Taxes are Complete and Accepted

Stardate 04.14.2026

I came home from my day job yesterday and told my wife I needed to lock myself in my home office until the taxes were done.

She smiled, made me dinner, and gave me the space to do what needed to be done.

I sat down at my laptop with one goal: finish this in one sitting.

No distractions. No wandering thoughts. No “I’ll do it later.”

Just me, the screen, and the quiet determination to close a loop that had been hanging open for too long.

When the confirmation came through that both the federal and state returns were accepted, I felt something deeper than relief. I felt lighter. Clearer. As if mental shelf space had been freed up for better things.

There is a unique peace that comes from doing what is hard and necessary.

And now that this assignment is complete, my attention turns to something creative and life-giving: building a DIY folding workbench for the garage. That’s the reward. Not because I “earned” fun, but because finishing responsibilities creates room for joy.

That’s a lesson I’m still learning.

Here’s the good news for anyone who believes they can’t take on new projects because life feels overwhelming: if I can do this, anyone can.

For a long time, my own thoughts were my biggest obstacle. Self-limiting beliefs whispered that tasks were bigger than they really were. That I didn’t have the focus. That I would procrastinate. That I would mess it up.

But something has been changing.

My brain is slowly becoming an ally instead of an adversary.

Whether it’s filing taxes, building cabinets, or designing a folding workbench, the process is surprisingly the same: sit down, begin, and keep going until it’s done.

No drama. No overthinking. Just steady movement.

I’ll admit — this tax deadline was closer than I would prefer. That’s part of the growth still in progress. I’m learning to give myself more margin, more breathing room, more time to complete important things without the pressure of the clock ticking loudly in my ear.

That’s where the “one percent better” comes in.

Not perfection. Progress.

One small adjustment at a time.

This Saturday, after my morning cardio tennis workout, I’ll be in the garage building that folding workbench. And I’ll enjoy it more because I know I didn’t ignore what needed to be done first.

There is a rhythm to a healthy life:

Responsibility.
Relief.
Reward.

And it starts by doing the next right thing in front of you.

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

Sometimes “doing good” looks less like grand gestures and more like finishing your taxes.

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

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Captain’s Addendum

Spock: “Captain, it appears the completion of administrative duties has resulted in a notable increase in morale.”
Bones: “Imagine that, Spock. Turns out doing what you’ve been avoiding feels better than avoiding it.”

I’m learning that peace often waits on the other side of the tasks I don’t feel like doing. One percent better, one finished responsibility at a time.

Mission Log complete.

Grateful for another day to grow, to build, and to keep moving forward.

Preparations Underway for the Next Project

Stardate 04.13.2026

Now that the basement shelf project is complete, my mind is already building something new for our one-car garage.

That project required four large exterior panels, but I only needed three. Because I combined two kits, I ended up with a bonus piece. Instead of letting it sit in the corner, I have a plan. I’m going to add hinges and mount it to one of the side walls. When folded down, it will create a generous workspace. When folded up, it will disappear neatly against the wall.

Little by little, the garage is turning into a place where I can step in and create when time allows. A quiet corner. A simple man cave. A place to work with my hands and clear my mind.

But the real lesson forming in me right now isn’t about hinges or panels.

It’s about time.

I’ve heard friends say, “I just don’t have any free time.” If you’re raising a family, I understand that completely. If you’re in my age group and finding yourself in retirement years, it can still feel strangely true. The concept of “free time” can feel foreign, even when the calendar looks open.

What I’m learning is that free time doesn’t appear. It has to be gently created.

I’m teaching my brain to fine-tune each day so small pockets of usable time begin to show up. Nothing dramatic. Nothing overwhelming. Just small adjustments that slowly make room for the things that matter.

So far, so good.

If you want to become more efficient with your time, the key is to make very small adjustments. Too much change too quickly creates internal resistance. Your own brain will push back if it feels like its familiar routine is under attack.

That lesson became very clear to me this week.

