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Man with a belly exercising with weights

The most expensive personal item

The most expensive personal item I’ve ever purchased, not counting vehicles or homes, is a treadmill. I bought it a couple of years ago, and it came with a dizzying array of buttons and settings. It offers options for walking, jogging, andrunning…i guess . The price tag? A five-digit figure. Like most fitness gadgets, it has one major flaw: it expects you to put in all the work. Wouldn’t it be amazing if you could buy a pair of running shoes that, each morning, went on a 10-mile sprint while you slept? Then, when you wake up, you’d feel fresh and energized, while the shoes neatly returned to their rack. Now, back to my treadmill: Is it getting regular use? The honest answer is no. My son uses it when he comes in early from work. My wife occasionally uses it… but more as a place to hang clothes than… The most expensive personal item

a microphone attached to a tripod on a white background

Do I listen to podcasts?

I do not listen to podcasts. I’ve always been skeptical of lectures, whether they come from politicians, self-proclaimed experts, or social media influencers. I prefer to form my own opinions on matters, big or small, without someone else trying to shape my views. The only exceptions are when the topic at hand is of specific technical importance, like space exploration or medical breakthroughs, where deep expertise is essential. Then I listen to the person behind the discovery or invention. The issue with many podcasters and social media influencers is that they are often pushing an agendawhether it’s a product, an idea, or a brand. They get paid to sell something, and their polished rhetoric is designed to make you believe in whatever they’re promoting. I believe the most reliable way to gather information is to do your own research and come to conclusions based on your own understanding. Subject matter… Do I listen to podcasts?

man siting while reading

What was your favorite subject in school?

I was never the model student nor did I have any favorite subject in school. In fact, my school days are mostly a blur of painful memories. I hated going to school. The sight of children in uniforms, their bags weighed down with books, reminds me of lines of prisoners. The rigid routine, the never-ending rulesit felt like a constant battle. As an Army officer’s child, I moved around a lot. In my first ten years, I attended five different schools. The constant uprooting meant I never had the chance to settle, and coupled with the teachers I encounteredsome downright terriblemy school years became something I wished to forget. But there was one thing that saved me: my love for reading. While I may not have thrived in the classroom, the world of books was my escape. Every new academic year, I would tear through my English reader as soon… What was your favorite subject in school?