Octopus attacks, Tri-tip, Compliments, and Volunteering
HALT on Hump Day 6/18/25
Nobody makes good decisions when they feel Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired. HALT on Hump day looks at ways I manage those things in my life. Hopefully you’ll find something that will help your life.
HUNGRY
Meat projects bring me so much joy, and it’s been too long since I shared one. After an incredible Tri-tip course recently, I decided I’m going to dial my recipe in over the summer.
I’m a big fan of the reverse sear method, and I executed it over the weekend with great success.
Simple preparation:
Salt the tri-tip well ahead of putting it on the grill. I applied salt in the morning at about 10 am for a 2:30 cook time.
Take the meat out about 2 hours before cooking so it gets closer to room temperature.
Trager warmed up to 225°F
Use a meat thermometer.
I cooked it to an internal temp of 127°F before taking it off to let it rest for 30 minutes. In that time, it came up to 135°°F internal temp.
Then sear for about 1 min on each side and finish it with freshly cracked pepper.
Slicing against the grain helps it stay tender and not chewy, but the Tri-tip grain goes two ways. Look out for the spot where it switches, cut the whole piece in half, and then slice across the grain.
It had great texture and flavor. All four kids at the meal asked for a second helping. One of them returned for thirds.
Next time I’ll take it off at 111°F, which another recipe called for, so I can compare the results.
I ate it just like that. No sauce or anything…but it would be great with miso butter or your favorite accompaniment.
Doesn’t need it, but it wouldn’t hurt it either.
2025: summer of Tri-tip.
ANGRY
Many of us find it hard to compliment ourselves. We fall into a pattern of brushing accomplishments or strengths off as things we should do on a day-to-day basis. Additionally, most people have a negative bias in their inner voice.
Intentionally injecting positivity helps to balance the scales, and this prompt helps by focusing on a specific strength. My writing it down or speaking it out loud, we can turn it into a positive thought that returns to us.
What’s your favorite compliment to give yourself? How does acknowledging yourself in this way impact your mindset?
LONELY
In the mind of Martin Seligman, prominent psychologist who served as the president of the American Psychological Association for a number of years, serving something bigger than yourself creates the foundation for a meaningful life.
We have many ways to do it, and today I want to highlight volunteering. It brings the obvious good feelings and positive contributions to people or causes who could use a little help, but it does more.
It also connects you with other like-minded people. People struggle to make friends as adults, and volunteering presents an opportunity to join people in a worthy cause.
You won’t find a shortage of ways to volunteer. I recently spent time with a group of people who work with rescue dogs. They told story after story of people who fostered a dog once, ended up keeping it (they call it a foster fail), and then continue to foster for years afterwards. Then they get their friends to do it as well and introduce another way for them to bond.
Being connected to community is tied to better overall health, improved mental health, lower stress, and better mood.
Go find something you feel passionate about and give some time to it. You’ll make a positive impact in the world, but you’ll also feel great yourself. Double bonus!
TIRED
I remember Michael Phelps for lots of things. Of course everything he did in the pool, but also because he’s the first person I saw with giant circular bruises up and down his back. It looked like he got attacked by an octopus.
He got the bruises from cupping, an ancient healing process that has become popular in the West in the last handful of years. The process uses suction to pull blood to the treated areas to promote healing, decrease inflammation, and speed muscle recovery.
After my shoulder surgery, my physical therapist would cup my back to loosen my tight muscles. I see guys in the sauna after their workouts applying cups to their ankles, knees, thighs, and shoulders.
My wife’s good for one crazy health thing each year, and she got me a home cupping set recently. It comes with a handful of cups and a hand-held pump to create suction. I let it sit for a while, but we’ve started using a little more often after I started increasing my exercise.
When I feel more sore than normal, it does help me get back to moving normally faster than I’d recover without it.
If the at-home massage, hot tubs, ice, stretching, or whatever else you do to recover needs a boost, give cupping a try. Especially if you have kids. They love the circular bruises.
Thank you for reading. If you liked something in here, send it to a friend. There’s a good chance they will smile, I’ll definitely smile, and I bet you will, too. Trifecta!