Welcome to this week’s edition of The Vibe! Have you checked out our podcast, The Vibe Unplugged yet? If not, give our latest episode a listen here, and let me know what you think.
We all have a fundamental need to belong. As human beings, we crave connection, shared experiences, and being part of a community. Having a strong community of supportive people in our lives can make all the difference in terms of health, happiness, and fulfillment. We want to feel understood and valued—like we belong. Building these bonds starts early, within our families of origin. As we grow, our "tribe" expands to include friends, partners, and colleagues. Rachel and I are so fortunate to be surrounded by amazing, loving people in our families, friend circles, and work communities.
Our tribe sustains us through all of life's ups and downs. When times are good, they multiply our joy, sharing in our excitement and achievements. When things get hard, they cushion the blow, providing comfort, perspective and hope. While the composition of our tribe evolves across the seasons of life, the basic human need to feel connected remains constant.
As children, some of our strongest early bonds come from sibling relationships. Rachel and I hope that our children, Avery and Ford, will be anchors for one another throughout life. Childhood friends enjoy a special bond of long-term inside jokes, shared adventures and deep loyalty. Later in life, our professional communities give many of us a sense of purpose and camaraderie. Ultimately, our life partners often become our closest confidants.
Through all of these stages, there will be some relationships that stand the test of time, while others fade in and out of the picture. As long as we feel safe, seen and supported, the specific make-up of our tribe matters less than the quality of our connections. Our tribes expand our horizons and make the world feel a little more secure.
Rachel and I have been blessed with a wonderful tribe consisting of both family and friends, many of whom we've known since childhood. It's a gift that our children are also being raised to feel secure in this web of loving support. Our parents provide an amazing model of partnership and resilience. Siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles remind us how special it is watch a family grow and evolve across generations.
We also have connections that feel just as close as blood relatives in some of our long-term friendships. Childhood friends who have seen us through heartbreak, loss, job changes and new beginnings become woven into the fabric of our story. Neighbors may become surrogate aunts and uncles to our kids. Co-workers witness more of our daily ups and downs than some family members we only see occasionally. When we find the people who "get" us and accept us as we are, it's worth nurturing those bonds.
Of course, there can be periods where we outgrow relationships, or need some time apart from even once-close friends. As we change jobs, move to new places, recover from loss or heal from conflicts, our needs shift. Reconfiguring our social networks is normal, and often healthy. The key is maintaining authentic connections wherever possible, while realizing some friendships have a shelf life.
Rachel and I feel so thankful for both the nuclear family and "family of choice" bonds supporting us. Our kids benefit tremendously from this stability and love. As Avery and Ford grow up, there will likely be ups and downs in their own social lives. Peer pressure, toxic relationships, even bullying are unfortunate rites of passage for many children. During turbulent times, it helps tremendously to have safe harbors of acceptance—whether in family members, teachers, friends, or mentors.
As we nurture empathy and open communication with our children, we hope that they learn to treasure their faithful friends and family. Throughout lives filled with change, crossing exciting thresholds and weathering difficult losses, everyone benefits from having a tribe to lean on. We all deserve to feel heard, embraced and buoyed by love. The warmth of our village can make any place feel like home. If you haven’t yet found your “tribe”, don’t stop looking.
Artificial Imagination 🐜
If you ask me what the scariest living creature in the animal kingdom is, I will look no further than the mighty ant. Sure, I know what you're thinking—they're just tiny little insects. But have you ever leaned into an anthill and gazed upon the horrors within? Those black eyes staring back, the pointed mandibles, the uncanny strength, able to hoist 50 times their weight. Now picture that, but human-sized. A two-legged, two-armed abomination skittering straight toward you, giant mandibles clicking, hungry for blood. Try to tell me the thought doesn't keep you awake at night! Check out this MidJourney creation of a close-up of one of those little monsters.
This is not an actual photo, but one that was totally A.I. generated using a prompt that I created with MidJourney 🤯
Vibe Hack 📱
This is pretty basic for most, but if you haven't configured your Mac to sync with your texts and iMessages yet, you're missing out on a super convenient feature! Typing on a full-sized keyboard is so much easier and faster than on a phone's small keypad. Additionally, a computer’s functionality simplifies the process of dragging and dropping files, photos, and adding participants to group messages. I highly recommend giving it a try if you haven't already.
