Books

“Take All You Want, But Eat All You Take” — What the Smorgasbord Taught Me About Health, Stewardship & Self-Discipline

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There was a time when ‘all-you-can-eat’ wasn’t a dare.   It was a courtesy.   A freedom paired with a personal responsibility.   And maybe most importantly, a quiet reminder that:     Just because you can… doesn’t mean you should.     That idea sat front and center at the iconic Grey’s Cafeteria in Mooresville, Indiana; my family’s ‘go-to’ as a kid growing up in the heart of the Midwest. Their motto, posted in bold letters near the end of the line, said it all:   “Take all you want, but eat all you take.”   Simple. Sensible. And sorely missing in today’s super-sized world.     🥘 Grey’s Was More Than Just a Cafeteria   It was a community staple.   A smorgasbord of roast beef, mashed potatoes, green beans, and pies that made grown men weep (or nap). But there was nothing “gluttonous” about it. It was abundance with boundaries.   Which is why it felt personal when Grey’s closed its doors in February 2025 after 80 years, citing a potential rebrand or relocation. Will they reopen? Maybe. But something tells me… it won’t be quite the same.   A Visual Test: What Are Your Eyes Telling You?   Here’s a challenge. Grab a photo album from the 1940s, 50s, or 60s – maybe your parents or grandparents.   Look at the people. Church gatherings. Baseball games. Family reunions. School photos.   What do you notice?   There’s something visibly different…Leaner faces. Smaller waistlines. Different postures. Less bloat, less burden.   We can argue all day about willpower, motivation, and exercise routines. But ask yourself honestly:   🍔 From Real Meals to Food-Like Substances   That’s where Dr. Jason Fung’s book, The Obesity Code, comes in.   He argues that obesity isn’t just a calories-in, calories-out issue – it’s hormonal. Specifically tied to insulin resistance, refined carbs, and how often we eat.   Most of us are swimming in food options 24/7. But what we’re choosing – ultra-processed, hyper-palatable, insulin-spiking “products” – isn’t really food. It’s entertainment. It’s addictive. It’s profitable.   And it’s breaking our health, one bite at a time.     🛠️ Minimalism Isn’t Deprivation – It’s Discernment   I’m not anti-food. I love to eat. I love to grill. I’ve even built a brand around it.   But I’m a big believer that utility trumps excess, and that applies to food, time, possessions, and energy.   You don’t need 12 items on your plate. You need the right 3 – real food, cooked well, enjoyed in peace.   Same goes for your schedule. Your Amazon cart. Your supplement stack. If it’s not helping you live better… why’s it on your tray or in your ‘shopping cart’?     🧠 The Stoics Understood This Long Before We Had Processed Cheese   “It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor.”– Seneca   The Stoics weren’t against pleasure. They were against waste. Waste of time. Waste of virtue. Waste of health. And they knew that discipline isn’t punishment – it’s protection.   Those cafeteria signs – “Take all you want, but eat all you take” – were mini moral compasses.   They taught us to think before piling on. To choose wisely. To respect what we were given.   That’s Stoicism. That’s minimalism. That’s stewardship.     🌎 Modern Stewardship: A Bigger Picture   When we talk about stewardship today, let’s broaden the definition:   🏁 Final Thoughts From the ‘Buffet Line of Life’   We’re not just dealing with a health crisis – we’re facing a clarity crisis. We’ve forgotten how to separate what we can do from what we should do.   Grey’s Cafeteria may have closed, but the lesson still holds:   You don’t have to load up your plate – just fill it with what truly serves you.   So – whether you’re dining, shopping, planning your day, or pursuing your passions…   Remember: Take all you want, but eat all you take.Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.   Let’s choose with purpose. Let’s live with rhythm. And let’s never forget the wisdom of a cafeteria tray and a Stoic heart. — – BrianHealth Hacker. Minimalist Meatloaf Philosopher. Still cleaning my plate at LivinBestLife.com.

