you never know screen shot 576x1024 You Never Know What Will Work

I was surprised to see this!

A week ago I felt like I had nothing to write. I knew that it I needed to write something. Anything. It had been close to a week.

So I sat down to write in the morning for a short sprint.

My Tuesday mornings are usually pretty busy so after struggling to get words on a page for about 30 minutes, I had to go to work.

Later that day, I came back to the work I had started in the morning. Nothing that I had written looked inspired. It all felt forced.

But it wasn’t a finished post yet. So I had to keep working on it, even though it seemed like junk. Laboriously, I slogged through even more of it.

I still felt uninspired. Continue Reading…

Give Yourself Grace

May 14, 2013 — 2 Comments

 

Last week, I was indirectly bragging about getting up early and working out. I talked about being weird because normal is dumb.

Well, for most of the rest of the week, I didn’t wake up early and work out, and I didn’t do all that much writing or reading. Or healthy eating.

Marcos Pizza 1024x768 Give Yourself Grace

An example of why I need to give myself grace.

By the end of the week, I was feeling like a pretty big screwup. I started to chastise myself: Continue Reading…

Normal Is Dumb

May 8, 2013 — 5 Comments

I was pretty tired this morning when I woke up at 5. The fact that I had planned to ride my bike to gym to meet my friends there made me feel even more tired.

normal is dumb 1024x1024 Normal Is Dumb

Reluctantly, I got my gym clothes on, checked the weather, and then put on my Vibram Five Fingers shoes, or “those weird toe-shoes” to most people. Continue Reading…

This is a guest post from the best mom ever, my wife, Sara. I’m so thankful for her!

I don’t know when I began our ritual, but it was sometime before Lylah’s first birthday. While she sat in her high chair, I would poke myself in the chest while saying “Mama.” Then I would poke her in the chest while saying “Lylah.”  When Austin was around, I would repeat the ritual, adding in “Dada” as I poked him.

Lylah Standing 1024x1024 The Importance of Persistence

Raising this sweet, little one takes persistence.

I would do this almost daily, usually when she was in her high chair. I bet some days I did it at all 3 meals. Usually, Lylah would just smile at me, or giggle after I poked her. By the time she was 1, she was able to recognize me as “Mama” and Austin as “Dada.” These were her first words and I don’t know about Austin, but I cried with joy the first time she looked at me… really looked at me… and said “Mama.” Continue Reading…

 

Alarm 576x1024 Wake Up Early, Change Your Life

I set this alarm for every day.

I woke up fifteen minutes before my alarm today. The clock read “4:45.”

I willingly got out of bed at 5:05am. And yes, this is the Austin D. Hill you know.

Even though I’m feeling a little groggy right now, and drinking some of the worst Starbucks coffee I’ve ever had, but am too lazy to go complain about it, I’m happy I woke up early today.

In truth, I never regret the mornings when I get up early.

Most of the time, I end up having more energy than I realized I had, and even when I am feeling a little tired, I’ve still always been glad for the time I had when I woke up early.

As much of a challenge as it is to wake up early, the benefits always outweigh the cost. Here are five reasons why I’m making it a habit to wake up early most days.

Continue Reading…