About: OldDogZeroTricks

Profile: My real name is Grant, 56, a British expat living in Japan. I teach English, farm vegetables, and write honestly about aging, purpose, and finding contentment without the BS. This blog is where we talk about the stuff most people keep to themselves—the awkward truths, the questions we don't ask out loud, and the messy reality of figuring life out as we go. I share the uncomfortable stuff so others know they're not alone. OldDogZeroTricks has been my online handle for quite a few years, especially while playing Apex Legends. As a gamer, I'm pretty old and have zero tricks—mostly just winging it.

Posts by OldDogZeroTricks:

Why We Keep Chasing What Doesn’t Fit

Watercolor of a Golden Retriever looking up a tree at something out of reach.

Have you ever caught yourself aiming for something that doesn’t truly resonate? I once watched myself pass interviews for a job I didn’t really want, to get a more prestigious position I really didn’t need. Why do we trap ourselves in these patterns?

When Your Pain Becomes Your Credentials: The Unexpected Qualification from Struggle

Two older people sitting together in supportive conversation and holding a hand

You don’t need a degree to sit with someone in their grief. You need to have been there. What if your hardest-won lessons are the very things that qualify you to offer the only genuine help that matters? Exploring how pain becomes an unexpected credential.

What’s Your Quality Time These Days?

For me, quality time starts before dawn with a 4 AM walk to 7-Eleven for coffee and groceries. Unhurried, undisturbed, just quiet that works for us introverts. This is my happy place. What moments make up your quality time?

I See Dead People

Coffin measurer lying in coffin testing size and giving thumbs up

They say you can’t outrun time, and I’m not lacing up to try. These days, knocking on my late 50s’ door, the invites pile up—not parties, but funerals. More names turning into dates on stones. It’s not morbid, just math. Each departure whispers: live fully, pursue what truly matters.

I Secretly Want a Makeover (Don’t Tell the Pack)

Hands, trimmer and mature man in salon getting haircut

They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but what about a fresh coat? Recently, I’ve been mulling something I rarely admit: I secretly want a makeover. Not dramatic—just something to shake the dust off and tidy me up a bit. Sound familiar? Got any tips?

Slow Beats Fast: Finding Peace in Life’s Slower Lanes

Dog handler is walking slowly with his obedient Magyar Vizsla dog by his side

In recent years, I’ve stepped away from the relentless pursuit of speed, reassessing what brings fulfillment. After significant life changes, I made a few adjustments. What pace guides your days now, and did you switch gears for any reason?

I Switched To a Cheap Phone and Have Zero Regrets

After years chasing flagship smartphones, I ditched the hype for a budget phone. As a former XDA Recognized Contributor, I know phones—but this time chose money over specs. My regrets? Zero. How about you? Do you still chase the latest and greatest?

Five Basics I Keep Forgetting: What Actually Keeps Me Steady

middle-aged man relaxing at home listening to music

There are five non-negotiable daily basics that keep this old dog functioning well—sleep, movement, connection, nourishment, and stillness. I’m honest about the challenge of finding balance after 50 and the reality of 7-Eleven living.

Late Bites and Action Flicks: Wisdom from Unexpected Places

An apple and glass of water in the kitchen at night.

Simple changes made farming in brutal heat manageable—different sauce, natural onigiri, nothing past 8 PM. My body felt more efficient, my mind calmer in the mornings. Body basics might be the foundation for mental peace. What small change could help you?