Author Archives: Long Live The Dad

A Dad doing his best for his son and himself.

Fuck it, I’m Going to Start My Own Business.

I truly believe that we all have a breaking point with a job we have that we have considered it our career, something we spent more than just a couple of years in. You realize this isn’t for you or that you shouldn’t need another person telling YOU what to do. You have these thoughts of what you personally wish or want to do for work and overtime that glass of ideas fills up and you decide to chug it fast as fuck and then catch your breath and let it process.

As I mentioned before, I worked in a healthcare setting for almost a decade. I was hired in through guest services worked my way up to an actually meaningful/impactful jobbed that I loved and that was event planning. I took cancer patients and their caregiver who traveled across the country to come to our facility for treatment to events like plays, pro sports, concerts and any activity that seemed fun to get them away from their day to day treatment. I was always the planner for events with my friends and family and I personally could have done that for the rest of my career and been content with it because I woke up every day for work looking forward to it. It was the connection I made with people and the memories I seen being made right in front of my eyes. Just like anything in life change happens and that budget was cut and then my job became something I didn’t mind but wasn’t passionate about.

Was able to take a lot of patients/caregivers to their first ever baseball game @ the iconic Wrigley Field

In my 9th year I decided it was time to move on and get paid more since I had a son on the way. I left and started what I thought would be my new career in logistics. Cool work environment, decent pay and was something new. If you remember me talking about my trip to Colorado in 2019, the idea of this “I’m going to start my own thing” was with me going into 2020. I was motivated like I’ve never been before and it wasn’t because of this new job, it was because this new idea of starting my own business was running in my head constantly. My commute to the new job involved audiobook from Les Brown “The Power of Purpose”, cup of coffee and some good music that had a message. I learned what was being taught about logistics and when it came time for my lunch break I would hit the gym across the street for 30 minutes then work on my business plan for the other 30 minutes every single day. I eventually had a logo made which then lead me to get my business name registered in my state and also secured the domain to my website. I was hitting goals pretty quickly in my business plan and I owe majority of it to my journaling because it helped me write down what I needed to get done and also acknowledge my accomplishments.

As we approach March the Corona Virus is spreading like wild fire and is also affecting my industry which then lead to a layoff since we were new employees we were the first to be let go. Many could see this in a negative way but for me I seen it as an opportunity to excel in my business plan and take this time off to work on it even more and be with my family over the summer while collecting unemployment and working on my business. “Fuck it start this week”

Song Playing: East Point by Rambutan Jam Band

Stretch & Write

Before I started doing yoga and journaling , the thought of doing yoga and journaling never came across my mind lol. I had put a preconceived notion that yoga was for women and the elderly and I hated writing in school so why the fuck would I want to write every day? So before these two activities became a habit I was more into playing video games, drinking with friends and enjoying the weekends. As I mentioned before I worked in a job for almost 10 years and it was in healthcare so overtime as you can imagine you see some people in rough shape and a lot of times it wasn’t even the patient it was the caretaker. They couldn’t walk, you would hear them struggle to bend over or grab things and that kind of stuff stuck with me and made me think “I do not want to be like that when I get older” so one day I hopped on YouTube and typed in “yoga for beginners”. I did a 30 minute class and how my body felt afterwards was so refreshing and loose and from that point on I was hooked. I actually had a poker room down in my man cave but I never used it unless it was for a party and some drinking games were involved. I decided I wanted to turn the poker room into a yoga room, that’s how much that one 30 minute class on YouTube influenced me to practice as much as I can. So pretty much every single day weather it was 10,15,30,45 or 60 minutes I was doing yoga with a very good instructor who’s YouTube channel is called “Yoga With Kassandra” , I was in love with yoga and became a student of a free online yoga class.

