Now I Know How the Tin Man Felt When He Met Dorothy

 Imagine you're the tin man in the Wizard of Oz.  Your body is missing its youthful ingredients and you're rusting away.  Dorothy prances your way and she offers you some oil for your aging body.  Voila!  You're young again.  All I can say is I know that feeling very well.  I may not be a tin man but I do know how it feels to live in a sixty-year-old body.  Despite all my efforts to do the right things – exercise, meditate, sleep eight hours a day, and eat right, I'm still aging.  Recently I found something similar to Dorothy's oil. I'm not a doctor so please don't do anything without consulting your own physician first.  I'm only sharing how I feel since adding a couple of new molecules to my daily routine.  

Your body naturally produces the molecules I'm referring to in today's story.  The challenge is that these substances diminish over time.  There is a theory that aging is simply a loss of information.  When the information is lost, bad things happen to the body and the mind.  That's why I'm experimenting with a combination of NMN and Transresveratrol.  By the way, I keep them refrigerated to avoid degradation.  It's still early to report on what's happening to my body.  I do plan on taking blood tests to measure my biological age.  I suspect that something is happening but I want to be able to show some kind of objective proof a little further down the yellow brick road.

I told my wife a few days ago that I feel like the chemicals in my brain are somehow influencing the way I feel.  This could be a placebo.  I don't really know.  All I can say is my happiness levels are somehow going up.  It does make sense to me that if you give a tin man a little oil and he can move again, he should feel much better.  Time will tell.  Stay tuned.  Remember to check in with your doctor before making changes should you decide to add these molecules to your daily regimen.  Have a great day.

Maximize Your Gratitude for a Fulfilled Life

 As long as I live I have no doubt in my mind I will never run out of blessings to be thankful for.  In my opinion, the more you maximize your gratitude, the more fulfillment you will find.  This begins the moment you wake up.  For me, a great night of rest is one of the best blessings you can receive and it sets you up for an entire day of abundance.

Focus all of your attention on each moment and seek out something to be thankful for.  Even in your darkest moments, there is always something.  In sickness, concentrate on how remarkable your defenses are.  Be thankful for your recovery as it's unfolding before your eyes.  In times of loss, appreciate all the good that you have in your life.  Be thankful for the people around you who love you and care about you.  Be thankful for the lessons you're learning.  Be thankful for your enemies – they will teach you everything you need to be a better person.  Be thankful for your critics – they will give you the feedback you need to improve.  There is something to be thankful for in every moment and in every situation.  Have a great day.

Do You Pursue Excellence?

 What's in your daily routine?  Is there room for improvement?  When it comes to excellence, do you find it?  Does it find you?  If you're struggling with excellence, perhaps you should consider changing your routine.  I keep mine rather simple but it works.  Without fail, I meditate daily, write a simple blog message, eat healthily, and fill my mind with positive thoughts.  Broken down even further, I learn something from the books I read, teach something, and make each day slightly better than the day before.  This is where excellence lives, in the simple tasks we perform regularly at the highest levels we're capable of.

Imagine where you can be a year from now if you pursue excellence.  The little things matter.  Have a great day.

The Trail of Bread Crumbs

 I've been following this trail of bread crumbs for many years.  I know exactly why they're here, to help me find my way.  There was this special time in my life when I didn't believe there was even one ounce of wisdom inside me.  So, I did something to help correct this.  I prayed for wisdom.  It didn't magically appear.  Instead, one day I woke up and there was this bread crumb.  Then another.  And another.  Maybe, you're asking, "Where is this trail of bread crumbs leading you?"

These bread crumbs are prompting me to ask more questions.  There is a long journey ahead.  All I can say right now is I'm thankful to be on the trail.  I appreciate all the times you take a moment to check up on me.  I will do my best to publish all I'm learning from this amazing trail of life.  Have a great day.

Happy Thanksgiving

 The sun is shining.  The grass is green.  My wife is in the kitchen working on Thanksgiving dinner for three, our youngest son, me, and my bride of 31 years.  Like many families across the country, we are answering the call to keep the gatherings to a minimum.  I'm recalling past celebrations when our families came together at this special time of year.  There is so much to be thankful for.  Far or near, I'm thinking of you and your family today and I'm thankful for all the times we've had together.  May you have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Today is a Great Day to Count Your Blessings

Why not get a head start on your Thanksgiving celebration?  Take a few minutes out of your day today and ponder all your blessings.  You may be surprised to see how long your list really is if you take the time to write down all the blessings in your life.  

