Happy Friday, gents.

We’ve got ourselves a proper sports weekend. World Cup action. Knicks-Spurs. And the Carolina Hurricanes sitting one win away from hoisting Lord Stanley’s Cup.

Have a fun one. Get outside. Grill something. Throw a ball with the kids. Give your partner a little break.

We’ll see ya tomorrow morning, bright and early. We’re trying something new for summer.

PS: If you’re new here, we mix it up on Fridays with a quick recap from the week and a few extra gems to head into the weekend right.

"Childhood may be defined as the age of play; therefore some children are never young, and some adults are never old."

Will Durant

THE DIGEST

  • Wisdom of the Week: The problem is we're often moving so fast that we don't let certain moments land. The hard stuff gets highlighted. The good stuff gets filed away as normal. But one day, a lot of these "normal" moments are going to be the things we miss most. So here's your reminder to let the good stuff register.


  • Most Clicked: Why Every Dad Should Take a Solo Trip With Each Kid (And How to Do It at Every Age)


  • Most Clicked Gear: Backcountry Hooded Pullover


  • Deal of the Week: Greenworks 40V Leaf Blower (47% off)


📕 Read: 50 Hard Earned Lessons in Fatherhood

📺 Watch: World Cup — USA vs. Paraguay | 9pm ET FOX ⚽️

🍔 Eat/Drink: Easy Burrito Bowl Meal Prep

😂 Laugh: This Dude Got Called Out By David Goggins

IN THE TRENCHES

Topic: Motivation Behind Your Workouts

We asked y’all what's motivating your workouts right now. The overwhelming winner wasn't a race, a six-pack, or a number on the scale.

It was general health.

Here’s what folks had to say:

  • One dad wants to surf into his 70s 🤙

  • Another wants to keep beating his son at basketball for at least another decade

  • A few are training for marathons, triathlons, Spartan races, and charity rides

  • Others are simply trying to manage stress, recover from injuries, or have enough energy left at the end of the day for the people who matter most

The common thread?

Most dads aren't chasing fitness for fitness' sake. They're training for life.

To pick up their kids without throwing out their back. To stay mentally sharp. To be around longer. To set an example. To keep showing up.

As one dad put it:

"Signed up for a race to hold myself accountable, but the end goal is keeping up with the kids on a daily basis. Not for the present, but for 10-20 years from now."

That's probably the healthiest mindset in the room. The workout itself isn't the goal. The life it allows you to live is.

GARAGE

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Custom built-ins DIY project. Awesome job. Thanks for sharing, Blaze.

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WEEKEND BURNER

Set your clock for 20minutes and get as many rounds as you can.

  • 20 Walking Lunges w/Dumbbells

  • 20 Push Ups

  • 10 Sit-Ups

  • 400 m Run

ONE LAST THING

🧠 Worth Knowing: Researchers have found that nostalgia can actually boost mood, increase feelings of connection, and make people more optimistic about the future.

💯 Top Tier Summer Smells: Fresh-cut grass. Coffee brewing before everyone wakes up. Burgers on the grill. Ocean air. A campfire that actually started on the first try.

🎧 On Repeat: Some fresh jams dropped in our Dad Day Playlist. → Listen

dad shower thoughts: At some point, the songs your kids hear in the backseat today will become "the oldies."

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