I’m figuring out how to live with less friction and more intent while dealing with uncertainty.

These days I spend most of my time somewhere in the warmer parts of Asia with a laptop, a carry-on bag, and a borderline unreasonable interest in finding the perfect noodle bowl.

I left the corporate world behind and now work as a freelance content marketer while building Noodles — my Substack publication about figuring out how to create a simpler, lower-friction life while aging, freelancing, traveling, and dealing with the general uncertainty of modern life.

Over the years there have been plenty of ups and downs — professionally, personally, financially, mentally, physically… probably spiritually too if we’re being honest. It’s been a ride.

Somewhere along the way, though, things shifted.

These days I care a lot less about chasing “more” and a lot more about appreciating what’s already here: the health I still have, long walks, simple routines, slower living, meaningful work, calm mornings, and being grateful for the strange little life I somehow ended up with.

That’s pretty much the lens I live — and publish — through now.

Anyway… this is roughly how I got here.

1968–1978

Raised in New Jersey on pizza, sarcasm, and whatever was happening at Exit 9 (if you know, you know).

1979–1982

Junior high years. Started growing, loved the arts, and wore my “I Shot JR” shirt far more often than socially acceptable.

1983–1986

High school. Abandoned the arts for football for reasons I still don’t fully understand. Got a mohawk. Parents were not thrilled.

1987–1988

First college on a football scholarship. Eventually achieved the highly difficult accomplishment of getting kicked out after five semesters.

So much fun.

1989–1991

Second college. Graduated with a 3.79 GPA.

The missing 0.01 still bothers me. Looking back, total waste of time and money, actually.

1992–2019

Became an adult. Sort of. Physically at least.

Spent years chasing all the wrong things — success, work, money, titles, growth, and mostly operating on autopilot.

Stopped drinking in September 2007.
Stopped smoking in January 2019.

Turns out it’s surprisingly hard to quit things you’re exceptionally talented at.

2020–2021

Mind and body finally waved the white flag.

Stepped away from work for a while. Lost 75 pounds. Worked through a lot of physical and mental hurdles. Learned that “happy,” “content,” and “grateful” are very different things than I thought they were.

Probably the most important 2 years of my life.

2022–Present

Traveling full-time overseas — mostly Asia.

These days life mostly revolves around freelancing, walking a lot, trying to stay healthy, writing, publishing, slow travel, simplifying things, and appreciating everyday life a little more than I used to.

Actually, alot more.

Oh, and noodle bowls. Like, so much noodles.

Still figuring things out as I go. Probably always will be.

Well… that’s about it.

And if you made it this far,

Read Noodles →

It’s where most of my overthinking happens.

Thanks for stopping by.

-Gregg