Solitude Is a Strength

Hey Team!

Have you ever considered the difference between loneliness and feeling alone?

It’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot since moving to Tofino—a quiet surf town nestled on Vancouver Island. It’s beautiful. Rugged. Raw. There’s a tight-knit community here, no doubt, but it’s one that seems to take years to really break into. And in the meantime, I’ve been spending a lot of time in solitude.

People—especially my mom—keep asking if I’m lonely. My answer is always no.

Because there’s a big difference. Living alone in today’s hyper-connected, hyper-distracted world actually takes courage. It forces you to sit with your thoughts. To face the quiet. Most people avoid that at all costs. But here, with fewer distractions, I’ve found something powerful. My self-awareness has deepened. My creativity has exploded. And for the first time in a long time, I feel totally aligned with what I’m here to do.

Do I miss my friends? Hell yes. But this season of solitude is shaping me. And I’m embracing it.

This Week’s Shift

The era of longevity is here… and I think we’ve lost the plot.

I love that people are finally talking about living longer and healthier. That’s healthspan—not just lifespan. No one wants to crawl across the finish line at 95 if the last decade is plagued with illness we could’ve prevented.

But as with any wellness trend, the signal gets drowned in noise.

Yesterday I spoke with one of the world’s top experts in epigenetics. Their company has partnered with Harvard, published peer-reviewed studies, and developed the most accurate tools to measure biological age: through bloodwork, real biomarkers, and hard science.

Contrast that with what we’re seeing in consumer tech. WHOOP and Function Health are now marketing “Pace of Aging” and “Biological Age” scores. I deeply respect both brands. They’ve moved the needle in fitness and personal health. But let’s call it like it is: these numbers are proprietary algorithms based on things like resting heart rate and sleep duration. Not peer-reviewed. Not predictive. And definitely not medically-driven.

If it helps you stay motivated? Cool. But let’s not pretend these gamified wellness stats are gospel.

Want to live longer and better? Keep it simple: eat whole foods, consume adequate protein, lift heavy things, get outside, move daily, prioritize sleep, connect with good humans—and laugh, especially at yourself. That’s where the magic lives.

Tested This Week

My muscles have been talking back lately.

This isn’t general fatigue. It’s targeted, muscular wear. Likely from overtraining and mitochondria that need more support. I’ve been pushing hard, and the signs are showing.

Enter: red light therapy.

You might’ve seen me post the KALA Mini 2.0 on Instagram this week. Red light therapy has been on my radar for a while, and I’ve finally made it part of my daily stack. Why? It boosts ATP production, enhances recovery, supports sleep, reduces post-exercise fatigue, and helps me recharge at the cellular level.

It’s too early for any definitive results, but I’ll keep sharing progress on my Instagram if you’re curious.

In The Field

If you want to make the future easier, choose to do hard things now.

Consistency creates confidence. Showing up at the start line is often harder than the thing itself. But once you begin, momentum takes over.

That’s Ron Batuigas in a nutshell.

Today marks 1,656 consecutive days of cold plunging for Ron. No skips. No shortcuts. Just straight-up grit. His start line is the edge of cold water. Every morning. Every damn day.

It’s not about the water. It’s about the choice. To show up. To step in. To do the thing that feels uncomfortable.

Your start line might look different. It could be a hard conversation. A new habit. A solo trip. But if it makes you nervous, and you lean into it, you’ve already won.

Quick Reminders Before You Start:

Here is my inspiring friend Ron on Day 1,656 of cold plunging!!

I’m excited about this Rich Roll Podcast episode with Olympic track and field coach Stuart McMillan. He’s the GOAT. I’ve been following Stuart’s work for a while—so I was fired up when he popped up as a follower this week.

Last week, I received a bunch of responses to this newsletter. I very much appreciated that. Please, keep them coming. You give me the fuel to write more impactful stories.

Thanks for being here. Thanks for getting on the edge of something that makes you nervous. Now, I encourage you to jump. The hardest part is typically right before you take action.

Catch you on the Start Line,
— Matty