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.
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
Onion Broth Udon with Shabu-Shabu Beef | Sweet Onion, Smoky Bacon & Mushroom “Noodles”
A cozy onion broth udon inspired by a bowl I used to order during my Wall Street days — now a family favorite. Sweet onions, smoky bacon, mushroom “noodles,” tender shabu-shabu beef, and a quick 국밥 twist for the leftovers.
Rooting for the Hopeless: A White Sox Reflection
A funny, heartfelt look at what it means to cheer for the White Sox when they’re historically awful. From a lifelong baseball bucket list to a superfan yelling her heart out, this is a tribute to showing up even when your team can’t seem to win.
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.
How I’m Going to Teach My Kids to Drive (Assume Everyone Else Is an Idiot)
Driving is the most dangerous daily task. These seven driving commandments will help new drivers stay safe, avoid accidents, and keep their insurance rates low.
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Pressing the Reset Button — Finding Stillness in the Woods
Woke up uninspired. Found peace in the woods instead.
🌽 Southwest Three Sisters Soup
A warm, smoky soup that honors the harmony of corn, beans, and squash — deepened with saffron, sweetened by a single date, and finished with crispy tortilla rajas. Comfort food for when the leaves start to turn and the light gets low.
A Key Life Skill: Reflection as a Practice
Taking time to pause, think, and learn has shaped how I parent, coach, and lead. Reflection isn’t about judgment—it’s about curiosity, space, and the willingness to ask what could be better next time.
🍂 Borlotti Bean Ragu with Pumpkin Gnocchi, Roasted Sweet Potato, Heirloom Tomato & Toasted Pecans
A fall-inspired ragu that’s part comfort food, part revelation. Creamy beans, roasted vegetables, and golden gnocchi come together under a drizzle of sage butter and toasted pecans.
You vs You | The Real Battle Is in Your Mind
The toughest opponent you’ll ever face doesn’t wear a uniform. It lives in your head.
Playing to Win vs. Playing Not to Lose — Lessons from 12U Baseball
After every tournament, I take a day to reflect on what I saw — the growth, the gaps, and the mindset beneath it all. This week, three boys said something that revealed a lot about how kids think about competition, confidence, and the difference between playing to win and playing not to lose.
How We Spent Indigenous People’s Day: Lessons from Braiding Sweetgrass
Reading Braiding Sweetgrass together taught us about reciprocity, gratitude, and the wisdom of the Three Sisters. A family reflection on learning from others and respecting the earth.
When Gold Glitters and Bonds Don’t Blink
Gold is surging again, yet bonds barely flinch. Here’s what that quiet disagreement reveals about inflation, hidden taxes, and where steady investors can still find shelter.
Chipotle Mango Purée (Base Sauce)
A simple sweet-heat purée that works on everything. Make one batch and use it for shrimp, pork adovado, breakfast burritos, bowls, or anything that needs smoky depth.
The Pull of the Dark: A Chautauqua on Keeping the Fire Alive
There’s a quiet pull in life that draws us inward—a kind of darkness that waits for everyone. This is about learning to tend your own fire, to keep showing up, and to find warmth even in the coldest places.
Walking Into Someone’s Shadow — When Other People’s Darkness Lingers
A strange encounter at a football game becomes a reflection on empathy, boundaries, and how to release the dark energy we sometimes absorb from others.
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.
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