Adventure I am taking: Catalina Island Camping Sept 17th is my youngest son's birthday.  This year we decided to do something different to celebrate him and landed on tent camping on Catalina Island at Little Harbor Campground.  The adventure began by driving from San Diego to San Pedro (Long Beach, CA).  We then took the Catalina Express ferry for an hour over to the secondary port of Two Harbors.  Luckily, the visitors center offers a gear drop service for $30 round trip of your heavy bags to the campground.  From there, we hiked approximately 7 miles with about 2000 feet of elevation along the ridge line overlooking the ocean to the campsite.  The hike was strenuous but was absolutely gorgeous.  We were able to snorkel, make smores, and take our picture with the wild bison that come and go throughout the area.  The lack of wi-fi, the slower pace of camping life, and the time together were fantastic.  I would highly recommend getting over to Catalina, especially if you can time it with good weather.  The campsite was reserved through this website. Community member I am mourning: Raul G. On Sept 13th a long-term Aligned Life community member passed away.  He died from an aggressive form of cancer.  I decided to include this for Trending Tuesday when I thought about the type of person he was and how he chose to live.  I believe that by looking at the qualities this person possessed we can be reminded of how we may choose to live.  Raul drove from Menifee to come to the office to receive his chiropractic care.  He knew all of the staff by name and connected with everyone at every visit.  He was a teacher at an adult school and loved Raiders football.  He cared deeply for his health and would ask deep questions about my wellness philosophies.  Raul always said what was on his mind, which I loved, because I never had to guess where I stood with him.  He was never afraid to ask questions about his health and his care.  He was a sharp dresser and always had a matching outfit from head to toe.  He lived a life of purpose, connection, and commitment.  I will miss my friend and I hope that many of the qualities he possessed will be passed along to the rest of our community. Quote I am repeating: "The most painful goodbyes are the ones that are never said

Meeting I am attending: MasterMind Meeting This past weekend I met with a few other entrepreneurs in Los Angeles at an AirB&B to discuss our lives in detail.  I meet with these trusted individuals once a quarter.  Our intention for this meeting was to create goals for the 4th quarter of this year.  We talked about business best practices, new systems for business and personal use, wealth building strategies and the challenges we were currently facing.  We also discuss how our families are doing, if we are happy with our health, and what books to read.  As I have spoken with you all before, I believe this is one of the most important suggestions I can give you if you are looking to improve yourself.  If you are struggling to come up with things to talk about in your own mastermind meeting, here are a few of the most powerful questions I recommend reviewing; a.) Who can you collaborate with that can send you more of your ideal clients? b.) What is your compelling vision for your future? c.) What tasks can you delegate? d.) What is the one thing I can do that will make all the other actions I could take easier or unnecessary? e.) What do I want to learn in the next 90 days? Products I am enjoying: Liquid Death and Topo Chico I am a big fan of sparkling water.  I drink one every day during my break at work.  I traditionally have consumed products like La Croix or Bubly because they are the most cost effective options in this category.  However, my wife recently discovered Liquid Death (great marketing) and Topo Chico and we have started to drink these on the weekend to replace drinking beer or wine.  Their fancier bottle/can and the addition of a lime or lemon wedge make them feel fancy and taste refreshing.  Although they are about double the cost of La Croix or Bubly, it helps me to feel like I am having a treat.  Give these a try if you want to change things up! Quote I am pondering: "The MasterMind Principle- Two or more people actively engaged in the pursuit of a definite purpose with a positive mental attitude, constitute an unbeatable force." ~ Napoleon Hill If you are looking to create a Mastermind group of your own, here are a few things to consider in respect to choosing your group mates; a.) Choose people you enjoy spending time with. b.) Choose people who you do not compete

 Audiobook I am hearing: Total Recall: The Autobiography of Arnold Schwarzennegger I have always been fascinated by Arnold Schwarzenegger.  He was born in Austria in poverty, became Mr. Olympia, created multiple successful businesses, was the leading man in many blockbuster movies, and ends up being the governor of California.  It always seemed like he was able to do the impossible.  In this autobiography, you really get a sense of what a simple person he is.  For example, his main motivation for all his accomplishments, impressing girls, and his philosophy that all things can be done through getting reps (practice).  Overall this is an entertaining listen although it is about 24 hours in length.  Hunker down and enjoy hearing his silly stories! Hydration tips I am recommending: 5 Ways To Stay Hydrated In Extreme Heat 1.) Drink water before you feel thirsty. 2.) Drink approximately half your body weight in ounces. (Ex. 150 lbs person, drinks 75 oz.) 3.) Drink at least 8 oz. of water upon waking to eliminate naturally occurring dehydration from sleep. 4.) Track your water intake using a measured water bottle like this one. 5.) Evaluate the color of your urine.  If you are not going pee at all or it comes out looking dark yellow, you are dehydrated.  Hammer the water until you are going regularly and it turns more clear. Riddle I am telling: "What does man love more than life, yet fear more than death or mortal strife?  What some poor have, some rich require, what all contented men desire.  What the miser spends, the spendthrift saves, what all men carry to the grave."  What is it? This Labor day weekend my family and I used some credit card points to get a hotel in Oceanside, CA for a night.  While walking around near the beach I saw this riddle and thought of our community.  The answer to the above riddle is

