The Daily Meaning

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“Your daily blog posts have become a great part of my morning routine, waking up and reading your posts challenge me to reflect on something that matters in my life or view something from a different perspective.”
"Love starting my morning with a daily dose of positivity or perspective!"

Daily Meaning Reader

Travis Shelton 1/3/25 Travis Shelton 1/3/25

One, One, One

One of my friends dropped a pretty fun wisdom bomb on me yesterday. As we discussed the piece titled "Is this the year?" he shared a concept that stuck with me. He calls it the "one, one, one." Each year, he'll discern what he wants to focus on in the year to come. Focusing on too many things is never productive, so this is where his concept comes to life.

Travis Shelton 1/2/25 Travis Shelton 1/2/25

First, Stop the Bleeding

Debt continues to crush our society. Across the board, debt levels continue to rise. Record high credit card debt. Record high auto loan debt. Record high student loan debt. The pendulum has swung toward more debt.....and it's not swinging back. As I see this play out in the lives of families, I'm literally watching this debt erode people's lives from the inside-out.

Travis Shelton 1/1/25 Travis Shelton 1/1/25

Is This the Year?

While every day is a great day to make changes, there's something special about New Year's. Closing the book on one chapter, beginning another. A reset of the calendar. New hope. Endless possibilities. It's a time to reflect on what was, and dream about what could be.

Travis Shelton 12/31/24 Travis Shelton 12/31/24

Build It, Break It, Fix It, Repeat

Travis Shelton 12/30/24 Travis Shelton 12/30/24

Today Is a Great Day to Change Your Life

Travis Shelton 12/29/24 Travis Shelton 12/29/24

The Mortality Is Real

Over the past 48 hours, I've realized how much this has impacted me. We often live our day-to-day lives with the general assumption we have a long time remaining. We picture ourselves as old, wrinkly, and frail. We treat our days, weeks, and months as if there will be countless more to follow.

Travis Shelton 12/28/24 Travis Shelton 12/28/24

Focusing On the Right Keywords

See, it's never about chasing insecurity, counter-culturalism, irresponsibility, or controversial path. It's about chasing meaning. It's about understanding ourselves enough to know what work matters to us, and what work doesn't.

Travis Shelton 12/27/24 Travis Shelton 12/27/24

Ode To Insecurity

I'm so freaking proud of this guy. Not so much for what he's accomplished, but for the road-less-traveled example he's setting for hundreds or thousands of people around him. It's one thing to say it, but another to live it. He and Kate live it.

Travis Shelton 12/26/24 Travis Shelton 12/26/24

Now What?

This can be a depressing and loaded question. Science shows that the anticipation for a particular event is as fulfilling and enriching as the event itself. That's why we often experience hangovers when the event is done. A mourning. A grieving. A lonely feeling. That's what I'm experiencing as I'm lying here awake. Now what?

Travis Shelton 12/25/24 Travis Shelton 12/25/24

A Christmas Fortune

Contentment. For many, today is about getting more and having more. Millions of Americans will inventory all the cool gadgets and gizmos they now possess. Countless people will record and publish "Christmas haul" videos on YouTube, showcasing their new swag.

Travis Shelton 12/24/24 Travis Shelton 12/24/24

You’re Still An Author

Each day, when you wake up, you're the author of your journey. Every decision you make, every encounter you have, every challenge you face, and every win you celebrate each represent an excerpt in the story you're writing.

Travis Shelton 12/23/24 Travis Shelton 12/23/24

But What Inputs?

As you probably know, I love investing. It's been a passion of mine since I was 16 years old. To summarize, I'm a big believer in investing in the entirety of the U.S. stock market, paying as few fees as possible, and remaining extremely patient. Doing so has a 154-year track record of success (9.2% per year over 154 years and 10.4% per year for the last 100 years).

Travis Shelton 12/22/24 Travis Shelton 12/22/24

It’s the Inputs, Man!

On the flip side, I'm a big believer in focusing on the inputs. If we do the right things for the right reasons, and stay consistent with it, the outputs will eventually reveal that. When we dwell on the inputs, unwanted outputs don't necessarily have to derail us. In the case of the house, we absolutely made the right decision. We did the right thing despite the outcome.

Travis Shelton 12/21/24 Travis Shelton 12/21/24

The Unlikeliest of Inspiration

Then, he added something else. "Do you know the Mickey Christmas Carol movie? That's what made me interested in helping people who are poor and don't have homes. They talked about it on there, and I was really interested. Giving stuff to people for free and helping them."

Travis Shelton 12/20/24 Travis Shelton 12/20/24

Corralling the Impulses

One of my friends, frustrated with his continual debt, reached out and asked a practical question: "How do you stop overspending?" Despite a fantastic income, he and his wife have ebbed and flowed in and out of credit card debt for nearly two decades. They are frustrated. They are tired. They are stressed.

Travis Shelton 12/19/24 Travis Shelton 12/19/24

The Relentless Pursuit of Excellence

"I want to create the single best coffee shop in America." Uh, ok. Pretty audacious for someone who had failed in his first few iterations of the company.

Travis Shelton 12/18/24 Travis Shelton 12/18/24

The Creep Is Real

Today, I'm going to share the story of a friend. It's about his unique situation, but the same story plays out in millions of homes. It's the story of lifestyle creep. Lifestyle creep is a term that gets thrown around a lot, but today, I will give you a real-world example to shine a light on how destructive it can be.

Travis Shelton 12/17/24 Travis Shelton 12/17/24

Keep Doing Good

Our nation was hit with another senseless school shooting yesterday. It was the latest in a string of tragic events that have ripped countless families apart. Day after day, bad things keep happening. Do you ever wake up some days and ask yourself why all this keeps happening?

Travis Shelton 12/16/24 Travis Shelton 12/16/24

Giving > Getting

Travis Shelton 12/15/24 Travis Shelton 12/15/24

The Daily Meaning

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“Your daily blog posts have become a great part of my morning routine, waking up and reading your posts challenge me to reflect on something that matters in my life or view something from a different perspective.”

"Love starting my morning with a daily dose of positivity or perspective!"