Why Castaway Wilson is Blurry

The photo you see here is a sneak preview of what's ahead when "The Adventures of Castaway Wilson" is released on St. Patrick's Day next year.  I'm using a software program my AI editor, Albert, recommended when I sought help to stay out of court.  Wilson's image is protected under copyright laws.  Permission to use his image has been denied despite my lengthy efforts to get approval.  I'm doing the next best thing – distorting Wilson's likeness in every photo I publish.

J.T. Egley, my front cover artist, deserves credit for creating artwork which features a silhouette of Wilson rendering his image fully legal.  J.T.'s creative solution saved the day.  I'm using Canva to put "Blurry Wilson" in witness protection.  That's the way the ball bounces.  Have a great day.  

Writer's Block

 There are two types of writer's block:  internal and external.  Both of them are bricks in a wall.  Those who overcome publish.  Those who don't fade away into the sunset taking their untold stories with them.  I happen to believe, based on my own circumstances, that my own internal and external sources of writers block have to do with forces I cannot see that somehow exert their influence on outcomes in order to thwart God's plans for our lives.

Let's begin with internal writer's block.  Every writer experiences this.  One example is that voice in your head that taunts even the savviest among us.  The voice says, "you fool, you can't do this.  You have no talent.  No one will read your stories.  Why not just give up and go watch TV?"

Next up is external writer's block.  I cite two examples from my own experience – the front covers for "Live Long and Prosper" and "The Adventures of Castaway Wilson."  In both cases I was blocked by legal hurdles so massive that my publishing efforts seemed doomed.  I went all the way to the top of two giant companies seeking permission to use the Spock hand gesture from Star Trek and Wilson's hand print created by the actor, Tom Hanks.  It didn't help my cause that the voices in my head kept intervening with negative self talk.  The voices kept telling me, "You don't have a chance in Hell.  You will be sued.  You will lose everything."

How does one overcome writer's block?  I believe you need to remove one brick at a time until the wall is no longer visible.  It's daily effort.  In my opinion, overcoming writer's block requires acknowledging that the source of the bricks in the wall is powerless compared with God's intervention.  I may not be able to beat writer's block alone but with God's power I can become unstoppable.  Here's the secret weapon for defeating any obstacles you encounter in your life from Romans 8:38-39...

If you are suffering from writer's block, remember who loves you.  Remember Paul's message from Romans 8:38-39.  Remove those bricks on a wall, one at a time, whether they are internal or external.  Don't stop writing until your heart stops beating.  Have a great day.

Happy Thanksgiving

 When your heart is filled with gratitude, everything changes.  Perhaps you are one of the people in my circle of friends who may be struggling today because you are dealing with something that is pulling you down.  Maybe you are like me and you lost someone who you love dearly and you are missing them on this Thanksgiving day.  Maybe someone you love is avoiding you because you have a difference of opinion and you don't see eye to eye.  That last visit with the doctor didn't go as well as you hoped.  Your job is on the chopping block.   If this describes where you are today, this story is for you.

When I'm struggling to find something to be thankful for, I find comfort in the Book of Psalms, mostly written by a king who often fell short.  David found a way to be thankful in all circumstances.  Psalm 9 was penned after David won a key victory in response to a great attack from the surrounding nations who sought to wipe him out.  This is what he wrote after his victory...

"I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds."  Psalm 9:1

Search your heart today.  Find three things you are thankful for.  Write them down.  Share them at the Thanksgiving table today.  If you are alone and have no one to share with, share them with me.  Send me a text.  Write your response in the comments section.

I will share one thing on my gratitude list.  That's you.  You are on my list and I'm thankful for the connection we have.  Odds are pretty good that we are separated by geography.  I promise to keep sharing about my life every day until the day I join all those who came before me.  Until that day, you can count on me to send messages of hope.  Happy Thanksgiving.  Have a great day.

Ingredients of My 2025 Dreams

 The casual observer might take a look at my top five goals for 2025 and laugh.  They don't understand the support system I have in place.  The first time I appeared at City Hall I think they also had a good laugh behind the scenes once the cameras were turned off and we went home.  I'm going to dissect my top dreams for 2025 and see what you think.  

Let's begin with Pickleball.  This is near and dear to my heart because my family enjoys playing pickleball together.  We already play indoor pickleball at our neighborhood rec center adjacent to our home.  Unfortunately, those who work Monday thru Friday are excluded from playing because there is no court availability on the weekends due to youth programs that need every inch of space. 

