Shoulder & Knee Arthroscopic Reconstruction, Hip, Knee and Shoulder Replacements, Minimally Invasive Partical Joint Replacement, and General Orthopaedics
William Melton, MD Hand, Wrist and Elbow Surgery
Katie Walker, PT, DPT Director of Physical Therapy
Jennifer O’Donnell, MD Orthopaedic Spine Surgery Shawn Mountain, DO
Arthroscopic Surgery, Sports Medicine, Shoulder Injuries, and Joint Replacement Lucas Richie, MD
Arthroscopic Surgery, General Orthopaedics, Joint Replacement, Knee and Shoulder Injuries, Sports Medicine, Upper Extremity, and Robotic Assisted Knee Replacement
Honoring the Past, Celebrating Mt. Juliet
This month, as America celebrates 250 years of history, heritage, and identity, we’re honoring a piece of our own local history by returning thismagazine to the spelling rooted in the town’s earliest records: Mt. Juliet.
So beginning with this issue, you’ll notice a change on our cover. Not Mount Juliet City Lifestyle. Mt. Juliet City Lifestyle.
At first glance, it may seem small - a period and a few missing letters. But to many people here, it means something bigger. It represents history, authenticity, and pride in where we come from. For us, it also represents a new chapter.
As the new owners of this magazine, we knew that if we were going to ask this community to trust us and invite us into their homes each month, we needed to start by listening. Over the past year, we’ve heard from residents, business owners, families, and people who deeply love this town.
A community magazine should feel like it belongs to the community. It should celebrate local people, tell meaningful stories, champion businesses, preserve history, and create something neighbors are proud to see in their mailbox. That’s the kind of publication we want this to be.
Not just a magazine about Mt. Juliet - but a magazine for Mt. Juliet.
This month’s theme, Explore, feels especially fitting. Exploration isn’t always about discovering somewhere new. Sometimes it’s about taking a closer look at the place you already call home - its history, its people, and the stories that make it unique.
Inside these pages, you’ll meet Olympic athletes training in Mt. Juliet as they prepare to represent Team USA on the world stage. You’ll read the story of a local veteran whose journey reflects the resilience and service woven into communities like ours. And in true July fashion, you’ll discover local flavors perfect for summer gatherings. Through it all, we hope this issue inspires you to explore a little deeper and appreciate the people, places, and traditions that make Mt. Juliet special.
So here’s to community. To history worth preserving. To stories worth discovering. And to the little period in “Mt.” that reminds us sometimes the smallest details carry the biggest meaning.
We’re proud to be part of this town. And we’re even prouder to call it Mt. Juliet.
ELISE NEWKIRK, EDITORIAL DIRECTOR @MOUNTJULIETLIFESTYLE
July 2026
PUBLISHER
Logan NewKirk | logan.newkirk@citylifestyle.com
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR
Elise Newkirk | elise.newkirk@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Elise Newkirk
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Looking Glass Photography, Mt. Juliet Chamber of Commerce, City of Mt. Juliet, The Paper Mill, Hillside Hangout, Kat's Bar & Grille, Candied Rib Company
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
President Matthew Perry
COO David Stetler
CRO Jamie Pentz
CoS Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Zach Miller
LAYOUT DESIGNER Antanette Ray
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Marina Campbell
Proverbs 3:5-6
mor e With incoming or der, at time of pur c hase only Expir es 7/31/26. Of fer not v alid in all r e gions.
JULY 2026
city scene
WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN
1: Locals Sierra Barnett and Lindsey Patrick-Wright celebrate spring by co-hosting a Bridgerton-themed party May 16. 2: The Mt. Juliet Chamber gathers for the Lantern Lane Farms Counseling ribbon cutting. 3: Nido hosted a magical Princess Tea Party featuring Belle, stories, dancing, and family memories. 4: Mt. Juliet’s Jennifer Hamblen and Justin Beasley with ‘Love on the Spectrum’ star Tyler White. 5: Longtime Mt. Juliet resident Mary Louise Thomas celebrated her 100th birthday on June 4. 6: Local Joe’s Cafe celebrates joining the Mt. Juliet Chamber of Commerce with a ribbon cutting. 7: Members of the Mt. Juliet BPAC gather to further promote healthier connections throughout our community.
