Weekend Wrap 8/31/2025

Each weekend, I like to pause, reflect, and look back on the past week. This isn't a deep dive or grand reflection—just a quick review of a handful of things that brought me joy, made me think, or challenged me.

Another seven days around the sun. Work and personal challenges really sucked the air out of the room, so I have struggled to find much to be excited about. But there have been a few standouts.

Music

First, let's address a tragic loss in the music world. Brent Hinds, founding member and guitarist of Mastodon, was killed in a motorcycle accident. There have been some really odd things with his departure from the band he's been a member of for decades, but that doesn't make his passing any less tragic. I wish his family and friends comfort in this time.

It's been five years since we last heard from Deftones, and this was a welcome surprise. It was only a few weeks between the first single and the full album release. I think private music is a very good Deftones album. But when you released White Pony over twenty years ago, it's tough to improve on that.

And while I really like private music while I am listening to it, I haven't found myself coming back to it again and again. Great while listening, but sort of forgettable after that.

TV

I have really fallen in love with the UK's Taskmaster. It has been the perfect entertainment for where I am in my life right now. It is silly, zero stakes, and doesn't take itself seriously. We watch it, laugh, and just zone out for 40 minutes.

It's exactly what I need.

Quote of the week

I desperately wish more people felt this way. But the problem in our current society runs even deeper than that. It is that too often, we think we have all the truth. We lose the desire to seek truth because we assume we already have it.

Truth is a process. It is a lifelong search. To assume we already have it all is to embrace hubris.

What didn't work

Honestly, this week there was a lot. I've fallen off many of my habits that were positive, habits that in the past have helped me stay on top of things, helped me reflect and plan, and have helped me be who I want to be.

That needs to change. Work is still crushing me, for all the wrong reasons. But given that I have been powerless to change those conditions, I need to change how I am approaching them. Habits will be a key part of that.

More on that next week.

Wrapping up

Sometimes life is just tough. It has been lately. But we persevere and find little things that spark joy to help get us through. I hope you have those in your own life.