Becoming Hinged

Stardate 04.16.2026

The garage workshop project is moving right along.

In the first round, I came up with what I thought was the perfect solution for creating workspace in our one-car garage. Two heavy-duty hinges and two pairs of piano hinges arrived just in time for installation before men’s tennis. I was excited. The plan looked good on paper. The tools were ready. The vision was clear.

Then reality showed up.

After drilling and installing the piano hinges, I discovered a design flaw. The tabletop needs to pull away from the wall when the heavy-duty hinges are unlocked. That means the piano hinges can’t stay. I’ll need to order two more heavy-duty hinges so all four hinges work together properly.

I also struggled to connect to the studs behind the drywall. Either I’m slightly off in finding them, or there’s a sizable gap between the drywall and the studs. The solution? Mount four 2x4s on the outside of the drywall and attach the hinges to those instead.

Not exactly what I planned.
Exactly what I needed to learn.

The extra hinges arrive tomorrow. Saturday—after cardio tennis—will be installation day.

But here’s the good news.

Those piano hinges are not wasted. They will be perfect for my dream project later on. Nothing I ordered was a mistake. Nothing I did was pointless. Everything is simply finding its proper place in the timeline.

And that’s when it hit me.

This whole process is what becoming hinged looks like.

There was a time in my life when I felt unhinged—running from fire to fire, putting out whatever emergency was closest, trying to survive the day. No structure. No pause. No margin. Just reaction.

Now the fire trucks are parked.

I’m not reacting anymore. I’m building.

Slowly. Thoughtfully. Patiently.

This didn’t happen overnight. There is still work to do. But the outside work happening in my garage is a reflection of what’s happening inside my mind. I’m learning how things connect. I’m learning how support must be anchored to something solid. I’m learning that sometimes the first design reveals what the second design needs to be.

Hinged is better than unhinged.

A hinge allows movement, but it also provides stability. It creates flexibility without chaos. It permits motion without losing connection to the foundation.

That’s what I’m after in this season of life.

Not rigidity.
Not frenzy.
But steady, supported movement.

Scripture says:

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

Order doesn’t mean perfection. It means alignment. It means things working the way they were designed to work. It means the right hinge in the right place at the right time.

I’m grateful for yesterday’s mistakes. They taught me more than a perfect install ever could.

And I’m grateful that what didn’t fit today will fit perfectly tomorrow.

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

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Captain’s Addendum

Spock: “It appears, Captain, that improper hinges lead to improper function.”

Bones: “Translation? You put the wrong hardware in the wrong place.”

Spock: “A common human experience, Doctor.”

Michael smiled. Sometimes the lesson isn’t about avoiding mistakes. It’s about learning how to realign when something doesn’t fit. Becoming hinged takes patience, humility, and a willingness to adjust the plan without abandoning the mission.

May you find the right hinges for the season you’re in.
May you feel anchored, supported, and steady today.

DIY Garage Shelf Project Happens Today

Stardate 04.15.2026

Today is project day.

I’m genuinely excited to build a fold-down shelf in the garage using a leftover panel from our basement project. The space is already cleared. The vision is set. And the heavy-duty hinges are scheduled to arrive sometime this afternoon.

It’s amazing how motivation grows when preparation is already in place.

This entire project will come in under fifty dollars. I’m using heavy-duty folding shelf brackets that lock when extended, paired with a 12-inch piano hinge across the center for added strength and stability. When I’m finished using it, the table will fold down neatly against the wall and disappear from view.

Simple. Functional. Purposeful.

And yet, the most challenging part of this whole project has nothing to do with tools, hinges, or hardware.

The hardest part is convincing myself that I’m capable of doing it.

That realization stopped me in my tracks this morning.

For years, I’ve hesitated to start projects like this because of a quiet voice that whispers, “You don’t know enough. You’ll mess it up. This is for people who are more skilled than you.”

But that voice is losing its influence.

I’m becoming a firm believer in the power of one-percent improvement. Not dramatic leaps. Not overnight mastery. Just steady progress and the willingness to begin.

I’ve noticed something: the line between success and failure is often thinner than we think. Success doesn’t belong to the most talented. It belongs to the ones who stay in the game long enough to learn.

I no longer fear failure the way I once did. If I measure the board wrong, I’ll adjust. If I need to reposition a hinge, I’ll fix it. If it doesn’t work the first time, I’ll figure it out.

Because staying in the process is what matters.

Today’s shelf is more than a garage project. It’s a small act of defiance against self-limiting beliefs. It’s proof that I can start something new without waiting to feel perfectly prepared.

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

Sometimes committing the work simply means picking up the drill and beginning.

Once the rebate check from our basement shelving project arrives, I plan to invest in a few power tools for an even bigger dream project that’s coming soon. One step leads to another. One project builds confidence for the next.

That’s how growth really happens.

Is there something you’ve been putting off because you’re not sure you can do it?

A project. A conversation. A change you’ve been meaning to make?

Why not begin today?

You don’t have to know everything. You just have to start.

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

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Captain’s Addendum

Spock: “Captain, the probability of success increases significantly once the project is actually started.”
Bones: “Funny how that works. Hard to finish something you never begin, isn’t it?”

I’m learning that courage often looks like taking the first small step before I feel fully ready. One percent better. One project at a time.

Grateful for the chance to build, to learn, and to grow today.

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.