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LETTERS OF PROOF
October 2025
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A LIFE WELL READ My Lifelong Love of Books
As famous author George R.R. Martin wrote, “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. One who never reads lives only one.” Since I was young, books have taken me to faraway lands and times long past — and they still do today. In honor of October being National Book Month, I’ve been thinking about my long history as a reader. The first big novel I remember reading was “Jurassic Park” by Michael Crichton in sixth grade. I enjoyed how Crichton took scientific concepts and extrapolated a story to create a novel. Many of my favorite novels depict people going through really hard times, and show how the human condition can still be improved. “The Count of Monte Cristo,” Alexandre Dumas’s epic mid-19th-century novel, had a major impact on me. After struggling through hardships, Edmond Dantes managed to find peace and a fresh start, and to derive meaning from it all, as expressed in the book’s inspiring closing lines: “All human wisdom is contained in these two words: Wait and hope.” My other favorites include “A Farewell to Arms” by Ernest Hemingway, the story of two lovers escaping the chaos of World War I, and “The Grapes of Wrath” by John Steinbeck, about a family’s struggles and resilience amid the devastation of the Dust Bowl and Great Depression. Practical Wisdom The No. 1 book I am always reading is the Bible, I read a portion every morning before I go to work. Otherwise, I alternate between fiction and nonfiction. In business books, my favorite is “The E-Myth” by Michael Gerber. This book read my mail! The author understood why I started my business in the first place without even knowing me! He also explained the systems an entrepreneur can set in motion in their business to ensure success. “Good to Great” by Jim Collins is another compelling read. Beyond business topics, Michael Easter's “The Comfort Crisis” is a great nonfiction book. The author says humans have an evolutionary need to be challenged and shows how stepping
away from everyday comforts and pursuing discomfort can improve our health and happiness. And I’m not above brain candy. I recently told my staff, “I attribute my awful night’s sleep to Lee Childs.”
I went to bed late the night before because I was engrossed in a Jack Reacher novel. You don’t have to invest a lot of thinking to become immersed in the adventures of Reacher, a former military cop turned wandering investigator. Hardbound Happiness When I was a kid, we often went to the bookstore for my birthday and picked out a book. I still prefer reading a physical hard copy, and I especially appreciate a nicely bound, classic-looking book. If I have a paperback copy of a book I love and I find a hardcover version, I switch it out and keep the hardcover edition. (I am still looking for a hardbound copy of “Jurassic Park.”) We have a room in our house we jokingly call “the library.” It has four bookshelves with a lot of books, a piano, and a fireplace. My wife reads way more than I do — probably a couple hundred books a year, but on her Kindle, which is good because having that many print books in the house would be a little rough. In the wintertime, we often relax in the library. As fall begins in Flagstaff, we will probably spend more time there. I’m looking forward to venturing, via books, into more new worlds. I hope you and your loved ones enjoy some great autumn reading as well!
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At an estimated 310 decibels (dB), Krakatoa’s roar remains the loudest sound human ears and instruments have ever recorded. To put that in perspective, even 150 dB can rupture eardrums. Krakatoa more than doubled that. TSAR BOMBA: THE LOUDEST HUMAN-MADE EXPLOSION Tsar Bomba was almost as intense as Krakatoa, but humans created this one. Detonated by the Soviet Union in 1961, this hydrogen bomb released the energy of 50 megatons of TNT. The blast was measured around 224 dB, enough to flatten buildings hundreds of miles away and break windows across Northern Europe. The mushroom cloud rose to over 40 miles high. THE MYSTERIOUS OCEANIC ‘BLOOP’ In 1997, underwater microphones in the South Pacific picked up an ultra-low-frequency sound dubbed the “Bloop.” It was so loud it could be detected over 3,000 miles away. At first, the unexplained noise caused people to speculate about unknown sea monsters. But scientists later attributed it to an icequake, or giant icebergs cracking and shifting in the ocean. Even so, its eerie origin and intensity are fascinating. COSMIC VIBRATIONS BEYOND EARTH Although sound can’t travel in space’s vacuum, cosmic events still generate wave-like disturbances. In 2003, scientists discovered a black hole in the Perseus galaxy cluster that was emitting pressure waves in space gas — the waves translated into an incredibly deep B-flat, 57 octaves below middle C. If we could “hear” it, it would be an impossibly deep, booming rumble across millions of light-years.
THINK YOUR HEADPHONES ARE LOUD? These Sounds Put That to Shame
Most of us think we’ve experienced “loud”: a front row seat at a rock concert, a jetliner taking off, or a fire alarm blaring in a small room. But those everyday rumbles don’t come close to the Earth’s loudest sounds that have shattered records, and in some cases, been heard across entire oceans. KRAKATOA’S EARTH-SHATTERING BLAST In 1883, the volcanic island of Krakatoa in Indonesia exploded in a detonation so violent that it obliterated most of the island and generated tsunamis that killed more than 36,000 people. People heard the sound from over 3,000 miles away, as far as Mauritius and Australia.