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Faith, Fire, and the Philosophical Path: My Journey into Stoicism and Epicureanism

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Until October of 2020, I hadn’t spent much time with Greek philosophy—at least, not consciously.   Like many people raised in a traditional faith, I once believed that philosophy was an alternative to religion, maybe even a threat to it. I was raised in the Catholic faith and later moved toward non-denominational Christian communities in the late ’80s after settling in Maryland. The thought of diving into Stoic or Epicurean texts seemed like stepping outside the bounds of spiritual “safety.”   But life has a way of reintroducing us to wisdom in unexpected forms.   My entry point was Stoicism—first through a work colleague then modern voices interpreting it (think Ryan Holiday, Daily Stoic emails, and YouTube channels breaking down Marcus Aurelius into bite-sized insights). As with many of my pursuits throughout my life’s journey, I go in with both feet!   What struck me wasn’t how foreign it felt, but how familiar. These weren’t ideas pulling me away from faith—they were reinforcing the kind of character my faith had always encouraged.   Shortly afterward, I encountered Epicureanism—another misunderstood school of thought.   It’s often reduced to “pleasure-seeking,” but in truth, Epicurus preached something far richer: that true pleasure is peace, freedom from unnecessary desires, and a life lived among friends. This wasn’t hedonism—it was harmony.   Both schools offered tools I didn’t know I was missing: And together, they added texture and shape to my spiritual life rather than replacing it.   Philosophy and Faith: Not Opponents, But Partners   I’ve come to believe that philosophy and religion can coexist—beautifully. Where religion connects me to the divine, to purpose, and to a broader sense of meaning, philosophy gives me a daily operating manual. It’s not either/or. It’s both/and.   Stoicism doesn’t deny God (and my blog isn’t to promote religion or the existence/nonexistence of God; whatever one believes is up to them. My intent is to simply share information about life from all angles).   It simply teaches that we should act in accordance with nature, with reason, and with virtue.   Epicureanism doesn’t mock faith—it encourages us to remove unnecessary fears (like a wrathful god or the unknown after death) so we can focus on being good humans now. These schools help strip away the cultural baggage that sometimes distorts spiritual truth and leave behind what’s essential: love, temperance, friendship, courage, and clarity.   Living the Wisdom, Not Just Reading It   Since discovering these philosophies, I’ve tried to integrate them—not as some performative daily checklist, but as a mindset shift. “You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think.”   That’s not fear—that’s freedom. It’s gratitude sharpened into action.   Final Thoughts   Philosophy didn’t replace my faith. It refined it. It didn’t pull me into isolation—it helped me re-engage with the world on clearer terms. And it’s a journey I’d recommend to anyone, regardless of where they stand spiritually.   If you’ve ever felt stuck between religion and reason, between dogma and doubt, maybe it’s time to read a little Marcus. Or Epicurus. You don’t have to “convert” to philosophy. You just have to listen—and let the wisdom echo where it belongs: in how you live your life.   Because whether you’re kneeling in a church, journaling at sunrise, or grilling with your friends, truth—real truth—tends to show up in the same places.   And if you’re lucky, it’ll make you a better version of whoever you already are.   If you’re interested in ‘dipping your toe in the water’ of Greek philosophy, I recommend: – Brian Keep readin’ &  thinkin’!

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The Power of Reading: A Lifelong Gift from Mom

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It’s early morning June 6, 2025, and I’m reflecting on my memories of my coach Jay since his passing yesterday occupies most of my thoughts at present.   While sipping my coffee, I’m also thinking about how grateful I am for my mother, who died in 2007. She was a voracious reader and her example lit a fire in me that’s never gone out. On LivinBestLife.com, I often talk about chasing what brings joy, and for me, reading is right up there with motorcycling, skiing or grilling with friends. It’s shaped my personal development in ways I can’t overstate, and I want to share why it matters so much.   Mom always had a book in her hand, whether she was waiting for us kids or winding down after a long day on our Indiana farm. Watching her lose herself in those pages made reading feel like an adventure, not a chore. It stuck with me, even when I struggled early on. I’ll never forget my “reading lab” teacher in school—ironically, the mother of a classmate who married one of my childhood friends. She used this device with a mirror and light to train my eyes to move faster across the page. Looking back, I wonder if comprehension even factored in, but it worked—I got faster, and soon I was devouring books like Mom did.   That friend, by the way, goes way back. Her family helped us start our sheep farm when I was about 8, and she was a school year older. Last July, in 2024, we took a motorcycle trip together to upstate New York, cruising through open roads with the wind in our faces. As we rode, I couldn’t help but think about how those early days—her family’s support, my reading lab experiences – set me on a path to where I am now. Reading opened my mind to new ideas, resilience, and balance, core values I live by.   I recently read a quote (something to the effect) that reading allows us to live hundreds or thousands of lives during our single life.   Profound way of thinking about it, actually!   Reading isn’t just about stories—it’s about growth. It builds empathy, sharpens your mind, and lets you travel without leaving your chair. Books have been my mentors when I couldn’t find one in person, teaching me to live with purpose and joy.   Reading’s a habit that’s fueled my journey, from those farm days to now, chasing my best life. It’s a gift I’m passing to my kids, just like Mom did for me.   The Adventures Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn were two books that had an impact on me in my early youth.   What books have shaped your path?   Drop your favorites in the comments—I’d love to build a reading list with my tribe.   Let’s keep growing together, one page at a time!   Keep reading, Brian  

