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When I first started Further, it was all about refuting the idea that a life of leisure was the key to happiness. That instead, we experienced well-being by pushing ourselves to get better and learn new things. Later, I realized I was increasingly writing from the perspective of midlife. And that despite the doldrums of …

It figures, right? The first truly media-savvy generation became defined by two relatively obscure works of fiction — Douglas Coupland’s 1991 novel Generation X, and Richard Linklater’s 1990 indie film Slacker. Both labels stuck like glue. We held on to Generation X as a point of pride, but the “slacker” thing became laughable. I’ve always …

We talk a lot around here about finding a greater sense of meaning and purpose at midlife. So when I spotted a reprint of How to Find Your Purpose and Do What You Love by Maria Popova, I thought I might unearth a few gems for you. Naturally, the 2005 Stanford commencement address by Steve …

After coming back from traveling with my family for six months, I dove right back into work full steam. In hindsight, I should have eased in a bit slower. Adding to my self-inflicted stress is the fact that I’m now involved in more cool stuff than I was anticipating. While it adds to the workload, …

Ignored. Unappreciated. The Forgotten Generation. It’s all too easy to dwell on the negative as a Gen Xer. Not that we care, of course. But still … it just doesn’t seem quite right, right? After watching the trailer for Star Wars Episode IX, seeing Tiger Woods make a miraculous career comeback to win at Augusta, …

In the last issue of Further, we learned that Generation X is unhappy and underappreciated at work. No Gen Xer seemed to find this revelation particularly shocking. It’s not as certain, however, whether my advice to take control of your economic future was embraced. I can imagine plenty of people love the idea of going …

In the last issue of Further, we learned that Generation X is unhappy and underappreciated at work. No Gen Xer seemed to find this revelation particularly shocking. It’s not as certain, however, whether my advice to take control of your economic future was embraced. I can imagine plenty of people love the idea of going …

Learning new things seems tougher as we get older, and to a degree, it is. Whether it’s a new language, a musical instrument, or an athletic pursuit, it takes more work than when you were a kid. And that’s exactly why you should do it. Learning challenging new things improves your cognitive functioning — it …

Of the many gradual changes that may suddenly impact your life, artificial intelligence tops the list. For some people, it’s going to be a real problem for their livelihood. No need to freak out. But it’s smart to get ahead of the topic, given than most people won’t. AI is all over the news, and …

Recently, I shared the story of how I developed a fitness habit after years of failure. It was a major change in my life, in no small part because it was a shift in my identity. There’s a darker side to the story that I didn’t share, though. A big part of my motivation to …

Well, as you read this I should be in the United States somewhere after six months abroad. Maybe I’m jet lagged, or at minimum sleeping much too late to adjust to crossing the International Date Line into the past. I can’t say for sure, because I’m taking no chances and putting this issue together ahead …

Hello from Denarau Island in Fiji. It’s a long way from New Zealand to LAX, so we’re taking a breather at an amazing rest stop in the South Pacific. That means this trip around the world is coming to an end. It’s hard to believe we’ve been gone over six months — it’s certainly been …