It's really easy to fall into the trap when there's so much uncertainty in the world and ignore the good in your life.  This is normally the time of year when people are traveling to see loved ones.  The celebrations are usually much larger.  This pandemic is causing us to make changes.  That doesn't mean we should lose focus on all that is good.

If you are looking to enhance your Thanksgiving tomorrow, share the top five items on your gratitude list with your loved ones and asked them to share also.  Have a great day.

My Debt Monster is on Life Support

My debt monster once kept me up at night.  His size was overwhelming.  He consumed everything in our household.  We were afraid he would never leave us.  We came up with a three-year plan to rid ourselves of the debt monster for good.   These last two years have been challenging.  The plan is working.  Our debt monster is starving to death.  He will no longer be with us in early 2022.

If you have a debt monster in your life and you want to be free, make a plan.  You can live in financial freedom.  It's impossible for your debt monster to survive if you cut off his food supply.  Stick with your plan.  It's worth it.  Have a great day.

Day 5 of My Longevity Experiment

 It's day 5 since I started taking NMN and Transresveritrol, 1 gram of each, based on "Lifespan, Why We Age – and Why We Don't Have To."  I'm volunteering to be a lab rat.  So far so good.  My body seems to be tolerating the intermittent fasting I started several weeks ago.  There aren't any adverse effects from the supplements.  

There are two questions for consideration about longevity.  Number one, is it possible to add more years to your life?  And number two, if so, can those years added be higher in quality?  One thing is certain, our biological time clocks are clicking.  I'm going to do some tinkering to see about adding both quantity and quality to my years on this planet.  Sinclair has discovered ways to increase the lifespan of mice and yeast.  If his ideas can be carried over to humans, we may get some bonus years.  I'm willing to experiment now to see if my body responds favorably to the molecules I'm adding to my food program.  Please make sure you consult your physician before you try any new experiments.  These stories are for entertainment purposes only.  Have a great day.

Hopes and Dreams Ahead

 It happened again at my day job.  We ran out of toilet paper.  The only time this happens is when panic sets in.  This is the opposite of what I'm referring to today – hopes and dreams.  Are your hopes and dreams of what's ahead keeping you going during these strange times?

I'm doing the hard stuff now to help usher in the next exciting chapters in the years to come.  These efforts are the difference between success and failure.  There's no place for panic when it comes to hopes and dreams.  Take a few minutes out of your day and let your imagination run wild.  Ponder the kind of life you would like to have.  Let those hopes and dreams lead you in a new direction.  Have a great day.

Make Sure You Never Run Out of Bullets

 Whatever role you play in this world, remember one thing – you must never run out of bullets.  Your bullets are the ammunition you need to reach others.  The more challenging your assignment, the more important it is to check your supplies and be fully loaded.

Imagine your life is over and you're having a conversation with your Maker.  You tell him, "Jesus I didn't shoot my bullets because I was afraid I might run out."  He shows you what you could have done if you had simply trusted that Jesus would always give you all the bullets you needed.  Scarcity of ammunition is never a problem as long as you trust Jesus to provide.

Ponder what the Creator did for all of us and you may never fear firing your own bullets again.  God fired one cannonball at us when he sent Jesus to die for us.  This was his only son.  Jesus died for us so that we could live.  That one cannonball changed everything.  Now it's our turn.  Fire away.  Trust that Jesus will reload your ammunition.  The world is waiting for you.  Have a great day.

I Asked Death to Reshuffle My Cards

 I'm no stranger to death.  My close calls have inspired me to live my remaining years to the fullest without any regrets.  I will never forget that day on February 5, 2018, when I slid into oncoming traffic and thought it was all over.  Or the time I was on my way to urgent care when my cousin intervened and set me up with a food experiment that extended my life.  Death has always been and will always be an interesting opponent.  The rules of the game are not fully understood by us humans.  I do know one thing, there are times when you can ask for a mulligan and death must reshuffle the cards.