My Weekly Vibe
AI: Move over Bard! Google's latest AI chatbot Gemini aims to help users tame their digital clutter by summarizing emails, gathering information across apps, and even drafting messages. While not quite as eloquent as Claude or GPT4, Gemini taps into Gmail, Maps and other Google services to lend a hand with everyday tasks that users find tedious. Initial testing shows promise, despite some amusing misses, and the potential is there for Gemini to evolve into the truly useful assistant that years of hype had promised. For Android loyalists drowning in digital drudgery, this new AI helper may be worth taking for a test drive.
Inspiration: Brian Tracy is a renowned author and speaker who has spent decades teaching people how to maximize their potential. In this talk, the legendary motivational guru offers his insights on mastering one of the most important skills for success—self-discipline. Tracy boils down the essence of self-control and details key tactics anyone can start using right away to resist temptation and stay focused. If you struggle with procrastination or need help kicking bad habits, don't miss Tracy's sage advice on taming your impulses and developing willpower.
Comedy: Fans of Kevin James' approachable humor will be happy to see him bring his talent for finding comedy in common everyday experiences to his latest Amazon Prime special, Irregardless. While he's probably best known as the lovable Doug Heffernan from The King of Queens, James puts his observational comedic skills on full display here. He’s cleaner than most stand-up comedians, but just as funny. His sitcom still ranks in the top three of all time in my book.
Beets: Dwight Schrute may have been on to something in the beet farming business. Beets contain nitrates that convert to nitric oxide, lowering blood pressure and boosting blood flow. Research shows just one small glass of beet juice can significantly reduce systolic blood pressure. Beets also pack betalains, antioxidants that cut inflammation. Add a tablespoon of beet powder to your morning protein shake and those compounds will dilate your vessels, energize your body, and optimize performance. But don’t over-beet—too many may lead to kidney stones over time. In moderation, beets deserve inclusion in your diet for the cardiovascular and antioxidant benefits. I've been adding this mix to my smoothies, and I like the earthy taste it brings.
📸 cred: Prime Video
Weekly Muse
"If you can't find a way, create one. If you can't find your tribe, build one. The world is waiting for your light." – Anonymous
Real Estate
Purchasing your first rental property can be an exciting yet daunting endeavor. As with any major investment, it's important to carefully consider all factors before taking the plunge. Location is key—look for up-and-coming neighborhoods that show potential for growth and demand for rentals. Avoid overpaying by researching comparable sales and hire a savvy real estate agent to guide you through the process. Factor in expenses beyond just the purchase price—insurance, property taxes, maintenance, utilities (if not tenant-paid), etc. And account for periods of vacancy where you may not collect rent.
When viewing properties, don't just consider aesthetics but also mechanicals, foundation, roof, electrical systems, and other structural elements. While upgrades like granite countertops may attract tenants, issues like a faulty furnace or leaky roof could turn into major headaches and unexpected costs down the road. Pay attention to basics like appliances and HVAC systems—outdated units will need replacing sooner than later.
Carefully screen tenant applicants by conducting credit and background checks, income verification, and rental history. Outline policies and procedures clearly in the lease agreement in accordance with local landlord-tenant laws. And don’t forget to document the condition of the property thoroughly at tenant move-in and move-out, with photographs and video to avoid security deposit disputes.
As a new landlord, hands-on property management may be preferred to closely oversee operations. But be realistic about the workload and costs—an experienced property management company may be worth the fees. They can provide tenant screening, maintenance coordination, rent collection, compliance, and peace of mind. They have systems to handle issues that may be overwhelming for first-timers.
Owning investment properties can provide appealing income streams and tax advantages. But the responsibilities shouldn't be underestimated, as other people’s housing situation rests in your hands. Do your homework before committing, build your knowledge, and don’t be afraid to ask more experienced landlords and real estate agents for advice along the way. With the right property and preparation, you’ll be off to a great start.
In the voice of the late legend, Bernie Mac…. “Aww nah, see now these rich folks done lost they rabbit-azz minds with this one! What we got here is over 12,000 square feet of bonafide bougie nonsense tryna justify an $8.5 million price tag! Shoot, for that much scratch I better be sleeping on pillows stuffed with hundred dollar bills!” (courtesy of Kurfiss Sotheby's International Realty) Disclaimer: this is a lovely listing and clearly just a bit of satire, so loosen up and enjoy"
Interesting Find
A shed-dwelling rodent in Wales has been captured on video tidying up objects. Nicknamed the "Welsh Tidy Mouse," the industrious creature gathers pegs, nuts, bolts, and other things, then neatly places them in a box every night. While experts debate the explanation behind the unusual behavior, some theorize it may be a form of nesting or hoarding. Whatever the motive, mice apparently aren't above deriving pleasure and entertainment from seemingly mundane tasks. Do you think he can train my kids to do the same?
📸 cred: Washington Post
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