Find your best self before the wedding ceremony and read marriage, relationship, and wellness tips from Denver wedding officiant, Michael Moody.
My 10 Favorite Life-Guiding Quotes from the Stoic, Marcus Aurelius
Introduction
Where do you look for the answer to the question, “How do I live a good life?” Naturally, you refer to 165 AD for a perspective that transcends time. To shape my philosophical self, I’ve been reading Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations (one of the earliest self-improvement texts). The following 10 quotes are taken directly from this great work. While I typically offer commentary on their meaning, they are left to your interpretation (everybody could use a break from a pundit).
“The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.”
“If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.”
“The best revenge is to be unlike him who performed the injury.”
“It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.”
“Our life is what our thoughts make it.”
“If someone is able to show me that what I think or do is not right, I will happily change, for I seek the truth, by which no one was ever truly harmed. It is the person who continues in his self-deception and ignorance who is harmed.”
“If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it.”
“Whenever you are about to find fault with someone, ask yourself the following question: What fault of mine most nearly resembles the one I am about to criticize?”
“How much more grievous are the consequences of anger than the causes of it.”
“Live a good life. If there are gods and they are just, then they will not care how devout you have been, but will welcome you based on the virtues you have lived by. If there are gods, but unjust, then you should not want to worship them. If there are no gods, then you will be gone, but will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of your loved ones.”
Welcome to “The Elements of Being” podcast, where I dissect and explore the minds and habits of psychologists, filmmakers, writers, and industry icons. Essentially, we examine the mental and emotional narratives and processes that steer the social stream of consciousness….Truly a chance to geek out over the psychology behind human behavior. Each episode is a glimpse into the trends and patterns of human behavior and the underlying influences that navigate us into different directions. Whether we focus primarily on nutrition or the unconscious, guests share insights, thought-provoking lessons, the nuances of creativity, and the elements of being… us.
In the spirit of the 2020 US presidential election, Dr. Jonathan Baron and I discuss moral judgment and individual decision-making in today’s episode. Dr. Baron is the founding editor of the open-access journal Judgment and Decision Making and has served on the editorial boards of several other journals. He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Association for Psychological Science, and was the President of the Society for Judgment and Decision Making.
Dr. Baron's work has occurred primarily within the field of judgment and decision making, a multidisciplinary area that applies psychological principles to problems in economics, law, business, and public policy. This field began by contrasting human decision behavior to individual decision-making and judgment theories, such as probability theory and expected utility. Baron's research has extended the focus of judgment and decision-making to social problems in resource allocation and ethical decision-making. Among the concepts associated with his work are omission bias (the tendency to excuse acts of omission more readily than acts of commission) and protected values (principles on which people are unwilling to accept trade-offs).
In our interview, here’s what we specifically discussed:
-The trends of political polarization and conspiracy thinking.
-The problems of improving everyday decisions as a result of institutional issues.
-Applying general principles of decision analysis.
-The evolution of a person’s social standards.
-Omission bias in politics.
-The cost-benefit analysis of environmental policies.
-The expression of moral and moralistic values regarding the political issues of gay marriage and abortion.
-The role of empathy in the utilitarian point of view.
-The factors that affect moral judgment.
About the Author: Michael Moody, Wedding Officiant
Michael Moody—author of the self-improvement book Redefine Yourself: The Simple Guide to Happiness and host of the “The Elements of Being” podcast—is an ordained minister serving Denver and other towns across Colorado. He is a 2023 WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Award winner in both Denver and Chicago (his eighth consecutive year), was named “Best Business of 2024 and 2025” by Three Best Rated, and earned “The Best Wedding Officiant in Commerce City, Colorado for 2024” from Quality Business Awards USA. Since 2012, he has officiated more than 300 weddings.
Specifically, Michael officiates wedding ceremonies in the Denver neighborhoods of LoDo, River North, Washington Park, Cherry Creek, City Park, Central Park, Capitol Hill, Cheesman Park, Park Hill, Highland, Platt Park, Lower Highlands, Sloan Lake as well as the zip codes 80215, 80214, 80204, 80203, 80205, 80207, 80218, 80219, 80222, 80223, 80224, 80246, 80238, 80221, 80022, 80230, 80231, 80202, 80209, 80247, and 80210. Michael also serves as an ordained minister in Golden, Boulder, Breckenridge, Frisco, Aspen, Vail, Estes Park, and more.
If your Denver neighborhood or Colorado town isn’t listed here, no worries! Please contact Michael to propose a wedding ceremony location in a different area!
