Battle of the Lefties Today

 Today is a rare day in my 45+ years of playing tennis.  I have an opportunity to team up with a fellow leftie to play a competitive match in our Men's 55+ tennis league.  Even rarer, we were both coached by a leftie on Thursday night in preparation for today's battle.  One more thing worthy of note here is that our favorite formation on the deuce side of the court when we're serving is the "Aussie" position where we both line up on the same side of the court.  My partner, a communications professor, hails from Australia.  This is going to be a really fun day.  I'm headed to the Quad Cities for our match.  By the way, the weather is heating up fast.  My hope is that trend continues on the courts today.  Have a great day.

Remove Your Barriers to Your Dream Life

 When trouble strikes, the barriers become most visible.  I know that sick feeling that comes with staring at what appears to be an insurmountable obstacle.  That dream life you desire is on the other side of those barriers.

You possess everything you need to achieve your dream life.  It's in your head.  Today is a great day to convince yourself you are going to win.  Go for it.  You've got this.  Believe.  Have a great day.

How Do You Manage Chaos?

 If you're not in the middle of a storm right now, get ready.  The odds are that some kind of storm will strike you, perhaps when you least expect it.  In my opinion, the likelihood of chaos is close to 100%.  That means you should prepare yourself.  How?  If you expect chaos to visit you, that's the first step.  Preparing yourself mentally is just as important.  One thing that helps me is knowing every storm I've ever faced has passed.  Some quickly.  Some, not so quickly.  But they all disappeared.

If you're seeking solutions, find good friends who can comfort you in the chaos.  Be there for them.  Good friends make a difference.  Set aside time to relax.  Go to bed early.  Avoid negative people.  Seek positive people who know how to weather the storms.  Have a great day.

Are You Winning the Head Games?

There's no doubt about it.  The head games are going to continue until the day you die.  It's a constant struggle to stay ahead.  I believe what's going on in your head is more important than what's going on in the world.  Why?  Because most things in the world are beyond your control.  What's going on in your head is totally within your control.  I like to focus on the things you can control.  

Heads games come down to a battle between you and your mind.  They are like two people.  They both have an attitude.  The world knows who is winning by your actions.  Winning is up to you.  You get to decide.  Forget about tomorrow or the day after.  Put all your energy into today's head games and make sure you win.   A victory today will give you an edge when tomorrow comes.  If you come up short, try again when you wake up in the morning.  Your future self, your friends, and your family will appreciate your head game wins.  Have a great day.

The Birds are Back

 The snow is melting.  The birds are back.  The grass is already turning green.  I'm impressed by Nature's choreography.  What a change this is from the harsh winter we had here in the Midwest.  The beat is picking up now.  I'm ready.  I hope you are as well.  Time to get busy.  Have a great day.

Have You Ever Heard of a Test Cruise?

The first time I heard about test cruises was yesterday.  It's not a new thing.  Think of it as a way for the cruise ship industry to introduce new ships and crew to the world.  Before accepting paying passengers, they look for volunteers to help them with trial runs.  What's changed is COVID-19.  CDC guidelines require new procedures to make cruising safe.  Test cruises are like the real deal absent the fees.  This probably won't happen until December.  All I can say is I put my name in the hat.  If you're willing to be a lab rat for one of the cruise lines, you may receive an awesome travel experience for free.

Here is the link to sign up for a test cruise with the Royal Caribbean.  https://www.porthole.com/heres-how-to-sign-up-for-a-test-cruise. Have a great day.

The 10 Month Countdown to Financial Freedom

 The dream is becoming a reality.  All those bogeys no longer matter.  The past is the past.  All that matters now is the daily effort to reach a goal that has eluded me for decades.  The next ten months will require a focus on the details.  I understand the rules of the game.  Any goal may seem larger than life until you pay attention to little things, like daily sacrifices.  Deferred gratification doesn't have to be about feeling deprived when you consider the amazing rewards that come with accomplishing your goals.

Dave Ramsey says it feels better when you walk on the grass in your backyard and you own the grass.  I look forward to discovering for myself how it feels to own the grass.  The other major goals are becoming more important to me now that I'm in the final stages of "Par for the Course."  I'm realizing how important physical fitness and eating properly will aid me when I'm ready to enter the next stage of my life.  

If you're having trouble achieving your goals, ask yourself why these goals are important to you.  Focus on the why daily to help you stay motivated.  Whatever you do, please don't give up.  I'm really happy I stayed in the game.  I will tell you how it feels to walk on the grass that you own in ten months.  Have a great day.