Massage therapist I am hiring: Cameron Rettig After months of interviews and vetting of applicants, I am excited to announce that Aligned Life has added a second massage therapist to our team!  Cameron will cover the following hours; Monday and Friday 8 AM - 12 PM and Wednesday 1:45 PM - 6 PM.  Between Cameron and Shana, we will now be able to cover the entire week to provide more opportunities for soft tissue work.  I asked Cameron to share a little about himself to help our community know him better and here is what he said, "My name is Cameron Rettig. I am an ambitious individual who enjoys working out, skateboarding, surfing, playing basketball, music, and overall challenging myself to find out my true potential. Being a Certified Massage Therapist, I am proficient in Swedish Circulatory Massage, Advanced Circulatory Massage, Deep Tissue Manipulation, Tui Na Acupressure, and Sports Massage. The mind-to-body connection I have developed from my journey as a CMT has opened up a whole new outlook on life for me, and it feels good to share it with the people I come in contact with. I look forward to working with you all!" Please call the office to schedule a massage with Cameron and you will get $5 off your first massage with him this month and next. Assessment I am recommending: Back To School Backpack Checks On Wednesday of last week, my boys went back to school to start their 7th and 3rd-grade years.  One of the action steps we take each year is to load up their backpacks with everything they need for the week and determine the correct fit of their bag.  This quick, yet profound evaluation, can help to avoid massive postural distortions that result in chronic pain, injury, and unnecessary stress on the spine.  For the remainder of the month of August, please consider bringing your children to the office with their fully loaded backpacks in order for me to give them a quick once-over.  I wish all of our Aligned Life families a safe, fun, and healthy school year!  Quote I am repeating: "Massage day is the best day of the week!" ~ Everyone For the last decade, I have prescheduled and paid for a once-a-month massage.  I do this, not because I have pain or tightness, but purely because I know that I am healthier mentally and physically because of receiving this type of bodywork.  Each month I genuinely

Trail I am hiking: Eagle Rock Last week I took my boys to do a 6.8 mile hike, with 1000 feet of elevation, that concludes at a very unique location.  In the middle of a wide open grassy plane we found an enormous rock formation that appears to be the head and wings of an eagle.  Approximately one hours drive from the office is a town called Warner Springs.  Begin at the Cal Fire Fire Station, going through a small gate, and you will be on your way to a great adventure!  50% of the trail is totally exposed to the sun.  The other 50% has nice shade coverage made up by large oak trees.  Eagle Rock is also home to about 50 large lizards of all varieties.  It reminded me of the Jurassic period on a much smaller scale.  Make sure to bring sunscreen and more water than what you think you may need, as it was over 90 degrees on the day we decided to do our hike. Summer adventure I am taking: The Holidays Vintage Trailers in San Clemente This weekend I drove the family about 50 minutes north along the coast to San Clemente.  A few months ago we had reserved a spot at "The Holidays Camp Community", a collection of vintage trailers that share a fire pit, beach toys and picnic benches.  The camp site sits on the bluff about 400 feet atop the ocean with a steep walkway giving you direct access to the sand.  The beach at the base of the walking trail was fantastic.  A sand bottom, warm water and consistent medium sized waves rolled in all weekend.  The trailers sleep four comfortably and include a kitchen, dinette and running water.  Air conditioning can be purchased by renting a generator but was not needed during our stay.  Time really slowed down and made for an opportunity for board games, cooking meals together, watching incredible sunsets and of course, making smores!  If you are looking for a family friendly and local destination for a getaway I would strongly encourage you to check this one out! Quote I am repeating: "If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine, it is lethal." ~ Paolo Coelho With only two weeks left before summer break is over, consider taking a chance and do something that is outside your comfort zone.  Something mentally stimulating, physically challenging or something that just sounds fun, but that you have never done before.  There is something magical about

Facility I am visiting: Mountain Meadow Mushrooms This past weekend I loaded up my boys in the truck and we drove over to Mountain Meadow Mushrooms in Escondido, CA.  The purpose of our trip was to get as much compost as possible for the planter boxes in our yard.  After signing in at their office we were able to back the truck up to an enormous mound of compost and load up an entire truck bed full for free!  If you want an incredible workout, this is definitely worth a shot. Also, remember, that your plants can only grow as healthy as the soil they live in.  This is just like your body can only be as healthy as the environment you put your cells in.  If you want to be healthy, focus on creating a healing environment and watch your health transform! Program my family is using: San Diego Jr. Lifeguard  Next summer if you are interested in getting your kids outside, off a device, and learning a precious skill for San Diego living, give the Jr. Lifeguard program a thought.  My oldest son just finished this four-week, five-day per week, 3 hours per day opportunity.  Surfing, swimming, paddle boarding, boogie boarding, running, and push-ups are all a part of the daily fun at the beach.  There are programs offered at Del Mar, Solana Beach, Encinitas, and Mission Beach.  The hardest part for a parent is actually getting your kid registered.  You must sign up immediately when the website opens or risk not getting your child a spot.  As a side note, I had a proud Dad moment when my son was given the "Captain" award for his group.  I only cried a little

