Looking forward, this would not be the 112th newsletter if I had waited to press send. Press on, we must, updates on the programs are below, and update blurbs will follow for most of January. The challenges ignite the physical; it turns out the cold shower from the Stoic pre-challenge is daily; I'm starting with the face first. Challenges also inspire me; calling on friends and looking at my relationships will only improve them. Cramming all these challenges in January with the daily newsletter charges my stamina, discipline, and creativity as a writer. The Nightly Mental Health Journal is a perfect way to help keep all of this together. These are the stories I want to bring out in 2023.

After the Program update, stories about a professional chef and a professional musician sharing a love of Fender Guitars and food. Next, a blue octopus chair, enough said, then the challenge with marketing the one exercise that does everything. Quotes and music finish up the newsletter as usual.

This is the 21 Day Challenge Program.

Today’s Challenge: Quietly quit something

This was a pull between a nervous habit, and a bad habit. From thumb sucking, to cigarettes, to fingers. Oral fixation anyone? Bad habit - social media at night. Decision, no video after 10 PM.

This is the 7-day happiness challenge, focused on relationships.

Today your goal is to think of a person you love: someone you miss, someone you wish you connected with more often. Send that person a quick text asking if they can chat on the phone for eight minutes — ideally today

Today I got lucky and got a call from one of my oldest friends driving from Colorado to Nebraska. We talked for an hour, laughing about going from stories of our kids, to stories of our aging parents.

Pic / Note / Song

Working with a journal allows you to slow your own thoughts, and meditate on your days. Sahil Bloom does it again, and adds to the January projects. This project will be the daily cherry on top of all the others. Here’s the write from Bloom:

The media site Consequence has a unique interview with Alton Brown (Celebrity Chef) and Michelle Zauner (Japanese Breakfast).  An unlikely friendship that started at a Fender Guitar event last year.  The article has Alton talking about playing live music every night on his current Beyond Eats Tour.  Turns out both love Fenders new Player Plus Meteora guitars.

When Zauner isn’t playing live at SXSW as Japanese Breakfast or getting ready to hit the spring festival tours, she enjoys exploring new restaurants and creating food that rocks!

This is our first review of the World Design Rankings, and the blue octopus chair wins it for us.  DesignBoom wrote the story and included several gorgeous pictures of the design world.  Take a few minutes to marvel at what humans can do.  FYI – Blue Octopus is also going into our best of Punk Rock band names for future use.

The Guardian has an article on fitness, and the report is a good read if you are looking for several ways to work out.  The story goes into four different fitness programs, tried out by four other writers who reported on the results.  The only issue with the article is the headline, which goes to the way many fitness programs are marketed.  The headline reads:

The article is about several programs that can work with different people, but the headline makes the reader think there is one way that works.  As a fitness freak, one who had back surgery due to being a fitness freak, I sometimes felt as though I'd tried them all.

What works is what works for you; that takes time, effort, and discipline.  A good question to ask yourself when starting to figure out a long-term fitness and nutrition plan is, "how can I work out and enjoy the process."  This is a line from Tony Robbins and his many self-help programs, but it’s a good one to think about when putting together a system for getting and staying in shape.

Landing - vision board creation website and social platform for creatives.

Words | Music | Art | Unknown

When I fall back down.

Click on the Apple Music image to listen to the song on Apple Music or on the Spotify Image to listen to Spotify.

Thank you for spending a few minutes with us!

With A Shout newsletter is written by Johnny Christian with the support of a thousand idea bits and the help of many people.