Please don't let death cheat you out of the best years of your life.  Take charge of your health now.  Try a caveman food experiment and concentrate on fruits, veggies, nuts, beans, and seeds for 45 days to reset your body.  Learn to meditate daily so your mind can be cleared of negative thoughts.  Sleep eight hours a day.  Give your body a break from food and skip a meal every now and then.  Keep your meat consumption to low amounts.  Surround yourself with positive people.  Do work that inspires you.  When all else fails, call for a reshuffle and start over.  Have a great day.

Day 1 of My Next Experiment

 Please don't consider any of my stories as medical advice.  Should you feel the urge to experiment, please consult your physician first.  These stories are for entertainment purposes.  I'm sharing because I do believe I'm finding better ways to live a healthier life even if it may go against most things we were raised to believe as the truth.  For example, I'm tossing out the idea that one needs three meals a day to be healthy.

My next experiment is based on "Lifespan," by David A. Sinclair.  He will be the first to tell you he is a PhD, not a medical doctor, so he is not allowed to prescribe, only share what he and his family are doing to possibly live longer and healthier.  My package arrived today...NMN and Transresveritrol.  I will be taking approximately one gram of each in the powder form daily.  If you're wondering why let me tell you about Sinclair's lab.  Apparently,  his old mice are running so far that the measuring equipment needed some new programming.  It turns out that old mice don't usually run 3k.  Sinclair's mice are defying their age and living like no other.  That's just the beginning of my story.  Stay tuned.  I'll keep you posted.  Have a great day.

Break Time is Over

Break time is over today.  I'm back to my regular assignment at my day job and then return to the tennis courts with my teammates tonight for the first time in over three weeks.  These last four days off went really fast, mainly because we needed to empty out our basement in order to be ready for our carpet installer.  

For those of you wondering about my book projects, here's a morsel for consideration.  I believe I discovered the golden nugget necessary to breathe life into my life's work.  The final outcomes are not what I expected when these projects commenced years ago.  Something is different.  I feel like I'm seeing the world with a whole new set of eyes.  Yes, break time is over.  It's time to get busy.  Have a great day.

Today is Home Improvement Day

My wife and I have been waiting for this day for a long time.  Our basement and downstairs bedroom are cleared out in anticipation of new carpet.  The installers will be here any minute.  Now that the prep work is done, I can relax and observe the transformation.  I head back to my day job tomorrow after everything is back in place.  Have a great day. 

Living in the Moment

It's really easy to fall into the complaint trap.  Take a look around at all the sad faces.  Most of the population is wishing for this year to come to a speedy conclusion.  Not me.  I'm savoring all this day has to offer.  Living in the moment has its rewards.  The greatest prize is peace. 

Put aside all your worries and take in a few deep breaths.  Block out the calendar.  Close your eyes.  Forget about everything going on in the world around you.  Concentrate on all the blessings.  Do you feel a sense of gratitude overtaking your body?  That's what living in the moment feels like.  It's impossible to be afraid when all your energy is in the here and now.  Enjoy.  Have a great day. 

Number One on my Gratitude List

I would like to give a shout out to my family today.  They have supported me 100% in all my adventures, including a three week assignment out of state in Michigan.  I'm back home celebrating four days with the family before I return to my regular routine in Iowa.  Our home is in upheaval as we prepare for new carpeting in the downstairs basement early next week.

There appears to be spikes in Covid-19 cases in our area and we're doing our best to stay out of harms way.  This a great time to catch my breath and enjoy family time.  Have a great day.

This is How I'm Pushing My Benjamin Buttons

 I'm home.  My voice is shot from overuse and my body is exhausted.  Today was my first weigh-in since I departed three weeks ago for my day job assignment.  I had a feeling the new experiments I'm trying based on the book, "Lifespan," by David A. Sinclair would make an impact on my weight.  Well, I released 4.5 pounds by making small changes, mainly by implementing intermittent fasting.  

If you're curious about extending the quality and quantity of your life, pick up a copy of "Lifespan."  The idea is to make your body think there is some kind of danger, like a famine or a drop in temperature.  The body responds and takes precautions to handle adversity.  This doesn't happen when all is well and you never experience missing a meal.  I'm pushing my Benjamin Buttons by skipping meals now and then, exercising more regularly and allowing my body to experience cold temps once in a while.  Have a great day.

