Standing Out to Grow

Progress comes from the road less traveled

Author

Luke Lamy
April 15, 2023

Which Way Do I Go?

-Kid Cudi

At a young age, I always felt different from the kids around me. In school, I wasn't popular, was shy, and had many insecurities.

In elementary school, I got a rare condition causing one of my eyes to puff up with water and look swollen.

I called it a "puffy eye".

At recess, kids would poke at it and make fun of it.

I was super insecure about it, it was hideous.

As time when on, I kept trying to fit in but failed.

Being shy caused kids to avoid making friends with me.

I gained weight during this time and became self-conscious. I didn't want to go to pool parties and take off my shirt.

I had heard sayings that it's better to stray from the crowd.

But, I always wanted to make myself fit the mold.

In High School, I started vaping, smoking, and drinking to fit in and make friends.

My Mom attended meetings for reducing drug use in students.

I thought she was wasting her time, why stop kids from doing drugs, this is what the popular and cool kids are doing. (They have it figured out)

Still, even she was happy that I could make some friends with my newfound drug use.

I kept playing the game called fitting in. Attending Arizona State University (a huge party school) and joining a fraternity.

Freshman year of college (2020), I went home due to COVID.

Degenerate nights of drinking with the frat became:

•Delivering for Instacart

•Grass-fed home-cooked meals (Mom was on it before the bros)

•Running 2+ miles everyday

I started to change my identity.

Became a bookworm, started investing, and made growth in health and confidence.

With some progress to show and my Huberman podcast addiction, sleep and diet was my focus.

Since then, I have focused on these core practices, with optimizing sleep being how I've strayed from the crowd.

Rather than most my age, I prefer a quiet night of reading and contemplation.

Drinking → A good night's sleep

Smoking → Magnesium before bed

Fast food → Intermittent fasting

Now, with the next thing on the horizon, I graduate college in a few weeks. I continue to stray from the crowd and could never feel better about doing so.

I have committed to writing 90 minutes every day, no matter what.

And created this weekly newsletter you're currently reading, as well as a podcast to help people improve their lives.

Others are entering internships, 9-5's and corporate jobs with large companies.

But, I have always enjoyed the different thing.

Thank you for reading my story!

I hope you guys find this inspiring.

P.S.

Some current things I'm currently learning, listening to, and implementing in my life.

Learning: How to make a good note-taking system in Notion
Listening: Dickie Bush and Dan Koe Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4elsSGMl0j7dJBAbs7YphG

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