Do You Have Encumbrances in Your Life?

Stardate 02.23.2026

Don’t worry. Your answer to today’s question is for your eyes only.

If you’re like me, you probably carry more than one encumbrance. That’s part of being human. The weight isn’t the issue. What you do with the weight is what shapes you.

I developed survival instincts early in life. Some of the people who influenced me back then worried they had something to do with the roadblocks to my joy. I see it differently now.

Those roadblocks became training ground.

The person I am becoming is directly connected to how I carry my encumbrances.

You’ve heard the sayings:

“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”
“God will not give you more than you can handle.”

But sometimes life does feel like more than we can handle.

That is where I imagine the ongoing conversation between Spock and Leonard McCoy.

Logic and emotion. Discipline and compassion. Acceptance and protest.

Standing quietly between them is James T. Kirk.

At Starfleet Academy, Kirk faced the Kobayashi Maru — a simulation designed to guarantee defeat.

The lesson was not about winning.

It was about how a commander thinks inside a no-win story.

Kirk chose to reprogram the simulation rather than surrender to the assumption that failure was the only possible ending.

Nobody expected that kind of thinking.

I think about that story when I look at my own life.

These days I am learning to ask a different question when I face obstacles.

Not “Why is this happening to me?”

Instead, I am learning to ask, “What can I learn from this?”

There is always a lesson hiding inside resistance.

Wisdom is not born in comfort. It is shaped in the friction between where we are and where we are called to be.

One of my encumbrances is the quiet tension between the work that provides stability and the work that feels like breathing.

I am learning that I do not have to force a choice between them today.

Perhaps the lesson is patience — the understanding that purpose does not always move at the speed of my longing.

Sometimes faithfulness looks less like heroic victory and more like showing up again tomorrow, doing the next right thing, and trusting the shaping that is happening in the unseen places.

If you want to grow a little more today, try this simple but powerful exercise.

Pick one encumbrance in your life.

Do not complain about it.

Do not rush to fix it.

Instead, say thank you for it.

Not because it feels good.

But because it may be teaching you something you would not otherwise learn.

Growth often arrives wrapped in difficulty.

Strength is not the absence of struggle.

Strength is the capacity to carry meaning inside struggle.

You do not have to solve every obstacle today.

Carry one lesson forward.

If you can learn even one quiet truth from one encumbrance, then you are already walking in the direction of your becoming.

Growth is not always loud. Sometimes it is the gentle decision to be grateful for the weight that is shaping your strength.

Have a great day.

New Sleep Experiment Begins

Stardate 02.22.2026

I’m doing my best to manage stress these days — especially at night.

Most of us focus on what happens after we wake up. But what about the hours before we close our eyes?

For years, the old version of me started losing the day before my feet ever hit the floor. The first thing I reached for was the news and social media. Two things completely outside my control… yet somehow controlling me.

Then I would go to bed replaying what I hadn’t done well.

That’s a vicious cycle.

So I changed my mornings.

I guard the first hour of my day — my golden hour. It’s non-negotiable. When that first hour is intentional, the rest of the day tends to follow.

But lately I’ve been asking a new question:

What if the real battle isn’t just the first hour… but the last one?

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Experimenting Toward Better

Some of you know I enjoy experimenting with health routines. I don’t claim to be a doctor. I simply pay attention. I test. I adjust. I try to become one percent better instead of chasing perfection.

Over time, I’ve learned that we cannot simply accept the status quo when it comes to our health. We have to become good stewards of our own bodies.

Scripture reminds us:

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit…? Therefore honor God with your bodies.” — 1 Corinthians 6:19–20

Honor doesn’t mean obsession. It means attention. It means stewardship.

So this next chapter is about sleep.

I’ve tracked years of sleep data through my watch. I know my patterns. I know my weak spots. And thanks to a recent gift from my sponsor, I’m beginning a new evening routine experiment to see how it impacts recovery and rest.

I won’t share conclusions yet. I want real data before drawing real insights.

But here’s what I already know:

When I protect my nights, my mornings get stronger.
When my mornings get stronger, my days feel steadier.
And when my days feel steadier, stress loses its grip.

That’s not biohacking. That’s wisdom.

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A Gentle Word of Caution

If you experiment with supplements or new health routines, do your homework. Quality matters. Not everything marketed is equal. Stewardship requires discernment.

For me, this is about long-term vitality — the kind that allows me to play tennis for hours, serve my family well, and keep writing stories that encourage others to live long and prosper in purpose.

If you’d like to explore the company I partner with, you can do so on your own terms. Use discernment. Move slowly. Listen to your body. I will do my best to post health updates monthly so you can follow my journey.

Join me here: https://substack.com/@michaelmulliganlivelong

I’ll share more once the data speaks.

