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- I Woke Up in Paradise
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Welcome to The Movement Memo, a bi-weekly newsletter where I share actionable tips to help you live your best day ever, every day.
Today's Programming
Movement: Strength + Metcon
Quote: McCandless on happiness
Lesson: The biggest mistake I almost made
Youtube: Wodapalooza Vlog
Optimization: My new red light therapy set-up
Today's Movement
Complete as strength-specific training:
Tempo back squat 3 x 3 at 80% (5-3-1-1)
Tempo front squat 3 x 3 at 82%
Power Clean 2 x 2 80%
Power Clean 3 x 2 85%
Squat Clean 2 x 2 80%
Squat Clean 3 x 2 85%
Complete 6 rounds as fast as possible:
15 cal echo bike,
10 db front rack lunges 50#
8 box step ups 24”
If you know, you know. @sunlifeorganics
Today's Quote
“Happiness is only real when shared.”
The best moments of your life don’t feel great because they happened.
They feel great because someone else was there to share them.
• You don’t remember the view from the mountain—you remember the person you climbed it with.
• You don’t talk about the deal you closed—you remember who you called to celebrate with.
Because the best things in life aren’t experienced alone – they’re reflected back to us through the people who matter most.
Today's Lesson Learned:
I Woke Up in Paradise—And Felt Completely Empty.
We had found the perfect home.
Moab, Utah. A dream property. A mountain biker’s playground.
A pool, an orchard, endless adventure.
Everything I thought I wanted.
And yet, for five days straight, I woke up feeling off. At first, I couldn’t put my finger on it. But each morning, the feeling grew.
“I feel empty.”
It made no sense. I had my girlfriend. I had the outdoors. I had total freedom.
But something was missing.
Then it hit me.
I didn’t lack adventure. I didn’t lack beauty.I lacked people.
And suddenly, I knew: This couldn’t be home.
Your Dream Environment Isn’t the One That Looks Best—It’s the One That Makes You Feel Most Alive
We convince ourselves that changing our environment will fix everything.
If I move to the mountains, I’ll feel more alive.
If I live by the ocean, I’ll finally be at peace.
If I buy my dream home, I’ll never want to leave.
But location alone isn’t enough.
Moab was beautiful. It had all the adventure I could ask for.
But what it didn’t have was constant human energy—the type of community that challenges and inspires you.
A few great friends weren’t enough. I needed a larger orbit of people.
Athletes. Entrepreneurs. Creators. Visionaries.
A place where new people are always passing through.
A space where I could host, build, and create something bigger than myself.
I didn’t need just a great house — I needed an ecosystem.
The Best Decision I Ever Made
After five days of waking up feeling off, I made the call:
We weren’t buying the house.
Instead, we moved back to Denver—and later, we committed to building a new home in Austin.
Because I know now:
Adventure alone isn’t enough. The right people turn a place into home.
A million-dollar view means nothing if you wake up feeling alone.
The environment that fuels you isn’t just about nature—it’s about the energy around you.
If You’re Craving Community, Build It
If you feel disconnected or lacking community, you don’t have to accept it.
You can create an environment that brings the right people together.
1. Create a Space That Attracts People
Your environment should make people want to gather.
When we moved back to Denver, I made a simple rule:
I’d host something every week. Sauna sessions. Group workouts. Mastermind dinners.
I wasn’t going to wait for community—I was going to build it.
Now, as we build in Austin, the same principle applies:
A contrast therapy studio (sauna + cold exposure) to bring people together.
A training facility that builds camaraderie.
People will go where they feel a sense of belonging.
If you don’t have that space, be the one to create it.
2. Choose Cities That Align With Your Energy
Some places naturally attract the kind of people you want to be around. (That’s why I’m building in Austin.) The city is a magnet for high performers, athletes, entrepreneurs, and forward thinkers.
If your environment isn’t fueling your growth, consider where you’d thrive best.
Who Are You Surrounding Yourself With?
Moab taught me something I’ll never forget:
Adventure alone isn’t enough. Location alone isn’t enough.
The people you surround yourself with determine the quality of your life.
So, ask yourself:
Are you surrounded by people who push you forward?
Do you have an ecosystem that fuels your growth?
If not, what are you doing to build it?
Because at the end of the day, you can live in the most beautiful place in the world…
But if you wake up feeling alone, does it even matter?
Today’s YouTube:
Today’s Optimization
I recently changed my morning routine.
I used to stumble downstairs straight to the coffee machine, make my espresso, and log into my email to catch up on everything that got thrown at me overnight. As I have upped the running volume over the past few months, I’ve had more muscle fatigue and overall soreness. I was looking for ways to overcome the dull aches and pains and committed to daily red light therapy.
I still stumble downstairs straight to my coffee machine and make my espresso, but now I grab a book and lie under my Mito Red Light Therapy Panel. For 20 minutes every morning, it is me and my thoughts.
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Publisher: Eric Hinman
Editor-in-chief: Bobby Ryan