Hey guys. Hope Labor Day weekend treated you well. We took Monday off. But we’re so back.
And more importantly…football is back. The Patriots take on the Seahawks tonight at 8:20 ET.
Let’s go.
Here’s what’s on tap today:
Pressure is privilege
The smell of rain
New shades
Hydrogen water
And more...
Let’s get into it.
If you’re new here, welcome. Happy to have ya!
📕 DAD WISDOM
Pressure is a Privilege
Been watching a lot of the US Open, and Billie Jean King’s line “pressure is a privilege” shows up quite a bit.
We’ve all heard that quote probably a hundred times, but I actually feel it these days.
Three kids. Work. Marriage. Life. Trying to be good at all of it. Some days you wake up feeling like you’re already down a set.
But most of that pressure exists because there’s something in your life worth giving a damn about.
People are counting on you. You’ve got things you want to build. A family you want to provide for. Kids you want to do right by.
I’m not sure the goal is to have less pressure. Maybe every once in a while it’s just remembering why we’re lucky enough to have it.
SMALL TALK
A couple random facts you probably don’t need to know… but might come in handy the next time you're standing around at a kid’s birthday party making awkward conversation with another dad you barely know.
The average person can recognize around 5,000 faces. Researchers found some people know as few as 1,000 and others closer to 10,000. Which makes forgetting the name of the guy you’ve met four times even more impressive.
Kids really do have a stronger sweet tooth than adults. Research shows children prefer significantly higher levels of sweetness, with that preference gradually dropping toward adult levels during adolescence. So the desire to put syrup on absolutely everything is at least partially biological.
The smell of rain has a name: petrichor. That smell comes partly from a compound called geosmin released from soil, and humans are remarkably sensitive to it. You can detect geosmin at concentrations of just a few parts per trillion.
DAD GEAR
Racer Sunglasses
American Optical took the classic pilot shape they’ve been making since the late ’50s and gave it a sharper acetate frame. Polarized, made in the USA, and just a really good-looking pair of sunglasses.
🛒 WHAT ELSE WE’RE ADDING TO CART
» Bamboo Lightweight Fleece Crew
» SHOKZ Open-Ear Bluetooth Headphones
» Samsung Frame TV (37% off)
DAD BOD
Hydrogen Water
Hydrogen water is basically regular water with extra molecular hydrogen dissolved into it, and the pitch is that it may help with oxidative stress, inflammation, and recovery.
The science is interesting, but still early. A 2024 review found some small benefits around fatigue and lower-body power, but no meaningful improvement in VO2 max, endurance, or strength.
So…probably not snake oil, but definitely not a miracle either. If you’re curious, try it. Just don’t put it ahead of sleep, protein, hydration, and actually working out.
JUNK DRAWER
» 📕 10 Phrases That Can Stop a Meltdown in Its Tracks
» 🎥 How to Grill Perfect Mexican Chicken Tacos
» 🎧 The Gratitude Shift
DAD HUMOR