While I was focused on the shelf project and learning to work with hinges, something quietly slipped under the radar: tax preparation. I’m honestly surprised to realize I’m now only two days away from filing my federal and state returns.

So today, I’m dedicating my created “free time” to finishing and filing those returns.

And here’s the reward: once they’re done, I’ve already scheduled a block of time on my calendar to design the fold-down work table for the garage.

My brain is cooperating now. It no longer sees hinges as a threat. The comfort zone has expanded. What once felt unfamiliar now feels possible. And because of that, it’s giving me permission to try something new.

Little by little, I’m noticing that growth doesn’t happen by force. It happens by gentle, steady permission.

“For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.” — 1 Corinthians 14:33

Peace shows up when we stop trying to rush change and start allowing it to unfold one small step at a time.

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

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Captain’s Addendum

Spock: “Captain, it appears you are not managing time. You are managing resistance.”

Bones: “He’s right, Michael. You’re not fighting your brain anymore… you’re working with it.”

And that’s exactly what this season feels like. Not pushing harder. Not doing more. Just making small, peaceful adjustments that open the door for steady progress.

Mission Log complete.

Grateful for the quiet art of making room for what matters.

Honey Do List Basement Project Complete

Stardate 04.12.2026

If I had to summarize my high school wood shop experience in one word, it would be incomplete.

Every assignment came with a deadline. I watched classmates move confidently through joints and hinges while I stood there trying to make sense of instructions that felt written in another language. My wood shop teacher showed me a lot of grace. He was also my tennis coach, so he knew my strengths lived on a different court. Still, those unfinished projects left a mark. For years, I quietly carried the belief that building things with my hands simply wasn’t “my thing.”

Because of that, I avoided projects that pushed me outside my comfort zone. If something required tools, measurements, and mechanical thinking, I was quick to find a reason to step aside.

Until this basement shelf project.

This one had thirty-two hinges. Four drawers. Measurements that had to be right. Pieces that had to line up. There were moments when I could almost hear that old wood shop classroom whispering, You’re not good at this.

But something different happened this time.

I stayed with it.

One hinge at a time.
One drawer at a time.
One small correction at a time.

No rushing. No quitting. Just quiet persistence.

Last night, when my wife walked into the basement and saw the finished shelves, the look on her face told me everything I needed to know. I didn’t need a grade. I didn’t need applause. I just needed that moment to realize that the story I had been telling myself for decades was no longer true.

I wasn’t “bad at this.”

I was simply unfinished.

And unfinished things, given enough patience, can still become beautiful.

There was a little bonus attached to this victory. The store where I purchased the shelves was offering an 11% rebate. I mailed that form in on the very first day. When that rebate arrives, it will go toward tools for what I’m now calling my dream project.

More on that later.

For today, I’m just celebrating this quiet win.

It’s never too late to rewrite an old story.
It’s never too late to learn something new.
It’s never too late to finish what we once thought we couldn’t.

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

Some victories aren’t loud.
Some are built slowly, hinge by hinge, drawer by drawer, belief by belief.

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

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Captain’s Addendum

Spock: “Fascinating, Captain. Evidence suggests your limitation was never mechanical ability, but an outdated self-assessment.”

Bones: “In plain English, Spock… the man finally stopped believing an old lie.”

I smiled when I heard them. Because that’s exactly what happened in that basement. I didn’t just build shelves. I dismantled a decades-old belief about myself.

Mission Log complete.

Grateful for small victories that quietly change big stories.

Mission Accomplished

Mission Accomplished

Stardate 04.11.2026

Yesterday, Miss Joni completed the delivery of 50 coloring books, 50 packs of crayons, and 50 hand-made bracelets to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital.

It happened to be the very same day our astronauts returned safely home from their journey to the moon and back. I smiled at the timing. One of the illustrations inside the coloring book shows a child dreaming of becoming an astronaut after healing is complete. Two very different missions. One shared thread: hope for the future.

