Week 28 of 2024 has arrived. Just over halfway through 2024.  Smack dab in the middle of the summer and the 4th turning. The world turns and moves on. I wonder if my 18-year-old self would recognize me at 47. I'm not sure he would.

Time to walk over to your 4K Weeks poster and fill in another square. Done?

In our house, Ryann (my wife) and I are in the middle of the struggle with the speed of the childhood clock.

It's easy to see the loss.  They aren't the chubby little minions who say things like "my toe-thumb hurts" or reach out spontaneously to hold my hand. We weren't quite prepared to be relegated to spectator so "early" in the timeline. But alas, Time, you sneaky thief...

But the gain is there, too...It is so much fun to hang out with them, and will continue to be as they come into themselves as adults. I can't wait to watch it all unfold, and I really enjoy the present moment.

We have always done a good job of knowing how preciously short this time with them is... but it is still striking to be reminded.

That's why we created the 4K Weeks Blink of an Eye.  18 childhood years at home on one poster. 

Remarkable Weeks

Week  28 of 1955, Bertrand Russell issued the Russell-Einstein Manifesto, which called for world leaders to avoid nuclear war and pursue peaceful resolutions. He was 4,338.00 weeks old (83.19 yrs). 

Week  28 of 1978, Max Robinson became the first Black American news TV anchor. He presented the news when World News Tonight premiered on ABC. He was 2,045.00 weeks old (39.21 yrs).

Week  28 of 1994, Malala Yousafzai delivered a speech at the United Nations, advocating for global access to education. As a Pakistani activist for female education, she received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 at just 17 years old. She was 834.86weeks old (16.01 yrs).

This Week's Quote

Continuous effort, not strength or intelligence, is the key to unlocking our potential. -Winston Churchhill

If you have been here a while, you know this is one of my favorite topics.  Early on I realized that I could make up with effort what I lacked in skill.  At the high school sports level, it is usually hard to tell the difference between the hardest workers and the talented ones.

And then just after college, I read the book Art and Fear by David Bayles and Ted Orland... in it they tell the story of WORK, not the story of talent.   

Effort is within your control.  Not much else is.  Focus on the effort.

(Sidebar, most successful entrepreneurs aren't the smartest folks... because the smartest folks know all the reasons why you SHOULD'NT start something... So go ahead and be dumb enough to try, and keep trying!)

What I am Consuming This Week

I have been listening to music mostly this week, no podcasts or audiobooks except in the car, and even then I am mostly listening to nothing or music... lots of thoughts in my head swirling around and trying to find an order. So I thought I would list the supplements I take each day as a very active, getting stronger, 47-year-old man.  These seem to be working for me... your mileage may vary, and I am not a doctor, and don't even play one on tv. And... remember Dr. Peter Attia's rule... Do not worry about supplements until you can: farmer carry your body weight for 2 minutes, dead hang for 2 minutes, air squat for 2 minutes and perhaps even have a VO2 max in the top 75% of your age range. (Basically, fitness is the first important thing!)

• Thorne Creatine - Everyone I ask has said that nearly everyone can benefit from creatine.
• Superfood Greens - Seems like cheap insurance... only drawback is it's kind of nasty tasting and hard to "hide" in anything...smoothie, etc.  I just mix these first three up and chug it with 16 oz of water, my vitamins and fish oil, first thing in the morning.
• Collagen Peptides - My nutritionist said that there isn't really any good evidence that taking collagen translates to healthy joints, etc, but it isn't bad for me, and I will take even a tiny advantage here!
• Fish Oil - My nutritionist said that everyone should take fish oil.  I was worried about it tasting gross or making my sweat smell... I don't taste it, and I still smell the same.
• Thorne Elite Multivitamin Elite - It's an AM and PM, and I started taking it while on a very strict (protein and vegetable) diet and was having calf and hamstring cramps.  No amount of electrolytes would fix it, and it seemed like a deficiency of some kind... leg cramps have decreased 95% since starting the vitamins.
• Vasoblitz - One of my biggest issues is recovery. Both my trainer and my physical therapist take this daily.  I lift weights 3 times a week, fairly intensely (I like to push myself and I want to be a strong 90 year old) and I play an hour of full court basketball twice a week with 20-35 year olds. I have only been taking this for 2 weeks.  I will say that this morning after basketball I felt great, and normally now (3pm on a Friday) I would be beat down... Still feeling pretty good... might pour 15 bags of concrete into a hole tonight. 
• Magnesium Sleeplex. - I have recommended this to two good friends who were struggling to get good sleep... no clinical issues, just crappy middle aged sleep.  Both still take it nightly over a year later.

The Fourth Turning is Here

I am still in the thick of this... Audio and print... Trying to draw out some thoughts on how to thrive as the crisis peaks and subsides...I read the first version of this book, written in the 90's when we were still squarely in the 3rd turning... not sure if it is true, but it is interesting... and strangely calming.

What I am Thinking About This Week

If it's True.

Until Later,

Spencer, Owner of 4KWeeks.com

Dad Joke O' The Week

Is there anything worse than when it's raining cats and dogs? 

Yes, hailing taxis.