Want to be seen in the magazine?
MT. JULIET CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
CITY OF MT. JULIET
BRANDY BYRD
OF MT. JULIET CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
T e x t o r C a l l T e x t o r C a l l 6 1 5 - 8 6 5 - 7 8 8 5 6 1 5 - 8 6 5 - 7 8 8 5 t o C l 5 8 5
T e x t o r C a l l 6 1 5 - 8 6 5 - 7 8 8 5 5
A n d e r s o n M a r i n e . c o m A n d e r s o n M a r i n e . c o m m n d e r s o n a r i n e c o m
business monthly
ROUNDUP OF NEWS FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES
Main Street Market Spring Opening
Main Street Market officially opened this spring at Circle P Ranch, inviting the community to slow down, support local, and gather on the porch. Featuring produce, baked goods, coffee, gifts, and products from more than 30 local farmers, bakers, and makers, the market is quickly becoming a favorite stop for Mt. Juliet residents. With over 80% of products sourced from Wilson County, Main Street Market is built around one simple idea: the porch is open.
Photography by Katrina Bahr
O M I N G S O O N MT. JULIET CENTER
Developed by Bishoy Said in collaboration with Anderson Architects
20,000 sq ft of office and retail space spread across two levels. Featuring a stunning two-story lobby.
ARTICLE BY ELISE NEWKIRK PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF MADDY OTTERDAHL
AMERICAN Strength RISING
Two Olympians chase history while building lives in Mt. Juliet.
There’s something uniquely American about watching someone chase greatness in a field most people will never fully understand.
In Mt. Juliet, that pursuit now lives quietly among neighborhood walks, bass fishing trips, early morning training sessions, and peaceful backyards tucked against the trees. Long before the world turns its attention toward the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, two of Team USA’s most accomplished shot put athletes are already hard at work here at home. And if the residents of Mt. Juliet didn’t realize it before, they now share their city with two of the greatest throwers on the planet.
Ryan Crouser - a three-time Olympic gold medalist, three-time world champion, and current world record holder in the shot put - relocated to Middle Tennessee while his wife Megan completes her medical residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Joining him is fellow Olympian Payton Otterdahl, a two-time Olympian and fourth-place finisher at the Paris Olympics, who made the move to continue training alongside the sport’s most decorated athlete.
Together, their résumés are staggering. Crouser has not only dominated his sport for nearly a decade, but redefined it entirely, throwing beyond 22 meters more than 140 times - something no athlete in history has come close to matching. Otterdahl, meanwhile, has steadily risen through the international ranks, becoming one of the top throwers in the world after sweeping NCAA
throwing titles and emerging as one of Team USA’s most promising medal contenders heading toward Los Angeles.
For both men, Mt. Juliet offered something increasingly rare: balance.
“Mt. Juliet was the place where we were close enough for my wife to commute, but still kept that smaller town feel,” Crouser says. Otterdahl felt it immediately, too. “When we visited Ryan this past March to find a place to live, we loved Mt. Juliet’s quiet, small-town feel,” he says. “Our house backs up to the woods and the community has been so kind.”
That quieter pace exists in stark contrast to the demands of Olympic-level athletics. While most fans only see the few explosive seconds inside an Olympic stadium, the reality behind those moments is relentless. Crouser’s typical week includes multiple daily training sessions devoted to sprinting, plyometrics, throwing, lifting, and recovery - all carefully structured around performance.
“It is a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week job,” Crouser explains, “making sure your day is structured around not only training, but recovery and nutrition.” The work is demanding physically, but mentally too. Every lift, every rep, every technical adjustment is made with the understanding that Olympic medals are often decided by fractions of inches.
