How Rituals Rewrote My Life

Joe Lee

13 Jul 2025 — 1 min read

For the last 3.5 years, I’ve fasted nearly every day — at least 20 hours, even on bad days. I began not out of discipline, but desperation. I didn’t want to feel old, look old, or live like I used to. A book, Lifespan by David Sinclair, sparked the belief that time could be slowed — or even bent.

I also started going to the gym. At first, it was just to shower — my place didn’t have one. But showing up daily turned into something more. Training became part of who I am. Now, I move almost like an athlete.

A month ago, I added piano. I now play Mozart’s Sonata No. 16 with flow. Not perfectly, but beautifully enough to keep going.

The Real Battle Was Internal

The hardest part wasn’t the hunger or the workouts — it was breaking the belief that three meals a day were necessary. In the gym, it was the fear of how I looked, comparing myself to others. Ego is louder when there’s a mirror in front of you. Now, I’m more attuned to movement, not appearance — to purpose, not performance.

The Quiet Shift

Eventually, the changes stuck. I stopped craving sugar. I wake up light and focused. I look younger. I stand taller. But I also pushed too hard. Joint pain reminded me: discipline includes knowing when to rest.

New Threads: Writing and Reading

Now, I write a short blog post and read 10–20 pages a day. Small, but steady. Not for show — for shaping my thoughts and my inner compass.

Because I believe: it’s not ambition that transforms us, but quiet, daily rituals done with intention.

This isn’t about chasing success. It’s about becoming more whole.
Not harder. Not louder. Just deeper.

One fast. One set. One melody.
One page. One sentence. One day at a time.

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