Once I felt comfortable with the postures and my ability went from beginner to a little more advanced I started looking up yoga studios in my hometown. I read about the benefits of doing hot yoga and was interested so I found one and booked my first class. The first day of hot yoga I was nervous because I didn’t know the flow of the class and what postures they were doing but with the help of Kassandra on YouTube it was everything I was familiar with. The room sits over 109 degrees and can reach higher from what I noticed since I became a regular over the last couple years. It is very addicting once you give the body that stretch and sweat and stepping out of that class room you feel amazing. I highly recommend doing yoga and when your ready definitely give hot yoga a shot its soooooooooooo legit! With yoga its just not about the stretching aspect, I’ve gained the ability to meditate and learned how important breathing was and enjoyed the affirmations I heard and also incorporated in my practice. Yoga is my zen, i find my balance and feel contentment with every aspect that it brings to my life. I will never not do yoga, there isn’t a time limit or a specific amount of time you need in order to do it. Buy yourself a mat sign up for a class or learn online like I did where it gave me the confidence to join a group of people who practice and share similar qualities. That boring poker room has now turned into my little zen den and it brings me peace and a space in my house where I can easily just reset or relax. Get yourself a zen den, trust me.

Journaling, I’ll keep it short and sweet because you really just need to get yourself a journal and start writing. I purchased a journal 3 years ago and am on journal number three and I recommend a law of attraction journal that you can find on amazon from a brand “Freedom Mastery” you have to get it, it has helped me with many aspects of my life from work, self development, relationships and just staying on top of shit and not putting it off as I have so many times before with things. I attached the link below.

https://freedommastery.com

I must give credit to this journal as well to also helping me stay on track to starting my own business. Check out that website so you understand how jam packed this journal is with life changing stuff.

Current Track Playing: “Free Mind” by Tash Sultana

5am Club

The sunrise alone is worth it.

I’ve never really been one to wake up early not to say I’d be sleeping in until 10am or some shit. I never seen the point of waking up early because everyone else for the most part were still sleeping and nothing was open. Once my son was born I knew I had to wake up earlier in order to maintain somewhat of my routine that I was use to doing without pissing off the queen by leaving the house to do those things while we had a newborn. My routine that I didn’t want to lose or give up was hitting the gym and yoga, I told myself “no dad bod” not saying I’m jacked because I’m not it was more so not gaining weight and becoming unhealthy as I have seen how parenthood especially the early days can take a toll on your health but also your mindset. So I started waking up early and would do my yoga session or head to the gym or workout at home (definitely want to workout at home while the baby is newborn) early and I was pretty consistent on it. As I was working on setting my internal alarm clock I was about year 8 or 9 at my job and it got to the point where I knew I didn’t want to do this anymore because of the changes over the year and I truly was not enjoying it like I use to. My mood would alter even on good days because I just wasn’t happy where I was in my career it no longer gave me a sense of purpose and at that point I knew I needed to leave sooner than later.

Long story short I found a new job with a work environment that gave me a little excitement and a little more dough to rack up with a newborn. Before I started this new gig in January of 2020 my Queen and I took a trip to Colorado to go check out one of my favorite artist Tash Sultana at Red Rocks and hit up the Rocky Mountains, and a couple other cities during our stay. I will bring up this story in another blog post to save some writing on how this was a turning point for me in my career. This trip inspired me to pursue something I actually enjoyed doing and also have so many of my hobbies I could tie into the mix. When the new year hit of 2020 I was so pumped and motivated to work on myself and this new found idea I had in me. Every day I would wake up at 5am or 5:30am head down to my yoga room and stretch and do some home workouts before I had to go to work. I’d also listen to an audiobook from Les Brown called “The Power of Purpose” which definitely gave me even more motivation and was just what I needed even when I didn’t feel motivated listening to that audiobook made me remember what I wanted to accomplish. I highly recommend adding that audiobook on your phone so you can bluetooth it on your way to work or throw it on your headphones, Les is a motivator like no one else.

Any who fast forward a month and my internal alarm clock is set to 5am sometimes earlier but no later than 6am either. It has made me more productive and I have noticed I accomplished my goals quicker and for the most part I did this all while my Queen and Prince were still asleep and when they woke up I was home and had time with them in the morning before we all really started moving in our own ways.

Tips for joining the 5am club.

1. Set alarm for 5am and rise like the Undertaker would rise after getting put out on the wrestling mat! You want to turn off your alarm and put your phone down or take it with you to other room, DO NOT open any social apps on your phone! You want to move and get ready to either hit the gym, do yoga, read, journal anything but scroll through your phone.

