This is my journal entry from September 1, 2025, part of my daily autobiography The Kind Divorce — my real, unedited days, published in order.
I got my Author in St. Petersburg book in the mail today, and it looks absolutely beautiful. The design I created in Photoshop in less than an hour printed out perfectly. On the back cover there’s a picture of my ex-wife and the kids, and on the front a big photo of my face. Holding it in my hands feels amazing. I love it. I’m so excited and validated to be on this journey as an author.
At the same time, massage school at the the massage school—SSMT—starts in just one week. I think this diary book could focus on my first months in massage school. Originally, I thought I should begin on the first day of class, but now I see it might be better to start a week earlier, documenting my life in these days leading up to it, then transition straight into the school experience.
This afternoon I had an Ashiatsu barefoot massage with my massage therapist. I’m grateful she agreed to trade with me—her massage in exchange for my marketing help, setting up her website, and some life coaching with her partner her partner. I sent her a voice memo this morning asking if she’d be open to trading instead of me paying. She said was hesitant at first but after we talked, she was willing, and I’m so thankful she was flexible. Trading feels so much more joyful than money when it’s possible. Money is useful when no trade exists, but when you can exchange value directly, it just feels better.
Ironically, before the session I was tangled up in tension about paying versus trading, what our friendship might look like long-term, and whether we’d keep working together. I was even observing thoughts about canceling the massage today. Thankfully, I recognized that entire line of thinking as insanity and chose to ignore it. When my mind is pushing me toward something that will result in feeling bad or being petty, I’m grateful I consistently do the opposite. I realized canceling was crazy—I couldn’t cancel without paying anyway—and I told myself I’d go and enjoy it. I’m glad I did. The massage was incredible. I felt fantastic afterward, and my massage therapist and I had a great talk. I’m excited to build her website and talk with her and her partner on Wednesday.
It makes me laugh because for years I was a snob about building websites. I told myself I was above that kind of work, that I wasn’t a web designer, even though I always built my own site. I never even considered helping people like my massage therapist with their marketing. I was too fixated on being world famous on YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, etc. Unplugging from all that noise has shifted my perspective. Now I pay attention to real people in my life and think about how I can help them. I love this transition to being local. Adding massage to what I already offer as an author, speaker, and coach feels like the right next step.
The day started with tennis at the Labor Day Clinic at the tennis club, which was a blast. I saw a girl who went to preschool with my daughter. I had been wondering how she was doing, especially since I’d seen her dad at the men’s clinic, so it was nice to see the rest of the family. The daughter didn’t remember me, which made me a little sad. Back when she was little, she used to run up and give me big hugs. A couple times when I volunteered in her class with my daughter, she ran after me to give me a hug when I left and got upset about me leaving. The last time I saw her was about four or five years ago at the tennis club pool. I wonder how many people remember me that I don’t ever think of.
After the tennis clinic, I played doubles with a man and his wife, partnering with another woman from the clinic. It was fun, light, and social with the other team beating us in a tie breaker. I also exchanged numbers with the mom on the court next to us to give her 12-year-old son the option to play with me since he’s so good I’m pretty sure he could beat me and I’m always looking for anyone that can play around my level of intensity in singles.
From there, I went straight to my yoga instructor’s yoga class at my yoga studio. It was awesome, as always. When I came home, I helped my ex-wife take a nap by entertaining and feeding the kids, then went to my massage with my massage therapist, then later to my AA meeting. I’m glad these diary entries are shorter now. That’s my day today, and I’m grateful to have it written down to share.
If you connect with how I live and think, you can follow the rest of my days on YouTube in my Life playlist.