We need to raise $200,000 rather quickly in order to build four outdoor pickleball courts later in the year at the Williamsburg Rec Center on city owned property.  The secret weapon is the dedicated group of volunteers who are coming together to raise awareness and raise funds.  Do you know anyone willing to appear in public dressed as a dill pickle in order to promote our cause?  Look at Deb with her teammate, Dawn and you will understand that this group is serious about making our community better.

Dreams need a support system and they need leaders.  I salute Jodi and Mindi who have volunteered to be our pickleball co-leaders.  Click the link to see who else in our community is stepping up to bring the pickle to Iowa County.  The club now boasts 240 members including community leaders who are joining the fun.  

Next on the list of dreams for 2025 is my house of worship located 400 steps from my front door.  The church is in need of an improved entrance area that allows better access to the elderly.  It's almost impossible to bring in the caskets for funerals in the Winter when the steps get icy.  The solution is a facelift with a price tag of 2 million dollars.  Once again, this project will become a reality because of the efforts of worshipers who are coming together to get the job done.  This is personal for me because the last time my wife's aunt visited our church she fell down while attempting to climb the stairs while holding my hand.  She will be cheering for us from Heaven while our congregation comes together to transform our house of worship.

Those who know me keep asking what happened to my travel buddy, Wilson, from the movie CASTAWAY.  There have been enough plot twists in this writing project to drive an experienced novelist to drink.  Come back on St. Patrick's Day and find out if this dream is accomplished by my self-imposed deadline of 3/17/25.

Coming in at number 4 on my dream wish list is a pair of league titles in the Men's 40+ and 55+ age groups.  The other teams are busy beefing up their lineups and this is not going to be easy.  I never lose faith in our team captain, Jim, who dreams of getting us to the national scene.   I will need to spend more time on the tennis courts in order to do my part especially after falling short last Sunday.

Last but not least on my wish list for 2025 is to purchase a van and build it out next year before the calendar flips to 2026.  I have virtually zero experience yet I'm planning on building this van with little outside assistance.  

What are the ingredients for dreams?  I recommend that you put the recipe in writing.  Tell others about your dreams so they can serve as your accountability partners.  Cut out frivolous activities and get busy pursuing your dreams.  Recruit others to join you.  And whatever you do, don't ever give up.  What are your top dreams for 2025?  This is the best time to get started.  Have a great day.

Coffee Table Book Moves Off Back Burner

One of the biggest lessons I'm learning in my life as a writer is that the journey is perhaps more important than the destination.  Yesterday I got to see Narrator James and his wife when they visited me at my day job on one of the busiest days of the year.  James mentioned a couple of ideas for promoting my upcoming release of my first audiobook, "Live Long and Prosper."  I don't think James is aware that there is an Irish twin to the book which will be born on St. Patrick's Day, March 17th, 2025, one year after the birth of the first twin.  Although these two books were originally meant to be released on the same day, I realized this idea was a bit too daunting for my scatterbrain.  It's rather challenging to smell the roses when you are moving at warp speed as I have been this last year.

The experts say that coffee table books should be promoted six months prior to release.  I have been promoting "The Adventures of Castaway Wilson" to friends and family for years.  The pandemic forced me to change my timeline as my travels ceased before the page count was in the ideal range.  The unthinkable happened – Wilson fell off my radar.  Depression set in.  I moved the coffee table book to the back burner and recalibrated my thoughts.  Although the finished product will be much different from the first Irish twin born earlier this year, the objective remains the same – raise funds for the sick kids at our local children's hospital.  I plan to visit them and read "The Adventures of Castaway Wilson" to them at University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital should I be granted permission.  Thank you for your patience regarding this project which is near and dear to my heart.  Have a great day.

The Temps are Dropping

 The lows this weekend are forecast to be 9º overnight.  Our current temp of 41º as of this writing will be the warmest we will see all day as the temps will descend hourly until we reach a low of 22º this evening.  At least Mother Nature is holding back on the precipitation for now to allow Holiday travelers safe passage in our state.  Our family will be staying close to home this week.  Safe travels to those who are on the road or in the air this week.  Have a great day.

