The Power of Perspective

Hey Team!

Last week, I celebrated my 45th birthday solo in one of my favorite places on the planet: Whistler, BC. Six days with no agenda. Not completely off the grid, but not fully immersed in the day-to-day either. It was everything I had hoped for and more.

I actually opted out of writing last week's newsletter because I gave myself permission to be fully present on my birthday. Something I've noticed lately is how intentional I've become with my time and energy. I rarely second-guess where either should go anymore. That wasn't always the case.

The more connected I've become to who I am, what I'm building and what truly fuels me, the stronger my boundaries have become. And there's something incredibly freeing about that. Less concern about what others think, and more energy for the things that matter most.

This Week’s Shift

Two days ago, during arguably my toughest long run of this training block, I was listening to one of my favorite podcasts, The Rich Roll Podcast, when a quote stopped me in my tracks:

"Every man is right from his own perspective."

Simple, yet incredibly profound.

For the next 90 minutes, I couldn't stop thinking about it. We live in two of the most diverse countries in the world (Canada and US), yet somehow expect everyone to see life through the same lens. But think about it... different upbringings, cultures, experiences, beliefs and stories have shaped how each of us sees the world.

In a society that often feels increasingly divided, this perspective gave me a greater sense of empathy. Understanding someone's perspective doesn't mean you have to agree with it. It simply means recognizing that their experiences have shaped a reality different from your own.

And perhaps that's where curiosity becomes one of our greatest strengths. Instead of immediately judging, what if we asked more questions? What if we became more interested in understanding than being right?

This week's shift: Stay curious. Lead with empathy. You never know the full story behind someone's perspective.

From The Field

This past weekend was the Moab 240, a grueling 240-mile ultramarathon through Utah's unforgiving terrain. I was actually entered in this year's race but deferred to 2027 because of my commitment to the NYC Marathon.

What unfolded was unimaginable. Extreme storms and flash flooding devastated sections of the course, leaving approximately 70 runners stranded near an aid station before being evacuated by helicopter. Organizers ultimately made the difficult decision to cancel the race.

My heart goes out to every runner who spent months preparing for this moment. The sacrifice extends far beyond training, and having that opportunity taken away is heartbreaking. But no finish line is worth compromising someone's safety. I'm grateful everyone was reported safe and have enormous respect for those who supported one another through it all.

Meanwhile, I'm now less than three weeks from NYC! Two months ago, after an ankle injury sidelined me for over eight weeks, I genuinely questioned whether I'd make the start line. Yet here we are... and I'm running fairly well!

During that uncertainty, I elected to pause my fundraising for the Release Recovery Foundation, an incredible organization helping remove barriers to addiction and mental health treatment.

I'm now in my sixth year of sobriety, something I don't speak about nearly enough. Running for an organization doing this work means a great deal to me, and I'd be incredibly grateful for your support.

Here's the deal: If you donate, I'll run 26.2 miles on November 1st. :)

Quick Reminders Before You Start:

Running for Recovery: Support my NYC Marathon fundraiser. Every contribution counts. For me, the beauty isn't in the amount donated, but seeing the names of people who choose to be part of something meaningful.

NYC Marathon Week: We're building something pretty spectacular with shakeout runs, community activations and our Clubhouse Radio series. Lots of exciting announcements coming next week!

Perspective changes everything. Whether it's understanding someone else's journey, navigating unexpected setbacks or appreciating the opportunity to show up, there's always something to learn when we look beyond ourselves.

Catch you on the Start Line,
—Matty