Solvitur Ambulando

• Fatherhood: Talking about (talking about) money

• Fitness: Balance

• Focus: Solvitur Ambulando

• A book, a quote, a dad joke

Fatherhood: Talking about (talking about) money

On our most recent Dad Strength call, we talked about (how we talk about) money. With our kids, with our families, with ourselves. This wasn’t all facts and figures; there were some feelings attached. The simple truth is that it's impossible to live in this culture and not regularly come face-to-face with money — as a measure, as a construct, as a concept, and as a hard-limit. It is impossible to be completely rational about money because of all of that weight and complexity. So, where does this leave us as parents?

A lot of places, quite frankly, but I'm going to focus on just one: if we have been at all successful in solving our own challenges, our kids will have different aspirations that are often foreign to us. This is what progress looks like — even when it's uncomfortably unfamiliar. See today’s quote for more.

Fitness: Simple complexes

A complex is a series of movements — done one after the other — and typically without having to change implements up. You might, for example, perform six squats, six presses, six rows — all without putting the weights down. Rest and repeat. The weights don’t tend to be heavy because you’re moving as fast as possible! Your limiter will be your weakest movement (typically overhead). Barbells and kettlebells are popular but I think that the most accessible versions use dumbbells. Complexes shine when it comes to combining aerobic fitness with muscular endurance.

Here’s a dumbbell complex created by Istvan Javorek, a former strength and conditioning coach for the Romanian weightlifting team:

Dumbbell Upright Row X 6

Dumbbell High Pull Snatch X 6

Dumbbell Squat Push Press X 6

Dumbbell Bent Over Row X 6

Dumbbell High Pull Snatch X 6

“Perform In A Non-Stop, Continuous Order As Listed Above. If Low Ceiling, Certain Exercises Perform Seated.”

Here, I would recommend resting until your heart rate is down to ~120 BPM and performing anywhere from 2-5 total sets.

Watch me demo things here

Focus: Solvitur ambulando

Solivtur ambulando is Latin for “it is solved by walking.”

It often is, isn’t it?

What I'm reading

The story of the Microsoft engineer turned goose farmer (from the source)

Sliding Doors: a study charting the lives of 167 Australians over 34 years

Quote

"I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce and agriculture in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain."

—John Adams

Dad joke

Where does the general keep his armies?

In his sleevies.