For a long time, I thought life worked like Mario Bros.

You push forward.
You beat the levels.
And eventually, if you do things right, you reach the final boss.

Defeat him.
Credits roll.
You finally relax.

I didn’t expect life to be easy—but I did expect it to eventually feel finished.

That moment never comes.

Because life isn’t Mario.

It’s Minecraft.

There’s no final level.
No ending screen.
No point where the work is done.

You build something.
You maintain it.
You improve it.
Or you neglect it—and it slowly falls apart.

That’s adulthood.

We get into trouble when we keep waiting to “arrive.”
When we tell ourselves things will slow down later.
When we treat presence like a reward instead of a responsibility.

Marriage doesn’t unlock after a win.
Health doesn’t stick once it’s “handled.”
Purpose doesn’t appear at the end of the map.

It’s built—daily.

Block by block.
Choice by choice.

There’s no final boss.
No credits.
Just the life you’re actively building.

And that’s not a flaw in the design.

That is the design.

Join over 4 million Americans who start their day with 1440 – your daily digest for unbiased, fact-centric news. From politics to sports, we cover it all by analyzing over 100 sources. Our concise, 5-minute read lands in your inbox each morning at no cost. Experience news without the noise; let 1440 help you make up your own mind. Sign up now and invite your friends and family to be part of the informed.

Subscribe to 1440 today.

The Second Mountain by David Brooks explores what happens after you realize success and achievement aren’t the final destination. He calls the next stage “the second mountain”—a life built on meaning, relationships, and service. It’s a thoughtful guide for anyone who’s tired of chasing “arrival” and ready to start building something deeper.

Until next time—
Keep the fires burning,
— Clay

If you like Campfire Gentleman, here are a few other newsletters I actually read.