From Chad

Haruki Murakami quit smoking by replacing it with running, a habit that naturally fit his lifestyle. He didn’t try to quit smoking, but rather focused on maintaining his new running habit, which led to quitting smoking as a byproduct. The key used to replace bad habits with good ones, rather than trying to eliminate them.

Dale Sanders is the oldest person to through-hike, the Appalachian Trail and 91 years old. Despite falling 71 times, including a fall 200 yards from the summit, he persevered and finished the trail. His story emphasizes the importance of resilience and the mindset of getting back up after setbacks.

A massive ice and rock slide in the Himalayas caused a devastating flood, resulting in over 1000 deaths. While explanations for such disasters are common, they don’t provide the stability needed for rebuilding. Instead, focus on building a solid foundation, like the Pombaline cage used in Lisbon after the 1755 earthquake, to withstand future challenges.

Writer and farmer Wendell Berry died this week. Wendell Berry spent 60 years writing about one imagined county in Kentucky. Readers have been handing his books to one another because they found something worth sharing. That’s what a recommendation is. You don’t need to be an expert to tell somebody “I found something good for me and it may be good for you.”

Ethel Caterham is the oldest person on earth. She turned 117 last month. What she says is her secret may surprise you.

Facts don’t stick but stories do. A story makes people discover the truth themselves instead of just being told. The Bible story of Nathan tricking King David into condemning himself with a parable, ties back to the reason these daily messages are built on stories, not lectures.

A new technology developed by science Corp., a company, founded by a NeuroLink cofounder, offers hope to patience with geographic atrophy, an advanced form of macular degeneration. The technology, which involves a chip planted under the retina and glasses with a camera, has restored some vision to patients, allowing them to read again. While the restored vision is not perfect, it represents a significant breakthrough in treating a condition previously thought to be untreatable.

Dolly Parton‘s commitment to always being “ambulance-ready” exemplified her dedication to her image and her fans. She believed that every encounter, no matter how small, deserved her best effort, as she understood the impact her presence could have on others. This mindset underscores the importance of living up to one’s promises and prioritizing service to others.

Dolly Parton‘s mother made a commitment to provide for her daughter, despite their poverty, sewing a coat from rags. Dolly made this commitment public by wearing the Koch to school, facing ridicule. Years later, she turned this experience into her favorite song, “Coat of Many Colors,“ transforming rags into a record.

The average person today has the equivalent of 200 servants, thanks to modern conveniences like appliances and smart phones. These machines perform tasks that would have required hundreds of people in the past, and they do so tirelessly and without needing things. Appreciate these modern inconveniences and recognize how much they serve us daily.