For Otterdahl, some of the greatest sacrifices aren’t physical at all. “One of the toughest sacrifices for me is being away from
“Greatness doesn’t only live on the world stage. Sometimes, it lives right next door.”
Otterdahl (left) and Crouser (right) with music icon Snoop Dogg.
family,” he says, reflecting on loved ones back home in Minnesota and Iowa. “We wish we could be there for every event.”
Yet despite the pressure, both athletes seem to have found grounding in Middle Tennessee life. Crouser spends much of his free time outdoors - fishing Old Hickory Lake, hunting with his black lab Koda, woodworking, or building handcrafted fishing lures and duck calls. Otterdahl, meanwhile, unwinds by fishing, walking his two American bullies through the neighborhood, or simply enjoying the wooded peace surrounding his North Mt. Juliet home.
The pair also share something else beyond athletics: a deep appreciation for community. Both repeatedly referenced how meaningful local support becomes during the long years between Olympic Games - years when there are no opening ceremonies, no national headlines, and no medals yet hanging around their necks.
“Community support definitely plays a large role,” Crouser says. Otterdahl agrees, adding that knowing people are cheering them on “makes the hard days more bearable.”
If there’s a common thread between the two men beyond the throwing circle, it’s humility. Neither speaks about Olympic competition with entitlement. Instead, both talk about responsibility - to their sport, their country, and the next generation watching.
Crouser remembers being a young athlete himself, staring up at Olympians and assuming they were impossibly distant. “I was a typical high schooler just like they were not that long ago,” he says. “Find what you are passionate about and pursue it.” Otterdahl echoes that same message: “It’s not about where you are in your athletic journey. It’s about where you are going.”
That perspective feels especially fitting as America approaches its 250th birthday - a milestone rooted in ambition, resilience, and the belief that ordinary people can accomplish extraordinary things.
For Crouser, representing Team USA carries even deeper meaning now. “At a time in our country where it is easy to find division amongst ourselves, I think it is
“At a time when it’s easy to find division, sport gives people something rare: a common cause, shared pride, and the chance to believe in something bigger than themselves.”
Payton Otterdahl
more important than ever to find what unites us,” he says. “Sport is beautiful in that it can give people a common cause.”
Otterdahl describes the honor more simply but no less powerfully: “Having USA across my chest as I compete means I am one of the best in the world.”
Now, with Los Angeles 2028 on the horizon, both athletes are chasing history in different ways. For Otterdahl, after narrowly missing the podium in Paris, the goal is crystal clear: “Only a medal will satisfy me now.”
For Crouser, the next Olympics could cement one of the greatest careers track and field has ever seen before retirement. But even then, his motivation extends beyond medals. “The hope,” he says, “is to inspire even just one person to be better.”
Until then, two Olympians continue preparing quietly in Mt. Juliet - lifting, throwing, recovering, fishing, and building lives far from the spotlight.
And in a patriotic summer celebrating 250 years of America, perhaps there’s no more fitting reminder of the American spirit than this: greatness doesn’t only live on the world stage.
Sometimes, it lives right next door.
Ryan Crouser
Payton Otterdahl
Crouser and Otterdahl's Mt. Juliet training facility
FEAST for the FOURTH
ARTICLE BY ELISE NEWKIRK PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF PARTICIPATING RESTAURANT PARTNERS
Nothing says Fourth of July quite like gathering around a table filled with good food, cold drinks, and the people you love most. Whether you're hosting a backyard cookout, heading to the lake, or simply looking for an excuse to spend a little more time outdoors, the holiday has always been about more than fireworks - it's about community.
This year, we asked a few local favorites to help us build the ultimate Independence Day menu. From refreshing summer classics to indulgent burgers, desserts, and cocktails, these dishes showcase some of the flavors that make dining in Mt. Juliet worth celebrating all year long.
So fire up the grill, pull up a chair, and enjoy a Fourth of July feast inspired by some of our favorite local kitchens.