Men's 55+ League Match Today in the Quad Cities

 I would like to give a big shout out to my boss at my day job for granting me a day off today to join my teammates in a league match in the Men's 55+ age group.  While many players in this age group are retired and playing tennis regularly, I'm getting by with minimum playing time.  Today will be an important test to see how I fare against these seasoned players.  Family time starts when my morning tennis match concludes.  The family is meeting at the movie theater to see Gladiator II.

My Samsung ring size kit arrived in time to test it out on my non-dominant right index finger prior to ordering my smart ring.  I will be testing to see if the ring interferes with my game today.  I decided to go with Samsung primarily because there are no subscription fees and the ring is compatible with my phone and smart watch.  I'm happy to report that my sleep reports are slowly improving.  The smart ring will help improve the accuracy of my sleep tracking.  As far as overall health is going, I'm happy to report my blood pressure came in at 113/76 after my cardio tennis yesterday.  It appears I'm finding my sweet spot when it comes to nutrition, sleep, exercise, and quality family time.  The baby steps are working.  Have a great day.

How to Be a Winner at Time Management

 

Time happens.  There is no way to stop it, slow it down or speed it up.  It's constant.  If you feel like you're often on the losing side of the time management equation, it has nothing to do with time and everything to do with management.  I happen to believe you can be a winner at time management by breaking down your activities into small chunks.  Take today for example.  Your day will end when you hit the pillow.  What are you planning to do today?   If you don't know, the day will end with you not accomplishing much.  If you have plans, are they written?  Not writing them down automatically drops your success rate.  How many written goals for the day will you achieve?  How long will it take to accomplish each goal on your list?  Are you tracking how many goals you achieve each day?

Be honest about your answers.  Decide what you're going to avoid doing so you can gain more time to do what's necessary.  Put time limits on wasteful activities.  If you really stink at time management, start super small by dedicating one hour to do your most important task and forget about the other 23 hours.  If you can win one battle that only takes one hour of your time, you can build on that.    Once you get consistent achieving one single goal that only takes one hour a day to complete and you do this for seven straight days, you are ready to add one extra hour of task management per day for week #2.  Win these small time management battles and you will eventually become unstoppable.  You will win the war on managing your time.  You will become a brand new person.  Have a great day.

1 Year Anniversary of Cell Phone Company Switch

I'm the first one to admit that change can be painful.  It's been one year since our family went all in for T-Mobile.  Without naming names, the most pain came from saying goodbye to a company we were loyal to for decades.  I gave them all the negative feedback they need to avoid more departures like mine when I went on a massive rant prior to ending the relationship.  Was the pain worth it?  I will address the painful part first and the benefits second.

Cell phone breakups are not fun.  The old company has the ability to shut your phone off immediately.  I found it ironic that I was on the phone with tech support at T-Mobile when our conversation was silenced before I could get direction for how to manage my changeover without giving up my old phone number.  My family was in the dark for days while we blindly fumbled to get our cell phones activated.  This challenge was magnified went I headed out of town without getting my wife's phone set up properly because we discovered too late it was too old for the new 5G technology. 

Despite the challenges of getting the proper credit for my cell phone payoff until my old company released the necessary paperwork and the delays due to my travels out of state while were in cell phone silence, the benefits of lower bills, more perks, free international calls, and more products definitely outweighs the pain of change.  One year later I can vouch for the promise T-Mobile made about not raising our rates.  The 5G home internet is fabulous and the price is far below what I was previously paying.  Our overall bill is much lower even though we added two smart watches with cell service to the package one year ago on Black Friday.  I have the ability to make calls and receive calls on my smart watch even when my cell phone isn't present. 

I'm saving the most important point for last – coverage.  I tested this myself on long distance road travels out of state.  T-mobile figured out a way to blend 4G and 5G in rural areas that helps avoid dropped calls.  Sure, 5G is great when you're close to a tower.  What about being in the middle of nowhere on a backroad?  It's not necessary to be next to a tower when your cell phone can search for 4G that can go for very long distances without any trouble.  The only exception is when you enter a valley.  The good news for people who live in the Midwest is miles and miles of mostly flat land.  I give T-Mobile five stars for coverage, customer service, and lower rates.  I also like the free international coverage.  If these folks keep their promise of never raising my rates as long as I remain active, I have no reason to leave.  Yes, the pain of change was worth it.  Have a great day.

