porch […]

“I could tell you of my adventures yesterday – said Alice, a little timidly – but I wasn’t the same […]

Reasonable. Unreasonable. Perspective. Tomato. Tomato. Tomato. The third one is the hidden gem. What would seem outrageous to some in […]

Cold and dark, the morning has proven itself to be a long one. Saying goodbye is hard…harder than I thought […]

it’s the start of a tragedy; a symphony of beautiful possibility and uncertainty. Let the players tune their instrument, and […]

We don’t need no credibility because we are incredible. Kill one man – get a life sentence. Kill a car […]

A little older. A little older. Time flies so fast that I don’t know where it goes sometimes. It seems […]

Focus. Focus. Focus. Focus. Focus. Being content where you are can be a difficult thing to achieve. More often than […]

PostIKEAism. Discovering that you’ve evolved from the days where you used to use the IKEA ‘shopping list’ tool to plan […]

Step by step. Moving forward. One step forward – three back. The amount of actual thought and decision making that […]

Every single day is a reminder that life is blowing by at a rapid rate, and I often feel as […]

Shuffle. Shake. Remix. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Blink. Shake. Wake up. Years gone. Time flies. Wrinkles appear. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Twenty-six. […]

While reading a blog written by an individual of a religion-I-shall-not-state, I was saddened – horrified, really – to read […]

The other day, I was feeding my betta fish, Spartacus, and thinking about the way that a betta fish will […]

Taking the time to write down my thoughts in this blog is one of the few guilty pleasures I seem […]

The clickety-clack sound of a New York City subway brings back an instant sensation of the smell and surroundings that […]

One of the things I’ve recently been pondering is just how much is that we become my parents children as […]

You know your mind is changing when you realize that the people you surround yourself with, in friendship and conversation, […]

There’s going to be a night, in the very near future, where I do a one-stop-shop fix for a lot […]

Home is where the heart is where the home is. Home is where the heart is. Home is where the […]

Tomato. Tomato. “December has always been a very hard month for me…” It seems like not so long ago that […]

Watching people fall off of the proverbial ‘friends list’ of life has been something I’ve gotten more comfortable with as […]

You know you’re getting older when you begin to place your values before your wants, emotions, and finances. I’ve grown […]

“Have you hugged your grandparents, today?” was one of the opening quotes in a chapter of The Empty Hourglass, the book Opa […]

[quote]The burden of originality is one that most people don’t want to accept. They’d rather sit in front of the […]

[quote]When you’re taught to love everybody – including your enemies – what value does that place on love?[/quote] I remember […]

[quote]The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses – behind the lines, in the gym, and out there […]

[quote]In the endless universe there is nothing new, nothing different. What may appear exceptional to the minute mind of man […]

[quote]It is the nature of man to rise to greatness if greatness is expected of him.[/quote] [dropcap]W[/dropcap]hen I woke up […]

In the beginning… In the beginning, there was nothing. Before there was a beginning, there was nothing. There must have […]

The first time I bench pressed 315lb, I was content for about 30 seconds. Next, I set to conquer 365lb. […]

In the book The Innovator’s Solution by Christensen Raynor, the author discusses the forces, theories, and solutions responsible for creating […]

I recently finished the book Iron John: A Book About Men by Robert Bly. In this book, he concluded the […]

After several months of it laying on my shelf, halfway completed, I finally finished the book Mob Rules: What the […]

When we think of cherished memories and events in our lives, it’s often from a retrospective outlook; remembering things in […]

“After one utterly extraordinary rendition of “A Love Supreme,” Coltrane stepped off the stage, put down his saxophone, and said simply, “Nunc […]

There’s still part of me that loves being a bachelor-esque guy. I admit it. This Saturday, I stayed in and […]

“Every father should remember that one day his son will follow his example instead of his advice” There are a […]

Whether it was at a young age or perhaps a moment in the latter years of life, I believe a […]

In the book How To Win Friends And Influence People, Carnegie describes one of the key characteristics as being able […]

Success is never final. Failure is never fatal. Depending on what line of work you’re involved with, the ease of […]

“Losers always whine about their best. Winners go home and **** the prom queen.” In the ideal world, the winner […]

This may be one of the first blog posts I’ve had in some time where the title matches the topic […]

“For centuries, the battle of morality was fought between those who claimed that your life belongs to God and those […]

America is dubbed “The Land of Opportunity” but I would assert it is simply a land with lots of opportunity, […]

Arnold’s 6 Rules of Life: Trust yourself Break the rules Don’t be afraid to fail Don’t listen to the naysayers […]

Confirmation. Validation. Cancellation. Life. When I returned from Asia, I originally planned on there being some semblance of newfound peace […]

It’s hard to know where to start when it comes to sharing my thoughts on my trip to Laos; so […]

Reality check. One of my favorite movie scenes is a short clip from the movie The Hurt Locker where the main […]

The holidays have arrived and I’m enjoying one of my favorite pastime activities; sitting in a mall with a good […]

It’s hard not to think about way life has drastically changed since I last sat in this couch, in this […]

6:19 and I know I’m ready. These past few days/weeks/months have been nothing short of crazy. I’ve learned a lot […]

In every belief system, there are foundational elements used to support the principles, practices, and architectural truth of said belief […]

In every coming-of-age story behind a man, there are moments – often in the beginning of the journey – where […]

Drip. Sip. Ahh. Coffee may be one of my biggest vices. If that’s the case, I feel pretty good about […]

If I had to describe the way the past few months have been, it would be hard to tell you […]

I was recently watching the end scene of the movie Braveheart, a movie often referenced by those in ministry to […]

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Escaping reality. The idea of stepping away from reality seems as if it’s stupid or far off from being a […]

Because we live in a culture that has failed to value the intiation phase from boy to man, we have […]

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On the day of my move to Dallas, from Los Angeles, I remember a moment where I was driving and […]

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