LOCAL CHEFS SHARE
CROWD-PLEASING RECIPES FOR YOUR INDEPENDENCE DAY TABLE.
HILLSIDE HANGOUT
Rotisserie Chicken SaladCourtesy of Chef Travis Walter
Ask around Mt. Juliet where people like to gather on a sunny afternoon, and chances are Hillside Hangout will come up more than once. While the restaurant may be known for its patio, the team behind Hillside sees it as something more: a place where families can relax, kids can make new friends, and neighbors can linger a little longer over good food and conversation.
That welcoming philosophy extends to the kitchen, where Chef Travis Walter focuses on approachable dishes made with quality ingredients and plenty of flavor. "Keep it approachable, make it good, don't overthink it," is the mindset behind many of the restaurant's menu favoritesincluding this Rotisserie Chicken Salad, a new addition for the summer season.
Perfect for backyard gatherings, lake days, picnics, or a quick lunch between holiday festivities, the recipe combines tender rotisserie chicken with dried cranberries, celery, almonds, and a touch of smokehouse maple seasoning for a balance of savory and sweet. Best of all, it can be made ahead of time, making it an easy addition to any Fourth of July spread.
And if you decide not to share? Well, according to the folks at Hillside Hangout, there's no judgment here.
“GOOD FOOD Has Always BEEN AT The Heart OF EVERY Great FOURTH OF JULY Celebration.”
Ingredients:
• 3 lbs rotisserie chicken breast meat
• 3 cups mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons grated yellow onion
• 1/2 cup slivered almonds (optional)
• 1 cup diced celery (about 2 stalks)
• 1 tablespoon smokehouse maple seasoning
• 1 cup dried cranberries
• 2 Tablespoons Red Wine Vinegar
Instructions:
1. In a large mixing bowl add chicken.
2. Break apart with fork or whisk.
3. Add all other ingredients and fully combine.
4. Place in appropriate containers and keep stored in refrigerator.
Yield: 2-1/2 quarts
Hillside Hangout's Rotisserie Chicken Salad
Hillside Hangout's Rotisserie Chicken Salad
KAT'S BAR & GRILLE
The Pink StarburstCourtesy of bartender Brandy Deeds
Known for its laid-back atmosphere and loyal local following, Kat's Bar & Grille serves up a refreshing summer sipper that's equal parts fruity and fun. Featuring vanilla vodka, watermelon pucker, peach schnapps, and a splash of Sprite, this easy-drinking cocktail is perfect for warm evenings on the patio or backyard gatherings with friends.
Ingredients
• 1.5 oz vanilla vodka
• 1 oz watermelon pucker
• 0.5 oz peach schnapps
• 2 oz sour mix
• 2–3 oz Sprite
• Ice
• Watermelon wedge or peach slice for garnish (optional)
4. Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass or tall glass.
5. Top with Sprite and gently stir.
6. Garnish with a watermelon wedge or peach slice (if desired).
Yield: 1 cocktail
THE PAPER MILL
Bacon & Blue Smash BurgerCourtesy of The Paper Mill Mt. Juliet
What began in Mt. Juliet has quickly grown into one of Middle Tennessee's favorite locally owned restaurants. Known for its scratch-made approach to food, warm hospitality, and elevated take on comfort classics, The Paper Mill recently expanded with the opening of a second location in Gallatin. While the original Mt. Juliet restaurant remains the heart of the operation, the new location allows even more guests to experience the flavors that have made The Paper Mill a local favorite.
Their Bacon & Blue Smash Burger is a perfect example of that approach. Featuring crispy bacon, bold blue cheese, and a perfectly smashed patty, it's a flavorful twist on an American classic—and a fitting centerpiece for any Fourth of July cookout.
Kat's Bar & Grille's Pink Starburst drink
The Paper Mill's Bacon & Blue Smash Burger
“THE Best Holiday MEALS AREN’T Necesarily THE MOST Elaborate - THEY’RE THE Ones Shared WITH Family, Friends , AND NEIGHBORS.”