The first photo from the day captures Miss Joni standing in front of the hospital beside the concierge who receives and distributes deliveries. It’s a quiet, beautiful moment. No spotlight. No ceremony. Just faithful people doing meaningful work for children they may never meet.

Later, my joy doubled.

A friend shared a picture of Helen M. Swearson autographing Where in the World is Wilson? while on a break from her day job. There she was, taking ordinary time in an ordinary place to do something extraordinary for someone else. The second photo carries that spirit — a reminder that missions are often carried forward in the small in-between moments of daily life.

Now that the logistics are complete and the coloring books are making their way into patients’ hands, I can already see ways to make the next mission more seamless. Each step teaches something. Each delivery becomes a little smoother than the last. One percent better.

None of this happens alone.

It is carried by supporters, encouragers, and prayer warriors who stand behind the scenes. People who give, who share, who believe, who lift these efforts up when no one else is watching.

Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.

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

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

Captain’s Addendum

Spock: “Fascinating, Captain. The scale of the mission is small, yet the impact appears… immeasurable.”

Bones: “That’s because you’re measuring with logic again. The heart doesn’t work in units, Spock.”

Michael: The more I do this, the more I see that meaningful work rarely looks dramatic. It looks like Miss Joni at a front desk. It looks like Helen signing a book on her lunch break. It looks like ordinary people choosing to do one small good thing at a time.

Mission Log: Another small mission, carried out with big love.

Have a great day.

Drawer #3 Before Sunrise Today

Stardate 04/10/2026

It’s just after 5:00am as I write this.

I’ve already been awake for an hour. Like most mornings, the first part of my day began with prayer and meditation, followed by a quick look at my sleep report. I pay attention to deep sleep and REM because they tell me something important: whether the way I’m living is supporting peace… or quietly working against it.

So far, so good.

That matters to me because my workload is on the high side, and I’ve learned the hard way that inner peace doesn’t survive long when I ignore the signals.

I’m also happy to report progress on the number one item on the honey-do list.

If you’ve been following along, you know there was a difference of opinion about who should build the shelves in the basement. That difference of opinion was rooted in past experiences. Fair experiences. Honest experiences.

What I’m realizing now is that this whole shelf project is actually an experiment disguised as a home improvement task.

I’m trying to prove something — not to my wife, but to myself.

I’m learning that when I gently step outside my comfort zone and give myself permission to learn new things without pressure, I can accomplish far more than my own brain thinks I can handle.

My brain can be stubborn.

When there’s tension or unfinished business in my head, it often shows up during sleep. That’s where the real battle happens. I used to think the solution was to push harder during the day. Now I’m discovering the solution is to cooperate with my own mind instead of fighting it.

I’m learning how to team up with my brain.

Less tension.
More patience.
One small task at a time.

Once this story is scheduled for release at 8:08am Pacific Time, I’ll be in the basement working on drawer #3. I’ve given myself one hour for the task.

If I were a professional cabinet maker, this might take ten minutes.

I am not a professional cabinet maker.

I am a man learning to be comfortable in the “uncomfort zone.”

When the hour is up, I stop. No frustration. No overrun. No pressure.

This is an experiment I can’t lose.

If the drawer is complete in one hour, I win.
If it’s not complete, I still win.

Because the real goal isn’t the drawer.

The real goal is learning to live peacefully while doing things that once felt intimidating.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.” — John 14:27

Peace isn’t the absence of work.
It’s the presence of calm while doing the work.

And that’s new for me.

I can already sense that when this shelf project is complete, there will be a conversation with my wife about what comes next. If this experiment continues to go well, I have a feeling it may lead to some interesting projects in the future.

But that’s a story for another day.

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

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Captain’s Addendum

Spock: “Captain, it appears you are conducting an experiment on yourself.”

Bones: “I’ve seen worse patients, Spock. At least this one’s learning.”

Michael: “Gentlemen, I’m finally figuring out how to work with my own mind instead of against it.”