2. Morning shake (Do what’s right for your body) here is my recipe

-12 oz coconut water

-1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

-1 cup of mixed fruit (strawberry, pineapple, blueberry, banana, etc)

-1/2 a cup of frozen avocado (healthy fat)

-1/2 a stick of a frozen zero sugar açaí stick

This shake gives me ‘Lets get it” kick you feel good from am to noon and honestly it kind of curbs my appetite past lunch. I do enjoy my caffeine so if its a cup of coffee or if you like to take your pre workout before the gym go for it.

One thing I forgot to mention is be sure to catch the Sunrise as you begin your mornings early, its free to watch and absolutely beautiful.

“ Witness the morning, watch the sunrise as you witness the bursts of color staging a rebellion along the dark sky, give thanks for antlers day- another opportunity to walk out your purpose.”

What pairs perfectly with the 5am club? It has changed my life dramatically and its so simple. Two activities that are now habits and thats yoga/journaling. Check out my next post for how these simple activities can completely change your life.

Current Track Playing: “what I’m giving you” by Sweeps

3rd Birthday for Prince.

March 1st 2019 was the day my life changed in so many ways. It was like unlocking a sought after treasure chest with life’s secrets. My queen and I never really thought we would have a kid, at the time it just wasn’t in our cards. Fast forward a few years after i turned 29 and I came home to her holding a positive test. It definitely was a heart pounding “you serious” moment but a special one you won’t forget.

I’ll never forget the day my son was born, I remember sitting in the birth room with the Eminem lyrics going through my head of “ His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy” but beyond the iconic lyrics I had these thoughts of self development going though my head 100mph because I knew I wanted to be the best I can be for my son . The type of thoughts I wish i had in my early 20’s but I was to busy enjoying the things a 20 year old enjoyed. My queen was in the operating room and it was a C-section because my son was breached so we knew when it was go time. Just before I went in I played a video on YouTube from a channel I really enjoy called Sugarshack Sessions with the artist Iya Terra singing “Give Thanks” check it out and you’ll understand why I wanted to listen to it before going into that room knowing damm well I wouldn’t be the same person coming out. The door opens in the birth room I was waiting in and the nurse said “are you ready?” And again in my head I had another random fucking thought of Bruce Buffer from the UFC with a mic pointing at me and then yelling at the top of his lungs “ ITSSSSSSSSSSSS TIMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE” to be honest I was hyped as fuck going in to that operating room but also nervous as fuck.

There was a scene from the movie Blow where Boston George passed out during the birth of their child but he also overdosed on coke so that was the difference from me and him I was just nervous and my heart racing (legally of course). The moment my son was raised by the doctor like Rafeki holding Simba in Lion King was a feeling that my heart felt immensely and then seeing my Queen see our Prince for the first time was a moment stored in my mind for the rest of time. It was beautiful, you see beautiful shit often but that kind of beautiful is the essence of life. A tip from me to you, is take as many photos/videos as you can, I love the fact that I can go back and relive important moments in my life or the random ones that put a smile on my face. An example, I took a trip back in time to relive the last 3 years I’ve had with my son many I remembered and many I even forgot I took a picture/vid and to see it again brought me back to that day.

Fast forward to 3/1/22 I woke up and hit the store and grabbed him some DC Mcfarlne action figures (Batman/Superman) so he had something to open when he woke up since we were opening gifts later that night with our parents. When I tell you he is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me thats an understatement. He’s only 3 and I consider him my mentor because he makes me want to learn new things and become better every day. His laugh, smile & love is what fuels me every fucking day to be the best I can be. I want to set him up to be the best he can be with a foundation in place for him to be able to do what he wants freely and express himself how ever the fuck he wants to in this life. My core values I want him to know are simple.

1. Treat others like you want to be treated.

2. Embrace the differences in others

3. Live Well (eat well, listen well, move well)

4. Give Thanks

5. Dream/Do

My son has changed me in so many ways and one of the fist things that happened when I knew he was on his way was setting myself up for the 5am club which has changed my life dramatically and I’ll share that on my next post.

Current Track Playing: White Gloves by Khruangbin