Ingredients:
• 1lb. premium ground beef
• Crispy smoked bacon
• Blue cheese crumbles
• Lettuce
• Dill pickle chips
• Hamburger buns
• Sauce of choice (The Paper Mill includes their signature house made Cajun mayo - but you're going to have to stop in and order if you want to try it!)
Instructions:
1. Mix and shape premium ground beef into six patties. Sear on the grill.
2. Fry bacon to your liking (I love it in an air fryer, personally).
3. While the patties are on the grill and the bacon is frying, toast the insides of each side of the hamburger buns.
4. Once the patties are cooked to your liking, stack the sauce of your choice, blue cheese crumbles, and two patties. Top with the crispy smoked bacon, lettuce, and pickle chips.
Yield: 3 Bacon & Blue Smash Burgers
The Paper Mill's Bacon & Blue Smash Burger
CANDIED RIB COMPANY
Chocolate Caramel Banana PuddingCourtesy of Owner Lisa Dudinetz
No holiday spread is complete without a dish everyone talks about long after the fireworks end. Whether it's their famous banana pudding or one of their signature sides, Candied Rib Company has built a reputation for serving Southern comfort food done right. Rich flavors, family traditions, and a little bit of nostalgia make this contribution the perfect finishing touch to our Fourth of July menu.
Ingredients (for the pudding):
• 3 cups whole milk
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup cane sugar
• 4 egg yolks
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Ingredients (for assembly):
• 4 ripe bananas, sliced
• 1 box Nilla Wafer cookies
• ½ cup milk chocolate chips
• ½ cup white chocolate chips
• ¼ cup dark chocolate syrup, plus more for drizzling
• ¼ cup caramel sauce, plus more for drizzling
Instructions:
1. In a medium saucepan, whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt.
2. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg yolks and ½ cup of the milk until smooth.
3. Gradually whisk the remaining milk into the dry ingredients. Place over medium heat and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture begins to thicken.
4. Slowly whisk a small amount of the hot mixture into the egg yolks to temper them. Return the egg mixture to the saucepan and continue cooking for 2–3 minutes, stirring constantly, until thick and silky.
5. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Allow the pudding to cool for about 15 minutes.
6. Fold in the milk chocolate chips and white chocolate chips, reserving a small handful of each for garnish if desired.
7. In a trifle dish, serving bowl, or individual dessert cups, layer the pudding, banana slices, and Nilla Wafers. Drizzle each layer with dark chocolate syrup and caramel sauce.
8. Repeat the layers until all ingredients are used.
9. Top the layered pan with a single layer of Nilla Wafer cookies.
10. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
11. Just before serving, drizzle with additional chocolate syrup and caramel sauce.
Yield: 8-10 servings
The best holiday meals aren't necessarily the most elaborate - they're the ones shared with family, friends, and neighbors. This Fourth of July, we're grateful to these local restaurants for opening their recipe books and helping us bring a little Mt. Juliet flavor to your celebration.
From our family and Mt. Juliet Lifestyle, happy Independence Day - and happy eating.
Veteran, artist, and Mt. Juliet resident Donovan Chapman continues a life of service through song
ARTICLE BY ELISE NEWKIRK PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF DONOVAN CHAPMAN
For Donovan Chapman, service has never been just a chapter of life. It's a calling that has followed him from battlefields overseas to stages in Nashville - and, ultimately, to a quiet corner of Mt. Juliet.
The former United States Air Force Pararescueman has spent much of his life answering calls for help. During over a
“Sometimes we all just need to see and hear our story in a song.”
decade of military service, he deployed around the world, including Kuwait and Afghanistan, serving in some of the most demanding environments imaginable. Today, his mission looks different, but the goal remains the same: helping others find their way through difficult moments.
"I traveled all over the world supporting combat deployments and military training," Chapman says. "When I was honorably discharged, I was offered a recording and publishing deal with Curb Records, which brought me to the Nashville area."
