The Two Circles That Changed My Life
A difficult baseball game became the perfect opportunity to teach my son one of the most valuable Stoic lessons: focus your energy on what matters and what you can control.
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
Why Everyone Needs a North Star (More Than Goals)
Looking back at old journals, I discovered the difference between goals and a North Star—and how life can move in the right direction even when plans don't.
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.
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Summer Recipes
Apple Spice Behind the Scenes
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Winter Recipes
Ayocote Blanco e Farro Minestra – Italian Soup with Beans, Farro, and Vegetables
A nourishing Italian-inspired soup made with ayocote blanco beans, farro, zucchini, spinach, and a Pecorino rind. Comforting, healthy, and perfect for a dreary day.
The Snowball and the Bike: Teaching Kids the Power of Compound Interest
A new bike, a little umpire money, and the lesson that time does the heavy lifting. Here’s how I’m teaching my kids that saving before 20 is the real snowball effect — with a simple tool to show the magic of compounding.
Abundance Signals: Walnuts, Mosquitoes, and the Forest’s Long Game
On my September 23 walk, the forest announced its changes loud and clear — walnuts thudding down in a mast year, mosquitoes in last-call mode, pawpaw perfume gone, and late-blooming smartweed still holding on. These abundance signals remind me that the woods don’t whisper their shifts; they proclaim them.
Curried Tarragon Chicken Salad with Apples & Pecans
Leftover chicken breast just got an upgrade. This Curried Tarragon Chicken Salad is creamy, crunchy, a little sweet, a little spicy — with apples, pecans, golden raisins, and a Serrano kick. Tarragon brings its underappreciated magic, making this sandwich far from ordinary.
Be Thankful for the Hard Times
Some months feel like steps backward. Sales dip, streaks stall, and losses pile up. Gratitude and process are what keep me steady — even in the hard times.
The Quiet Hours: Finding Solitude in Gym, Woods, and Music
The quiet hours come in many forms — an empty gym on a rainy day, a path through the woods, or the glow of vinyl spinning late at night. Each reminds me that solitude is its own kind of luxury.
Movies for the Fall: Rewatching What Lasts
Fall is the season for rewatching what lasts. From Halloween with my son to the golden glow of When Harry Met Sally and the timeless lessons of Dead Poets Society, these are the movies that make autumn feel complete — and the ones I want my kids to carry with them.
I Missed Intel — And That’s Okay
I skipped Intel at $20 because the numbers looked terrible, only to watch the government step in with unprecedented support. Missing wasn’t failure—it was discipline, and patience is what keeps you in the game.
The Language of Seeing: What Learning Korean Taught Me About Life
The Air Force told me I was going to learn Korean. I never imagined it would change the trajectory of my life. From the warmth of shared meals to the depth of words like han, language became more than communication — it became a new way of seeing the world.
Lou’s French Pork & Kielbasa Stew
This stew tastes like it came out of a French countryside kitchen — tender pork, smoky kielbasa, sweet carrots, and cabbage simmered low and slow with herbes de Provence. It’s rustic, hearty, and the kind of bowl that makes you slow down and enjoy the moment.
Echoes in the Wind
A walk through the woods brought me face to face with an owl, the call of a flicker, the sweet scent of pawpaws, and the rhythm of hollow logs. Sometimes the forest carries you, and all you can do is listen.
Doing Too Much
Doing too much often feels like the smart move, but it usually just multiplies mistakes. Here’s why patience, consistency, and even a little boredom might be the secret to long-term success.
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