How to Turn Your 13 Favorite Midwestern Meals into a Weight Loss Diet
Introduction
Recently, my personal training client wanted to ramp up her weight loss efforts. Our first step was to examine her current meal plan (a typical Midwestern diet) and identify healthy alternatives. Take a look… the same meals are probably in your diet, too!!
Quick Swap/General Changes to Your Typical Meals
Organic ingredients only (more flavor!).
Reduced sodium for all canned products (less bloatedness!).
No lard in any of the canned bean products (less of the unnecessary bad fat!).
Meat (including red meat, white meat, fish, seafood, etc.) should not exceed 25% of any dish (vegan is preferred for ALL 3-4 meals).
Eliminate cheese or swap it for a SMALL amount of Diya's Chopping Block Cheddar Cheese Shreds. I still hesitate to recommend a cheese substitute because it's highly processed and can trigger cravings (which can be dangerous when the substitute isn't available).
No butter.
The portion of vegetables must always be at least twice the size of the meat.
Common Meals (and their Healthy Alternatives)
Chili mac
Healthy Alternative: Mexican mix (below) using the taco seasoning recipe (below) with Banza Chickpea Elbows Pasta (boil until el dente, and then quickly rinse with cold water). Meal Ratio: 1/4 ground chicken (2-4 oz), 1/2 veggies, 1/4 pasta.
Pizza
Healthy Alternative: 365 Everyday Value Cauliflower Pizza Crust, 8 oz (frozen), tomato sauce, Diya's Chopping Block Cheddar Cheese Shreds, roasted red bell peppers, fresh garlic cloves, basil.
Lemon garlic sauce chicken, veggies, and pasta
Healthy Alternative: 1/4 chicken (2-4 oz), 1/2 veggies, 1/4 Banza Chickpea Penne Pasta (or substitute with boiled and drained cauliflower rice).
Grilled chicken breast and veggies
Healthy Alternative: 1/4 chicken (2-4 oz), 3/4 veggies (grilled asparagus, broccoli, tomatoes, etc.).
Grilled cheese
Healthy Alternative: Whole-grain bread with Diya's Chopping Block Cheddar Cheese Shreds, but this still isn’t a nutrient-dense option alone. Make this a 1/4 of your meal and add veggies for the rest.
Lasagna
Healthy Alternative: Mexican mix recipe (below) using the taco seasoning recipe (below). Meal Ratio: 1/4 ground chicken (2-4 oz), 1/2 veggies (beans, corn, sauteed onions, bell peppers), 1/4 El Milagro Corn Tortillas (only ingredients: corn, water, lime).
Beef chili
Healthy Alternative: 1 diced medium yellow onion, 2 minced garlic cloves, 2 tbs tomato paste, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp pepper, 1 cup dry green lentils, 1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce, 1 (14.5 oz) can petite diced tomatoes, 1 (4 oz) can diced green chiles or hot Rotel, 2 tsp chili powder, 2 tsp cumin, 1 tsp oregano, 2 green peppers, 3 tbs of Worcestershire, 1 can of drained kidney beans, and 1 can of drained pinto beans.
Crockpot BBQ chicken
Healthy Alternative: Chicken breasts, green pepper strips, sautéed onion strips, diced garlic, and Annie's Original BBQ Sauce. The chicken is only 1/4 of your meal, and veggies for the rest.
Tuna salad
Healthy Alternative: Wild Planet Wild Albacore Tuna Pouch (No Salt), 1 tbs of Real Mayo, 1tsp of Trader Joe’s Lemon Pepper seasoning, ¼ tsp garlic powder, ¼ tsp onion powder, lemon garnish, and 1-2 tsp of diced pickle or relish.
Chicken casserole (chicken, peas, cream of chicken soup, breadcrumbs)
Healthy Alternative: Chicken breasts, peas, vegan cashew sauce (https://cookieandkate.com/vegan-mac-and-cheese-recipe/), and oats or quinoa (instead of breadcrumbs). The chicken is only 1/4 of your meal, and veggies for the rest.
Tacos (chicken, lettuce, cheese, shells)
Healthy Alternative: Mexican mix using the taco seasoning recipe. Meal Ratio: 1/4 ground chicken (2-4 oz), 1/2 veggies (beans, corn, lettuce, as well as chopped spinach and green peppers marinated in squeezed lime juice), and 1/4 El Milagro Corn Tortillas (only ingredients: corn, water, lime)…no cheese.
