This is an image of a hand-drawn, three-tiered birthday cake sitting on a round serving plate. Each tier is decorated with different icing patterns, including dots, scalloped lines, and large rounded frosting dollops that circle each layer. At the top of the cake is a large candle shaped like the number 40, indicating a 40th birthday celebration. The drawing is simple and whimsical, using bold black lines with no colour or shading, giving it a playful, cartoon-like appearance.

40 for 40

April 5, 20256 Comments

40 lessons from 40 years of life, shared in 490 words on The Davis Daily.

F*ck your feelings

March 23, 2025Leave a comment

Issue 57 of Life Under Construction, a fortnightly newsletter by The Davis Daily. Join the crew for 15 interesting things about growth and creativity, wealth and wellness.

This is a hand-drawn illustration of the Grinch, a fictional character from the story “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” The Grinch’s face is green with a fuzzy texture, reflecting his fur. His expression is sly and mischievous, with a long curved smile, upturned eyebrows, and half-lidded, slightly narrowed eyes. He looks cunning and smug with a calculated demeanor. He is wearing a bright red Santa Claus hat trimmed with fluffy white fur. The hat's floppy end is tipped with a white pom-pom, leaning to the left side of his head. The Grinch's head is slightly tilted, as though he is plotting something.

Bah, humbug: why I (used to) hate Christmas

December 19, 2024December 22, 2025Leave a comment

From grief to gratitude. A holiday reminder that the best gift is time with your loved ones. In 680 words on The Davis Daily.

The thing about elephant ropes

October 16, 20247 Comments

How to unlearn learned helplessness: three true tales of self-limiting beliefs In 999 words on The Davis Daily.

This is a light green-coloured ribbon. It’s sitting flat on a 30° angle, pointing to the right. The top of the ribbon is shaped like an arrow head. There’s a hole near the top, with a piece of black string looped through it and knotted at the end. This allows the ribbon to be hung. The bottom of the ribbon is jagged, like it was torn from a piece of perforated cloth. The word “participation” is stitched in black in the ribbon’s centre. The word is written in capital letters.

Participation ribbons are for the soft ones

May 12, 20244 Comments

The hard truth about being soft. Served up in 733 spicy words on The Davis Daily.

This is a rough sketch of The Thinker, a renowned bronze statue made by Fonderie Alexis Rudier in 1904. It depicts a man sitting upon a rock reflecting. Tales say The Thinker overlooks the Gates of Hell. Eyes down, with his chin resting on the back of his hand. And an arm resting on his leg. The Thinker ponders his work, as we ponder our own.

The core truth of productivity: just fucking do it

June 19, 202317 Comments

Combine the blue-collar method™ with first principle thinking and challenge your mindset—in 292 words on The Davis Daily.

The Davis Daily

A blog about life: under construction

Tag: personal growth