Goodbye Michigan

 My time in Michigan is coming to a conclusion today.  What an experience this has been.  Our team at my day job came together to give our members an amazing experience at one of our best new store openings ever.  I discovered one of the top indoor tennis facilities in the United States.  Thanks to the local pro, Arnel, I made major improvements to my game.  Arnel introduced me to his pastor, a comedian who turned his life over to God.  We were invited to his church and Pastor Jonathan Herron autographed a copy of his book.  Now it's time to go home.  I will never forget the good people of Midland, Michigan.  Thank you for your hospitality.  Have a great day.

Grand Opening in Michigan

 I'm sorry for the late post today.  We have been all hands on deck these last few days.  My body is exhausted.  The grand opening for our new store was amazing.  I'm thankful to be a part of a caring group of teammates.  Now it's time to sleep and recover.  I'm heading home tomorrow.  Have a great day.

Our CEO is Visiting Today

 Things are getting exciting at my day job.  Tomorrow is our grand opening.  Today our CEO is visiting to thank all the employees for their efforts getting a new location up and running.  We made all the necessary adjustments to keep our members and staff safe during this pandemic.  I'm happy to report we have been healthy while dealing with the masses.  I'm especially thankful to work for a company that cares so much about the well-being of all the staff.  Have a great day.

How is Your Divine Alignment?

You can sense your alignment with God is out of whack when all four of your tires are so wobbly that you can't steer straight.  That's how much of my youth was.  Unaligned.  Out of control.  Dangerous.  I was always asking God for help with my own road map, completely unaware God had a perfect plan for my life.  Prayer is like asking for a Divine alignment.  

I'm on the final week of my out-of-state day job assignment.  Some interesting things happened here in Michigan that helped my to find peace in my heart.  It helped that my family came to visit over my final weekend here.  Yesterday morning God spilled his paint bucket over all the clouds and delivered one of the best sunrises I've ever seen.  I'm reading three books simultaneously, one of them a gift from the tennis pro that is helping me get my game back in alignment.  It's amazing how God is always ready extend a helping hand no matter how far from home we are.

Do you need a Divine alignment?  Get on your knees and ask.  Pray unceasingly.  Have a great day.

Sharing a Michigan Sunrise

Good morning from Michigan.  I'm on my final week of my day job assignment.  This morning I woke up to a glorious sunrise.  Everything was in alignment, the clouds, the fall leaves and the morning sun getting ready to show its brilliance as I stood in awe of God's brushstrokes.  They say a picture is worth a thousand words.  Here you go.  Have a great day.

Do We Have a Humor Gene?

 It's 7:00 AM as I write this message this morning.  Unlike most of the world, my TV has been off, even during this roller coaster week.  I tuned in the cold open of SNL on my cell phone after my morning meditation for a touch of humor to get me in the mood for my blog story.  Obviously, the humor gene, if there is one, is very active in people like Jim Carey and he will be much appreciated these next four years should we have a new president.

How does humor work?  Is it some kind of gene?  If so, is it possible to activate it if it happens to be turned off?  I've seen glimpses of this humor gene in my ancestors, especially my grandmother on my father's side of the family.  I also have this feeling inside my gut that the humor gene in my youngest son may be fully activated once we pay a visit today to Jonathan Herron, a comedian turned author/pastor.  My family was invited to attend by the local tennis pro, Arnel, who plays guitar in this morning's service.  Something tells me my son will be taking notes.  I find it interesting how our son portrays mom and dad when he's sharing stories, something we Mulligans are known for.

I may not understand how humor shows up in some people but not others.  We are each wired in our own unique way and we are designed to contribute whatever gifts we have to the world.  What I do know about humor is that it is contagious when executed properly.  I'm thankful my tennis pro in Michigan invited our family to attend.  Stay tuned for the final report.  Have a great day.

 

Hello Family

 The cherry on top of a near-perfect road trip is happening today.  First, I'm on the courts again at 8 AM for a private lesson with the pro and then another hour-and-a-half of advanced drills with the top players in the area.  I told the pro I wanted to get as much court time as possible before my family arrives for a weekend visit.  

