Hello Reader,

Last year, my 50th birthday didn’t quite go as planned.

We had renovations happening—dust in the air, timelines shifting, rooms half-done. The idea of a big celebration faded quickly into background noise. And for a while, I felt a little disappointed by that.

But as the day came and went, I realized something: maybe it wasn’t the party I missed. Maybe it was the marker—a moment to pause and say: This matters. I’ve made it here. Let’s honour that.

And now, with my next birthday around the corner, that desire hasn’t gone away.

But it’s evolved. I don’t need a big party. I don’t need the fanfare.

I need space. I need rhythm. I need something to look forward to—and back on—with clarity.

Because a milestone doesn’t always need a megaphone. Sometimes it just needs meaning.

This time around, I’m doing things differently. I’m shaping time with more intention. Not just on the day of my birthday—but in the days around it, the weeks ahead of it, and the way I carry that feeling forward.

And maybe that’s the real celebration: Not the cake, the guests, or the gift cards… but the chance to shape your time, your attention, and your energy with purpose.

Because when you look back, you won’t remember everything you did. You’ll remember how present you were when it counted.

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Look

Jim Croce didn’t have a lot of time on this planet—but he made more of it than most.

This documentary on YouTube captures the spirit and soul behind the man who wrote some of the most time-conscious songs of the 20th century—“Time in a Bottle,” “Photographs and Memories,” and of course, “I Got a Name.”

That last one holds a special place for me. It’s a song about legacy, identity, and moving forward—no matter the past. Croce’s music didn’t just capture time... it honoured it. And while his own time was tragically short, the mark he made continues to echo—this time around, and the next. Watch the documentary here.​

Listen

What if every moment—no matter how ordinary—held the weight of a farewell and the wonder of a beginning? That’s the sentiment at the heart of The Life of Chuck, the new Mike Flanagan–directed adaptation of Stephen King’s short story. In this conversation on The Kingcast, Flanagan dives into why this story struck such a chord with him—and how it became the most personal project of his career. Listen to the episode here.​

Note: As I left the theatre after seeing the film, I realized it might become a companion piece to "About Time" in my own yearly reflection ritual. It reminds me that "this time around" isn’t just about second chances—it’s about savouring this time, this moment.

Learn

Summer has a rhythm all its own—and if we’re not careful, it can knock us off ours.

In How to Deal with The Summertime Slide, I unpack strategies to stay steady when the season tempts us to drift. From simplifying your tools to rethinking your workload, this piece offers ways to stay productive without fighting summer’s flow. Read the article here.​

The Final Flicker

Life rarely goes according to plan. But meaning doesn’t need a perfect setup.

Sometimes the gift is in the reset. The second chance to show up the way you hoped you would the first time.

Make space. Mark the moment.

And this time around… be there for it.

See you later,
Mike

P.S. If you'd like to get me a gift for my birthday, buying a copy of The Productivity Diet would do nicely. (And it'd also be a gift for you as well.)

Thanks for reading. Your time is valuable, and I don’t take it for granted. In a world pulling us in all directions, thanks for choosing The Lantern.

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