Welcome to OldDogZeroTricks—a place for honest conversations about life’s real challenges and the stuff we don’t usually say out loud.
What This Place Is About
As an old dog who’s still figuring things out, I’ve learned that life’s biggest questions don’t get easier with age—they just get more honest. The struggles with purpose, relationships, loss, and finding real meaning are part of being human, and sometimes experience just means you’re better at admitting you don’t know.
This isn’t a place for guru wisdom or “10 Steps to Success.” It’s where we drop the performance and have real conversations about awkward truths, middle-of-the-night worries, and the gap between who we thought we’d be and who we actually are.
I’m Grant—OldDogZeroTricks, the guy willing to admit embarrassing things first so others feel safe to share theirs. Sometimes I talk about cycling to work in the rain at 56, living paycheck to paycheck but somehow content, or learning that it’s okay to be broken sometimes. Not because I enjoy oversharing, but because when one person admits the awkward truth, others feel permission to be honest too.
How We Do Things Here
Most posts end with genuine questions about your experience—not fake ones meant to make anyone sound wise, but real wondering about how we get through this complicated, meaningful life.
We also have reader-focused conversations where your stories take center stage, not mine. These discussions explore topics like finding your sanctuary, dealing with life’s transitions, or discovering what actually brings you peace.
The best part? The comment section. Real people sharing real experiences, often more valuable than the original posts. Regular contributors become valued members of our growing community.
Where to Start
If you’re new here, these posts capture the spirit of what we’re about:
Still Learning Balance After 50 (What’s Working So Far) – The messy, honest truth about what balance actually looks like when you’re figuring it out as you go.
What’s Your Quality Time These Days? – What really makes us happy?
It’s Okay to Be Broken (Sometimes That’s When Love Looks Most Real) – Finding meaning in life’s fractures and transitions.
The Quiet Art of Checking In With Yourself – Those internal check-ins we do when life changes around us.
Spiritual, Open-Minded, or Just Crazy? (The Things We Usually Keep to Ourselves) – Sharing 30+ years of mysterious timing coincidences and the question we all wonder: am I crazy or is there more to reality?
The One Thing You Don’t Need When Learning a New Skill – Why showing up beats passion when building something new.
It’s All Relative (But Is That Comfort or Cop-Out?) – When you say “It’s all relative”, what are you really doing?
Join the Conversation
Every comment matters here. This is a space for personal experiences and thoughts about life. We keep politics out of the conversation to maintain the real, supportive community we’re building here. Whether you’re sharing a similar experience, offering a different perspective, or just saying “I understand,” your voice matters in this community we’re building.
No perfect answers required—just real talk among people walking similar roads, whatever age we are.
Ready to drop the performance and have some honest conversations? Pick any post that catches your eye, or dive into the comments and see what resonates.
The coffee’s always on, and there’s room at the table for whatever you’re carrying.
I respond to all ideas and opinions, and your experience often helps others more than mine does.
