Monthly Archives: January 2026

Black Thought

January 23, 2026 By in Black Thought Tags: , , , , , , Leave a comment

“When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.”

Audre Lorde

I can proclaim with absolute certainty, life will surely introduce varying degrees of difficult challenges and obstacles. Unsurprisingly, it is not uncommon for someone to feel discouraged from time to time. As a result, confidence and self-esteem may wane. Self-doubt can steadily begin to mold and shape reality.  The consequences can be devastating. Therefore, sometimes, you need to remind yourself of your God-given talents and strength. You must remember what makes you unique. To be fully transparent, I am guilty of providing fear the space to crowd out self-belief, aspiration, and resolve. Nevertheless, I wholly understand that if I strive to live in my purpose, I must cast away self-sabotaging thoughts. Trust, never second-guess that you are one of one. You are imperfectly unique in your power and purpose. Do not allow fear to hinder your success. To be sure, it is difficult. Negative intrusive thoughts can be overwhelming. Nevertheless, every now and again, you have to remind yourself just who you are!

Gentleman Hack – Let It Burn – How to Melt Candle Wax Evenly

January 20, 2026 By in Best Life, Gent Hints Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

At the beginning of the global COVID-19 pandemic, a significant number of my workforce were granted the privilege of remote work. So, in an effort to transform a room in my basement into a constructive work environment, I deployed various furnishings to create an inviting aesthetic. I thoughtfully procured wooden, rustic picture frames to complement the wood paneling of the room. I have a few ladder style bookshelves to house said wooden picture frames along with various books, artificial plants, and scented candles. During the last few years, I have come to love the smell of a fragrant candle. If experiencing an episode of tiresome stress, a great scented candle momentarily tethers me to a state of peace.

So much so, when Bed Bath & Beyond closed physical stores in 2023, and its Warm Flannel candle was discontinued, I was heartbroken. That sounds a little over the top – right? Nevertheless, that light and slightly sweet aroma had an incredibly calming effect that carried me through a few rough years. Sometimes when I was feeling slightly despondent, I would take a few moments, close my eyes, and just focus on the beauty of the scent. If but for a sliver in time, the aroma assuaged any ailments – either mentally or emotionally. Currently, Bed Bath & Beyond only has an online presence, but if the powers that be are reading this, bring back my Warm Flannel scented candle!

Now, given my affinity to scented candles, it would bother me when a candle would burn unevenly. I tried everything recommended to ensure the candle wax would burn evenly. I would trim the wick before the candle was lit and I would allow it to burn for 1-3 hours. However, tunneling and unsightly, lopsided candle wax would accumulate around the sides leading to wasted wax. Desperate, I scoured the Internet in search of a resolution. My probe led me to the curious practice of wrapping the candle with aluminum foil. The reasoning: The aluminum foil insulates the candle and reflects heat back toward the body of wax. The edges don’t cool as fast, and so in theory, there is a relatively equal burn across the candle’s surface.

Eager to see if this hack was real, I retrieved a torn sheet of Reynolds Wrap and intently fashioned an aluminum protective guard around the candle. And I’d be damned if the foil trick did not work? Of course, I took photographic evidence else no one would believe me. It looks rightly weird, an otherwise handsome candle jar adorned in Reynolds Wrap. With confusion, my wife questioned why my candle was wrapped in aluminum foil. Nevertheless, it extends the life of the candle with no wasted wax. It doesn’t take long to implement, and better still, you can reuse the foil for another candle! I hope this information is beneficial to a fellow candle lover – happy burning!

The Standard #62

January 14, 2026 By in Standard Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

A concerned observation from a regular gentleman: An alarming number of modern men are afflicted with an impotence of integrity, intelligence, courage, and decency. And in a desperate measure to address said deficiencies, men have turned to an addictive narcotic, hoping to stimulate and erect their seemingly flaccid manhood – power. Utilized to advance the common good for society, power can be an invaluable tool wielded by the correct individual. However, power contained within the cold, calculating clasp of the callous can lead to calamitous consequences. Without question power is responsibility. Luke 12:48 states, “But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.” As men, much is required, and we must govern ourselves accordingly.

And so, I offer an unequivocal, unapologetic opinion: There are too many men entrusted with power that are not responsible. Trafficking tension and weaponizing woe for personal profit, they cleverly utilize influence to intoxicate the masses. Beware of madness, mediocrity, and misogyny masquerading beneath a makeshift mask of masculinity. Do not be seduced by the sounds of melodic misinformation. And train one’s eyes and ears to identify empty bluster in a frail attempt to slyly conceal cowardice. For fear is an instrument wielded by individuals endowed with ineptitude and engulfed with insecurity. To be certain, a righteous gentleman will stand ten toes down on principles that are sound. A righteous gentleman understands that his masculinity is grounded in truth, dignity, honor, and respect. His strength is divinely designed to serve society and its people, as there is providential power in his purpose. I pray that you are living in your power to add virtue, morality, and goodness to this shared experience we call life.

All I Want for Christmas is…Peace of Mind.

January 1, 2026 By in Life, Self-care & Mental Health Tags: , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Greetings, I hope everyone had a blessed, safe, and happy holidays over the past few weeks. For legions of children across the globe, the most wonderful time of the year brings excited anticipation and curiosity, as meticulously (or perhaps not) wrapped gifts magically appear beneath Christmas trees in households the world over. And shortly thereafter, many adults gather to ring in the new year with much-needed hope and fruitful, new beginnings. Personally, the gift I desire the most does not physically arrive in beautiful wrapping paper, tucked quietly under a Christmas tree. And heading into the new year, it is something I hope to have in abundance – peace of mind.

For many people, peace of mind can assume a variety of forms. Personally, during this time of year, the delicate art of wrapping gifts provides that peace of mind. The crafty exercise allows my mind to slow down and focus intently on the objective at hand. On its surface, it may seem like a cumbersome task – more pain in the butt than peace. However, with each careful fold or playful tie of a ribbon, the satisfying reward of seeing the finished work is undoubtedly worth the time and effort.

It affords me a quiet space in my head to tap into my thoughts and harness my creativity. Sometimes, I just look at my gift-wrapping accessories that I have slowly acquired over the years. I begin to dream of different color and material combinations in my head, and in turn, how will I adorn the exterior of the gift. Sometimes a fold will present a pleasant challenge. The wrapping paper won’t be as crisp. Some delicate paper may even mistakenly rip. Other times, I will need to untie a bow and start the process from the beginning. Nevertheless, it is all a part of the process. Surely, dutiful practice sharpens one’s skills. And once a flow is established, I can crank out gifts like a true Santa’s workshop. Looking at the finished project fills me with pride.

Capitalizing on end-of-holiday sales, I have amassed a diverse assortment of wrapping paper, colorful twine, ribbon, miniature ornaments, bells, and everything else from cinnamon sticks to dried lemon peels. Believe it or not, I have been able to cut down on the yearly cost of materials by simply recycling discarded twine, ribbon, or yarn. Leftover wrapping paper (after a sheet has been cut to size) is rolled and stored for the following Christmas. And when the time arrives, I search through my holiday inventory to find the appropriate piece of material to successfully complete the task.

The holiday season is now over. I will probably immerse myself in my continuing health journey to clear my head space. That is of course until it is time to tend to my garden!