Of all the good things in my life, and there are plenty, today's guest writer is at the top of the list. Thank you to Christopher Windom for sharing another post. He's usually behind the scenes editing my words, supporting me each week, and serving as my number one fan. This week, I get to support him and sit in the stands cheering him on as he launches a very special project. I'm honored to share his words. I'll be back next week! Leave him some love in the comments below!
Today is a coming out day for what may be considered a brother blog to All Good Things called Health & Handsome. Health & Handsome is a lifestyle blog dedicated to the modern man who strives to build his character with old school principles like creativity, simplicity and inspiration.
Health & Handsome is inspired by a conversation I overheard at a summer holiday party. One of the guests at the party was a former professional actor. He talked about how starting a family required a transition from the performing arts to a more traditional career. With a family and kids and a new work life, he lamented that he misses having an outlet for creativity, a means of expression that acting provided. It broke my heart to hear him speak about this. Perhaps he could have ten different meanings for what he was trying to say in that moment, but the overall gist of his statement revealed to me that as a culture we tend to believe that creativity only exists in the arts; painting, literature, theatre and music. It’s a limiting thought because we actually have many opportunities for creativity in our everyday lives. Perhaps we overlook some of them.
The act of creativity doesn’t only exist in the arts, in studios or rehearsal rooms. We create meals and we create conversations. Sometimes we create meals for the purpose of creating conversations. We create friendships and experiences. Creativity empowers us to say, “First there was nothing, then I created, and now there is something!” That something could be a new song, or it could be a text message exchange with a friend. We can be constant creators! We can create order out of clutter. We can create clutter out of order, if we’re so wickedly inclined. We can surprise ourselves by creating a new way of traveling to work in the morning. With our intention, we can create moods and atmospheres, or stories and memories, or personal standards and family traditions. Since I can’t go back in time and create a conversation with that gentleman about how we’ve fooled ourselves into believing that creativity only exists in certain pockets of professions, I’ve decided to share my message, and my lesson, with the world.
There is a new buzz term that’s been floating about. It’s the notion of The New American Dream. If the Old American Dream is based on material prosperity, the New American Dream is based on owning less material property and gaining more personal and financial freedom. The New American Dream values experiences and connections over things. I believe that in order to greet The New American Dream, we will need new models of men and women. Wishful thinking alone doesn’t make dreams come true. It takes action, and action takes courage. Courage needs a mission, and a mission is based on our character. Character needs nurturing, and that’s where Health & Handsome comes in. Health & Handsome men, and women, strive to express their creativity, live simple lives and inspire the world around them to live joyful and meaningful lives.
Health & Handsome is my creative adventure, my way of generating something from nothing, by paving a new road. I feel the awesomeness of this endeavor, in both excitement and fear. And that’s okay. Paving new road is scary because all I see is a vast wilderness before me. But it’s my time to step into the wilderness and make a clearing, and make a path that may benefit others in some miraculous way.
There’s a saying:
Handsome is as handsome does.
It means character and behavior are more important than appearances.
Health & Handsome means self-care and social grace. It is the content of our character and how we share the content of our character with others.
That’s the purpose of this writing. To be more open to solving our problems creatively, living life more simply, and allowing the light of our lives to be an inspiration to others.
Be a Health & Handsome Man
When it comes to guys learning to be men, (in a mature and spiritual sense, not in a gender stereotypical sense) we’ve got a lot of ground to cover – and no one needs to do it alone. If you’re a Health & Handsome kind of guy, please subscribe to my blog… I’d love to pave this road with you. If you know a Health & Handsome kind of guy, feel free to share this message with them, or the links to my website or social media communities. It’s all brand spankin’ new!
- Website www.HealthAndHandsome.com
- Twitter @healandhand
- Instagram @healthandhandsome
First there was nothing, then I created, now there is Health & Handsome, for creativity, simplicity, and inspiration.
Fresh starts need a fresh way to greet the day. When I wake up in the morning, after a big glass of water, I make this avocado shake. So simple, so delicious, and I’ve never made the same shake twice, which is a good way to kick off a creative day. Switch it up. Use soy or almond milk instead of coconut milk. I dare you to try using kale instead of spinach. Use peanut butter or almond butter or cashew butter. Blueberries, strawberries and mango are other options. The creative choices are unlimited!
The Health & Handsome Avocado Shake
- 1 cup of coconut milk
- 1 handful of spinach
- ½ of an avocado
- ½ of a banana
- 1 tblspn flax seed or flax seed oil
- 1 tblspn chia seeds
- 1 tblspn almond butter
- 1 scoop of protein powder (I use Vega 1)
- 3 or 4 Ice cubes
In a blender, pour milk into the vessel. Add spinach, avocado and banana. You can blend these three ingredients and then add the other ingredients one by one as the shake becomes smooth. Get creative with ingredients and your method of making the shake. And enjoy!