 

Omad, 2mad, and the Status Quo

 Most Americans consume three meals a day.  They consider this normal.  We have specific labels for these meals, breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  This is how I was raised.  The status quo goes beyond this with frequent snacks due to hunger.  I question this because when I look around I see so many oversized bellies.  How can this be?  Why is the hunger switch in the brain always on when others can remain hunger free even when though they consume less than three meals a day without snacking?

I met a food scientist recently who works for a company that studies ingredients they wish to add to our natural foods in order to increase our desire for them.  There a no laws against this.  My concern is what happens to our health when these companies go over the top and we become addicted to foods that are not healthy for us.

I came home exhausted from a full day and two hours of very competitive tennis last night.  Although my only meal of the day was breakfast, I was not hungry.  My wife prepared a bunless burger for me along with some beans.  I told her that would be my breakfast and went to bed.  The translation for breakfast means to break fast.  It's the first meal after fasting.  Most people don't understand the value of fasting.  Most people are so addicted that they must eat every two hours or they think they are dying.  

If you want to increase your health and vitality, consider giving up sugary foods or foods containing artificial ingredients.  This change in eating patterns won't be easy.  There is a time period where your body will rebel.  Your brain will send out hunger signals that are like 911 calls to dispatch.  You must not cave.  Once you get past the withdrawals and the hunger signals subside, consider 2mad (two meals a day).  You may get so good at this that Omad (one meal a day) simply happens without even thinking about it because your hunger signals are gone.  The bonus for you is the extra years added to your lifespan as a result of losing all that belly fat.  I can't remember the last time I ate three meals in a day.  The food scientist I shared this with seemed surprised.  I have a feeling she wanted me to keep this to myself.  Surprise.  I'm here every day offering my crazy thoughts about ideas that are contrary to the status quo.  If you try this, it won't be easy at first.  Your future self will thank you if you decide to pursue an Omad or 2mad lifestyle.  Have a great day.

Can You Slow Down the Aging Process?

Despite serious ridicule from some people who think my ideas about slowing down the biological time clock, I'm doubling down on my experiments.  This time adding other people who are willing to change their ways.  I already know what to expect by going down the same path that has been trodden for the last generation.  It really doesn't look good as far as the status quo goes.

There is good reason to be hesitant.  My ideas are unproven.  I'm certainly not an expert on the topic of longevity.  What I do have going for me happens to be the extraordinary results from my current food experiments.  If you haven't read "Live Long and Prosper" because you're too busy, I have good news.  The audio version will be out any day now.  I'm waiting for the people in charge of distribution to approve my release  You can listen to my journey of transformation in a little over two hours.  I include my daily stack which, in my opinion, is slowing down the hands of time.  Stay tuned.  It's getting exciting.  Have a great day. 

Is Jesus Real?

 Today's message is a response to someone close to me who struggles with the relationship between science and faith.  I have a feeling this struggle is common throughout the world.  As I reflect on my life I believe my faith has helped me to endure in situations where failure seemed eminent.  Is Jesus real?  If so, is he God?  What evidence is there that Jesus is who he says he is?

Before I get too deep today, I would like to pose a question for those reading today's story.  Does evil exist?  If the answer is yes, where do you think evil comes from?  Is it possible that evil exists beyond our own realm?  In my opinion, it may be easier to persuade nonbelievers about the existence of Jesus by first offering examples of evil that we cannot see with our own eyes yet we can accept when the evidence is scrutinized.

How can it be that people who appear to be under the influence of evil can suddenly speak in ancient tongues when they've never been exposed to these languages?  How can a person who appears to be possessed toss a 300 pound human across the room with one arm?  Can science explain this?  Perhaps a worthy explanation comes from stories in the Bible about demons who roam the planet in search of souls they wish to possess.

If the modern day stories about demons are verifiable, perhaps someone searching for the source of these demons could go back in time by reading passages in the Bible about demons who paid a great deal of attention to Jesus.  Why did these demons care about influencing Jesus?  How did these demons know who Jesus is?

If I were in a court of law attempting to prove the existence of Jesus, I would offer witness testimony from the very demons who are attacking us.  How can these demons defy the laws of nature?  Perhaps there is something about them that gives us a glimpse of their enemy – Jesus.  If they are real, maybe Jesus is real.  The leap of faith is easier to make when one considers the actions of the demons who are in our world today.  

