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
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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
My Version of Red’s Bean and Cheese Burrito
A homemade take on Red’s burritos: Rancho Gordo pinto beans, melty Costco Mexican blend cheese, red onion, and Hatch green chile cream, rolled tight and crisped golden. Air fryer and freezer-friendly.
Living in the Bubble of Boyhood
Parenting a pre-teen means protecting the bubble of boyhood while teaching responsibility. Here’s how I’m using scaffolding to guide my son through chaos, bad decisions, and growth.
Ritual de lo Habitual: Finding Meaning in Life’s Maintenance
Adult life is full of maintenance—health, budgets, routines—that can feel monotonous. But with intention, maintenance becomes ritual, bringing joy, presence, and meaning to the everyday.
The Courage to Say It Out Loud
Unspoken expectations lead to resentment. In this reflection, I share how courageously setting expectations changed my relationships, reshaped my coaching, and brought peace. Saying what you need out loud is uncomfortable at first, but it’s the only way to move past turbulence into calm.
Pasta Puttanesca
A late-summer afternoon, Gio’s first record, and the most satisfying pasta dish I know. This lusty, briny puttanesca hits with bold flavor and a touch of family ritual.
Caramelized Onion & Cheddar-Brie Mac and Cheese
A cozy, elevated twist on mac and cheese: buttered penne layered over a silky aged cheddar-Brie sauce, folded with caramelized onions, and finished with fresh Serrano heat. Even my picky daughter said, “Yum, that’s good!”
Easy Miso Cod Recipe (Also Works with Salmon) – Fast Weeknight Dinner
This miso cod recipe is a weeknight cheat code—marinate, broil, and enjoy silky, savory fish with rice and bok choy. Effortless, delicious, and restaurant-quality.
Trouble Sleeping? Why Midday Meditation Can Save Your Day
Some nights, even with all the right sleep rituals, I still find myself staring at the ceiling until 3 a.m. The next day feels foggy, heavy, and frustrating. But I’ve discovered one small practice that helps me reset: a short midday meditation. It won’t cure insomnia, but it can save the day.
Let Them Play: Why Parents Shouldn’t Coach from the Sidelines
At a youth baseball game, I watched a dad coach his son after every pitch. The boy kept looking at him instead of playing. It reminded me why parents need to stop coaching from the sidelines—and let their kids fail, learn, and grow.
A Rustic Riff on Scampi Shrimp, White Beans & Ditalini
A rustic twist on shrimp scampi—creamy alubia blanca beans and ditalini take the place of plain pasta, creating a silky base for buttery shrimp, bright tomatoes, and a little Serrano heat.
Café-Style White Bean & Tuna Toasts
A cozy café moment at home: creamy alubia blanca beans, rich jarred tuna, and a touch of Serrano heat piled onto buttered English muffins. Light, rustic, and just right for a workday lunch.
Alubia Blanca Pasta e Fagioli (Italian-American Remix)
Pasta e Fagioli, but make it Italian-American. Pancetta for depth, bacon for smoke, and sweet little alubia blancas that even my bean-skeptic wife loves. Creamy, hearty, and just a touch rebellious.
Made with Bullet