Dear Future Self

Have you ever considered writing a letter to your future self?  This simple act can define your road map to your destiny.  I'm taking a moment during my blog writing to do this today hoping to hold myself accountable to what's ahead, realizing there are things I can control and things I cannot.  This letter is meant to work on the things that can be managed with discipline and proper planning.  If this exercise may be of benefit to you, give it a try.

Dear Future Self,

I'm writing you today to let you know I care about our future enough to make a plan that involves a life free of debt.  You and I both know how many times we failed to achieve our goals in the past.  I'm writing you today to share the details of the plan to eliminate all debt.

The car accident we survived on 2/5/18 is still fresh on my mind today, especially since the medical bills are nearly paid off as of this writing.  There are two payments to go and this debt will be in the rear view mirror before this year (2018) comes to a conclusion

My hope for you, future self, is that when you open this letter on 12/31/21, you will be forever free of all debts, including our mortgage.  I'm confident our household maintained the discipline necessary to achieve this.  By the way, I hope you appreciate the healthiest body I could give you with my food choices of mostly fruits, veggies, nuts, beans, seeds, water and wine.  I factored in the cost of these food choices in our family budget and did my best to stay away from the cheap processed foods that appear to be hurting so many others.

I trust that when you read this letter you will be smiling.  Give your wife a big hug and go out and celebrate.  Raise a toast to your credit card company because they did something for you that few ever benefit from.  They paid you money every year without you giving them one dime of interest and you used that money to pay off our debts sooner rather than later.  Way to go.  Live long and prosper.

Michael

Turning the Page on Mortgage Pay Off

I'm combining my writing talents with my debt reduction ideas to reach our ultimate family goal – Zero Mortgage and Zero Debt.  As of today, there are 39 remaining chapters which are also calendar months.  I'm journaling each month until this pet project is complete.  The payoff is not only a financial one, but an emotional one.  Freedom from debt doesn't have to be some obscure dream without any windows.  It can be achieved with proper planning, hard labor and an attitude that you can't be stopped.  I will be sharing more about this journey along the way.  Have a great day.

Is the Impossible Possible?

Be careful what you label as impossible.  Your brain may become your own worst enemy.  Tell it you can't do it and your task becomes impossible.  Tell your brain you have a chance and it will help you find a solution.  The impossible comes into play.  It becomes possible.  Never give up.  Find a way to win.  Have a great day.

Choose Love

There are two choices – to love or not to love.  The first choice includes forgiveness.  It also includes sacrifice.  The second choice may not appear to have strings but it has consequences.  Choose wisely.  I believe love is one of the most powerful forces in the universe.  My recommendation is to choose love.  Have a great day.

Be Kind

Somebody in your life may be feeling irrelevant today.  Your act of kindness may tip the scales for them.  Show them you care and that they matter.  Have a great day.

In it, not of it

There are many similarities around us today that St. Paul faced when he spread the Good News.  He encouraged followers of Jesus to be "in the world, not of it."  This is no easy task.  The world offers glitz, fame and fortune.  Jesus asks us to be living sacrifices.  He asks us to surrender.  He asks us to renew our minds.

One of my all-time favorite Bible verses is Revelations 21:5... "Behold, I make all things new."  And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."  These are living words, not of this world.  I feel like Jesus is looking me straight in the eye and asking me to share about all things new.  It's easier for me to do this when I think about what Jesus did for you and me by dying on the Cross.  He sacrificed everything because that's how much he loves us.  He wants us to renew our minds.  I know the secret to accomplishing this.  Ask Jesus to come into your heart.  He will take care of everything else, including renewing your mind.  When others see your transformation and ask what happened to you, tell them, "I'm in this world, not of it."  Have a great day.

Manage Your Risk for Diabetes

Diabetes runs in my family.  The National Institute of Diabetes recommends managing your risk of diabetes.  Here is a checklist:

• Manage your blood pressure
• Keep your weight within or near optimum range
• Get moderate exercise on most days
• Increase fiber and whole grains
• Reduce stress
• Eat a balanced diet
• See your physician or health care provider regularly

I take these suggestions seriously.  While I can't control certain risk factors, like being over age 45 or having a family history of diabetes, I'm doing everything in my power to avoid diabetes.  It's working.  My "food program" and active lifestyle are yielding good numbers when it comes to medical assessments.  My latest Hemoglobin A1c test result is 5.2 which is in the normal/ideal range.  When it comes to diabetes, you can manage your risk.  Get started today.  Have a great day.

