Author: simplyintentional

* Jedd Thoughts, * Life Updates, challenges, Intentional Living

Whole 30 Challenge Review

simplyintentional

Every year Michelle and I have tried to do some sort of food fast, and this year we decided to try the Whole 30 challenge. You can read about why we decided to do this challenge here. 

doing-the-w30-fb-cover-660x244

We really like this practice of doing challenges as it helps us learn how to be more intentional, disciplined, and most importantly, become more aware of our own behaviors that we typically wouldn’t think much about. For this specific challenge we are focusing on what we eat.

Whole Foods for 30 Whole Days

We did it. Mission accomplished.

For 30 days, we intentionally avoided eating sugar, dairy, beans, rice, grains, gluten and other food that could potentially cause inflammation. We followed all of the Whole 30 rules. By doing so, we turned down offers of pizza and dessert, as well as many of our other favorite things to eat. Overall, it wasn’t that bad.

In fact…we both learned a lot*. Continue reading “Whole 30 Challenge Review” →

* Jedd Thoughts, Intentional Living

The Thief of Joy: Comparison

simplyintentional

Every year I write a birthday post reflecting on something I’ve learned in the past year about myself (and thoughts about getting older). It’s a great way to see where I’ve been, who I am today, and hopefully reflects the person I am working towards becoming.  

This one’s for you. Who? You.

It’s also for me. I’m writing this post for myself. I’m hoping that when I’m 66 and maybe 99, I’ll somehow come back to this post and remember the greatest lesson I’ve learned so far this past year: Continue reading “The Thief of Joy: Comparison” →

* Jedd Thoughts, * Life Updates, Intentional Living

Whole 30: A Challenge to Eat Whole Foods For 30 Days – Join Us

simplyintentional

Every year Michelle and I have tried to do some sort of fast (you can read about our last one here). We really like this practice as it helps us learn how to be more intentional, disciplined, and most importantly, become more aware of our own behaviors that we typically wouldn’t think much about. For this specific challenge we are focusing on what we eat.

doing-the-w30-fb-cover-660x244

Continue reading “Whole 30: A Challenge to Eat Whole Foods For 30 Days – Join Us” →

* Jedd Thoughts, * Life Updates, Intentional Living

The Year of Productivity – How to Do Something New With Smart Goals, Accountability, Tracking, and Motivation

simplyintentional

Hola from Ecuador! That’s where Michelle and I have intentionally stationed ourselves for the months of January and February. Why? More on that in a future post because today on my to do list is to finish this post, ironically, all about productivity.

If you’ve made pronouncements in your life to make a change, learn something new, or be more productive and you’ve succeeded, then this post isn’t for you. This post is for those Continue reading “The Year of Productivity – How to Do Something New With Smart Goals, Accountability, Tracking, and Motivation” →

* Jedd Thoughts, * Life Updates, Intentional Living

2015 Annual Review

simplyintentional

For the last couple of years, at the end of the year, we’ve been doing a practice called the Annual Review inspired by our friend Chris Guillebeau of the Art of Non-Conformity. In it’s simplest form, it’s an exercise to take some intentional time out of your life to reflect on your previous year and to look ahead to the coming year. Here are the main questions from Chris’ original post about annual reviews:

What went well this year?

What did not go well this year?

At the end of 2014 we had Continue reading “2015 Annual Review” →

* Jedd Thoughts, Questions

What We Deserve

simplyintentional

A memorial in Hiroshima Japan to Sadako. A reminder of her wish to live after the terrible bombing of her city. Did she deserve what happened to her?

—

My brother and I were talking about some of the terrible events that have been occurring recently, and he brought up these thoughts:

“Why do I deserve to have clean water and food tonight?” “That could have happened anywhere.” “No one deserves to die.”

My own thoughts and questions have been haunting me recently:

“Why do I get to live and other people do not?” “Why do I have access to my basic needs but other people do not?” “Do I deserve the life I have?”  Continue reading “What We Deserve” →

* Jedd Thoughts, * Life Updates

Thankful (a year in pics)

simplyintentional

Thanksgiving has become my favorite holiday.

Christmas and New Years will always have a special place in my heart, but in light of the chaos and uncertainty in our world – and maybe because I’m getting older (and shockingly more mature), I’m realizing the fragility of life and the importance of living with gratitude. Continue reading “Thankful (a year in pics)” →

* Jedd Thoughts, * Life Updates, Intentional Living

How to Do Something You Said You’ve Always Wanted to? Start Here.

simplyintentional

(taking a short break during our walks through London)

We’re back. It’s been about four months since our last post here, mainly because so many things were going on. In the past months we’ve helped put on two awesome events (World Domination Summit and Pioneer Nation), successfully raised money for a new college we are helping to launch in Portland called the Wayfinding Academy, went to Europe for a family wedding (along with some sight seeing and a special bike tour), and did a road trip through California for a month to see family, friends, and celebrate another family wedding (Michelle’s brother). In between, we’ve been doing some house/pet sitting. Needless to say a lot has been going on but we’re still trying our best to make intentional choices to live life the we want (and still trying to figure out what that looks like).  Hope you enjoy the latest thoughts:  Continue reading “How to Do Something You Said You’ve Always Wanted to? Start Here.” →

* Jedd Thoughts, * Life Updates, Intentional Living

Finding Your Own Way at the World Domination Summit

simplyintentional

It’s 2am in local time in London. I’m wide awake thanks to the abrupt time change (yesterday we were in Portland). Perfect time for a post.

Ever since Michelle and I quit our jobs and our conventional life pathway 4-years ago, I tend to have an annual freak out. Continue reading “Finding Your Own Way at the World Domination Summit” →