Matt 😎

Reminder: for those who like things neat and orderly, February 2026 is the perfect 4 week month 😍

Excited for Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey? Here’s how I've been getting warmed up for it. 1. Watch the movie Troy (2004) Starring Brad Pitt! as Achilles and Sean Bean! as Odysseus, Troy is (loosely) based on the Iliad by Homer. From a storytelling perspective, Troy functions as a prequel to The Odyssey. While the movie is clearly made for modern entertainment, it's a pretty good introduction to the mythic world, major characters and key themes that carry directly into Odysseus's long journey home. Orlando Bloom is also in it and (spoiler alert) he shoots bows and arrows😆. 2. Listen to Odyssey: The Podcast I tried to read The Odyssey, and, I'll confess that it's not easy😵‍💫. Thankfully, @jeffwrightstory (an incredible storyteller), created a 14-episode podcast series that retells the complete story of The Odyssey in way that is both entertaining and highly accessible. What sets this podcast apart is that Wright doesn’t just recount the plot, he provides essential historical and cultural context that explains why characters behave the way they do. One standout example is his discussion of xenia, the ancient Greek concept of ritualized hospitality and guest-friendship. Under xenia, hosts were morally obligated to offer food, shelter, and protection to strangers (and guests were expected to respect their hosts in return). Violating this code almost always led to disastrous consequences... Enjoy. The countdown is on😀

Alcaraz and Sinner need each other.🎾 For history buffs: Doris Kearns Goodwin’s Team of Rivals is a must-read. Lincoln didn’t surround himself with loyalists. He built a cabinet of rivals—people who challenged him, pushed back, and forced him to think deeper. Why? Because dissent kills groupthink. Organizational psychology shows that when strong voices disagree, teams avoid blind consensus. Leaders test assumptions, sharpen reasoning, and spark innovation. Friction, when managed, creates progress. And this principle isn’t just politics. It’s alive in sports. Look at men’s tennis today. Carlos Alcaraz vs. Jannik Sinner. Their rivalry defines this new era. They’ve split the last two majors and meet again in today’s US Open final. When one raises his level, the other has no choice but to respond. Rivalry doesn’t diminish them, it elevates them. That’s the paradox: rivals can bring out your best self. They demand your fullest effort, your most creative strategies, your greatest resilience. Rivalry is not the enemy of greatness. It’s the engine of it.

Feeling stressed this weekend? Find a horizon to look at. 🌅 Science shows that shifting from tunnel vision (screens, indoors) to panoramic vision (vistas) activates the nervous system linked to calm. It’s how our brains say: no saber-tooth tiger nearby, you’re safe. 🐅😎

One of the best quotes ever about the life-changing role that great teachers can have: “A teacher has two jobs: fill young minds with knowledge—and give them a compass so it doesn’t go to waste.” (Mr. Holland’s Opus) Happy back to school week everyone😊

#YYJ people, please add something to your "to do" list this Saturday: ✅Come to the Tillicum Mall parking lot between 9am-3pm ✅Drop off a donation to STUFF THE BUS🚌🎁 Save on Foods are selling $10 bags of food, and money donations can also be made. See you there😊🎅

I always love a good product placement. “This moment is brought to you by Werner Ladders. Werner, elevate your reach.” 🪜 🏀 #MarchMadness

Hey #YYJ sports fans, big🏀game tonight between @uvic and @UBC. Very family friendly in-person experience. #GoVikesGo!

👉Open house on Tuesday, November 14th from 5pm-7pm at Nellie McClung Library📚 #Saanich

How cool is this!

🤯 😃

Best game in the world 🏀

Name the songs 🚏🚌🎵🧐

Parenting hot take: when teaching your child to ride a bike, skip the training wheels. Remove the pedals and let them use it as a balance/running bike. This helps them learn how to balance first. 🚲

Also increases the difficulty of doing Wordle by 10x😜

I hope they preserve the “University Heights” sign and it ends up as a hipster decoration at the future brew pub (🤞) at the new development. And the brew pub serves a beer called “Johnny ZeeSB”. The circle would be complete.