Long before the record deal, music had already become part of his story. Born and raised in North Louisiana, Chapman grew up surrounded by strong family values, faith, and a deep respect for service. His Hawaiian heritage introduced him to music at an early age through his mother, who shared the sounds and traditions of her native Hawaii. He eventually
learned to play the ukulele and later turned to songwriting as a way to process his own experiences.
Military service was never a difficult decision. It was part of his family's legacy. His great-grandfather served in World War I. His grandfather served in World War II. His father was drafted into Vietnam. Both Donovan and his younger brother would later serve in Afghanistan.
"I felt the call to duty to serve the way all the men in my family did," Chapman says. "It seemed like the most honorable decision to make to honor our legacy."
That legacy eventually led him into one of the military's most elite career fields. After initially serving as a Security Policeman, Chapman cross-trained into Air Force Pararescue, a Special Operations career field responsible for combat search and rescue missions in some of the world's most dangerous conditions. The work demanded everything.
Donovan Chapman (right) performs with Eddie Montomgery of famed country duo Montgomery Gentry
"You're flying missions to rescue men and women who have been injured in the worst circumstances," he says. "The connection, the bond, the love and respect we developed toward each other is known deepest in those environments. You become closer than blood kin."
Like many veterans, Chapman returned home carrying experiences that would take years to fully process. Multiple injuries, including spinal, nerve, and traumatic brain injuries, required extensive rehabilitation. At one point, he was told he would never sing again. Instead, he taught himself to play guitar during recovery.
That determination eventually led to a successful country music career, including charting singles and record deals with Curb Records and Category 5 Records. Yet even as his music career grew, Chapman found himself drawn toward a greater purpose.
He discovered that outlet through Freedom Sings USA, where he founded the organization's Special Operations Veterans Class. The nonprofit pairs professional songwriters with veterans, active-duty military members, and their families, helping them share their experiences through song. For Chapman, the work represented a powerful intersection of service, storytelling, and healing.
"When a veteran hears their story in a song for the first time, they become the observer of themselves," he explains. "For once, it's not just memories and emotions inside their head. They can step back and see it. That's where healing begins."
And that work became part of his own healing journey as well.
"Maybe one day someone will sit with me and help me with my song," he says.
Today, Mt. Juliet serves as home base for both his music and his mission. Drawn to the area's strong sense of community, he says he appreciates the people who have become like family and the hometown feel that still exists despite the city's growth.
"I appreciate the beautiful Tennessee hillside country and the feeling that there still is some Tennessee in Mt. Juliet," he says. "I appreciate that the Police and Sheriff's Department are relentless about keeping this community safe."
“The reason I served was to give everyone the freedom to choose their own path in life. Our flag isn’t political - it’s a symbol of the freedoms generations fought to protect.”
As America marks its 250th anniversary this year, Chapman hopes the celebration encourages younger generations to better understand the sacrifices made by those who came before them. And his perspective on patriotism has evolved since his years in uniform.
"The reason I served was to give everyone that freedom of choice," he says. "Our flag is a symbol of that freedom. It's not political. It's a symbol of the freedoms our forefathers and foremothers dreamed of us having."
It's a message rooted in experience, but also in hope. After years of service, injuries, recovery, and reinvention, Chapman has learned that resilience often begins with compassion - for others and for ourselves.
"Everyone's pain is as real as another's," he says. "Smile, laugh, cry - it's all part of the plan."
For a man who once rescued people in combat zones, helping others find healing through music may seem like a different mission. But to Chapman, it's simply another form of rescue.
ARTICLE BY KALI KASPRZYK
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES
MAKEUP BY MIKAYLA CRANE
The 10% Target Mindset
Jen Cohen ON THE PRACTICE OF ASKING FOR WHAT YOU WANT
Winnipeg in the winter, and a 17-year-old waits 45 minutes in the cold for Keanu Reeves. Her fingers are numb. She is not there for an autograph. She is there to ask him to appear in her audition tape for MuchMusic, Canada’s MTV. When he finally agrees, she writes her number on a gum wrapper with a borrowed lip liner.
