Happy
Most Sunday mornings, my routine begins with a trip to the beach to watch the sunrise. I live about ten minutes from the ocean, with a quick stop along the way to pick up a cup of coffee before settling in to take in the view.
On this particular morning, I noticed a three-legged dog playing in the water, as happy as could be. He was accompanied by his owner and a couple of beachgoers who were engaging with him at the water’s edge. What struck me most was how joyful and carefree he was, completely unbothered by his minor deficiency. Even more remarkable, the people around him treated him the same as any other dog—no pity, no hesitation, just pure enjoyment.
That moment made me pause and reflect: Do we really need so much to be happy? Could we find contentment with less?
Planning for the Second Act
In Hitting the Iceberg, my first blog of 2025, I described One-Fed’s trajectory as it enters its second act. At the same time, my wife and I have been contemplating our own second act—retirement—which is right around the corner.I’m not very active on Facebook, but I do enjoy watching reels featuring cars, RVs, and container homes. Every now and then, I check in on a group called Epic Retirement Club, where members share their experiences—either how they’re thriving in retirement or the struggles they’re facing as they prepare for it. Initially, I found myself a bit judgmental toward those struggling with the transition—until we started planning for our own retirement.
Although my career does not define me, I’ve found a great deal of purpose and fulfillment in the work I do. Feeling useful is essential to me, which is why we are exploring different ways to contribute through volunteering in retirement. Another challenge I hadn’t fully anticipated? Streamlining our stuff. While we haven’t ironed out all the details of our retirement plan, we know one thing for certain: major adjustments are ahead, and most of them involve letting go of things we’ve accumulated over the years.
From a business standpoint, our post-iceberg course is proving to be a great decision. The final remaining challenge is placing patients in other network locations—a goal we’ve set to accomplish by early Q2. We’re confident we’ll meet that objective, leaving the rest of the year to strengthen the brand and lay the groundwork for our retirement plans.
My time on the beach is always an opportunity for reflection and positive self-talk. On this particular Sunday, I reminded myself to be fully present during these two major transitions—professionally and personally. I don’t want to miss a thing, and truthfully, I’m enjoying the process. That image of the three-legged dog playing in the waves lingers in my mind. Happiness isn’t tied to possessions, it’s about being healthy, active and the time we share with those we love.
Thinking back to my days working construction in the Georgia sun to the times I’ve led Zoom calls with prospective network providers, to our cross country RV barnstorming trip I don’t regret a single step. I simply reflect on the journey—how incredible it has been. While I feel like we’re just getting started, in reality, it’s been a long stretch of highway between those two points. And what a ride it’s been.I’m reminded of a lyric from a John Lennon song, “Life is what happens when you are busy making plans.” It is never too late to take stock, readjust and become the best version of yourself. Have a great week everyone.