Taco salad (same as above, but in a salad)
Healthy Alternative: Mexican mix using the taco seasoning recipe. 1/4 Ground chicken (2-4 oz), 3/4 Veggies (beans, corn, lettuce, as well as chopped spinach and green peppers marinated in squeezed lime juice)…no cheese.
Beef meatloaf
Healthy Alternative: Ground chicken, diced green peppers, diced sautéed onions and garlic, oats or quinoa (instead of breadcrumbs), Organic Large Omega-3 Brown Grade A Eggs, Heinz Simply Tomato Ketchup, and Annie's Original BBQ Sauce…..but this still isn’t a nutrient-dense option alone. Make the meatloaf a 1/4 of your meal and add veggies for the rest.
Base recipes
Mexican mix
1 lb ground organic chicken breast sauteed with 1 chopped medium onion and 2 chopped garlic cloves
2 cans of organic black beans
1 can Hot Rotel (or any diced tomatoes)
1 can Mexican corn
Taco seasoning
2 tbs chili powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
1/2 tsp oregano
1 tsp paprika
3 tsp cumin
2 tsp salt
2 tsp pepper
About the Author: Michael Moody, Wedding Officiant
Michael Moody—author of the self-improvement book Redefine Yourself: The Simple Guide to Happiness and host of the “The Elements of Being” podcast—is an ordained minister serving Denver and other towns across Colorado. He is a 2023 WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Award winner in both Denver and Chicago (his eighth consecutive year), was named “Best Business of 2024 and 2025” by Three Best Rated, and earned “The Best Wedding Officiant in Commerce City, Colorado for 2024” from Quality Business Awards USA. Since 2012, he has officiated more than 300 weddings.
Specifically, Michael officiates wedding ceremonies in the Denver neighborhoods of LoDo, River North, Washington Park, Cherry Creek, City Park, Central Park, Capitol Hill, Cheesman Park, Park Hill, Highland, Platt Park, Lower Highlands, Sloan Lake as well as the zip codes 80215, 80214, 80204, 80203, 80205, 80207, 80218, 80219, 80222, 80223, 80224, 80246, 80238, 80221, 80022, 80230, 80231, 80202, 80209, 80247, and 80210. Michael also serves as an ordained minister in Golden, Boulder, Breckenridge, Frisco, Aspen, Vail, Estes Park, and more.
If your Denver neighborhood or Colorado town isn’t listed here, no worries! Please contact Michael to propose a wedding ceremony location in a different area!
My Personal Training Client’s SPECIFIC Plan to Lose Weight
Introduction
After a frustrating stream of weight fluctuations, I couldn’t be prouder of my personal training client’s new plan to lose 20 lbs for good! This is an excellent template for anyone serious about long-term weight loss.
WEIGHT LOSS MILESTONES
Get Down to 187 Pounds on my Home Scale by 7/1/2019
Get Down to 181 Pounds on my Home Scale by 8/1/2019
Get Down to 176 Pounds on my Home Scale by 8/31/2019
Get Down to 171 Pounds on my Home Scale by 10/15/2019
Wedding Officiant Wisdom: Losing 1-2 lbs per week is the most sustainable way to achieve weight loss. Matt is taking a realistic, achievable approach to reaching his ultimate goal. Setting milestones is a great way to carry this out at a micro level. While the actual results may vary slightly depending on unexpected factors, Matt has set the intent. Since most people seek to change their lives every 3-4 weeks, the dates are appropriate.
WEIGHT LOSS APPROACH PHASE 1
Wedding Officiant Wisdom: As a human scientist, I am constantly testing the body’s sensitivity to food and movement. When developing a weight loss plan, the same approach applies. Matt has created the guidelines below based on his true physical needs and the principles of clean eating for optimal health (weight loss is just a result). While each line seems strict, it is adaptable. Most importantly, it reiterates the intent. All choices will extend from this list. This approach is a stark contrast to the most common approach of extending choices from one’s wants (which doesn’t necessarily reflect a person’s needs and is most likely to lead to faulty guesses and unsuccessful, long-term results).
Foods I’ll Eliminate Until I Reach My Goals
Eliminate BREAD, PROCESSED STARCHES, CHIPS, PRETZELS, ALL SALTY SNACKS, and ALL BAKED SWEET GOODS
Eliminate STARCHY VEGETABLES (Potatoes, Rice, etc.)