For those who deny the Bible because they find think it goes against science, I offer my two cents.  Science is an attempt to understand what we do not know.  We don't know everything.  Science has its own gaps.  If Jesus is real and everything he says is true, it's easy to see how science is merely a tool for explaining who God is.  I don't have all the answers here.  I do have faith.  This is a gift.  It's all I have to offer for those who aren't sure if Jesus is real.  Have a great day.

How Do You See Yourself in Five Years?

Imagine the date is 11/18/29.  You are five years older.  Like it or not, this day is going to be here before you know it.  The way you imagine yourself five years from today could actually serve as an inspiration to prepare for that date.

This date is significant for me because it puts me approximately seven months ahead of my retirement from my day job.  I consider these next five years as a time of preparation.  The more steps I can take now the better prepared I will be when it's time to begin the next phase of my life.

Ask yourself who you see around you five years from today as you prepare for Thanksgiving.  Who is with you?  What are you doing?  How is your health?  Are you happy?  What's missing?  Once you see yourself in the future, what steps can you take in the next five years to make that future vision of yourself the best it can be?  Have a great day.

Men's 4.0 Tennis Team Clinches 40+ League Title

Team captain, Jim Sichterman, sent out the message yesterday that our team win clinched a league title.  I would like to thank him for spending time with me one-on-one to correct a deficiency in my backhand which changed my game dramatically.  It also helps to be surrounded by like-minded teammates who pursue excellence on a daily basis.  My doubles partner, Wahyu, and I were the lag match in Clinton, Iowa yesterday which gave us a birds eye view of the first four matches of the afternoon from the upper level of the indoor facility.  My teammates stuck around to watch us win the final match of the day.  I would also like to thank Wahyu for keeping me calm during the match.  There is much work to be done in the pursuit of lofty goals.  All I can say is thank you to my teammates for never giving up on me during my transition from a one-handed wimpy backhand to a double-fisted weapon.  We will need every player to be at his best when we prepare ourselves for post-season play.  Congratulations to the team on a 4-1 victory yesterday.  Have a great day. 

Audiobook Cover Needs Attention

 

The final review of my first audiobook is nearly complete.  I got word that the front cover art was not up to standards for release so I'm making the appropriate adjustments for final submission.  The good news is that everything else passed inspection.  That's what happens when you have a professional narrator on your team.  I'm working on the cover art this morning before joining my tennis team in Clinton located in northeast Iowa for an afternoon match.  I'm thankful my boss granted time off to participate today.  Have a great day.

Lessons from Proverbs

 

I had an interesting conversation yesterday sparked when a stranger commented on my wrist bracelet.  "That's my favorite Bible verse," my new friend said, referencing "I can do all through Christ who strengthens me."  Later in the conversation she told me I appeared to be a "proverbs kind of guy."  I took this as a huge compliment because the Book of Proverbs contains all that I am seeking on my journey.  The first part is about a father teaching his son he should listen to wisdom and cultivate the fear of the Lord.  The message is about learning how to live in a way that honors God and others.

I have a long way to go in my journey.  Proverbs is a great place to learn about how to interact in a world filled with great tension.  Take a moment and immerse yourself in the Book of Proverbs.  Have a great day.

Why You Should Pursue Outlandish Ideas

 

The best way I know to silence your critics is to tell them you are going to do something that borders on the impossible and then do it.  The pursuit of seemingly outlandish ideas gets you off the couch and into your dream life.  I still remember the look on my friends faces when I told them I was going to move to a state where I didn't know a soul outside of my wife's family and buy a house with no money, no credit and no job.  My friends were attempting to bring me back to earth.  Instead, I moved away and bought a house with no money, no credit, and no job.  Sure, 97 people out of one hundred hung up on me.  Most people don't believe in outlandish ideas.  The people who do will encourage you to keep moving forward, like the realtor who represented me in the buying process when I was at a low point in my life.

Do you know what else is outlandish?  A person like me who has no formal training as a writer who writes every morning before sunrise.  I write about things that are seemingly outlandish to the casual observer.  I do things that most people consider impossible.  For me, outlandish is when you believe everything the people in power tell you is the truth, like food pyramids that have been fed to us ever since we entered school.  