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Grateful for another quiet morning, one drawer at a time.

Goal for Today: Build One Drawer

Stardate 04.09.2026

Now that the first bulk order of coloring books has been handed off to Miss Joni and her team of student volunteers, I can turn my attention back to the honey-do list.

The basement wall-to-wall shelving project is moving forward. Most of the shelves are in place. Yesterday, I completed the first of four drawers.

What’s interesting is how this project is teaching me something I didn’t expect.

Small daily goals are working better for me than trying to do too much at once.

At the beginning, this project felt overwhelming. Measurements, materials, tools, and steps all piled up in my head at once. It felt like something that would take forever to complete. But when I reduced the goal to something simple — build one drawer — everything changed.

One drawer is manageable. One drawer is clear. One drawer is doable.

And one drawer, repeated four times, becomes a finished cabinet.

I woke up especially encouraged this morning because I hit a new high mark on my sleep report. Deep rest. Strong REM. A clear mind. There’s something about waking up rested that makes steady progress feel not only possible, but enjoyable.

There’s no pressure to build another drawer today. My wife even offered to let me slow down and take a break. But this isn’t about pressure. I simply enjoy creating. I enjoy learning. I enjoy watching something take shape that didn’t exist before.

This project is giving me an opportunity to practice patience in a very practical way.

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

Sometimes “doing good” looks like serving others.

Sometimes it looks like building a drawer.

Both require the same thing: steady faithfulness in small steps.

I have plenty of time this morning to complete another drawer before heading to my day job. No rush. No stress. Just quiet progress.

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

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Captain’s Addendum

Spock: “Captain, progress appears statistically inevitable when the task is reduced to its simplest component.”

Bones: “In plain English, that means stop trying to build the whole thing at once.”

Michael: “One drawer at a time, gentlemen.”

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Grateful for another day to build, learn, and move forward.

Logistics 101

Stardate 04.08.2026

Sometimes the best way to handle complicated details is to pretend you’re a fifth grader.

Not to simplify the mission — but to simplify the steps.

Today’s story is inspired by my accountability partner, Miss Joni, who has a heart for serving children. She doesn’t just serve. She teaches. She models. She invites others into the work.

I saw her yesterday when she stopped by my day job to fulfill the kids’ order for items headed to a local food pantry. Those same kids who held a bake sale because they wanted to help children they will likely never meet.

Later today, I’ll see her again. This time, I’ll hand off the first bulk order: 50 coloring books and 50 packs of crayons.

Because of Miss Joni, there is now a clear path for getting these supplies into the hands of patients at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital.

And here’s what struck me.

What felt complicated in my head became very simple in her hands.

Order.
Receive.
Deliver.
Document.
Repeat.

That’s it.

A fifth grader could follow that.

And that’s the point.

I now have a working template for logistics — a step-by-step process for handling bulk donations, from ordering to distribution to accounting. Not because I designed it, but because I watched someone who serves with clarity instead of clutter.

It doesn’t get any better than kids helping kids.

An honorable mention goes to Kiwanis International for seeing what these students were doing and multiplying their efforts. What started as a bake sale is turning into a model that can be repeated again and again.

Miss Joni plans to share photos once the books reach the children’s hospital. I’m looking forward to that moment — not for recognition, but for confirmation that simple steps, done faithfully, make a real difference.

“For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.” — 1 Corinthians 14:33

Peace often looks like simplicity.

Clarity.

Order.

And sometimes, pretending you’re a fifth grader so you don’t overcomplicate what God is trying to do through willing hands.

Near the end of days like this, I find myself smiling at how something that once felt like a fog of logistics has turned into a clear path forward.

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

Captain’s Addendum

Spock: “Captain, the process appears almost… elementary.”

Bones: “I’ve seen grown men complicate a glass of water. This? This makes sense.”

Michael: “Sometimes the smartest plan is the one a child could follow.”

May you live long and prosper.

Have a great day.