An Open Letter to My Children About Emotional Boundaries
A father reflects on emotional boundaries, relationship maturity, and protecting your peace in this open letter to his children about choosing the right life partner.
Embracing Enough: Welcome to Lou LaMedica’s Personal Blog
"Embracing Enough" is my exploration of a life well-lived—where gratitude meets growth. From mindset and parenting to small business insights, easy family recipes, and personal finance, this blog shares practical wisdom on appreciating what we have and finding fulfillment in the everyday.
Featured Posts
I Don’t Recognize America Anymore
A veteran reflects on state power, anonymity, and why America no longer feels like the country he believed in.
Make the Good Stuff Happen Automatically
What if the key to long-term health, savings, and peace of mind isn’t discipline, but removing decisions? A reflection on building a life that works automatically.
52 Weeks Under the Bar: How Strength Training After 50 Changed My Life
A year of small, steady habits transformed my strength at 50. From rowing to barbell training, here’s how I became stronger than I was in my 40s.
Starting Classical Guitar at 48 — Why I’m Learning Something New (and Hard)
At 48 years old, I decided to learn classical guitar — not because I needed another hobby, but because I missed the feeling of being a beginner again.
Living Well Within Our Means
We’ve learned that living well isn’t about having the biggest house or the flashiest things. It’s about shaping what you have into enough, planning with purpose, and choosing experiences that last longer than stuff ever could.
Your Gut Knows the Way
From culinary school to combat zones, parenting through COVID to rebuilding a business—this is the story of trusting my gut when nothing else made sense.
Breadcrumbs for a Life Well Spent
Journaling helps me live with intention. From food to finances to bird calls in the woods, here’s how I track what matters and leave breadcrumbs worth following.
Posts
All
Apple Spice Behind the Scenes
Asian-Inspired
Beans
Books
Breakfast
Business
Grilling
Chautauquas
Coaching
Comfort Food
Communication
Cooking
Emotional Health
Fall Recipes
Family
Gratitude
Grief
Habits
Health
Holiday Traditions
Italian Inspired
Kid Friendly
Kool Collectibles
Leadership
Leftovers Remix
Light Vibes
Meal Prep
Mindset
Music
My Story
Nature
nature
Nostalgia
Parenting
Patience
Personal Finance
Process
Purpose
Quick Meals
Reflections
Sales & Strategy
Sandwiches
Seafood
Seeing People
Slammin’ Sides
Slow Living
Soups
Sports
Sunday Funday
Sweets
Vegetarian
Winter Recipes
How I’m Approaching the New Baseball Season (And What I’ll Tell My Players on Day 1)
How I’m approaching the fall baseball season — and what I’ll tell my players on Day 1. Teaching effort, mindset, accountability, emotional discipline, and how to handle failure with resilience.
The Mediterranean Everything Bowl: Grilled Chicken, King City Beans & Caprese Salad Remix
A Mediterranean-style bowl with grilled chicken, King City Pink Beans, creamy yogurt sauce, crispy pita, and Caprese Remix. Fresh, herby, and perfect al fresco.
Hoppin’ John Remix with King City Beans & Kielbasa
A bold, one-pot take on Hoppin’ John with King City Pink Beans, Polska kielbasa, garlic paste, and hot sauce. Served over rice, full of Southern swagger.
King City Pink Bean Stew with Bacon & Cornbread
A cozy, one-pot stew featuring Rancho Gordo King City Pink Beans, smoky bacon, roasted garlic, and a surprise slaw topping. Cornbread required.
Tomato Butter Pasta – Soul-Satisfying Comfort Food
This tomato butter pasta is the ultimate post-hike comfort food—simple, rich, and satisfying. Make it with homemade sauce or Rao’s in a pinch. Kid-approved and pantry-friendly.
Post-Hike Italian Salad – Fast, Fresh, and Family-Friendly
This Post-Hike Italian Salad is crisp, cool, and loaded with fresh flavor—perfect after a long day of travel. Quick to make, kid-approved, and ideal for balancing out a hearty pasta dinner.
Butter-Glazed French Beans with Toasted Pine Nuts
These butter-glazed French green beans with toasted pine nuts come together in 10 minutes using Better Than Bouillon for rich flavor. An easy, elegant side dish for any meal.
Broccoli Spaghetti with Roasted Garlic Oil & Crispy Breadcrumbs
This weeknight broccoli spaghetti is tossed with roasted garlic oil, lemon, Pecorino Romano, and crispy golden breadcrumbs. A pantry-friendly pasta full of flavor and texture.
Roasted Garlic Black Bean Soup with Lime – Cozy, Hearty, and Vegetarian
This roasted garlic black bean soup is rich, smoky, and finished with a bright squeeze of lime. A cozy vegetarian recipe that’s perfect for meal prep, freezer-friendly, and even better with toppings like crema, avocado, and crispy tortilla strips.
Crispy Quesadillas with Purple Rain Slaw & Pickled Jalapeños
These crispy quesadillas are filled with melty cheese, tangy purple cabbage slaw, and diced pickled jalapeños for the perfect balance of crunch, heat, and creaminess. A bold vegetarian side or main that pairs perfectly with black bean soup.
Leah Stayed: Poisonwood Bible Reflections
A reflection on Leah’s journey in The Poisonwood Bible and how open-mindedness, cross-cultural connection, and being willing to be changed can reshape our lives. Featuring wisdom from Anatole, a personal story from Korea, and a Beatles lyric that ties it all together.
Your Gut Knows the Way
From culinary school to combat zones, parenting through COVID to rebuilding a business—this is the story of trusting my gut when nothing else made sense.
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