Here is something else outlandish:  believing you have the potential to live to be 120 and not be sitting in a wheelchair.  Sadly, those who disagree with me won't live long enough to see the proof.  All I can say about my own health is that I can play tennis for four hours without even having the desire to sit down between games.  That is simply outlandish according to my opponents.  

Take a moment today and dream about something you may consider outlandish.  You may want to consider keeping the idea to yourself to avoid the dream killers who may try to bring you back to earth.  Have a great day.

Williamsburg City Hall Approves Pickleball Resolution

 

The Pickleball headwinds are blowing in our hometown.  Last night our leadership team met with city hall to gain approval for a resolution showing the city supports advancement of the fastest growing sport in the US.  The newly formed group is proposing to build four outdoor pickleball courts at the Williamsburg Rec Center.   The rec center currently houses indoor pickleball courts for members.  Indoor pickleball is not available on weekends due to the success of youth programs that share space at the multi-use facility.  Outdoor courts will open up play in the evenings and weekends.  

While support is building, the next step is fundraising.  The City is asking the group to provide court design ideas for consideration.  If you are a pickleball player who resides in Eastern Iowa or you may be traveling to Iowa, make sure you consider playing in Iowa County when you visit.  These people are fun to be with.  In fact, that's what makes pickleball so addicting.  Spend time with these people and you will want to keep coming back for more.  Click on the link and follow Pickleball Iowa County.  Have a great day.

Be Cautious About Who You Blame for Your Failures

 Please pardon my rants about today's story regarding the blame game.  I've been around too many people at the water cooler who blame everyone but themselves for their current situation.  I've been there.  Perhaps the blame game makes us feel better about our own shortcomings.  

The older I get the more I realize how my own failures play a role in my personal growth.  I'm convinced that if given the choice to go back in time and live my life again free of my biggest blunders I would vote to repeat the errors.  This is stunning for me because my failures have been costly.  I'm willing to repeat these errors again in order to gain the wisdom I now possess.  These failures have been an investment in learning the best way to live my life.  At the top of the list is the near-fatal accident I suffered in early 2018.  The accident gave me an opportunity to review my life and realize what's really important to me.  

I will never point a finger at anyone when it comes to my failures with the exception of the man in the mirror.  How about you?  Have a great day.

Happy Veterans Day

Thank you to all the veterans for your service.  Special thanks to our youngest son, Shane, for putting your country first.  This is your day.  Enjoy.  Happy Veterans Day.  Have a great day.

The Voice of James Coming Soon to My First Audiobook

"I don't like it when authors narrate their own books," Katie said at our Holiday party last night.  She confirmed what I felt in my own heart regarding my first audiobook coming soon to Amazon.  I met a real life professional narrator who I believe is one of the best in the business.  The audition was spontaneous.  James told me he was a professional narrator when I asked him what he does for a living.  He owns his own business doing this full time.  I pulled out a copy of "Live Long and Prosper" and asked him to read the back cover in front of his family and several coworkers at my day job.  I felt this amazing tingling inside my body while listening.  James assured me the process would be simple and he would do all the heavy lifting.  I promised James he would be my voice and he gave me his email address so we could get busy.

I listened to James narrate my book in one sitting yesterday after coming home from my cardio workout on the tennis courts.  Katie assured me she would order a copy to listen to as this is her favorite way to consume books and she looks forward to hearing the voice of James.  He is a natural.  Stay tuned.  Once the final edits are complete, you will be able to add "Live Long and Prosper" to your audio collection.  Have a great day.

Cardio Tennis Drills at 8am

I'm back on the tennis courts early this morning.  Our teams are on a winning streak and I'm doing my best to get ready for some upcoming matches.   If all goes well today, I'll return home and complete my review of the audio book, "Live Long and Prosper," set up by narrator James.  Have a great day.

Daily Habits are Making Huge Impact

Minor changes over time don't really show up right away.  Most people give up when they don't see immediate results.  For example, my sleep improvements have been hardly noticeable until now.  Last night I received an 85 sleep score putting me in the excellent range.  This is possible through minor changes to my daily habits.  Another example is my savings goal for our van acquisition.  The end of month projections put us at 50% savings.  While there is a lot of ground to cover until the 8/08/25 target date, I'm seeing how minor changes to quench my urge to spend are adding up big.

