Holding On & Letting Go

Hello and welcome back. It’s finally time to SOUL DOSE again!

Has anyone else felt like 2025 has been an absolute time warp? For me, the past 90 days have simultaneously flown by AND felt like a never-ending river of sludge, where minutes feel like hours, days feel like years…

I can’t be the only one feeling this way. Has 2025 been all sunshine and rainbows for you, or have you also felt like a target in the universe's cosmic game of darts?!

In the personal realm, we’ve had a revolving door of children with fever, vomiting and even three beautiful little heads of lice! My oldest daughter officially dubbed us a “take-out family,” a criticism of our limited domestic bandwidth. To top it off, we unexpectedly lost one of our precious fur buddies to a heart condition. 😿💔

Life is always in session, but some seasons certainly feel heavier and more intense than others. This is the human experience…So, is it time to surrender? 

Surrender! A word that often evokes thoughts of weakness and submission. What comes to mind for you? Does it scare you a bit?

There’s a line from the 1998 movie Croupier that has stuck with me, where Clive Owen’s suave character sagely advises, “Hold on tightly, let go lightly…”

In a perfect world, we’d all strike a balance between deep commitment to our purpose and process, while loosening the vice grips of our will and desire to control.

These last few months have felt a bit like it’s “me against the world.” Resistance seems to show up like a cranky old friend to say, “Sorry, Chris, but NO.” Heisman! Clothesline! “No soup for you!”

I’m getting better at appreciating how “roadblocks” and bits of resistance that pop up are actually helping me see when it is time for a sacred pause and a deep exhale. Within the pause, it becomes more clear whether it is time to pivot, or double-down and re-commit.

So, YES, 2025 has felt a bit like walking through wet concrete, but the simple message is that I just need to slow down and trust that I’m always getting exactly what I need.

In the weeks - months?! - that I’ve been crafting this letter, things have actually started to look up - the fog is clearing and sunshine is on the horizon!

ATLAS hits Montana

We are so amped to announce our next acquisition in Kalispell, Montana. The Meridian Apartments is a compelling investment in a high-growth, supply-constrained market. Kalispell is the economic hub of Flathead County, one of Montana’s fastest-growing regions, driven by an influx of high-income professionals, remote workers, and retirees. Demand for rental housing remains strong due to limited multifamily development, rising home prices, and a growing population seeking quality housing options.

This stabilized, Class A asset benefits from below-market rents, offering immediate upside, alongside fixed-rate debt with interest-only payments, ensuring stable cashflow. The property is adjacent to a 20-acre park expansion, integrated into Kalispell’s urban trail system, and located near key retail, employment centers, and infrastructure projects, including the $150MM Glacier Park International Airport expansion.

With a high barrier to entry for new development, sustained in-migration, and a diversified employment base, Meridian Apartments is positioned for long-term appreciation and resilient cashflow, making it an attractive opportunity for investors seeking stability and growth.

PAULY O

The first true memory I have of Paul Orscheln was at a Van Halen concert in Kansas City in the mid-90s. We had both been over-served and were on our way to tying on a fairly significant buzz. He blurted out to me "Hey man, I'm coming to ASU in the fall!" Little did I know then what a meaningful role Paul would play in my life and in so many different seasons.

Fast forward to fall of 1997, I found Paul on campus and we have been inextricably linked since. Our story spans close to 30 years. In the 90s, we misbehaved quite a lot. In the 2000s, we were still misbehaving, trying our hand at adulting, neither of us succeeding particularly well. 

In 2013, Paul and I made a go at scaling Jimmy Johns franchises in South Florida. When we realized it wasn’t panning out the way we hoped - we let go lightly - and Paul agreed to join me to lead our tenant rep practice at Cresa back in Phoenix. This was “graduate school” for what would be our biggest venture. We launched ATLAS in 2020 and, boy, those first few months were a grind! I truly couldn't have done it without Paul, and his involvement is a huge reason for our success. 

When Paul told me in late 2022 that his family needed to move back to Missouri, it was the start of another “letting go.” We weren't ready to break up the band, so we held on in the hopes that we could keep things going from different geographic locations. Despite our best attempt, we realized this chapter was meant to end, and we decided to go our own ways at the end of 2024.

This all-too-brief missive is a heartfelt tribute to my SOUL Brother and dearest friend, Paul Orscheln. To know Paul is to admire him — you couldn’t speak a negative word about the man. In fact, during a recent midnight sleepwalking tirade, my youngest child shouted at me, “I hate you! I want Uncle Paul to be my Dada!” That’s the kind of love he inspires — a man that dreams are truly made of. Paully, I love you, and all of us at ATLAS wish you nothing but the best. I will always be your biggest fan!

Images, from left: Behold, Paul Orscheln in profile. Mt Humphreys 2020. Bedtime stories with Uncle Paul.

Q1 Grab Bag

I’m leaving you with a smattering of inspirational tidbits and obsessions I’ve picked up in Q1 2025. Images are all clickable links - follow your curiosity!

1. Ram Dass Biography: Bridging Western psychology and Eastern spirituality, Ram Dass turned the psychedelic revolution inward toward SOUL, spirit, and self-realization. 2. Padel – Pickleball, move over. I’m totally hooked. 3. Jim Gaffigan – Just saw him live in Phoenix. He never disappoints! 4. Zojirushi Rice Maker – Redeeming our “take-out family,” one fluffy scoop at a time. 5. Mochidot in Phoenix makes the best tasting (and best looking) donuts I’ve ever eaten. 6. Made of Rivers by Emory Hall – My wife’s favorite poetry at the moment. Check out the audios on Spotify. 7. Live Your Values Card Deck – Use this colorful card deck to get clear on what you really stand for, and align your life with what you value most. 8. Sir Michael Caine reads If by Rudyard Kipling – A masterful voice for timeless wisdom.

Happy to flow in the current with you in 2025.

Chris & Team ATLAS

Click below to check out prior issues of Soul Dose. Cheers!