Pause for the Ritual, Not Just the Peak Yesterday I summited two more peaks in the Catskills on my way to become a Catskill 3500’er. Trekking the 35 peaks over 3500 feet. On the summit, I could’ve just snapped a picture, checked the box, and rushed to the next trailhead. That would’ve been the “productive” thing to do. But instead, I stopped. I chose to have tea; Tah Do, and take the time to reflect, right there in the woods. Surrounded by nothing but trees and silence, I took a breath, embraced the moment, and let the experience sink in. And here’s what I realized: too often, we focus only on the accomplishment, in this case the summit, the finished task, the next goal. But if that’s all we chase, we miss the heart of the journey. For me, this is the essence of Il Il Shin. Being better every day isn’t just about climbing more peaks or achieving more wins. It’s about taking time to be mindful, to reflect, and to honor the process. So here’s my reminder for you (and for me): don’t just rush to the next thing. Pause. Breathe. Reflect. Sometimes the ritual itself is the most powerful part of the journey. Happy living!

Success without alignment feels like failure on the inside. There was a season where I was winning in business … but losing in life. Anxiety was high. Stress was constant. My connection with Gina was strained. My family dynamic was shifting. Why? Because I was drifting. I wasn’t conscious or mindful to work on myself every day. The real problem wasn’t business. It was alignment. When your moral compass is off, everything around you feels off … no matter how much money you make. The turning point came when I committed to Be Better Every Day: Morning non-negotiables to center my mind and body Faith and mindfulness to reconnect with God Conscious effort to realign with Gina and my family Discipline in health, business, and relationships If you’re feeling misaligned, you’re not broken. You just need to reset your compass. Start with one choice today … and commit to being better every day.

Success without alignment feels like failure on the inside. There was a time when business looked good from the outside… but inside, I was crumbling. Anxiety was high. Stress was constant. My connection with Gina was strained. My family dynamic was shifting. Why? Because I had drifted. I wasn’t conscious or intentional about working on myself every day. The truth is… business was never the real problem. Alignment was. When your moral compass is off, it doesn’t matter how much money you make… everything still feels off. My breakthrough came when I committed to Be Better Every Day: Setting morning non-negotiables to center my mind and body Returning to faith and daily mindfulness to reconnect with God Choosing presence with Gina and our kids Practicing discipline in health, business, and relationships If you’re feeling misaligned, you’re not broken. You just need to reset your compass. One choice. One action. One commitment to realign… and everything shifts.