What the Cole Allen Incident Reminds Us About Building a Life You Actually Control

Last weekend, a 31-year-old man named Cole Tomas Allen from Torrance, California, allegedly stormed a security checkpoint at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, D.C. Armed with a shotgun, handgun, and multiple knives, he opened fire, striking a Secret Service agent (who was thankfully protected by a bulletproof vest). The agent survived. Allen was stopped. President Trump and others were evacuated safely.

Allen had no prior criminal record. He held degrees in mechanical engineering from Caltech and a master’s in computer science. He worked as a teacher and tutor. Yet, according to reports, he carried a manifesto expressing deep anger and a desire to target Trump administration officials “from highest ranking to lowest.” He called himself the “Friendly Federal Assassin” in writings sent to family just before the incident.

This story is tragic on multiple levels. A young man with obvious intelligence and opportunity chose a path of destruction instead of creation. He traveled across the country, checked into a hotel, and attempted to impose his will through force rather than building anything meaningful with his own hands.

At its core, this is the opposite of the life we document here.

Stable. The main foundation of our channel and life. Being stable means making rational decisions. It means not being driven by political rhetoric or social media frenzy. The only life you truly have control of is your own. Focus on what you can control.

When You Outsource Your Life, You Lose Agency

Cole Allen’s story (and the broader pattern of political violence we keep seeing) highlights what happens when people feel completely powerless over their own lives. Anger builds. Frustration festers. Instead of channeling energy into growing better tomatoes, learning to repair their own plumbing, or walking the trails to clear their head, some turn outward in rage.

We refuse that cycle.

• Growing and cooking our meals builds nutritional independence.

• Fixing our own home builds household sovereignty and saves real money.

• Daily movement in nature builds functional longevity—the kind where you’re still hiking stairs at 70 or 80 without needing a gym membership or pills.

• Purposeful exploration builds cultural literacy and fresh perspectives we can actually apply.

  
  

These aren’t trendy “wellness” fads. They’re common-sense craftsmanship. They give us tangible proof that life gets better when we do the work ourselves.

The Real High-Quality Life Is Built, Not Taken

We’re not here to judge a man we’ve never met. We don’t know the full story behind his pain or isolation. What we do know is this: violence and destruction have never created the kind of life worth living. The best life—the one that feels solid, satisfying, and truly yours—comes from steady, intentional effort.

That’s why our channel exists. We are documenting our active retirement journey: backyard gardening, scratch cooking, DIY repairs, purposeful hikes with our dog, and thoughtful travel that teaches us better ways to eat, move, and live.

We believe the best life is the one you build yourself.

We build our health at home so we can explore the world on foot. We learn skills so we stay sharp and self-sufficient as we age. We choose effort over helplessness every single day.

If recent events leave you feeling uneasy about the world, the antidote isn’t more outrage or despair. It’s a shovel in the garden, a knife in the kitchen, good shoes on the trail, and a willingness to learn how things actually work.

Start small. Grow one thing. Cook one meal from scratch this week. Fix something instead of replacing it. Take a walk that clears your head. Over time, these choices compound into real independence—and real peace.

That’s the life we’re building. That’s the life we want for you, too.

What’s one small thing you’re doing yourself this week to take back a little more control? Drop it in the comments—we read every one and love swapping practical ideas.

— Dan & Vung

The Best Life Awaits (Stable. Capable. Free)