Dreamcatcher: Posts and podcasts that inspired me this week

Welcome to the Dreamcatcher, where I share the posts and podcasts that inspired me in action or thought this week.

Where are you on the minimalist living spectrum? – Minafi

Adam points out that minimalism is more a state of mind than a count of the items per square foot of your home. I like that approach. My wife and I aren’t minimalists per se, but we also are trying to cut down or at least keep in check the bloat in our possessions. I would say we’re between the Developing and Committed stage on the Minafi scale, with intentions of moving more firmly into a commitment. In sheer stuff count, we’re not going to end up anywhere near someone like Chris and Jaime at Keep Thrifty, a true minimalist family by any definition. But I’d like to think we’re more intentional than many of our neighbors. I think I’m going to take a mental inventory of some things over the holiday break in December and come up with a plan to get rid of things that really are just taking up space.

What is your magnum opus? – The Retirement Manifesto

What is your life’s defining work? No, seriously. Think about it. Fritz explores this concept at some length. It’s not an easy answer to wrap your head around. Is it found in your relationships, your productivity, your ideas, your beliefs? Would you know it when it happens (or as it’s happening)? How would you define it? I wonder how those throughout history who we recognize as having produced a magnum opus level work felt about it at the time they created it. Did they know, or did they go to the grave unsure of their impact? There’s a lot to take away from this post.

Set audacious goals – Farmhouse Finance

Farmhouse Finance makes the case for not only setting goals, but setting them big. I have to say, I’m not sure if I’ve ever set an audacious goal for myself. Somehow that’s just not in my nature. But maybe it should be. Maybe this goes hand in hand with Fritz’s magnum opus post. Have you ever set an audacious goal for yourself? How’d that turn out?

Optimum gut health for you and your kids – The Good Dad Project podcast

I got turned on to The Good Dad Project after listening to founder Larry Hagner’s interview with Andy Hill on the Marriage, Kids and Money podcast. I really liked Larry’s approach, and I’ve listened to a few of his podcasts since then. This one with Dr. Adrian Chavez interested me because I’ve been having gut issues for a few months off and on. Chavez talks about some of the possible causes of that, as well as the importance of taking care of yourself because of the critical link between gut health and everything else. If nothing else, I’ve eaten a bunch of vegetables and taken probiotics in the past few days. That’s a good start, right?