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Captain’s Addendum

Bones: “Spock, you’re telling me the Captain’s experimenting on his sleep now?”
Spock: “Doctor, improved rest increases cognitive precision. The logic is sound.”
Bones: “Well, as long as he’s not turning into a lab rat.”

Michael’s reflection:

I’ve learned that growth isn’t about dramatic reinvention. It’s about small adjustments made consistently. Managing my stress — especially at night — is one more quiet step toward becoming who I’m meant to be. Not perfect. Just one percent better.

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If tonight offers you an opportunity to reset, take it. Close your eyes with gratitude instead of replaying your mistakes.

Thank you for walking this journey with me. May your rest be peaceful and your mornings steady.

Disclosure: I partner with DoNotAge. Use code LLAP if you explore their products.

Spock on the Clock

Stardate 02.21.2026

There are moments in life when emotion needs the steady hand of discipline.

I am not a Vulcan, but I believe there is wisdom in learning to move a little more like Spock when the world grows noisy, uncertain, or complicated.

Perhaps you feel it too.

The world seems heavier these days — faster, louder, and more emotionally tangled than it once was.

If so, this reflection is for you.

“Spock on the clock” is something I am learning to practice.

It means calm.

Measured response.

Clear boundaries.

Professional presence.

It also means allowing the “Bones” inside me to remain alive and compassionate.

Expression may sometimes be restrained, but kindness never leaves the heart.

It is a delicate balance — walking a tightrope between wisdom and warmth.

In seasons of transition, composure becomes a quiet form of leadership.

When pressure rises, the temptation is to react quickly.

But sometimes the better choice is to breathe first, listen longer, speak slower, and let clarity arrive before action follows.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10

I have a long way to go in learning this rhythm.

But progress matters more than perfection.

May this simple thought encourage you today.

You do not need to solve every tension immediately.

You only need to take the next step with clarity, kindness, and steadiness.

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Captain’s Addendum

Spock: “Michael, emotional restraint appears to improve operational outcomes.”
Bones: “Just don’t forget you’re human while you’re doing it.”
Spock: “Fascinating. The objective is balance.”

Michael reflects: I am learning that strength is not found in reacting first, but in choosing response with intention. Spock on the clock is not about becoming cold. It is about allowing compassion to live inside disciplined action.

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Join me here: https://substack.com/@michaelmulliganlivelong

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Mission Log:
In uncertain times, calm presence may be the greatest gift we can offer one another.

Thank you for walking this path with me. May you find your own balance between courage and compassion today.

Alignment Check

Stardate 02.20.2026

The snow has returned.

That’s one thing we can count on in the Midwest — unpredictability.

Today, I’m doing my best to stay in alignment, even as things unfold beyond my control. The kind of things that try to pull attention outward… and stir up a little chaos.

I once heard a wise man say that true joy is found deep in the ocean — where it is calm — even while the surface is filled with wind and towering waves.

So today, I’m choosing to go deep.
I’m choosing peace.

That’s where alignment lives.

There’s no need to carry the weight of a full calendar when I can live this day moment by moment.
There’s no need to wrestle with what the weather decides to do.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10

Perhaps the truest test of alignment comes in the middle of the storm.

Not when everything is easy… but when everything isn’t.

Sometimes all it takes is a small adjustment of the sails.
A quiet correction.
One percent better.

And over time, those small shifts carry us exactly where we’re meant to go.

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Captain’s Addendum

Spock: “Captain Michael, remaining centered under pressure appears to increase overall efficiency.”
Bones: “Or maybe it just keeps a man from losing his mind, Spock.”
Spock: “Fascinating. The outcomes appear aligned.”

Michael reflects: Staying grounded isn’t about controlling the storm — it’s about choosing where to stand in the middle of it. Today, I go deeper. That’s where my peace is.

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Join me here: https://substack.com/@michaelmulliganlivelong

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Mission Log:
Alignment isn’t found in perfect conditions, but in steady presence.

Thank you for taking a moment today to breathe, to reset, and to go deeper.

Scotty, One to Beam Up

Stardate 02.19.2026

Do dogs go to Heaven?
I believe they do.

Because today, one of our beloved “grand dogs” is saying goodbye.

Bear wasn’t just a dog.
He was presence.
He was comfort.
He was joy in its simplest, purest form.

There’s a reason they call dogs man’s best friend.
They don’t try to fix us.
They just sit beside us… and somehow make everything one percent better.

Bear did that every single day.

And now, as we prepare to let him go, I’m holding onto gratitude.
For the walks.
For the quiet moments.
For the way he loved without condition.

If you’re reading this, I’d ask you to keep our family in your thoughts today.

Not just in the sadness…
but in the deep, lasting love that remains.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18

Scotty, one to beam up.
It’s time to say goodbye.

