For years I've used a notebook to hold myself accountable. Last month I noticed an uncomfortable pattern hiding in those pages.

Recently, I found myself reverting to an old habit:   Reacting emotionally during unfavorable situations.   On the surface, I strive to remain calm and poised, and for the most part I think I succeed. I can't deny, however, that stoic as I may aspire to be, a hot-headed Latino also lives inside me.   I can point to two examples from this month:   At work, where I've been for almost a decade, I've been able to tour and travel home to see my family at a moment's notice. Now, th

I went to Colombia to play shows last month. I’d planned the trip for most of the year; flights for five people, housing, gear, promotion, filming, and thousand other details to mold it all together.   It went flawlessly.   The shows were electric, the mountains mystical, the coffee superb. Everything was a ten out of ten. But before we’d left for Bogotá, I had already lived through an imaginary version of the experience, one that played out less favorably.   I’d catastroph

For the past few months I’ve been listing a few things to be grateful for each night. I’m often surprised at how small things that I...

I’d been in a funk since last month.  It came out of nowhere. Summer has been enjoyable and I’ve felt excited about my progress on a few...

At the urging of multiple close friends, I went to see Sinners last month.    In hindsight, I shouldn’t have. I have a long track record...

In May I passed a milestone; one year since I stopped seeing my therapist. Our work together changed me, and before we parted ways I...

In January I surfed for the first time. Even with having been born and raised on an island, it’s something I kept filed away for...

In November I had a five-thousand-pound failure. Over two years ago I started a small transportation business; renting out a van to musicians. After a successful first year, I scaled to two vehicles earlier this spring. Already working a full-time job, this growing side gig meant transferring hours from the time I had to write and make music, onto business.  Here it comes! I thought, my road to financial independence! Halfway through year two, one of my vehicles became undriv