I’ve been planning to write about this topic for a few days now. After sharing my thoughts on the challenges of building community, I found myself reflecting on the simple, amazing circumstances we all live within.
As I sit down to write, it feels important to share a bit of context. With 2025 shaping up as my “year of unemployment,” I’ve still been fortunate to have a few freelance projects over the past couple of weeks. This time has tested my commitment to regular self-care — and I’ve mostly stayed consistent. I even found myself waking at 4 a.m. to strength train before a 6 a.m. call time on set. Quiet, diet, exercise, and sleep — these have all been my anchors, keeping me steady and hopeful about what’s ahead.
Then came this Sunday morning. I woke with an urge to move. It was supposed to be a lazy day, but I’ve learned to listen when my body asks to get going. I told my wife I was heading out for a walk — probably just around Echo Park Lake, up the street. But as I got ready, the idea expanded. Before I knew it, I was climbing through the fog toward the Hollywood Sign, rising above Los Angeles.
Something was different today. The cooler air and cloud cover kept the trails quieter than usual. It was also my first time hiking without a pack in months — and since I’d swapped my boots for trail runners on my last Yosemite trip, I felt light on my feet. My body still felt heavy at first, but I quickly found a rhythm. Without the extra weight, I moved faster, almost effortlessly, catching quick footholds and letting momentum carry me upward. The cool air felt like nature’s own air conditioner.
When I reached the lookout point above the Hollywood Sign, I was surprised at how quickly I arrived. I took a photo, then turned back almost immediately — not wanting to listen to the chatter of other hikers. (Yes, judgmental. I know.)
On the way down, I picked up my pace again — hopping between rocks, running the level stretches, fully focused on each step. Somewhere in that descent, it hit me: under the right conditions, I thrive when I’m pushing my own boundaries.
A sense of freedom washed over me as I found my rhythm again. Each step brought me back into the present moment, and with that came a wave of gratitude.
Gratitude for the moment.
Gratitude for the conditions that led me here.
Gratitude for the mindset to seize it.
When you step back far enough — to the scale of the cosmos — you realize we live on the only planet we know that sustains us naturally. Food, water, air — everything we need. Life itself is a miracle, the product of countless conditions aligning across millennia. We should cherish each living moment for the miracle it is.
Most of our suffering comes from disappointment — from things not turning out exactly how we imagined. But if everything did happen exactly the way we wanted, every single time, that would be like winning the lottery endlessly, moment after moment. The truth is, there are infinite possibilities in this world. Why get hung up on controlling any single one?
Be grateful that we are even here in the first place. That alone is a win. Let go of attachment, and release the illusion of control. We never truly had it — and that’s humbling in the best way.
When you start to see the miracles all around you, your problems fade to the periphery. They might still exist, but they no longer dominate your focus.
As always, this message is a note to self as much as it is for anyone else.
And finally, I must express gratitude — to you, for being open to these words.
Be well.
