Stardate 03.17.2026
The email arrived just after my early morning prayers and meditation.
I didn’t rush to check it. I’ve learned to start the day grounded first—to listen, to breathe, to be still. And then, when I opened my inbox, there it was:
A message from Kindle Direct Publishing.
Congratulations, your paperback, “Where in the World is Wilson?” is now live on Amazon.
Any writer will tell you… this moment feels like a birth.
You do the work. You prepare. You release control. And then you wait. The timing is never fully yours.
On this same day one year ago, I found myself sitting in a hospital waiting room, waiting for a similar message about The Adventures of Castaway Wilson. Something in my gut told me I couldn’t leave until the news came through. Amazon says it can take up to 72 hours after you hit “publish.”
This year, I smiled at that memory and did things just a little differently.
I pressed the button three days ago.
Not out of fear—just a quiet understanding that sometimes preparation is its own form of faith.
And today… at 4:11am, on St. Patrick's Day… the timing aligned.
My dad used to say, “Everyone needs a little luck.”
I’ve come to believe there’s truth in that.
For me, that “luck” showed up as Wilson.
He appeared when I was stuck… and stayed when I felt lost.
Not to solve everything—but to remind me I wasn’t alone.
There were moments when the path forward felt unclear. Moments where the silence was loud. And somehow, in those spaces, Wilson became more than just a symbol—he became a steady presence.
And then… he was gone.
That’s when things got harder.
Because it’s one thing to struggle. It’s another thing to lose the very thing that helped you through it.
But just when hope felt distant, something unexpected happened.
A reminder. A return. A spark that reignited something I couldn’t quite explain.
And with it came a realization I carry with me now:
We all belong… even when we don’t believe we do.
These three books—what I’ve come to call my Irish triplets—are not just stories.
They’re markers along a path.
Moments of searching. Moments of losing. Moments of finding again.
Each one is different. But together, they point toward something simple and important:
Hope is never as far away as it feels.
If these reflections—or these books—do anything at all, I hope they help you recognize your own version of that hope… and take one small step forward in your journey.
One percent better.
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
— Psalm 34:18
If you’d like to hear more about the story behind these Irish triplets, I’ll be sharing more during a livestream this evening.
Join me here:
https://substack.com/@michaelmulliganlivelong
🖖 Captain’s Addendum
Spock: “Fascinating, Captain. The alignment of timing and intention appears statistically improbable… yet deeply meaningful.”
Bones: “Or maybe it’s just what happens when a man keeps showing up, even when it’s hard.”
Captain (Michael):
Maybe it’s a little of both.
I’ve learned not to overanalyze the timing of things I can’t control. What I can do is keep showing up—with faith, with effort, and with a willingness to grow.
Wilson didn’t solve my problems. But he helped me see them differently.
And sometimes… that’s enough to keep moving forward.
Today, I’m grateful.
Grateful for the journey.
Grateful for the people walking alongside me.
And grateful for the quiet reminders that we’re never as alone as we think.
Wishing you peace, reflection, and just a little bit of that good “luck” today. 🖖
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