[033] Living the Questions: My Spiritual Story Begins
Are you religious?” It’s a question I hear often. My answer follows the arc of a romantic comedy—boy sees girl from a distance, boy meets girl, boy loses girl, reconciliation. Except in my story, it’s Boy Meets God. Here’s Act One.
[030] I’ll never forget the night I tried to count the stars…
I’d never been so eager for the sun to set at Scout camp. That night, our astronomy instructor had us frame a piece of sky with our fingers and try to count the stars. As I stared, more and more came into view—too many to count in that tiny frame. Then he said: “There are billions of stars in that space if you had a powerful telescope.” It was a transcendent moment that’s sustained me for decades. Now in my third act, I understand why awe isn’t just a pleasant experience—it’s essential armor against cynicism, a bridge back to meaning, and a reminder of the incomprehensible privilege of being alive.
[027] Aliveness: The Fourth Aspiration for a Thriving Third Act
Some people seem lit from within, radiating a rare joie de vivre. Were they simply born with “it”? Let’s explore how anyone can cultivate this elusive quality—aliveness—by loosening old conditioning and rediscovering the spacious awareness that children know instinctively.
[026] Celebrating Six Months of The Wisdom Wayfinder!
A six-month celebration of The Wisdom Wayfinder. Max reflects on the journey and offers a glimpse into plans for the future: books, podcasts, and much more!
[024] Acceptance: Second Chances in Our Third Act
Acceptance is often served up as a quick fix for life’s struggles — just accept it and you’ll find peace. But true acceptance isn’t a shortcut. It’s a process, often the last stage of grief after denial, anger, bargaining, and depression. In this article, Max J. Miller shares how mistaking fake acceptance for the real thing led him through a personal crisis, and how discovering authentic acceptance opened the path to peace — even in the Third Act of life.
[021] – When FOMO Saved My Life
Two deeply personal stories reveal how perspective, courage, and even fear can shape our lives—and sometimes, save them.
[018] – An Elder Manifesto
Let’s change how we think about our life roles.
[016] – Unretire Your Soul
We’ve been sold a lie about retirement. In this week’s Ideas Worth Shredding, we tear up the old script of escape and reveal the deeper calling of your Third Act: to return with purpose, presence, and wisdom.
[014] – You’re Not Lost, Just Waiting to Be Brave
Lack of Purpose as a Smokescreen; Freedom in a Flowered Shirt, What’s Worth Failing For
[013] – Men, Loneliness, and the Power We’re Not UsingWe’re Not Using
Look beneath the surface of how we show up, speak out, and grow wise—whether we’re slowing down, hiding out, or lashing out. Meet a boy hiding behind a ventriloquist dummy, a troll mistaking cynicism for genius, and a surprising upside to forgetting why you walked into the kitchen. How to live more openly, more generously, and—yes—even more visibly.