Grace Under Pressure

 The best way to explain 'grace under pressure' has to do with courage.  Here goes:  It's courage that comes from refusing to let fear dictate one's actions.  Does that resonate within your soul?  Does it make your heart skip a beat?  Maybe you're attempting to distinguish what makes your heart skip a beat.  Why?  Because I believe it may be difficult to understand the source of your heart palpitations.  It could be fear or it could be grace.  It could be a combination of the two.  What I do believe is when you display grace under pressure you tend to draw others into the picture.  Grace is the umbrella you offer to others when it's stormy.

Once again, I'm asking for your prayers if you happen to be a praying type.  Please pray for me to display grace under pressure.  I'm ready to hold the umbrella in the storm.  I'm willing to face what's ahead.  The 'buckle your seatbelt' sign is flashing.  Stay tuned.  Have a great day.

Inanimate Friends Inspire Creativity

 

I dug this photo out of my photo archives yesterday in preparation for what's ahead.  The hand gesture I'm making is meant to be a blessing for anyone who reads this.  As for my inanimate friends, they have been with me for a long time.  I needed a way to share my life with you while keeping my real family out of the spot light.  Little did I know that a 'Castaway Volleyball' would fall out of the sky and dribble into my life spurring what will become an Irish twin book to my latest creation, "Live Long and Prosper."

There was a misfire on my original book launch due to a death in the family.  Now it's time to get out of my basement and interact with the real world.  I'm thankful for the inanimate friends who kept me company while I was in solitary confinement.  If they could talk, they would have some fascinating stories to tell.  See you soon.  Have a great day.

Final Day of Preparation for Gratitude Book Tour

It's a good thing I have a day off from my day job today.  Besides morning Pickleball and evening tennis, I'm making sure everything on the to do is handled for the official launch of "Live Long and Prosper."  I'm starting with a small gathering of family and friends on Sunday.  This is a great opportunity to thank the folks who encouraged me to keep going during some tough times.  

If you are the praying type, I'm asking you to please keep me and my family in your prayers during this critical time in our lives.  I realize I'm walking a tight rope here sharing my life with you while also honoring family confidentiality.  Part of the reason for keeping this first launch party off the grid is to allow my family privacy.  There will be many opportunities to engage publicly in the near future.  May 1 is when the fundraising begins at my day job for Children's Miracle Network.  Stay tuned for updates.  I hope our paths cross soon.  Have a great day.

Where's the Beef?

 

Our family is testing the idea of local grass fed beef this week.  We are splitting a cow with a couple of other families who desire beef raised on grass that is also antibiotic-hormone free.  Roehrkassemeat has been on our town square since 1937.  This is our first time going big with a custom order.  We don't really know the best way to have our meat cut so my wife is stopping in this morning for guidance.  Stay tuned.  Have a great day.

Sleeping in the Blue Zone

 I made a last minute call to add a sleep section in "Live Long and Prosper" after overcoming my own self doubts.  Part of me felt like I didn't have enough data to offer anything of value.  The good news is I'm getting better at sleeping and the results are the best ever.  Last night was all "blue zone" meaning I hit the targets in every category.  

In the mental recovery category, I measured an all-time high of 92%.  This is because I recorded one hour and 44 minutes of REM sleep.  This is partly due to reaching five cycles of sleep during the night.  This is much needed because I'm going through another time in my life when I need all the help I can get.  When I'm in the "red zone" I know without having to see the feedback from my smart watch.  The red zone indicates when I blow it in a category.  While it may be true we don't control how long we are in the REM stage or in deep sleep, it is true we can set ourselves up for success by setting up good sleep habits.  

One thing I know for sure is I'm going to be one the first people standing in line to order a smart ring from Samsung when this product is released most likely in the summer.  Let me know how you're doing with your sleep.  Make sure you have a way to accurately measure the quality of your sleep if you're seeking a way to improve.  There is nothing better when it comes to human performance than sleeping consistently in the blue zone.  Have a great day.

Birkat Hamazon

 My Jewish friend, Boris, told me he is often asked to lead Birkat Hamazon.  He is a direct descendant of Aaron, the brother of Moses.  Since the Jewish population accounts for only .2% of the world population, and members of the Cohanim are estimated to be about 5% of the Jewish population, it is extremely rare to meet someone like my friend, Boris.  

DNA tests confirm that 98% of Jewish men who self-identify as Cohanim carry the Cohanim Modal Haplotype (CMN).  This Y-chromosome traces back 3,000 years all the way to Aaron.  I find this fascinating.  

If you made it this far in today's story, maybe you're asking, "What is Birkat Hamazon?"  The simple answer is "Grace after meals."  Moses knew that when people have full bellies it's really easy to get complacent.  It's easy to forget about God.  The Cohanim were asked to be in charge of the prayers because they were part of the only tribe that was able to avoid temptation when Moses was on the mountain receiving the 10 Commandments.  The tribe of Levi where the Cohanim come from is the only tribe that did not receive land.  They have a higher calling – to help their people never forget God's grace, especially in good times.  

The world seems to be upside down.  We need more people like my friend, Boris, who are willing to pray for a healthy planet, loving parents and family, and a sufficient livelihood.  My prayer is that God hears the prayers of the Jewish people and that one day they will be free from religious persecution.  Have a great day.

Tennis Begins at 8am Today

 My tennis team is getting close to the end of regular season play with a team match in Waterloo today.  My singles match has been defaulted by our opponents due to a lack of players so I'm changing gears and heading to indoor tennis drills at 8am.  The other side also conceded the #3 doubles match for the same reason which means we need at least one more win to capture an important victory in pursuit of bragging rights for top team in Iowa.  That's why I'm drilling before joining my team in Waterloo as a spectator.  This group of players is inspiring me to be my best.

Good luck to my teammates today.  Have a great day.