Audiobook I am hearing: Living With A Seal by Jesse Itzler This week I listened to a short and entertaining book about a corporate executive who hired a navy seal to train and live with him for 31 days.  I found it humorous and motivating.  The seal he hired, turned out to be David Goggins.  Goggins not only went through seal training three times but also participated in Army Ranger school, completed multiple ultra-marathons, and is an overall bad-ass individual.  Hundreds of push-ups, miles of running, swimming in a frozen lake, and doing workouts in between meetings in a business suit are all experiences discussed in this book.  If you want a little exercise motivation, this quick read could be just what you need to get you back out there! Research I am reading: Journal of Manipulative and Physiologic Therapeutics (JMPT) 30 (4): 263-9. June 2007. "Clinical utilization and cost outcomes from an integrative medicine independent physician association" In a 7-year study, patients whose primary physician was a chiropractor experienced the following benefits; 60% fewer hospital admissions, 56% fewer days in a hospital, 62% fewer outpatient surgeries, and 85% fewer pharmaceutical costs.  The study was done by Dr. Richard Sarnat M.D. who went on to say the following, “I have always believed that the over-utilization of pharmaceuticals and surgery, and the underutilization of more natural healing techniques, such as Chiropractic, has been the cause of great suffering. Yet, I had no idea that the magnitude of both clinical improvements and cost-effectiveness would approach 50% in both cases. “Previous studies have shown these types of savings when Chiropractic has been used as a first-line treatment for NMS (neuromusculoskeletal) ailments, instead of conventional medical care. But to see this level of effectiveness across the board for literally all types of clinical presentations within a primary care setting is surprising to me, and good news for the rest of the world.” Quote I am pondering: "I don't do shit for applause.  I don't do shit for fanfare.  I do shit for me." ~ David Goggins in Living With A Seal by Jesse Itzler The longer I live, the more I resonate with the aforementioned idea.  I believe that you must do things you enjoy.  Especially, as an adult, there are fewer and fewer times in which people tell you you are doing a good job.  Accordingly, your actions must be self-motivated.  A self-driven person is a powerful force.  They can persist longer because they are

National park I am exploring: Joshua Tree National Park Memorial Day weekend I took my family to the Palm Springs area to check out Joshua Tree.  This was our first experience with this Park and we had a blast.  On Friday night we did a sunset hike near Black Rock Canyon which was gorgeous.  On Saturday morning, we tried to get up early to avoid the heat and to hike Mastadon Peak Trail (2 miles round trip).  We also stopped briefly by Cholla Cactus Garden and Arch Rock Trail.  We even got to experience our first dust storm on Sunday!  The park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  There was a $30 per car fee to enter.  There are a ton of AirB&B options in Joshua Tree or the neighboring Palm Springs and Palm Desert has all of the common hotel chains as well.  Overall, I was shocked at the massive size of this park.  It required a fair amount of driving in order to get to the different points of interest.  However, the views were fantastic and my family loved being outside and going on an adventure.  If you are looking for some outdoor fun this summer, definitely consider this location.  From San Diego, the drive is about 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Website I am recommending: Recreation.gov If you are looking for an adventure this summer without a big price tag please take a look at recreation.gov.  This site is designed to connect you to all of the different national parks, camping, and cabin locations around the country.  The best part is that most of them are extremely cost-effective.  Whether you want to do something locally, within a few hour's drive, or want to explore a different part of the country this website is super helpful.  You can also make reservations, and pay for your trip in advance too.  I recommend taking a look at the interactive map found at the bottom of the home page and getting creative to find your next destination! Quote I am repeating: "We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us." ~ Anonymous If you have been feeling stuck, bored, frustrated, or like you don't care about things anymore, I strongly suggest trying to get out of your current environment.  The easiest and most effective way to help you gain a new perspective is to go on an adventure.  The size and scope of the adventures are

Audiobook I am hearing: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand This past week I started my most ambitious audiobook to date.  The 62-hour reading of Atlas Shrugged by author and philosopher Ayn Rand is a monster!  So far I have heard about 5 hours and have enjoyed getting to know the characters and the setting for this epic story.  I decided to listen to this one after a solid recommendation from a good friend.  He believes that the best-written description of the concept of money exists as a monologue in this book.  He also talks about how listening to its story gave him significant clarity as to the way the world works.  Accordingly, I am hoping to gain similar knowledge.  That being said, if you have a long road trip or flight (or series of flights

Project I am completing: DIY Compost Bin In excitement for a new law in California that requires composting, my boys and I made a wooden composting bin that will live on the side of our house.  The goal of the new law is to reduce organic waste by 75% by the year 2025.  In preparation for the build I watched a number of YouTube videos, including the one I linked above.  After careful consideration, I decided on a design that included an opening and closing lid, slated sides and a hinged lower door to allow access to the premium dirt at the bottom of the bin.  The materials were purchased from Home Depot (I only had to go back twice