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Captain’s Addendum

Spock: “Fascinating, Doctor. The emotional bond between humans and animals appears to transcend even loss.”
Bones: “That’s because love doesn’t just disappear, Spock. It sticks around… even when it hurts.”

Michael reflects:
Love like Bear’s doesn’t leave when the body does. It settles into the heart, quietly shaping who we become. Today, I don’t try to understand it. I just feel it… and give thanks for the time we were given.

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Join me here: https://substack.com/@michaelmulliganlivelong

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Today, I’m grateful for a life that made ours better simply by being near.

Applying Lessons from an Entrepreneur Professor

Stardate 02.18.2026

Some may say I’m lucky because I seem to meet people at just the right time and place.

I know better.

Most of what I do happens quietly — offstage, away from public view. Seeds are planted long before anyone sees the harvest.

Recently, I spent time with a husband-and-wife team who teach others how to think like entrepreneurs. The husband shared that he opened his business at the very beginning of the pandemic. Most businesses struggle even in the best of seasons. Starting during a global shutdown? That requires courage.

The wife offered a simple illustration that has stayed with me.

“A carrot doesn’t have much value when you begin with just a carrot. But when you cut it, prepare it, and combine it with something else — now you’ve added value.”

I let that lesson simmer.

Then I began looking at the “carrots” in my own life.

What have I been holding in its simplest form?

Where could I prepare it differently?
Who could I partner with?
What possibilities are waiting if I’m willing to combine gifts instead of guarding them?

Value often increases through collaboration.

The countdown clock is ticking now. Soon, I will reveal something special — something shaped not by rushing, but by layering, refining, and teaming up with people willing to dream alongside me.

One item near the top of my checklist is to return to the farm where these mentors reside and thank them in person. Gratitude is a form of added value too. If permission is granted, I hope to share a conversation with them on Substack — a place where wisdom can be passed along like seeds for others to plant.

Growth doesn’t happen in isolation.

It happens when ordinary carrots are prepared with intention and shared generously.

“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” — Proverbs 16:3

Join me here: https://substack.com/@michaelmulliganlivelong

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🖖 Captain’s Addendum

Spock: “It would appear, Doctor, that even a carrot possesses unrealized potential.”
Bones: “I’ve seen you turn stranger things into opportunity, Spock. But I’ll admit — there’s something to that.”
Spock: “Indeed. Preparation plus partnership often yields superior outcomes.”

Michael’s reflection:
I’m learning that nothing in my life is wasted — not experience, not relationships, not even quiet seasons. When I add gratitude, collaboration, and faith, ordinary things become meaningful gifts.

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If today feels simple, don’t underestimate it. Perhaps you’re holding a carrot that only needs preparation and partnership to become something nourishing for many.

Thank you for walking this journey with me. May your quiet work today be blessed, seen, and multiplied in ways you cannot yet measure.

30 Days to Launch

Stardate 02.17.2026

Where in the World is Wilson? — a coloring book — is preparing to quietly arrive on Amazon.

Because of generous, anonymous donors, Wilson will also be making his way into hospital rooms.

That sentence still humbles me.

What remains now is not inspiration.
It’s logistics.

There are HIPAA considerations to honor. Distribution pathways to think through. Small but important marketing details to handle with care.

The unglamorous work of stewardship.

My illustrator, Helen M. Swearson, carried the creative weight of this project. She donated her labor as a gift — not for recognition, but to help bring hope to children walking difficult roads.

My quiet hope is that people see what I see.

A generous heart.
A steady light.
A woman whose soul is beginning to shine brighter than ever.

“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” — Matthew 5:16

This launch isn’t about spotlight.

It’s about placement.

A coloring book landing on a tray table beside a hospital bed.
Crayons in small hands.
A moment of distraction.
A flicker of imagination stronger than fear.

Thirty days feels both long and short.

But good things often take shape in the waiting.

Wilson is almost ready.

Not to perform.
But to serve.

Join me here: https://substack.com/@michaelmulliganlivelong

Captain’s Addendum 🖖

Bones: “Thirty days, Spock? That’s enough time for something to go sideways.”

Spock: “On the contrary, Doctor. Proper preparation increases the probability of favorable outcomes.”

Michael: “I’m learning that launches aren’t about speed. They’re about readiness.”

Mission Log
Status: Hopeful and attentive
Objective: Steward the final details with care
Outcome: Gentle impact, one room at a time

Thank you for walking this road with me.

May your work today — seen or unseen — carry quiet meaning.
May your light shine without striving.
And may we all remember that small acts of love can travel farther than we imagine.

🖖 Live long. Prosper in purpose. Walk boldly in divine love.

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🖖 Captain’s Note:
“Our calling is not to write perfect words, but to reveal perfect grace through imperfect moments — one percent better, one day at a time.”