Eliminate 80%+ of DAIRY PRODUCTS
Eliminate Specifically: PIZZA, FRENCH FRIES, CHINESE FOOD, ITALIAN SANDWICHES, BURGERS WITH BUNS, WENDY’S, and Other FAST FOOD
Eliminate Fried Foods like Chicken Fingers, Fried Chicken, Fried Appetizers, Fatty Foods: Bacon, Chicken Wings, etc.
Eliminate Energy Bars of All Kinds (Except in Super Emergencies/Damage Control)
Eliminate All BEER, and any Indulgent, High-Cal Booze Drinks
All NUTS Except Pistachios in Shell, Counting When I Eat
Popcorn in Emergencies
BBQ Sauce on Meat
Cereal
Candy
Peanut Butter
2. Foods I’ll Keep in my Diet but May Eventually Eliminate for Clean Eating
Diet Coke – try to limit to 24 oz a day, MAX
Splenda – Do not use willy nilly
Diet Soft Drink Squirts
Turkey Jerky & Beef Jerky
“Lean” Mixed Drinks & Wine – Always Attempt Moderation. Only get drunk “if necessary”
Arctic Zero Ice Cream (the Extreme Low-Cal Ice Cream)
1 Pint, 2-3x per week max
Sugar-Free Creamer for Coffee, in moderation
3. At-Home “Yes” List
My Smoothies w/ Almond Milk, Pea Protein Powder, Frozen Fruit, Spinach, Carrots, Bananas, Flax Seeds
Fruit of All Kinds
Powdered Peanut Butter in Moderation
All Raw Vegetables
Non-Starchy Cooked Vegetables
Chicken, Shrimp, Jerky
Dry Soaked Cooked Beans
Edamame
Pistachios with Shells
4. Partying, Dining Out, etc.
I will drink Canned Seltzer Alcohol Drinks like Truly, Spiked Seltzer, and Aqua Fierte
I will drink Rum or Vodka + Club Soda, or sometimes Diet Coke
I will have NO BEER EVER, NO BEER, NO BEER, NO BEER
I will NOT eat any heavy, junk foods after drinking
I will eat the best option on the menu when I dine with my girlfriend
I will eat in great moderation when there are no good choices
I will eat SLOWLY and MINDFULLY
I will NOT eat bread that comes out beforehand
I will NOT eat Chips & Salsa that comes out beforehand
About the Author: Michael Moody, Wedding Officiant
Michael Moody—author of the self-improvement book Redefine Yourself: The Simple Guide to Happiness and host of the “The Elements of Being” podcast—is an ordained minister serving Denver and other towns across Colorado. He is a 2023 WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Award winner in both Denver and Chicago (his eighth consecutive year), was named “Best Business of 2024 and 2025” by Three Best Rated, and earned “The Best Wedding Officiant in Commerce City, Colorado for 2024” from Quality Business Awards USA. Since 2012, he has officiated more than 300 weddings.
Specifically, Michael officiates wedding ceremonies in the Denver neighborhoods of LoDo, River North, Washington Park, Cherry Creek, City Park, Central Park, Capitol Hill, Cheesman Park, Park Hill, Highland, Platt Park, Lower Highlands, Sloan Lake as well as the zip codes 80215, 80214, 80204, 80203, 80205, 80207, 80218, 80219, 80222, 80223, 80224, 80246, 80238, 80221, 80022, 80230, 80231, 80202, 80209, 80247, and 80210. Michael also serves as an ordained minister in Golden, Boulder, Breckenridge, Frisco, Aspen, Vail, Estes Park, and more.
If your Denver neighborhood or Colorado town isn’t listed here, no worries! Please contact Michael to propose a wedding ceremony location in a different area!
What to Keep in Mind When Adding Treats to a Weight Loss Diet
The Big Challenge:
It isn't easy to eat healthy and/or lose weight while eating treats.
Assumption: I need to eliminate everything I love (especially the biggest culprits: dairy, meat, grains, refined sugar, processed foods, and alcohol).