I wrote a letter to myself dated 1/4/25 and mailed it.  The letter expresses my feelings about reaching certain goals.  I already know how I'm going to feel when I open the letter.  I knew what was necessary to live my biggest dreams and it really comes down to the small stuff.  It's never too late to change the course of your dreams.  Focus on changing your daily habits.  It's worth it.  Have a great day.

Mental Recovery Through REM Sleep

 Your mental recovery happens during the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep stage.  My bet is that if you're having challenges in the REM sleep stage you are also having challenges during your waking hours.  You may not be able to control exactly how long you are in the REM stages while sleeping but you can set yourself for success by improving your daily habits.

I'm happy to report good news about last night's mental recovery which came in at 85%.  Although I didn't reach the excellent range, what stood out is the quantity of sleep time in the REM stage, one hour and twenty-two minutes.  What I believe helped me was the two hours of indoor tennis on the courts with my teammates yesterday.  Also, I only ate once during the day.  I was never hungry even though I expended a great deal of energy playing tennis.  This has to do with improved food choices.  Sugar and processed foods are at a bare minimum.  All of these daily choices are contributing factors in my quest to reach optimized sleep.

The last thing my brain sees before I retire for the night is a sleep affirmation on my night stand which states, "I'm getting better at sleeping."  This is part of my brain training which appears to be improving one night at a time.  In my opinion, one of the best investments you can make has to do with improving your REM sleep.  Do a little bit every day to improve the quality of your sleep and see what happens.  Have a great day.

Chipping Away at the To Do List

 This is my first day off since returning home from my family travels.  The first item on the to do list is to shed my caveman hair which is a bit out of control.  I won't slow down until the to do list is complete.

I would like to salute the leaders of our pickleball group who are working hard to bring outdoor pickleball courts to our community.  Our new shirts are in.  I can't wait to spread some pickleball love to our community.  I'm back on the tennis courts tonight to prepare for some important upcoming matches.  Both teams are off to a fast start.  It's going to be busy.  Have a great day.

Brain Rewiring in Progress

I find it hard to believe we are equipped with trillions of brain cells.  How on earth are we to manage all that circuitry?  Sadly, most of us are on autopilot and we have no clue how to optimize brain performance.  I'm starting small.  My plan is to simply increase awareness of the current programming and slowly introduce some rewiring.  This may seem complicated but it's not as daunting as one might think.  

Perhaps the most controversial part of my brain rewiring has to do with the food supply.  Although the brain needs glucose to thrive, I have pretty much cut out my sugar intake instead forcing my brain to be powered by ketones.  Ketones, made in the liver, are an alternative food source for the brain.   

The brain rewiring I'm going through is a grand experiment to see what happens when the overall programming is completely revamped.  I suppose I could always revert to my old ways but the odds of that are slim since early rewiring results are yielding amazing successful outcomes.  I really don't know what my limits are.  What I'm learning is my old limits were pretty much self-imposed.  Stay tuned.  This is an exciting adventure.  Have a great day.

The Baton Has Been Passed

I woke up at 3am this morning with a startling realization – I'm the oldest living male on both sides of my family.  The baton has been passed.  The good news is I can still rely on my mother, the oldest living member of her generation on her side of the family, for important life lessons.  Also, there is great wisdom on both sides of the family in our current generation tasked with making the world better before it's our turn to step aside.

The stories of our forefathers will be told for generations in our family.  My own stories I've been sharing here on this blog since 2009 will outlive me.  While I'm in possession of the baton I will do my best to help make our own world better.  Jesus is the one I turn to for the necessary wisdom to navigate a world that sometimes appears divided and hostile.  I will continue to look in the mirror and work on my own weaknesses while remembering the lessons of those who came before me. 

Perhaps the greatest lesson I learned from both parents is about forgiveness.  It's the last lesson dad passed on to us and he did it with my mother at his bedside during his last days.  This lesson is almost impossible to learn if you grew up in a household where forgiveness is more a sign of weakness than a way of life.  It's the missing ingredient in our culture.  My life completely transformed when I learned this lesson later in my life.  If there is a number two issue to share, in my opinion, this has to do with worry.  Don't worry.  Waking up at 3am startled doesn't have to mean your life is filled with worry.  See the opportunity in front of you and seize the day.  Run your race to completion.  Help others along the way.  Keep running.  Have a great day.

