Every post from OldDogZeroTricks in one place – the raw, the real, and the stuff we rarely admit out loud. This is the blog.
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December 3, 2025The Family Outsider: When You Love Them But Live Differently
My sister sent a photo of her and my dad eating at McDonald’s. It reminded me of everything I am missing. But it also made me realize something else: I am the family outsider.CONTINUE READING -
December 23, 2025It’s All Relative (But Is That Comfort or Cop-Out?)
Yesterday, I cycled to work in the pouring rain. At 56, it felt both liberating and slightly absurd. Part of me felt like a happy kid. Another part wondered if this is “failure to launch.”CONTINUE READING -
November 25, 2025What’s Your Sanctuary?
Sanctuary isn’t just a place. It is the feeling of exhaling after holding your breath all day. For me, it is a 4 AM walk. Where is the one place where you can finally stop performing?CONTINUE READING -
December 23, 2025The Quiet Practice of Being Grateful
Some mornings at 4 AM, walking to 7-Eleven, I have a conversation with something larger than myself. It is not formal prayer. It is just acknowledging that I have enough for today.CONTINUE READING -
December 23, 2025The Guilt of Saying No (And Why It Gets Easier After 50)
At 4:30 PM, covered in mosquito bites, my boss asked for one more thing. I felt guilty for even thinking “no.” Here is why I am finally learning that boundaries are not character flaws.CONTINUE READING -
December 23, 2025Chasing Dreams vs. Chasing Money (And Why I’m Still Figuring It Out)
At 3 AM, I wasn’t awake from stress. I was awake because I am addicted to hope. At nearly 60, I am still chasing dreams instead of sleeping. Is this healthy optimism or just avoidance?CONTINUE READING -
March 23, 2026How Small Daily Anchors Keep Us Steady (All you Need is One)
After a major life change, the big picture is often too overwhelming to look at. Here is how finding just one simple daily anchor can keep you steady when everything else feels chaotic.CONTINUE READING -
November 30, 2025Finding Balance in Alone Time
Even with friends, there is a hidden cost to constantly “adjusting” ourselves. Solitude is the only time we can stop performing. Here is why I crave the silence of the farm.CONTINUE READING -
January 1, 2026Can We Be Too Loyal?
I spent years writing free guides for Windows users. Then Microsoft banned me from their forums without explanation. It taught me a hard lesson: Brands do not love you back.CONTINUE READING -
December 23, 2025The Art of Checking In With Yourself
For 20 years, my wife was my reality check. When she left, I lost my mirror. Now, 552 days into living alone, I have to perform my own daily audits to make sure I haven’t disappeared.CONTINUE READING -
December 23, 2025How Dreams Change as You Get Older
People say we are “rich” if we have a dream, regardless of our bank account. But sometimes I wonder if that is just a story we tell ourselves to feel better about living paycheck to paycheck.CONTINUE READING -
December 23, 2025Something I’ve Been Noticing About Being Busy
I caught myself rushing through my morning walk, calculating how soon I could start being “productive.” Even my free time felt like something I had to justify. When did being busy become a badge of honor?CONTINUE READING