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Four Thousand Weeks: What Will You Do With Yours?

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By now, I’ve lived a good portion of my 4,000 weeks. If you’re reading this and are anywhere near my age, chances are you have too.   That number – FOUR THOUSAND – is the average human lifespan, expressed in weeks.   Not years. Not decades.   Just… WEEKS.   It sounds short.   Because it is.   Let it sink in.   I came across Oliver Burkeman’s Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals after someone described it to me as “the anti-productivity productivity book.”   That caught my attention.   As a guy who has run a business, coached teams, raised a family, and still finds time to ski hard and grill lamb like a champion, I’ve read my fair share of time management books. Most preach the same gospel: But Burkeman? He flips the script. Time Isn’t a Resource—It’s Life Itself   What Burkeman reminds us – sometimes uncomfortably – is that time isn’t this external thing we manage. It’s the actual fabric of our lives. And every time we try to “master” it with hacks and shortcuts, we often wind up missing the point.   He doesn’t suggest we give up on goals or stop trying to improve.   But he does challenge the obsession with efficiency for its own sake.   That hit home for me.   Because if I’ve learned anything in my own Third Chapter of life, it’s that presence beats productivity every time. The Beauty of Limits   Burkeman argues that we don’t suffer from having too little time – we suffer because we refuse to accept our limits.   We’re taught to believe we can do it all: and still have time for cold plunges, journaling, and intermittent fasting.   But we can’t. And that’s okay. We just have to accept being okay with this mindset.   The real freedom, Burkeman says, comes not from doing everything, but from choosing a few things—and doing them well.   I couldn’t agree more. That’s why I ski fewer resorts, but ski them deeper. Why I grill the same lamb recipe I learned at 10 and still find joy in it. Why I read slowly, revisit books like this one, and write blog posts not to go viral – but to connect. Mortality Isn’t Morbid—It’s Motivating   The book isn’t gloomy. It’s liberating.   Burkeman encourages us to make peace with our limited time not by cramming more into each day, but by treating time as something sacred. Something to be savored.   He urges us to resist the trap of “deferred living” where joy is always just one completed task away.   Sound familiar?   Instead, he calls for delight in the ordinary. The walk, the quiet meal, the moment of conversation that wasn’t on your to-do list.   He points out that our attitude should be that we GET to make choices with the time we have, not HAVING to make choices. It’s all in the mindset.   If you’re like me – navigating life after 50 with a strong back, a curious mind, and an evolving sense of what matters – this book is a must-read. Not because it’ll help you “do more,” but because it helps you do what counts. Key Takeaways (or “Week-Wise Wisdom”) Final Thought   Reading Four Thousand Weeks felt like talking to a wise friend who isn’t trying to get me to join into whatever brings him joy or a productivity app—but simply reminding me:   This. Is. It.   You’ve got four thousand weeks. Maybe more. Maybe less.   So, if you’re still waiting for the right time to book that ski trip, try that new grilling idea, or finally order the DNA test you’ve been putting off—consider this your nudge.   Because the clock isn’t ticking down. It’s ticking with you.   And you’re still livin’ your best life—one week at a time.     Live! Brian

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The Importance of a Core Library: Building a Life of Wisdom and Balance