He calls days later.
That 17-year-old was Jen Cohen — fitness expert, host of the Habits & Hustle podcast, and best-selling author. She has built a career on the premise her frostbitten afternoon proved. She calls the practice the 10% Target: 10 attempts at whatever you want most in life.
The premise is simple. Most people never make one attempt. Almost nobody makes two. The math works in favor of the person who keeps going.
The top-rated Habits & Hustle podcast has logged hundreds of conversations with high performers and the people who study what the body does to the mind. Her TEDx talk, The Secret to Getting Anything You Want in Life, has traveled widely inside Fortune 500 sales-training rooms. On the Share the Lifestyle podcast, Cohen sits down to share the working rules that are the foundation of her latest book, Bigger, Better, Bolder.
“You have to be the CEO of your own life.”
FEATURING JEN COHEN
Discover the full 10% Target Mindset framework.
1 2
MAKE TEN ATTEMPTS
The door opens, or another door does. The unmade attempt and the refused one leave you in the same place — except one of them teaches you something.
STACK THE DECK
Cohen frames her habits as a wager: How do I stack the deck so I win more than I lose? The workout happens first, and the food decisions follow. The email follow-up gets sent, and the answer arrives. The choices compound in a single direction.
3
DISCIPLINE IS A PRACTICED SKILL, NOT AN INHERITANCE
No one is born with it. The people who look disciplined are running a routine they have rehearsed long enough that it no longer feels like effort. The reps are the skill. Miss them, and the skill fades, the same as any other.
4
SELF-TALK ONLY WORKS WHEN THE BODY BACKS IT UP
Confidence does not arrive by repeating the word. It arrives after the body has done the thing — the workout finished, the cold walk endured, the email sent. The mind takes its cues from what the body proves it can do. Talk follows action, not the other way around.
5
NEVER MISS A MONDAY
The first decision sets the slope of the rest. Skip the Monday workout, and the rest of the week tends to follow. Hold the line on Monday, and the slope tilts the other way.
events
JULY 4TH
City of Mt. Juliet Fireworks Celebration
Charlie Daniels Park - 1075 Charlie Daniels Parkway, Mt. Juliet, Tenn. | 8:30 PM
Grab a blanket, some chairs, snacks, and your 3D glasses and snag a spot on the lawn at Charlie Daniels Park for this year's City of Mt. Juliet Fireworks Celebration! Fireworks will start at approximately 8:30 p.m. (whenever it gets dark).
Every Saturday in July and August, cool off with splashy fun! From 9 am to 4 pm on Festival Field, enjoy slip & slide fun, animal-themed sprinklers, a bubble zone, and splash pools for littles. All activities are included with zoo admission or membership - check the zoo's website for each week's theme!
JULY 10TH -12TH
Sunflower Festival 2026
Red River Farms - 5350 Draper Road, Springfield, Tenn. | 3:00 PM
Join Red River Farms for their annual Sunflower Festival! Friday, July 10 2026 3p.m.-7p.m.; Saturday, July 11, 2026 10a.m.-7p.m.; Sunday, July 12, 2026 12p.m.-6p.m. Admission is $15, and includes a hayride around the farm and sunflowers, pick-your-own sunflowers ($10 for a wide-mouth mason jar), a vendor craft fair, and a Kids Zone Play Area.
JULY 10TH
Movie in the Park - 'Field of Dreams'
Charlie Daniels Park - 1075 Charlie Daniels Parkway, Mt. Juliet, Tenn. | 8:30 PM
It's a Mt. Juliet summer of FREE movies in the park! July 10th will feature the baseball classic 'Field of Dreams.' Pack a cooler, a blanket, and some chairs, and enjoy this family-friendly film, which will start at approximately 8:30 p.m. (dusk). Concessions will be available for purchase on-site.
