Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto

Stardate 02.03.2026

There’s a song that plays quietly in the background of my mornings—not on a speaker, but in spirit.

Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto.

Not as a warning about becoming less human, but as a thank-you for the routines that help me live more fully human.

The older I get, the more I realize how much energy gets wasted on preparation. Decisions before the day even begins. What to wear. What to take. When to go. By the time some people start their day, they’re already exhausted from choosing.

So I’ve chosen not to choose.

I wake up without an alarm clock now. Somewhere along the way, my body found its own rhythm. That alone feels like grace. No jolt. No scramble. Just awareness.

My clothes are already laid out. Yesterday’s version of me took care of today’s version of me—and I’m grateful for that small act of kindness.

My supplement stack is already waiting on the dining room table. No cabinets to open. No decisions to make. Just a steady handoff from habit to health.

When I turn on the shower, I don’t wait for comfort. I step in immediately, even when the water is brutally cold for that first minute. Especially then. That shock wakes something up inside me—endorphins released, clarity restored, courage practiced early. The discomfort pays dividends for hours.

And on workdays, I leave the house at exactly 8:08 AM.

Not 8:07. Not 8:10.

8:08.

These routines may look rigid from the outside, but they’ve done the opposite inside me. They’ve created space. Space to think. Space to pray. Space to notice what actually matters.

Scripture reminds us:

“Let all things be done decently and in order.”
— 1 Corinthians 14:40

Order doesn’t remove wonder. It makes room for it.

The song Mr. Roboto plays with the fear of losing ourselves to automation. I get that. But I’ve found that when routine serves intention—and intention serves love—structure becomes a servant, not a master.

Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto.
Thank you for handling the small things
so I can stay present for the important ones.

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Captain’s Addendum

Bones: “Michael, you’re tellin’ me you jump into an ice-cold shower on purpose?”
Spock: “Doctor, the captain appears to value long-term benefit over short-term comfort. A most… logical adaptation.”
Bones: “I liked him better when he complained.”

Michael’s Reflection:
What I’m learning is this: discipline isn’t about becoming mechanical—it’s about becoming dependable. When my mornings run on rails, my heart is free to wander where it’s needed most.

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

Donor Ships 8 Cases of Crayons for Patients at Children's Hospital

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Donor Ships 8 Cases of Crayons for Patients at Children’s Hospital

Stardate 02.02.2026

“The crayons are here,” Derek said.

I was stunned.

There were so many crayons I needed a flatbed to get them to my vehicle. Eight full cases. I hadn’t realized how heavy crayons could be until I was lifting them one box at a time, already doing the math in my head.

I started thinking ahead—thinking about the kids.

“I can split the crayons up into baggies,” I said, “so every patient can get some with their Where in the World is Wilson?coloring book.”

“That’s one way,” Derek replied.
“Or if you run out, just let me know and I’ll order more.”

Derek happened to be in exactly the right place at exactly the right time. I was mailing the first proof copy of the coloring book to senior leadership at our corporate office for review. I’ll admit—I was a little nervous as he slowly studied each page.

But his response told me everything I needed to know.

This coloring book is going to bring joy to people who need it most. And now, thanks to an unexpected act of generosity, those pages will be filled with color. Real color. The kind that invites imagination, distraction, and a moment of light in a hard place.

I thanked Derek and rushed off to the indoor tennis courts to join my team in our pursuit of another league championship. My captain trusted me with #1 doubles. Teammates stopped by to cheer us on. It was a sweep.

Maybe the endorphins helped. Or maybe it was the quiet certainty that doors were opening.

As the day continued, Amazon emailed to let me know the next shipment of proof copies had arrived.

Piece by piece, it’s all falling into place.

“Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
— Galatians 6:9

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Captain’s Addendum

Bones: “You’re telling me a pile of crayons changed the trajectory of your whole day?”
Spock: “Doctor, the emotional significance appears… considerable.”
Bones: “Figures. Humans can find hope in anything.”

Michael: Sometimes it isn’t the grand gestures that move us forward—it’s the quiet ones. A man saying yes. A box being lifted. A door opening just enough to remind us we’re not walking alone.

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

Mission Log:
Small acts. Open hands. Unexpected provision. One percent better—together.

Thank you, Derek.
And thank you, friends, for walking this road with me. May you notice the crayons in your own day—the simple gifts that bring color where it’s needed most.

I Got Bested in Scrabble

I Got Bested in Scrabble

Stardate 02.01.2026

I got a surprise phone call yesterday during our family Scrabble day. One of my inner-circle friends called with big news.

He wrote a book.

That’s the hard part. Finishing. He has a manuscript in hand, and I know exactly how that feels. We’re meeting soon in what we affectionately call the magical forest to talk about next steps. Publishing today is changing so fast it can make your head spin—especially for independent publishers like me.

Thankfully, I’ve learned to stay grounded.