The Breakdown: Well, yes and no. Our bodies are adaptive systems that fight unruly environments, diseases, and relationships 😊 There’s always a perfect combination of factors, including dietary choices and the type of movement, for a given point that helps it operate efficiently and effectively. The further I stray from this beautiful recipe, the less efficient and effective my body operates (comparable to the different grades of gasoline and car performance). What does this mean for eating treats? The answer is simple, though not always fun to recognize: I need to figure out what I can get away with, accept the consequences of going beyond my boundaries, and adapt accordingly. Here’s what I specifically consider when I’m in the mood for treats:
What I Keep in Mind When Eating Treats
Personal Trainer Wisdom: The first key to cheating in any diet (diet as in one’s eating regimen… weight loss or not) is establishing a consistent structure of habits. This is my foundation….my day-to-day approach, my go-to. A treat every once in a while is an outlier that won’t skew my results….as long as my daily approach is consistent and nutrient-dense. I define a treat as a choice that doesn’t provide full nutritional value and, most often, counters my health in one form or another. Examples of treats include bread, ice cream, braised beef, chocolate, alcohol, and pretty much everything I grew to love over the course of a lifetime. Similar to many economic principles, random treats in my diet are just minor dents in the vehicle of life. It won’t stop this car from moving! It is an outlier and won’t affect my health goals.
On the other hand, if I eat my treats 5-7 days per week, this behavior is now a habit-a part of my foundation. The difference is a hail storm pounding my car to a total wreck instead of Preston’s baseball accidentally dinging my bumper. Can I still drive my car after a hailstorm? Most likely, yes (but maybe not well). My body is a machine that can withstand many illnesses, bone breaks, and Snickers bars. I must always be mindful of my body so I can be aware of its boundaries, though. I can run when I have a headache, but should I run a marathon when I have a migraine? I can lift weights with a sore shoulder, but should I perform a chest fly with a torn rotator cuff? I can eat a Snickers bar every night, but should I have a treat after eating tasty crackers, cheese, and meat all day?
Choosing to eat a treat isn’t an isolated experience. This choice must be evaluated alongside all of my dietary habits, physical boundaries (think: a diabetic and his relationship to spiking blood sugar), and other choices. My choices outside that moment can determine whether I’m pushing past my dietary boundary line. Ideally, I will develop an autopilot system that unconsciously evaluates these decisions and helps me adhere to important nutritional guidelines, including choosing non-inflammatory, nutrient-dense foods and maintaining a consistent eating schedule. I feel lucky that my generation doesn’t need to think about survival every waking moment. My life usually isn’t threatened daily, and food will be on my table. I can’t imagine living life under that type of scrutiny! It’s a good reminder for me when I do need to increase the focus on myself, though. The scrutiny isn’t always fun, but it’s necessary.
I see the reasons why many people avoid this awareness. I’m often frustrated by the change I need to make (especially when I don’t understand how to adapt to the situation). I guess that’s what is frequently missing from my goals: Acceptance. Accepting that I sometimes need to think about what I’m doing, who I am, and why I am doing something, and receiving the answers I discover and the things and situations that I can’t change now (or ever).
It’s especially frustrating when I’ve made a significant change, and the results are the same. For instance, I finally substituted that delicious Snickers bar for a bar with half the calories at 4 pm every day, and it still isn’t enough to lose weight or body fat. Or I continue this healthful exchange, and I find myself back to the Snickers bar after 4-6 weeks. Emotionally, this is tough to face. It feels like a failure. Is it a failure, though? Times like these are important lessons about what I may still need to change. Maybe eating at the same time creates a craving. When my low-calorie, low-sugar option isn’t available, I still pursue a sweet (or sweeter) alternative. This can often be a dangerous line to tiptoe on if it is a trigger food (like chocolate). No wonder I eventually went back to the Snickers bar!
Losing weight, focusing on myself. It’s a frustrating process that I was never prepared for in school. By becoming a human scientist as an adult now, though, I will finally receive the anatomy, nutrition, and behavioral lessons that have been missing from my life. I will finally learn about “Me.” With an objective and curious mind throughout this process, I will truly figure out what I need as well as what I can get away with.
About the Author: Michael Moody, Wedding Officiant
Michael Moody—author of the self-improvement book Redefine Yourself: The Simple Guide to Happiness and host of the “The Elements of Being” podcast—is an ordained minister serving Denver and other towns across Colorado. He is a 2023 WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Award winner in both Denver and Chicago (his eighth consecutive year), was named “Best Business of 2024 and 2025” by Three Best Rated, and earned “The Best Wedding Officiant in Commerce City, Colorado for 2024” from Quality Business Awards USA. Since 2012, he has officiated more than 300 weddings.
Specifically, Michael officiates wedding ceremonies in the Denver neighborhoods of LoDo, River North, Washington Park, Cherry Creek, City Park, Central Park, Capitol Hill, Cheesman Park, Park Hill, Highland, Platt Park, Lower Highlands, Sloan Lake as well as the zip codes 80215, 80214, 80204, 80203, 80205, 80207, 80218, 80219, 80222, 80223, 80224, 80246, 80238, 80221, 80022, 80230, 80231, 80202, 80209, 80247, and 80210. Michael also serves as an ordained minister in Golden, Boulder, Breckenridge, Frisco, Aspen, Vail, Estes Park, and more.
