Jess | The Second Half

53. Dad. NOT a guru. Obsessive researcher. Want to feel comfortable in your own skin? Give me a follow. Ego death specialist.

[Jess | The Second Half @TheSecondHalf__]

I'm 53. I work nights. I raised four kids.

For years I thought being hard on myself was strength. I cussed myself out in the mirror and waited on a crypto lottery ticket to fix my life.

That wasn't strength. That was ego.
The man I was at 40 needed to be right. Needed to look strong. Needed nobody's help.
That man had to die.

I still work nights. I still hit the gym around 10 am after a shift. But I'm done waiting.

This account is The Second Half.
I write for men who want to feel comfortable in their own skin after 50. Letting go of who you were. Staying fit on a real schedule. Taking care of how you look, because that's respect, not vanity.

I'm not a guru. I'm figuring it out in public. I’ve been battling my inner demons, aka ego, aka shadow, for years. It’s finally showing cracks.

If you're in the same spot, follow along.

[Jess | The Second Half @TheSecondHalf__]

@dailystoic At 53 I read this as: live well now. Take care of your body, show up for your family, say what needs saying to your kids. Waiting is the trap. Crucify the ego.

[Jess | The Second Half @TheSecondHalf__]

@RyanHoliday A real bookstore is one of the few places left where you find what you weren't looking for. No algorithm does that. Even libraries. I think we need to bring back the Dewey decimal system.

[Jess | The Second Half @TheSecondHalf__]

@jockowillink Night shift, then the gym at 6 AM. Some days the path is just showing up tired and doing it anyway. Even if it’s just for 15 or 20 minutes.

[Jess | The Second Half @TheSecondHalf__]

@dailystoic Raising four kids taught me this. They're only under your roof for a while, so you take care of it while it lasts. I really miss them, especially when they were toddlers. My hope for parents today is to not waste a minute with them.

[Jess | The Second Half @TheSecondHalf__]

@bryan_johnson Strength as a longevity goal, not a vanity one, is the message men over 50 need. Legs and grip are what keep you independent later. But I’m not gonna lie. I enjoy the vanity part as well. Feels good.

[Jess | The Second Half @TheSecondHalf__]

@SahilBloom At 53 this is the whole strategy. You don't have to win the month, just don't quit the year.

[Jess | The Second Half @TheSecondHalf__]

@AlexHormozi Same with fitness after 50. Everybody wants the body, nobody wants the 6 AM gym after a night shift. The price is the point. Who said it? The obstacle is the way?

[Jess | The Second Half @TheSecondHalf__]

@Markmanson Took me until my 50s to learn this. Explaining yourself to everyone is just ego asking for approval.

[Jess | The Second Half @TheSecondHalf__]

@SahilBloom Most guys my age will lift and grind but think skin care is beneath them. That's ego talking. Two minutes before bed is part of the work too.

[Jess | The Second Half @TheSecondHalf__]

@H1GHERWAYS Every single time I see somebody in the gym who you can tell is just starting or is very out of shape, I always want to go up to them and tell them that they are doing great and to keep up the good work

[Jess | The Second Half @TheSecondHalf__]

If there is one thing that I’ve discovered in all my years, is that everybody has the same desire. The desire to not have any problems. Learn to be grateful for your “problems.” https://t.co/ASM0gDLmRC

[Jess | The Second Half @TheSecondHalf__]

@Jainadave_ Well, at least he still has leg day. No barbell squats tho.

[Jay Shetty @jayshetty]

Robert Greene on the power of embracing suffering.

Watch every new episode on Netflix & Spotify 🎙️

[Jess | The Second Half @TheSecondHalf__]

@FitnessEmpiree Every day.

[Jess | The Second Half @TheSecondHalf__]

@RyanHoliday I started reading your book and I was inspired to write this article. Got a lot of research help from Grok though. Can’t take full credit. https://t.co/3GRSqkOqcB

[Jess | The Second Half @TheSecondHalf__]

I started reading a book on the ego and some questions came to mind. With the help of @Grok, we wrote an article. Take a look. https://t.co/Heo6eE1XN1

[Jess | The Second Half @TheSecondHalf__]

@Markmanson Every time I said yes to keep the peace, it was really my ego trying to be liked. Learning "no" again at 53. As somebody who grew up being a people pleaser, this has been quite the challenge.

[Jess | The Second Half @TheSecondHalf__]

@jockowillink At 53 I quit waiting for a lucky break to fix things. The reps I show up for after a night shift are the only luck I trust. I stopped waiting for someone or something to save me.

[Jess | The Second Half @TheSecondHalf__]

@SahilBloom @drjeremylondon Night shift taught me this. At 4 AM I'm not thinking about next year, just getting to the gym by 10 am. One closed loop at a time, and at 53 that still works.

[Jess | The Second Half @TheSecondHalf__]

@artofmanliness For me, out of a dark place usually starts with one small action, not a big feeling. Men who've lived through real hardship always seem to know that. I honor this veteran.

[Jess | The Second Half @TheSecondHalf__]

@Jainadave_ Honestly, I think I get better “cardio” from doing sets of 8-10 hack squats followed by sets of 8-10 RDLs. Combine that with calorie deficit. 😉