My faith has taught me to loosen my grip, to let go, and to let God remain in charge. There’s a quiet peace that comes with realizing I’m not the center of the universe. I don’t have to force outcomes. I don’t have to rush timing. I just have to be faithful with the next small step.

I’m learning—slowly—not to rush things. I’m learning to trust the process.

Writing can be a lonely road at times, which makes it even more meaningful when someone trusts you enough to ask for guidance. I’m genuinely happy for my friend, and honored he reached out.

And while words were being carefully chosen on one front, they were being joyfully deployed on another.

During family Scrabble, I put everything on the table…and still came up short. I was bested by a member of the next generation. It turns out word-smithing runs strong in the family—and among friends too.

I’ll be sure to share a link to my friend’s book when it’s released into the world. For now, I’m grateful for the reminder that growth shows up in many forms: in faith, in friendships, and sometimes on a Scrabble board.

As Scripture gently reminds us:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
— Proverbs 3:5–6

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Captain’s Addendum

Bones: “You lost at Scrabble? Jim, that’s a medical emergency for your ego.”
Spock: “On the contrary, Doctor. It is evidence of generational linguistic evolution.”

Michael’s Reflection:
I didn’t lose anything yesterday. I gained perspective. Faith keeps teaching me that progress isn’t about always winning—it’s about staying present, staying humble, and staying open to learning, even when the lesson comes from someone younger across the table.

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

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Mission Log
Today’s lesson is simple: trust the process, celebrate others’ wins, and don’t underestimate the wisdom sitting across from you.

Thank you for walking with me. May you carry a little peace, a little patience, and a little gratitude into your quiet moments today. 🖖

Waking Up in a New Neighborhood

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Waking Up in a New Neighborhood

Stardate 01.31.2026

I know the feeling of being new in a neighborhood.

Not the kind with a welcome mat and a borrowed ladder.
The quieter kind. The place where you show up without history, without familiarity, and without knowing whether anyone will notice you’re there at all.

That’s where I find myself right now.

It’s a strange mix of vulnerability and excitement—standing on a new street, holding the same tools I’ve always carried, wondering if they’ll still be enough.

What surprised me most wasn’t the new environment.

It was being noticed.

Someone slowed down long enough to really read.
Not a drive-by nod.
Not a generic response.

A genuine welcome. The kind that says, I see you.

That feeling is exhilarating.

But it’s also familiar.

I’ve walked into new spaces before.

I once wrote 2,500 love letters to my wife, one at a time, describing what lived in my heart. No audience. No applause. Just the quiet discipline of showing up for love.

Later, I wrote about my dad’s final 35 days. That wasn’t a project. That was presence. Grief doesn’t ask for polish—it asks for honesty.

And then there were the blog posts.
More than 6,000 now.

Written early.
Written quietly.
Written without any promise they’d land where they were meant to.

Still, I showed up.

Not because it always felt good.

Feelings are fleeting. They come and go like weather.

Calling is different.

Calling doesn’t ask how you feel.
It asks whether you’ll return tomorrow.

That’s what keeps me showing up now. Not excitement. Not validation. Something deeper. A quiet certainty that this is what I’m meant to do—whether the street is crowded or empty.

Rain or shine, I’m here.

There’s something sacred about consistency when no one is watching. Something grounding about keeping the porch light on even when the road is quiet.

I’m grateful for new places.
Grateful for kind neighbors.
Grateful for the reminder that being seen is a gift—but being faithful is the work.

“Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
— Galatians 6:9

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Captain’s Addendum 🖖

Bones: “You ever notice, Spock, how some folks only show up when the crowd’s watching?”
Spock: “Indeed, Doctor. Consistency appears most revealing when observation is minimal.”
Bones: “Guess that’s when you find out who you really are.”

Michael: I’ve learned that the truest work happens when there’s no applause. Showing up anyway—that’s where calling takes root.

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

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Mission Log

This morning, I’m at peace.

Still walking.
Still writing.
Still committed to getting one percent better.

May you live long.
May you prosper in purpose.
And may you walk boldly in divine love. 🖖

Extended Family Member Joins Military

Stardate 01.30.2026

Some family stories stretch across borders, generations, and choices that aren’t always easy to explain in a single sitting.

Years ago, my cousin Mark Mulligan made a decision to leave the familiar behind and seek a new life south of the border. If you’ve read his book, The Three Miracles, you already know that love was found there—and that love came at a cost. Tragedy followed. Growth followed too.

What matters today isn’t the full story. Some chapters deserve privacy. Some journeys are best honored without exposition.

What I can share is this: Mark and his family raised a son in another country who chose, of his own free will, to return to his father’s roots and serve.

That choice deserves recognition.

To willingly raise your hand and say I will go—knowing the cost—is no small thing. The ultimate sacrifice isn’t only made on a battlefield; it begins with the decision to stand for something larger than yourself.

So today, with pride and gratitude, I want to say:

¡Felicidades, Marcos! Congratulations.

We see you.
We honor your courage.
We are grateful for your willingness to serve others—even at great personal risk.

