The Daily Meaning

Take your mornings to the next level with a daily dose of perspective and encouragement to start your day off right. Sign-up for a free, short-form blog delivered to your inbox each morning, 7 days per week. Some days we talk about money, but usually not. We believe you’ll take away something valuable to help you on your journey. Sign up to join the hundreds of people who read Travis’s blog each morning.

“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 6/9/25 Travis Shelton 6/9/25

Losing Track

If I were to put a checkmark in the "con" category of pursuing work that matters, one might be this: Every day feels the same.

Travis Shelton 6/8/25 Travis Shelton 6/8/25

You Didn’t Put a Ring On It

All we have is the present. We can't go back and redo what's already happened, and we can't yet influence the future. Today is what we have to work with, so we might as well honor it by following our calling.

Travis Shelton 6/7/25 Travis Shelton 6/7/25

Downshifting

Most of the negative feedback revolved around the idea that some people who are retired still work, volunteer, be productive, and use their skills. If that's you, I applaud you. But I also have some bad news for you. You're not actually retired. See, I think culture has created a perverted definition of the word "retirement."

Travis Shelton 6/6/25 Travis Shelton 6/6/25

1/3 Through the Race

Today, I'm almost 44 years old. As I reflect on the past 20 years, I realize I'm about 1/3 through my career. So much has happened already, but I can't even fathom what's about to happen in the next 40 years of my career.

Travis Shelton 6/5/25 Travis Shelton 6/5/25

The No Lending Rule

Sarah and I have a rule in our marriage that's so engrained into our being that I forget it's considered weird. We will NEVER lend money to someone. Nobody. No amount. For any reason. There's not a single exception we would ever make to this rule.

Travis Shelton 6/4/25 Travis Shelton 6/4/25

Never As Good As We Believe

At the same time, however, we encountered and discovered gut-wrenching problems that knocked us down a peg or two on the ego scale. This is a universal principle I firmly believe in: No matter how good we might think we're doing, we're never as good as we believe. Danger lurks behind every corner, and our successes often mask the warts.

Travis Shelton 6/3/25 Travis Shelton 6/3/25

Four and a Quarter

It's easy to look at that number - $4.25/hour - and laugh. It was so little, especially after taxes were withheld. However, it might as well have been a million dollars for a 15-year-old kid trying to save money for his first car.

Travis Shelton 6/2/25 Travis Shelton 6/2/25

Unbusy

Travis Shelton 6/1/25 Travis Shelton 6/1/25

Excellence, On Display

People don't care about supporting you; they care that you're excellent. If you're excellent, they will come. If you aren't, they won't. This is always painfully obvious in a farmer's market setting.

Travis Shelton 5/31/25 Travis Shelton 5/31/25

Worst Nightmare or Dream Come True

What would you do if you suddenly had enough money to live and no longer had to worry about finances?.....with one catch: You MUST quit work.

Travis Shelton 5/30/25 Travis Shelton 5/30/25

The Book Challenge

What is the most impactful book (or few books) you've ever read?

Travis Shelton 5/29/25 Travis Shelton 5/29/25

Even When You Don’t See It

Here's the beautiful thing, though. Impact is still impact, even when you don't see it. It all counts the same whether you're watching it first-hand or if you never know about it at all.

Travis Shelton 5/28/25 Travis Shelton 5/28/25

The Many Paths to Neither-ville

The primary reason for Neithers being Neithers is a core belief in personal responsibility, independence, and autonomy. That's 100% true, and I'll die on that hill. However, that's not the only path to Neither-ville; there are many paths! That's why our collective aggregation toward Nither-ville is so pervasive.

Travis Shelton 5/27/25 Travis Shelton 5/27/25

Symptoms vs. Afflictions

Perspective matters, and in the case of our work, we need to realize that our mindset and attitude impact our experience. If we're not actually living, there's no amount of job changes that will make us feel meaning in our work.

Travis Shelton 5/26/25 Travis Shelton 5/26/25

But Would You Live For Them?

"I would die for my family," exclaimed one of my friends. One by one, each of my friends said the same thing. As a husband and father, they would die for their family. Noble. I agreed with them about this sentiment. If push came to shove, I would sacrifice myself for my family. However, I asked a follow-up question. "Yeah, but would you live for your family?"

Travis Shelton 5/25/25 Travis Shelton 5/25/25

One Round At a Time

Then, in a fun little twist of fate, he was met by Antonio, one of our newest baristas. Since we aren't a normal coffee shop, Antonio isn't a normal barista. Antonio is a 6'9" undefeated professional heavyweight boxer. He's a beast.

Travis Shelton 5/24/25 Travis Shelton 5/24/25

Happy Anniversary, Wall!

Yesterday was the first and only one-year anniversary of not having a car crash through our shop's walls. We've been open for nearly three years, and until yesterday, we've never gone 12 months without having our space devastated by a speeding vehicle.

Travis Shelton 5/23/25 Travis Shelton 5/23/25

Feel a Way, Man

Then, I changed the subject: "Tell me about your work." His eyes instantly lit up, and a huge smile landed on his face as if there was an awakening inside him.

Travis Shelton 5/22/25 Travis Shelton 5/22/25

Givers, Receivers, Neithers, and Eithers

We got a problem. I know that's not correct grammar, but it sounds better. We got a problem!

Travis Shelton 5/21/25 Travis Shelton 5/21/25

Enough

At what point in your life is it time to start giving financially? Is it a certain income? Is it once you meet xyz financial goals? Is it a certain standard of living? Is it a certain level of stability or security?

The Daily Meaning

Not already a subscriber? Get the blog delivered right to your inbox.

“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!"