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I’m a guy who’s passionate about living my best life: chasing health and happiness with a good dose of curiosity and grit.   I’m no scholar, but I’ve learned one thing for sure: reading is the ultimate cheat code for leveling up in life. Books are like mentors you can carry in your pocket, offering wisdom from the greatest minds across history.   Over the years, I’ve built a ‘core’ library – a collection of books that shape my thinking, keep me grounded, and push me to grow. These aren’t just books; they’re tools I use for navigating the chaos of life with clarity and purpose. Today, I’m sharing why reading is non-negotiable and why having a core library is the foundation for a life well-lived, along with the current 12 books that make up mine.     Why Reading Matters   In a world of endless notifications and 30-second videos, reading is a rebellion. It’s you saying, “I’m taking back my attention and feeding my mind.”   Books force you to slow down, think deeply, and wrestle with big ideas.   They’re not just entertainment; they’re training for your brain. Reading exposes you to perspectives you’d never encounter otherwise, from ancient philosophers to modern economists. It’s how you learn to question the noise, cut through the fluff, and build a worldview that’s yours, not borrowed.   A core library takes this further. It’s not about having a bookshelf that looks pretty on Instagram. It’s about curating a set of books that speak to the pillars of your life—health, purpose, relationships, wealth, and wisdom. These are the books you return to, the ones that anchor you when life gets messy. My core library is my personal council of advisors, each book offering a unique lens on how to live better.   I’ll add that if there are negative comments online about any of these authors, I want to be clear that I’m not encouraging or endorsing anything divisive. This is about the message, not the person/author. It’s OK if you disagree but please keep negative comments out of any feedback. Take what you need and leave the rest.   Here’s why these 12 made the cut.   My Core Library   The Obesity Code by Jason Fung This book cracked open the truth about nutrition for me. Fung, a nephrologist, dives into why obesity isn’t just about calories in, calories out—it’s about hormones, especially insulin. He breaks down complex science into practical advice, like how intermittent fasting can reset your body’s metabolism. I keep this in my library because it’s a no-nonsense guide to taking control of my health in a world obsessed with fad diets. It’s not about quick fixes; it’s about understanding your body and making choices that last.   As A Man Thinketh by James Allen This slim classic is a powerhouse on the power of thought. Allen argues that your mind is like a garden—what you plant, grows. Positive, disciplined thinking shapes your character and destiny, while negative thoughts breed failure. I love its simplicity and timelessness. It’s in my library because it reminds me that my mindset is my greatest asset. When I’m stuck or stressed, this book is a quick reset to focus on what I can control: my thoughts.   The Handbook for New Stoics by Massimo Pigliucci and Gregory Lopez Stoicism isn’t about being emotionless; it’s about finding tranquility in a chaotic world. This book is a practical guide with 52 weekly exercises to apply Stoic principles like resilience and perspective. I keep it close because it’s like a workout for my soul, helping me stay calm and focused no matter what life throws at me. It’s a reminder that peace comes from within, not from external wins.   Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl Frankl, a Holocaust survivor, shares his experiences in Nazi concentration camps and his discovery that meaning is the key to survival. His logotherapy framework argues that finding purpose, even in suffering, is what keeps us going. This book is in my library because it’s a gut punch and a beacon of hope. It reminds me to seek meaning in my struggles and to live with intention, no matter the circumstances.   The Art of Happiness by Epicurus Epicurus gets a bad rap as a hedonist, but his philosophy is about sustainable pleasure—friendship, simplicity, and reflection over excess. This collection of his teachings shows how to find joy in the small stuff while avoiding pain. I include it because it balances my drive for achievement with a reminder to savor life’s simple pleasures, like a good meal or a sunset.   Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom This heartwarming memoir chronicles Albom’s conversations with his dying professor, Morrie, who shares lessons on love, forgiveness, and compassion. It’s a masterclass in what really matters when time’s running out. I keep this book in my library because it softens my edges, reminding me to prioritize relationships and lead with empathy in a world that often feels cold.   Start with Why by Simon Sinek Sinek’s book is a game-changer for motivation. He argues that great leaders and organizations start with a clear “why”—their purpose—before tackling the “how” or “what.” It’s not just for business; it’s for life. This book is in my library because it pushes me to align my actions with my deeper purpose, whether I’m building a side hustle or planning my day. It’s fuel for staying driven.   12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson Peterson’s blend of psychology, mythology, and practical advice offers a roadmap for navigating life’s complexities. His rules, like “stand up straight with your shoulders back” or “tell the truth,” cut through modern confusion with timeless wisdom. I keep this in my library for its bold perspective—it challenges me to take responsibility for my life and find order in the chaos.   Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki This personal finance classic contrasts the mindsets of Kiyosaki’s “rich dad” (an

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