Holy Mother of Pearl.

7 years. My first Practically Well blog dropped (that’s what the kids say. “dropped”, right?) on October 15, 2018. In the fall of 2018 I was gainfully employed in middle management of global supplement company. I lived in L.A. Performing arts had been relegated to an occasional hobby. Practically Well was an artistic outlet. A chance to create without big corporate brother looking over my shoulder and giving “constructive feedback” and annual reviews. BTW, the only thing I hated more than getting annual reviews was giving annual reviews. And I was terrible at it. I would tell people good things and give outrageously high scores.

I don’t like critics. Shoot me….

…but I digress…

Also, I was a 50 year old guy from the mid-west who lived a fit lifestyle and taught fitness classes. I truly enjoyed helping people who were interested in a healthier life style to achieve that goal. The couple of times where people who took my classes made a significant change in their lives truly made me happy. I had a student who started significantly out of shape. She ended up getting certified to teach, to pay it forward. Practically Well is an extension of that. I wanted to look, with a reality based, midwestern eye, at the fads that constantly emerge in the wellness industry, especially in Southern California. What was fact based, what was tested, what was proven effective? And what was, well, bullshit. If one person found a bit of information or motivation, something to help them take that 1st step, or take it in the right direction, then I think it’s worthwhile.

7 years. 334 posts. 42 subscribers.

A good friend asked me once “How much money do you make off of that?”

Ha. It is to laugh.

But now it’s 2025. I’m based in Cincinnati. I’m an (God help me for saying it out loud) actor. I’m touring the U.S. for the next year +, in a musical theater production.

Which one?

If you know, you know. If not, go to my facebook or Instagram. Over the last 7 years I’ve gotten used to not mentioning employers in these posts, because at that time my employers weren’t too hip on me expressing myself freely. I almost got fired before I learned that lesson.

But suffice to say, my life is significantly different.

Then why? Why continue putting out content?

A couple things….

First, it’s still a creative outlet which is free from oversight. If you think that what I do on stage is freedom of expression, you are sadly mistaken. It is viewed, reviewed , critiqued , and strictly moderated. That’s a completely different blog, and one I will probably never write. But I still require freedom of expression, and this blog scratches that particular itch.

Also, the blog itself has changed. It used to be strictly about wellness. But over the years it has grown to become occasionally auto biographical. It has spawned a movie-by-movie review of the James Bond film-ography. It was a springboard to a book, and a musical. It has given me license to be creative. Have any of these endeavors been a “success”, in the classical definition, ie money, fame, awards, etc?

Heck no.

Doesn’t matter. That’s not what I started out looking for. If I were to stumble upon it, great, super! But that’s not I’m looking for.

Over the last 7 years I have learned a lot about the topics I’ve blogged about. I’ve found that I think cryotherapy is beneficial, as is chiropractic therapy. I own a thera-gun, and use it. And I know what I think is quackery and simply an attempt to separate people from their hard earned money. If you’ve followed these blogs you know the items / diets / philosophies I’m talking about. No need to call them out again.

So, what’s next?

More of the same. I’ve been a little lax in the last several months, but I’m looking to get back on the proverbial horse. New trends to investigate, new diets, new injectable drugs (oops, sorry). And I’ll be touring for a while so new races to run in new places.

And so, to all 42 of you. Thanks for coming along for the ride.

Talk later,

Bob