If your Denver neighborhood or Colorado town isn’t listed here, no worries! Please contact Michael to propose a wedding ceremony location in a different area!
The Questions I Wish I Asked my Grandfather Before He Died
Introduction
In 2009, my grandfather passed after a long bout with diabetes and heart disease. While preparing to launch my podcast, I can't help but think of the one interview I never did. Ironically, the time was there to do it. I called him every day for over three years except four days (until two months before his passing....not an exaggeration). I guess I saw the writing on the wall. Despite those phone conversations, I never took the chance to ask him the questions that still keep me wondering.
The Questions I Didn’t Ask
When you were seventeen, your mother passed, and then your father nearly a year later. Tragic losses at such an early age. How did those moments shape your perspective in life, and how do you believe they steered your path? How have those experiences changed your interactions with new people? What was the greatest lesson from each of your parents that still resonates today?
You married my grandmother, and you were drafted for the Korean War shortly after. Describe the day you found out that you were drafted. Did you receive a letter or phone call? Where were you standing? What were the first thoughts that crossed your mind upon learning this new fate?
Lying on your cot at night while stationed in Germany during the Korean War. The unofficial Korean War officially ended three months earlier, but you were still serving in the army. What thoughts passed through your head while trying to sleep? Did you believe that the war truly ended? What uncertainties did you fear?
People were shocked to hear that President JFK was shot. In that period of US history, the deaths of Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. added to an unsettling spirit. What was your perspective on such a time? Where does that period fit into your life span that started in the 1930s?
What was your morning ritual? Did you wake up at the same time each day? Did you have breakfast with all five kids? Did you follow the same regimen daily? When you were operating at your best, how did you structure your days? What were the rituals or routines that helped you to create your best self and best performance? What is one habit everyone should begin today?
Tell me a story about one of your most memorable rejections in the beginning days.
As a 7th grader, you mentioned in a church bulletin that you wanted to become an engineer when you “grow up”. Fast forward nearly a decade, and that was, indeed, what you became. What sparked your interest in the industry, and who was your mentor? Did you consider pivoting towards another career at any point? If so, what were you thinking? Do you ever wonder what it would’ve been like to be in that career instead?
How did you choose a personal or professional project, and how did this approach change over the years? What were the highlights of your career? If you did an autopsy, what are the takeaways?
Is there a line or passage in a book you’ve read over a lifetime that still resonates today? Has there ever been a moment in your life when you said, “Something has to change”? If so, how did you respond?
You have met many interesting people and achieved several impressive career milestones while working as an engineer at Santa Fe Railroad and later for the city. What valuable lesson would you share with my two-year-old son, your great-grandson, Preston, and why?
In our pursuit of wisdom, we often overlook the resources in front of us. My grandfather was an incredible person who certainly shaped who I am and my approach today. Although I can’t ask him these questions, I will do my best not to overlook the lessons that surround me daily.
About the Author: Michael Moody, Wedding Officiant
Michael Moody—author of the self-improvement book Redefine Yourself: The Simple Guide to Happiness and host of the “The Elements of Being” podcast—is an ordained minister serving Denver and other towns across Colorado. He is a 2023 WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Award winner in both Denver and Chicago (his eighth consecutive year), was named “Best Business of 2024 and 2025” by Three Best Rated, and earned “The Best Wedding Officiant in Commerce City, Colorado for 2024” from Quality Business Awards USA. Since 2012, he has officiated more than 300 weddings.
Specifically, Michael officiates wedding ceremonies in the Denver neighborhoods of LoDo, River North, Washington Park, Cherry Creek, City Park, Central Park, Capitol Hill, Cheesman Park, Park Hill, Highland, Platt Park, Lower Highlands, Sloan Lake as well as the zip codes 80215, 80214, 80204, 80203, 80205, 80207, 80218, 80219, 80222, 80223, 80224, 80246, 80238, 80221, 80022, 80230, 80231, 80202, 80209, 80247, and 80210. Michael also serves as an ordained minister in Golden, Boulder, Breckenridge, Frisco, Aspen, Vail, Estes Park, and more.
If your Denver neighborhood or Colorado town isn’t listed here, no worries! Please contact Michael to propose a wedding ceremony location in a different area!