Last night was one of my most memorable tennis moments ever.  I teamed up with Arnel, the tennis pro who is helping me re-invent my game.  We played another pro who partnered with Tom, a seventeen year old senior who made it to the quarter finals of the state tournament.  The "kid" was beyond shocked when my partner revealed I'm 60 years old.  The first set was rough and we lost 6-1 before raising our play.  My partner helped me with some advanced court positioning usually reserved for players much younger and the eye formation was especially intimidating.  The other pro had to stop play in order to give a lesson before the set ended.  We were very happy with the outcome even though we lost 5-3.  One my age might wonder if there is anything more exciting and there is.  It's family time.  Today is a blessing right out of Heaven.  Thank you, Jesus, for all the blessings in my life and for the opportunity to share my life here on this blog.  Have a great day.

Playing with the Pros Tonight

 If all goes well, I'm playing doubles with the pros tonight after my day job shift ends.  This may be one of the greatest blessings in my life. As each day passes while I'm on assignment, I see God actively moving mountains while sending me his people to lift me up for God's glory.

There is absolutely no better script I could write about what's happening around me other than to say everything is according to God's plan. I'm getting giddy now. There's another surprise tomorrow.  I will share more about the cherry on top.  Stay tuned. Have a great day.

Second Early Morning in a Row

Holy smokes.  I'm back on the courts this morning at 6:30 am for an hour of cardio tennis before I head to my day job.  That's two early morning wake-ups in a row.  I may be one of the only people in America who stayed away from TV during the election.  I squeezed in a 45 minute private lesson with the local pro last night after dinner.  My body is trying to rebel with the intermittent fasting but I'm not giving in.  Yes, these are crazy times.  Have a great day.

Early Morning Wakeup

 My alarm is sounding at 3:30 AM this morning.  By the time this story publishes, I will be well into my day job shift today.  If all goes well, I'll be back on the tennis courts late this afternoon.  I normally write the first thing in the morning but this story is being written just as the polls are closing.  My most important priority is sleep.  My body functions best with about eight hours of sleep.  I will have more updates for you once my schedule levels out.  Have a great day.

Jesus is Looking for Essential Workers

 Imagine if Jesus were running for public office today.  Would you be an essential worker on his campaign?  Before you answer, consider the cost.  Early followers gave up everything.  Persecution and death were probable options.  

The dark side knows exactly what Jesus is all about.  Distortion, confusion and fear mongering are the tools used to discredit everything Jesus stands for.  Would you vote for someone who asks you to love your enemies?  Well, that's the platform.  Forgiveness is at the heart of the ticket.  Are you buying what Jesus is selling?

I'm only certain about one thing.  At the end of the day, half the country will be very happy and the other half sad. Jesus is my candidate.  I vote for him no matter how high the price I must pay.  Have a great day.

Divine Teamwork

I got an opportunity to worship yesterday in the town I'm visiting for three weeks while on assignment.  It was one of the most moving experiences ever.  The pastor and his congregation were in some kind of Divine alignment.  Even the organist who was next to the altar playing a pipe organ.  It reminded me how important it is to serve even during those times when we don't feel adequate.  

The pastor started out with an opening prayer that seemed different, even though I've heard it thousands of times.  His speech impediment made it unique, just as each of us our uniquely created in His image.  The congregation paused in unison every time the pastor got stuck.  The organist played in perfect harmony, as if she knew when a pause was coming.  It was really special to see the congregation come together like that.  All I can say is it was Divine Teamwork.  I'm thankful for what I witnessed yesterday.  Have a great day. 

Outdoor Worship Today

 I did a stupid thing this morning as I was preparing for my morning worship in a new town.  I was moving fast when I pulled the laundry out of the hotel washing machine and moved it to what I thought was the dryer.  It turns out they have a top load washer next to a side load washer that looks like a dryer.  Well, it's not that way.  So, I'm now behind and the next service is supposed to be outside.  It happens to be cold out and I'm not sure how this service will go.  It's an interesting day.  I'm embracing it because it's also a day off and I'm hoping to get in some more tennis.  I'll check in with more updates tomorrow.  Time to fold some clothes and get this day going.  Have a great day.

Editor's note:  Outdoor worship was moved indoors due to freezing rain and cold temps.