I’ve been soul searching (and here’s what I learned)

“I almost forgot this is the whole point.”

Maybe you’ve been seeing this trend going around social media.

The idea is to share a simple yet beautiful video of everyday life, highlighting the fact that the little moments in between are what really matter.

To be frank, this trend is why I haven’t shared an email the past few weeks.

In the midst of the seasons changing (and spring/summer quickly arriving here in the mountains), I made a profound realization.

I almost forgot what the “whole point” was.

I almost forgot to be spending time doing the things I love.

I almost forgot to enjoy the infinite beauty around me (people, places, and nature).

I almost got stuck in the trap of striving for more instead of appreciating what I currently have.

And it feels like my world’s been turned upside down.

3 Lessons I’ve Learned During a Month of Discovery

I’m not a very vulnerable person. Being vulnerable has always felt difficult to me.

But I hope I can share a vulnerable and real perspective on my life in this letter.

After all, these emails aren’t necessarily about me – they’re simply a way for me to express myself with the goal of serving you, the reader, in some way.

Instead of simply ghosting the online world, I felt it was necessary for me to share what I’ve been up to over the past month.

I care a lot about each one of you who read this, and want to offer my honest self in every circumstance.

So – here’s what I’ve been up to (and what I’ve learned) in the past month:

1) If it’s broke, fix it.

You know the saying, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”? (And if you don’t, welcome to American slang lol) Well this felt like the opposite. I realized there was something very broken in my daily routine.

I was spending a lot of time writing these letters and scripting, prepping, filming, and editing YouTube videos every single week. One newsletter and one YouTube video might not sound like a lot… but it takes a good chunk of time to do it right.

Although I had a lot of fun, found a lot of purpose, and was able to creatively express myself through both of these things – they weren’t working how I’d like.

Yes, a large majority of you have found me through these things. And I’m extremely grateful for that. Thank you so much for following along. I really hope what I share each week has made a positive impact on you!

But when push came to shove, the effort versus the impact didn’t make a lot of sense.

I truly believe that when something is meant to be, it should feel (somewhat) effortless.

Yet for me, each week felt like pushing a boulder uphill. “Effortless” felt like a distant dream. And with that, I realized that maybe I’m not working in alignment with what’s “meant to be.”

I don’t ever expect instant connection or overnight success. I do, however, want my work to feel like it’s “effortlessly” connecting with the right people in the right ways.

And the way I’ve been creating and sharing over the past ~2 years doesn’t feel like that’s been the case.

So, I’m deciding to fix that. How am I going to achieve this?

Well, idk yet.

2) I’ve been working at a bike shop.

My two main sources of income are:

• Video production and editing (for businesses and podcasts)
• Working part-time at a bike shop

Although this isn’t exactly what I expected to do be doing with my life at 27 years old, I’ve realized that I actually enjoy it. Some days, I enjoy it a lot.

I’ve been working hard over the past couple years to build an income through online business. This journey has been fun and rewarding, yet difficult and exhausting.

I won’t pretend like I’m making 6- or 7-figures each year online. I’m not.

While I still plan to do this in the future, I’ve realized that tirelessly striving for something you don’t yet have can be a distracted way of living.

In striving for this goal, I realized that I had neglected the life right in front of me.

When walking home from work a couple weeks ago, I realized that purposeful work really can be found in the simplest of ways. It doesn’t always have to be some grandeur world-changing invention or some groundbreaking non-profit that solves a global issue.

Purpose can be found in helping folks enjoy an incredible experience on their bicycle in a beautiful place.

Purpose can be found in helping someone plan their vacation to your local area.

Purpose can be found in having a conversation with a friend about something they’re frustrated about.

Don’t make the same mistake I did. Enjoy the life you’re living right now, instead of always wishing you were someone or somewhere else.

3) I bought a (kinda) janky Subaru for $1750.

Is it janky? Well, it depends on who you ask.

A fun fact about me is that I used to buy and sell a lot of vehicles.

For as long as I can remember, my dad has always done the same. He doesn’t keep any of his cars for long. But one thing he always does? Buys them, drives them for a year or so, and always turns a profit.

So, thanks to him, I’ve also acquired this obsession for a good deal on wheels.

But there’s a catch. My version of buying and selling vehicles often consists of older Subarus (and the occasional Honda Element), typically in the >$3,000 range.

If it runs, drives, and doesn’t smell like cat piss, I’m down to take a chance.

In the past couple years I tried to quiet this side of me. Part of me wanted to become “successful enough” to not have to drive somewhat-crappy vehicles. But during this month of soul searching, I found myself a good deal on a 2007 Subaru Forester. 173k miles. Scored it for $1750.

As I crouched down and laid on my back to check on the inevitable leaks from the engine compartment, I realized how much I missed being a human mop on filthy garage floors.

It’s certainly not for everyone – but man I missed the smell of burnt oil and flakes of rust falling into my eyes. And for that, I’ll probably always be buying some ratchet rust box, fixing it up, and making a few bucks.

It’s in my blood I guess.

There’s more I could probably share about this past month of “dropping everything and re-discovering myself,” but I’ll save it for another letter.

I’m not sure if I’ll share another letter next week or a few weeks from now, but either way, thanks for reading this.

Until then… I’m gonna enjoy spring in the mountains, try out some new hobbies, and try to figure out why my new (used) car shakes when I turn the steering wheel.

Peace and blessings,

Eric Pfohl