Defining Moments

My eyes focused on the California plates of my uncle's white ford mustang as my cousins drove off.  TTG414.  It was a defining moment in our family history.  We spent summer vacations visiting dad's twin brother in San Diego and my cousins visited us in Phoenix at Thanksgiving.  This would be the last vacation we spent together in our Sunnyslope home in north Phoenix where I grew up.  I know and my cousins know the pain of divorce.  This morning I will be lighting a candle in our house of worship to celebrate the life of my dad's twin brother, Mike Mulligan.   

My uncle Mike is responsible for one of the greatest defining moments in our family history and I'm deeply thankful for what he did behind the scenes twenty-two years ago to bring his twin brother home.  There was quite a bit of chatter between the twins, Pat and Mike, when my dad revealed he had a spot on his lung.  Uncle Mike convinced my dad to return home after a long absence from his family.  Dad was living deep in the heart of Mexico at the time.  Uncle Mike persuaded his twin that the best option for treatment was the VA hospital in San Diego.  He helped dad get his military papers in order so he could get treatment.  Sadly, when dad came home it was too late as the cancer had spread to all of his vital organs.  Our defining moment lasted 35 days.  We were fortunate that the twins spent time together on the front porch of my sister's home where dad and his wife, Molly, stayed.  A twin rose showed up near the spot where the twins reclined during dad's final days.  We spotted it after dad passed.  It was a gift from heaven letting us know dad was home safe.  Now his twin is with him and all but two siblings who are still working on their own defining moments with their families.

My dad was very private about his faith.  Something happens when one realizes death is knocking on the door.  It's a "come to Jesus moment" that removes the filters we use to protect ourselves from our fears about what others think about our actions.  In the end, all of us want to belong.  These twins are now reunited after a long time apart.  I will never forget how these two could harmonize when they sang together.  These twins kept the faith.  They finished the race.  That's why I'm lighting a candle today.  I'm remembering the defining moments.  If you could please join me in a prayer for my cousins, their spouses, and their children, that is much appreciated.  Have a great day.

A Tribute to My Uncle Mike Mulligan (RIP)

Pictured here is my dad's twin brother, Mike Mulligan, born on Christmas day, the last male relative of his generation to finish the race and enter Heaven where he joins brothers, Jim, Dickie, Thomas, Patrick, John, and sisters, Mary, and Peggy.  If you happen to be a Padres fan like our family and my uncle Mike, you know how difficult life can be at times, especially this year when the Padres were one win away from defeating the eventual World Series Champions this year.  

The family is asking for special prayers tomorrow.   Here is an excerpt from a family post shared by daughter-in-law, Laurie...

In memory of Mike Mulligan, please take a moment in solitude this Sunday, November 3 and celebrate him in a quiet prayer. His modesty wouldn’t call for anything more than a lit candle or a little donation to a good cause. He was still able to recite the Lord’s Prayer and Hail Mary so he carried his faith all the way through. He proved that a kind smile goes a long way to helping others. It’s a gift he gave freely. His ashes will be scattered at sea.

May he rest in peace.

I would like to add my two cents.  It's one of those oops moments.  I intended to go to my house of worship yesterday on All Souls Day and offer a prayer for my uncle but I failed to remember until it was too late.  A mulligan was needed to correct the mishap.  This morning, my wife and I turned to our favorite YouTube pastor, Fr. Mike Schmitz of Dubuth, Minnesota.  We found a worship service from All Souls Day, November 1, 2023.  This was a special mass for Fr. Mike because it was the first All Souls Day Mass he celebrated for his mother, another new arrival in Heaven.  Perhaps you could join me in offering a prayer for my uncle Mike while listening to Fr. Mike Schmitz.  His talk about participating in family Ironman triathlons resonates with me because I attempted my own 1/2 Ironman triathlon twice unable to cross the finish line.  

22 years ago we selected a reading about finishing the race when our dad entered heaven after his battle with cancer.  It brings me great joy to know these Mulligan siblings are together again.  Your prayers for my uncle and his family are much appreciated.  Here is the mass I offered to my uncle.  It's worth checking out if you have a loved one who crossed the finish line.  Have a great day.

Narrator James Submits Live Long and Prosper for Final Approval

 The voice of narrator James will soon appear on my first audiobook.  James completed the project while I was on vacation.  All that remains is for me to edit the files and sign off.  Once this happens, "Live Long and Prosper" will be available on Amazon as an audiobook.  Stay tuned.  Have a great day.