Habits Breaking You Free

Oh, HEY!

As we hang on to the hopes of coming spring, the longer days, more sunlight, warmer temps, a less angry weather pattern (we hope), remember to take these final days of winter as a recharge. Much like the trees and so much of nature, this may be the time for you to grow. To know that you can start again. That it’s never too late, you’re never too old. You CAN do new again.

But, before we drop into the newsletter. Can you do me one more favor?

Check in on your people. As we are about 8 weeks into 2025, we also hit a staggering number of over 100,000 individuals who have lost their lives to suicide. One Hundred Thousand People. Fathers, mothers, daughters, sons, cousins, uncles, best friends, partners, PEOPLE.

You won’t get that next holiday with them, that next round of golf, that next birthday…

The reality is that we never really know. We never know which day will be our last - which is why we need to live. We need to love. We need to care. So reach out. Send a message to someone you haven’t talked to in a while, to someone who may seem a bit quiet, to someone who may always seem to have it all together and be happy. Call them, text them, let them know you’re thinking about them.

That call or text. May just save a life.

For now, let’s go and let’s grow. But remember, it’s never too late to reach out.

~Tim

Table of Contents

• Small Steps, Big Impact: The Power of Daily Habits

• Embrace the Change: Turning Rising Grocery Costs i …

• The Workers… And Art…

Small Steps, Big Impact: The Power of Daily Habits

Sometimes, the biggest changes in our lives don’t come from grand gestures or overnight transformations. They come from the small, consistent steps we take every single day—the seemingly ordinary habits that quietly shape our future.

We often underestimate the power of these daily routines because their effects aren’t always immediate. But over time, the results can be extraordinary. Whether it’s spending ten minutes journaling each morning, choosing a healthier lunch option, or dedicating fifteen minutes to reading, these small actions compound into meaningful progress.

But let’s be honest: creating new daily habits is hard. Really hard.

Starting something new often feels exciting at first, but when the novelty wears off, reality sets in. Life gets busy, motivation dips, and suddenly that morning workout feels impossible, or that nightly meditation session gets pushed aside for TV. Building habits requires discipline, patience, and more than a little self-compassion when we falter.

So how do we stick with it?

Start Small: Choose one simple habit to focus on. Instead of aiming for an hour at the gym, commit to five minutes of stretching. Tiny steps reduce resistance.

Anchor It: Attach your new habit to something you already do. If you brew coffee every morning, use that time to write a few lines in a journal.

Expect Imperfection: You will miss days. You will feel unmotivated. That’s normal. Progress is not about being perfect; it’s about showing up more often than not.

Celebrate Wins: Acknowledge each small success. Completed three workouts this week? That’s a win. Read for five minutes instead of twenty? Still a win.

Every small step matters. Over time, those steps lead to momentum, and momentum leads to lasting change. Your future self will thank you for every tiny, determined effort you make today.

What small step will you take today?

Embrace the Change: Turning Rising Grocery Costs into Self-Sufficiency

Grocery shopping these days can feel like a stressful experience. Prices seem to climb every week, and it’s easy to feel like you’re in a constant battle with your budget. But what if we told you that you don’t need to fight it? Instead of resisting the change, let’s embrace it.

We don’t mean throwing your budget out the window and spending hundreds of dollars at the store. We mean shifting your mindset. This is an opportunity to become more self-sufficient when it comes to what you eat. It’s not only better for your wallet, but it’s also better for your health. Making food from scratch means skipping those long lists of unpronounceable ingredients and preservatives. And yes—it can actually be cheaper.

Let’s start with something we all love: Pizza.

The average cost of a single large pizza from a popular chain can range from $15 to $25 depending on toppings and delivery fees. But making your own pizza, from scratch (dough and all), can cut that cost by up to 80%.

Here’s a simple, delicious pizza dough recipe from Sugar Spun Run to get you started:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups warm water (110°F/45°C)

• 2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast

• 1 tbsp sugar

• 2 tsp salt

• 5 cups all-purpose flour

• 2 tbsp olive oil

Instructions:

1. Stir yeast and sugar into warm water. Let sit until frothy (5-10 minutes).

2. Add salt and olive oil.

3. Gradually add flour, stirring until the dough begins to form.

4. Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 5-7 minutes until smooth and elastic.

5. Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise for 1-2 hours until doubled in size.

6. Divide the dough and roll it out into your desired pizza shape.

7. Top with your favorite sauce, cheese, and toppings.

8. Bake in a preheated oven at 450°F (230°C) for 12-15 minutes.

Making pizza at home doesn’t just save money. It becomes an experience—something fun to do with family or friends. You get to control every ingredient, and there’s a certain pride in pulling a homemade pizza from your oven. It also offers a wonderful opportunity to slow down and create special moments with loved ones. Gathering in the kitchen, sharing laughs while rolling dough, and sitting together to enjoy a meal you created as a team can turn a simple dinner into a cherished memory.

So, next time you feel the stress at the checkout line, take a deep breath. See it as a push toward learning new skills, making healthier choices, and taking charge of what you eat.

This is just the beginning. Today, pizza. Tomorrow, who knows? Bread? Pasta? Sauces? The possibilities are endless.

Happy cooking!

The Workers… And Art…

I recently finished this new piece of art.

Bees—worker bees, buzzing away, doing what they do best: working, building, surviving. These bees aren’t just free in a field of flowers; they are trapped inside a box. Moving in endless circles, confined, doing the same thing every day.

The more I painted, the more it became clear—these bees are us.

So much of society feels like this box. We wake up, we work, we survive. We go through the same motions every day, heads down, buzzing away. We work to survive, and we survive to work. The walls of the box are all around us, though we often don’t see them. But they are there—keeping us in, keeping us busy, keeping us small.

Who built the box? Who benefits from us staying inside it? Those questions stayed with me as I layered color over color, brushstroke over brushstroke. I realized that the box is designed to keep us there. The system thrives on our routine, our predictability, our exhaustion. If we stay too busy, too tired, too fearful, we won’t look up and see the sky beyond the walls. We won’t realize we have wings.

But we do. We all do.

To me, this painting became more than just art; it became a message. You can break out of the box. You don’t have to destroy it overnight. You don’t need to quit your job tomorrow or move to the mountains. You can start small. Tiny cracks in the box. A few minutes each day doing something that feeds your soul instead of drains it. Saying no to something that doesn’t serve you. Saying yes to something that does.

Each small choice is a wingbeat. Each moment of freedom is a crack of sunlight through the walls.

And before you know it, you are flying.

That is what this piece means to me. It’s a reminder to you—and to myself—that the sky is still there. We don’t have to stay in the box. We are meant to fly.

So, what small change will you make today? What will your first wingbeat be?

You should become the proud owner of this piece, use this link while it’s still available.