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- Makes Ya Think Turns 1
Exactly one year ago today, I wrote the first edition of Makes Ya Think.
Like all 35 editions that followed, it was written mostly for me.
Why? Well, in the wise words of Morgan Housel, “Writing for yourself is fun and it shows. Writing for others is work, and it shows”.
Despite my selfish intentions, it’s been both fun and encouraging to see my thoughts and ideas resonate with some of you.
Writing has proven a valuable tool – it’s revealed my intellectual gaps, sharpened my thinking, and improved my writing.
Sharing ideas publicly is like hosting a party. You don’t just clean – you try a little bit harder than usual. You double-check everything. You aim to present your best self.
In a sense, your reputation is at stake.
Thanks for reading – and for making me try just a little bit harder each time I sat down to write!
***
Below is a recap of the ideas I’ve shared in the last year – the most popular ones, my favorites, the ones I revisit the most often, and more.
The Most Popular Blogs
I specifically talk about Denver, but this piece discusses how (and why) where you live impacts the person you become.
Instead of arguing with those whose views we think are wrong, perhaps we’d all benefit from trying to understand how their past experiences led them to these different views. Different experiences lead to vastly different views.
I discuss the evolutionary roots of our obsession with approval and why this obsession can be harmful in the modern world. You’ll learn why humans have an irrational obsession with what other people think of us.
The Blogs I Revisit the Most
I find this topic fascinating. Why does time seem to speed up as we get older? Why do the days go by slow, but the years go by fast? Is there a way to prevent this? I discovered that yes, there is. In two words: seek novelty.
Good or bad. Black or white. Blue or red. Many issues today are presented in rigid categories. In this blog, I discuss why this can be troublesome. Most issues don’t just have two sides – they are complex problems filled with many different viewpoints, or as I call them, shades of gray.
When we think of events in the distant future, we tend to think abstractly – but when we think of events in the near future, we tend to think concretely – in much more detailed terms. The date you agreed to last week was “a chance at finding love”. The date today is “oh shit, am I really going to miss wine night and leave the house on this cold, rainy day to meet up with some dude I've never met before?”
My Favorite Blogs (That Haven’t Been Mentioned)
Twitter has been my creative outlet since 2011 to share observations of everyday life and find humor in the mundane. This is a collection of my favorite tweets.
Why commitment unlocks a whole new level of joy and meaning in life. Our current environment is optimized for the superficial. Seek out depth.
The proof you can do hard things is one of the most powerful gifts you can give yourself. The more difficult things you push yourself to do, the more confidence you’ll build and the more competent you’ll see yourself to be.
I put this theory to the test by running my first triathlon. Three months prior, I couldn’t run a ½ mile without stopping, I didn’t even have a bike and I hadn’t swam since I was 12. It’s fun to surprise yourself and find out what you’re capable of.
10 paradoxes about life I’ve found to be true. One example? Acknowledging and being open about our flaws actually attracts people to us. That’s what I call the Paradox of Vulnerability.
Feel free to let me know which of my blogs from the past year was your favorite! Would love to hear from you.
Also, I probably don’t advertise this enough, but you can find ALL my blogs here on my website: https://makesyathink.beehiiv.com/
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