Introduction to The Year Of The Opposite. What is The Year Of The Opposite? What have I achieved in my Year Of The Opposite?
How the Year Of The Opposite Started, what are the results, and could it be right for you?
This is your starting guide to The Year Of The Opposite. Let’s start with some links that will help you learn more about this project/newsletter and dive into the content:
How to start your own Year Of The Opposite: A step by step guide to start your own year of the opposite & the results from my first Year Of The Opposite.
How I cured my depression in 5 months by living a Year Of The Opposite.
Why you should start journaling nightly and how to be more grateful.
How I lost 62lbs & built a habit of working out everyday by living a Year of The Opposite.
Going from not being able to run a half mile, to running 1,000 miles in 1 year!
Clearing Up The Rumors: The Real Story of How Matthew Hill from Liquid Web Died.
What Is the Year Of The Opposite?
The Year of the Opposite is a blog and podcast where I share my personal journey of transformation in the face of overwhelming grief and depression. At the age of 41, I lost three close friends within just five months, which sent me spiraling into a deep depression. Despite my somewhat successful career and seemingly great life, I struggled to find purpose and happiness.
Inspired by Admiral William H. McRaven's commencement speech and the Seinfeld episode, "The Opposite," I decided to make small changes in my life, starting with waking up early and making my bed every day.
This small change snowballed into my decision to embrace a "year of the opposite," challenging myself to step out of my comfort zone and do the opposite of what I had done before. I started with the simple act of waking up early and making my bed, but I enjoyed it so much I kept challenging myself with new interesting challenges that were the opposite of what I had traditionally done in my life.
The results were astounding and they happened very quickly.
Through this journey, I overcame depression, became a better father & husband, transformed my health, fixed all my lifestyle induced ailments, and discovered newfound confidence and purpose. On this newsletter & podcast I share how I did it and provide resources so that you can too.
Why should you subscribe to Year Of The Opposite?
It’s free and you’ll put a huge smile on my face. :)
You’ll get practical tips that are simple to improve your life, lose weight, live longer, and be happier.
I’ll share positive stories about the world that the news/media ignores. “If you pay attention to the news you’d think the world is getting worse. If you study history, you know the world is getting better.”
If you enjoy it, I hope you’ll support my endeavor by voluntarily becoming a paid subscriber. It means the world to me and it keeps me going.
Travis Stoliker’s Year Of The Opposite Achievements
Improve my health: After the sale of Liquid Web, my poor lifestyle choices resulted in my health to deteriorate. I vowed to Resolve all my medical conditions in my Year Of The Opposite (YOTO).
Lost 62lbs (37lbs since start of YOTO) - Updated 9/11/2023
Cured Hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol)
Cured Hypertriglyceridemia (high triglycerides)
Cured Impaired fasting glucose
Cured Rosacea
Cut my ASCVD risk of having a heart attack in 10 years from 16% to 2%.
Mental Clarity & Discipline: After the sale of Liquid Web and a substantial financial windfall, I became undisciplined and neglected my health. I ballooned to nearly 270lbs and acquired a bunch of diseases caused by my lifestyle.
No weed
Meditate
Wake up early (Used to sleep in until noon)
Cured* my grief related depression. (* as much as it can be “cured”)
Exercise & Challenge my Body: Exercise is the best medicine for physical health, mental health, & longevity in my book. I set out to become a healthy person.
I became a runner. I Ran 1,000 miles in 365 days
Ran 15 miles nonstop
Run 1 mile backwards
Compete in competitive races for first time (8K & 5K)
Learned how to hold my breath for 2:46.
Swam ~1 mile across a lake
Regular sauna use
5 Pull Ups Unassisted
20 mile bike ride
Repair neglected physical image: After the sale of Liquid Web I adopted a slovenly image refusing to shave, comb my hair, and I regularly wore sweatsuits. In my YOTO, I improved my image.
Dress better & do hair.
Wear a mustache
Resolved Rosacea
Take up new hobbies: For most of my life I neglected hobbies and focused too much on work. In my year of the opposite, I changed that.
Slalom Water Skiing
Antiquing
Golf
Archery
Track a deer and recover it.
Target practice
Foil surf (still not good!)
Nutrition: My diet was horrendous and I was a very picky eater. I would regularly consume 50oz of soda, ice cream, and beer. In my YOTO, I fixed my diet and broadened my horizons to try any food I was offered. I also had a very low tolerance for spicy food, so I set out to change that.
No pop (Soda)
Eat everything. Tomatoes, Mushrooms, yogurt, etc
Spice Training - Improve my tolerance of hot spices.
Completed the Blazin Wing Challenge
Be more social & be more active in community: The only thing I hated more than meetings was “networking”. So in my YOTO, I decided to be more social and active in the community.
Join the Lansing Rotary and become a Rotarian
Join Ele’s Place Board
Scheduled meetings every week
Went to our family cabin more frequently
Made a rule to “Say YES” to almost all invitations
Started a Newsletter & Podcast. Write and publish every week.
Donated thousands of dollars to help the community through my business Saddleback BBQ.
Provided thousands of Free Meals to students during the pandemic.
Paid off the student lunch debt and library debt at multiple school districts.
Help the victims of fires, tornadoes, and floods.
Rescued local businesses that were in jeopardy of going out of business during the pandemic.
Spiritual Exploration: I was raised Catholic but became an atheist around the age of 12. As a part of my YOTO I explored religion and began attending church.
Attended church (almost) weekly
Attended a Jewish Synagogue
Before & After Pictures & Videos
Podcasts & Video Interviews
The Year Of The Opposite also contains video & audio interviews with people that I find fascinating. Here are some of the interviews on the podcast.