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
— John 15:13

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Captain’s Addendum 🖖

Bones: “Spock, I’ve never understood how someone can knowingly step into danger for people they’ve never met.”
Spock: “Service, Doctor, is often the purest expression of values instilled long before the uniform is worn.”
Bones: “Guess that makes it a family legacy, not just a career.”

Michael: I’ve learned that values travel farther than geography. When they’re lived faithfully, they find their way home—sometimes through the next generation.

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

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Today, I’m grateful—for family, for courage, and for those willing to stand watch while the rest of us sleep.

May you live long.
May you prosper in purpose.

And may you walk boldly in divine love. 🖖

An Odd Year Ahead (Revisited)

 

An Odd Year Ahead (Revisited)

Stardate: 12.27.2012 — Reflections for Today

As I look back sixteen years, I can still feel the anticipation I carried into 2013. I called it an odd year back then—not because the calendar said so, but because something deeper felt unsettled. The world seemed tilted. Familiar patterns were shifting. Certainty felt harder to come by.

Funny thing is… that feeling doesn’t belong to 2012 alone.

In my first years of blogging, I centered my writing around three anchors: faith, hope, and love. If those were the bricks of this little corner of the internet, then I believed perseverance would be the mortar—the quiet strength holding everything together when pressure came.

I still believe that.

Perseverance has never been about never falling down.
It’s always been about getting back up.

Back then, I made a promise: to show up each morning with a fresh story—served simply, honestly, and drawn from lived experience. My words borrowed heavily from ancient wisdom, especially when life landed a heavy blow. When the count began, Scripture became my corner coach, calling me back to my feet.

Not because the fight was easy.
But because standing mattered.

That same truth applies now.

When the world feels upside down, perseverance isn’t loud. It’s faithful. It’s choosing to stand again—grounded not in headlines or fear, but in something sturdier and eternal.

This passage guided me then, and it still does now:

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms… And after you have done everything, to stand.”
— Ephesians 6:10–13

Scripture quoted from the New International Version (NIV).

Standing doesn’t mean we aren’t weary.
It means we’re not finished.

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Captain’s Addendum 🖖

Bones: “You know, Spock, humans keep acting surprised when hard seasons return.”
Spock: “Doctor, history indicates turbulence is not an anomaly—it is a constant.”
Michael: “Guess perseverance is just learning to stand without pretending the wind isn’t there.”

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Mission Log

Status: Still standing
Lesson: Perseverance outlasts odd years
Course Correction: Faith first, fear last

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

I’m grateful for the early days that shaped my voice,
for the odd years that tested it,
and for the steady grace that keeps calling us to rise again.

May you find strength to stand today—
even if all you can do is stand quietly.

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

Another Showdown on the Tennis Courts Coming Up

Stardate 01.28.2026

I try to keep my life guided by a simple plan:

God first.
Family second.
Work third.

People sometimes ask where tennis fits into that order. Pickleball usually comes up too, since I enjoy that as well—though it’s been on the back burner lately. The answer is simple: everything I do is meant to honor my Creator, and giving God my best time slot matters deeply to me.

Family comes next, very close behind. And if there’s ever a conflict between the two, God wins. I know people who order their priorities differently, but in my experience, clarity about what matters most brings peace—and often better outcomes.

That clarity was tested recently.

Our men’s 55+ tennis team is short players for a match on the first Sunday in February. The start time was pushed later in the day to accommodate a teammate who worships faithfully every Sunday morning. My captain is doing his best to make sure all of us get our two match minimum in order to be eligible for post season play.

At the same time, I was asked to be available for our next team match.

Once I worked out how to worship with my family on Saturday evening, I reached out to my boss at my day job to see if my schedule could shift. He said yes. God gets the golden hour at sunset on Saturday, I get to contribute to our early morning golden hour at my day job and then I will be on the courts after a short shift.  

God first.
Family second.
Work third.
Tennis earns an honorable fourth.

Both teams are still on winning streaks, and if things continue to go well, we’ll have an opportunity to defend our state championship and move on to regional competition this summer. A win on Sunday locks in first place with one more match to go.

My greatest challenge right now is time. We also have big plans to travel to Europe in September, so I’m learning—again—to take things one day at a time.

I’m grateful they still let me onto the courts.
Grateful for understanding teammates and leadership.
Grateful for the ability to show up at all.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
— Matthew 6:33

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Captain’s Addendum 🖖

Bones: “Spock, even Starfleet officers don’t juggle this many schedules.”
Spock: “Doctor, prioritization reduces chaos. The captain’s logic is sound.”

Michael: I’m learning that when priorities are clear, decisions feel lighter—even when life is full.

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Mission Log

Status: Season ongoing
Objective: Honor God, serve family, support the team
Lesson: Order creates peace

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Thank you for walking alongside me.

May today unfold with clarity.
May your priorities bring you rest.
And may gratitude meet you wherever you pause.

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