Workout Guilt Is Real HERE’S HOW TO DITCH IT FOR GOOD
We’ve all been there. You swore this would be the week: four workouts, minimum. But it’s Thursday, you’ve squeezed in one short walk, and now you’re sitting on the couch feeling like a fitness failure. If this sounds familiar, you aren’t alone. Workout guilt is incredibly common, but that doesn’t mean it’s helpful. It often leads to unnecessary shame and harsh self-talk. Let’s change that. Fitness is a long game, not a perfect streak. Missing one workout, or even a few, doesn’t undo your progress. After all, fitness isn’t all about keeping your record flawless. It’s about building habits that fit into real life, and real life includes bad days, busy weeks, and changing priorities. Your progress is measured over time. Instead of fixating
on what you didn’t do, focus on what you have done and, more importantly, what you will do next. Guilt doesn’t motivate. It paralyzes. Many people think guilt is a good motivator, but it often backfires. It creates an all-or-nothing mindset, where the whole week suddenly feels lost if you miss one day. That mentality is what derails consistency, not the missed workout itself. Instead of letting guilt spiral into self- sabotage, pause and ask yourself: What do I need right now? Rest? Support? A plan for tomorrow? That shift in mindset makes all the difference. Be flexible, not flawless. Flexibility is the key to long-term success. Some days, your body needs rest more than a workout. Other times,
a walk or a stretch might be all you can give, and that’s still movement. It counts! Honoring your needs rather than punishing yourself builds a healthier relationship with exercise and makes it more sustainable (and enjoyable!) in the long run. Remember, you are not your workout log. Whether or not you exercised today, you are worthy, strong, and capable. The goal of fitness should be to feel better in your body and life, not rack up perfect gym attendance. So, don’t beat yourself up next time you miss a workout. Show yourself the same grace you’d offer a friend. Take a deep breath, reset, and move forward without the guilt.
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Meaningful Ways to Connect With Your Grandkids CREATE MEMORIES THAT LAST
Prioritize outings over gifts. Take a second to think about the best gift you received during your childhood. Now, imagine the best trip, vacation, or family outing you had as a kid. Which memory is stronger?
There’s something very special about the grandchild- grandparent relationship. While parents often must play the role of disciplinarian so their kids stay out of trouble and become the best version of themselves, grandparents get to spoil and pamper the grandchildren. Most grandparents want this relationship to be as strong as possible, but it’s easier said than done, especially if you only see your grandkids a few times each year. Here are three strategies you can implement to strengthen your relationship with your grandchildren while allowing you to make memories to last for the rest of their lives. Take advantage of holidays. The holiday season is a time for families to get together, participate in time-honored traditions, and share their love for one another. Make sure you set aside time for your grandkids. Show them your favorite holiday movies, encourage them to help cook a few dishes, and involve them in your traditions and activities. Once you establish these activities, pay attention to how your grandchildren react. If they enjoy them, do it again next year!
You likely can’t even remember a specific gift you received, but those memories of trips to the zoo, beach, or mall have remained strong. Instead of spending hundreds of dollars on gifts, consider taking your grandchildren out for an evening together. Do what they want to do. To put it simply, your grandchildren will only get so much enjoyment participating in your favorite activities or regular routine. Figure out what they like and participate in those activities right alongside them. They’ll never forget the day they saw grandma ride around in a go-kart, grandpa win the big prize at the arcade, or their grandparents adding the finishing touches to an art masterpiece!
TAKE A BREAK!
Lentil and Sweet Potato Stew
Inspired by EatYourselfSkinny.com
INGREDIENTS
• 1 onion, diced • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 bay leaves • 1/2 tsp turmeric • 1/4 tsp cumin • 1/2 tsp black pepper • 1/2 tsp salt • Fresh parsley
• 2 cups green lentils, rinsed • 1 large sweet potato, peeled and cubed • 6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
DIRECTIONS
1. In a large pot over medium heat, sauté onion and garlic in olive oil for about 3 minutes. 2. Add all other ingredients except for salt and parsley. 3. Turn the heat to high until it is boiling, then reduce it to low and allow to simmer uncovered for 20–30 minutes, or until the lentils are cooked through. 4. Remove pot from heat and stir in salt. Top with parsley and enjoy!
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1. A Library of Life Lessons: The Books That Shaped My Path INSIDE THIS ISSUE 2. Earth’s Most Deafening Moments One Missed Workout Won’t Wreck Your Progress (but Guilt Might)
3. Be the Grandparent They’ll Never Forget Lentil and Sweet Potato Stew
4. Stop Sabotaging Your Plate and Start Rewriting Your Thoughts
The Mental Shift Behind Better Eating
YOU NEED A NEW DIALOGUE, NOT A NEW DIET
You’ve tossed the junk food. You’ve Googled “healthy recipes.” You’ve sworn off dessert … again. But despite your best intentions, your late-night snack turns into a secret sugar rendezvous. What gives? It’s not your willpower. It’s your mindset. Healthy eating has less to do with your stomach and more with what’s happening between your ears. The beliefs you carry about food, those quiet little thoughts that zip through your brain unconsciously, are the real drivers of your habits. Take this classic thought: “I have to eat healthy all the time.” Sounds noble, but it feels like a punishment or a need for perfection, which is exhausting and unsustainable. Every time you think this, try swapping it with: “I get to choose how I nourish myself.” That simple shift puts you back in the driver’s seat, steering you toward empowerment, not burnout. Or maybe you’ve told yourself, “I have terrible eating habits.” That’s not a fact, it’s judgment. A better spin? “I have habits I’m ready to upgrade.” Now you’re someone on a mission, not someone stuck in shame. Then there’s the emotional trap: “Eating makes me happy.” Spoiler: It doesn’t. It gives you a sugar rush and a dopamine blip,
but that’s not joy; it’s a high. Repeat this thought instead: “Food can comfort me in the moment, but real happiness comes from deeper places.” Now you’re seeking peace, not pie. Do you feel out of control and think, “I can’t stop eating” ? Yes, you can. You own your arms, your fork, and your next move. Remind yourself: “I may want more, but I choose when to stop.” That’s strength and autonomy.
And when you slip? Don’t spiral. Instead of “I shouldn’t have,” ask: “What can I learn for next time?” Growth is always on the table; you just have to reach for it. So, yes, eating well starts with vegetables. But thriving? That starts with your thoughts. Flip your mindset, and you won’t just eat better; you’ll feel better, too.
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