A Season with a Purpose

My Men's 55+ tennis season begins today and this year we're dedicating all our matches to Dr. Fred Dietz, a beloved teammate who passed away recently.  He kept his battle with pancreatic cancer private.  Fred played tennis until the very end and told others his weight loss was due to a new diet.  Every time I put on my pink bandana, I will think of Fred and I will be reminded of my friends who are fighting cancer.  This is a season with a purpose.  I'm thankful for the opportunity to raise awareness about cancer.  Have a great day.

Be Bold and Focused

You have the power within you to light a fire when you focus your energy like a magnifying glass.  Light the fire.  Create an explosion of energy.  Be bold.  Show the world what you can do when you let go of your fears.  Have a great day.

Got Why?

Your "hows" need a "why" in order to achieve successful outcome after successful outcome.  Your "why" is the center of your universe.  It's your reason for your existence.  How does one find their "why"?  Ask yourself what you love to do.  Ask yourself if you're happy in your current situation.  Ask yourself what's missing in your life.  Your mission is to discover why you're here and then execute.

There are plenty of people in this world who want to push you in a certain direction because it works for them.  Unless your "why" matches their "why," you will find yourself getting lost.  You need to find your own purpose.  Commit to finding your "why" and then everything else will make sense.  Look within yourself.  Have a great day.

Where Strength Comes From

Never give up.  No matter how challenging your day may be or how bleak the outlook, there's always a way to win.  I know exactly where my strength comes from.  Philippians 4:13 is revealing.  Post this verse in a prominent place.  Have a great day.

When Nature Calls

Nature called earlier this week.  I'm glad I picked up the phone and answered.  The photo above is at Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota.  We visited relatives from my dad's side of the family.  A storm hit as our plane was landing but it didn't matter.  The sun came out near the end of dinner just in time to capture a lovely sunset on the waterfront.  I'm thankful Mother Nature was good to us this week and I'm thankful for all the quality time with my relatives.  Now it's time to get back to my regular routine at my day job.  My hope is that Mother Nature has me on speed dial.  There are plenty of adventures ahead and I'm always ready to answer when Nature calls.  Have a great day.

I Caught the Travel Bug

This is one bug I hope I never get over.  The older I get, the more the travel bug creeps in.  It's becoming a way of life.  My peers at my day job can recite my mantra word for word, "work less and travel more."  Perhaps that's what happens when you've been bitten by the travel bug.  It's spreading to other family members as well.  I have a feeling this virus may have a profound affect on the quality of my life.  Caution.  This bug is highly contagious.  First symptoms include the desire to be outdoors with Nature.  You may get the sudden urge to go camping.  Get plenty of rest and slow down.  Take it day by day.  Have a great day.

Seeking Refuge?

The Psalms are my place of refuge.  They are the living word of God blowing in the wind, swirling around us in times of need.  I discovered this verse stamped on a stone quarried in the Holy Land while in a gift shop in Wisconsin with my wife and sister.  Now Psalm 91:4 will be with me daily while I'm preparing for what's ahead.  The Bible is filled with morsels such as today's message.  May this bring you comfort and joy.  Have a great day.

Wilson on a Mission

Wilson may not appear to be up to much here in this picture.  He's on a roll.  His stardom is being tapped for a special purpose – cancer awareness.  He met two strangers from Lithuania yesterday while sitting on a park bench.  They wanted to know about the pink bandana.  Wilson never uses words to get the message out.  It's all about body language and his support team who speak on his behalf.  There's strength in numbers.  I handed Wilson over to the two ladies for a photo shot and they promised me they would pray for Wilson's intentions.  We're just getting started.  Have a great day.

Thankful for Family Time

It's rare when my wife and I have the same days off unless it's vacation time.  The stars are in alignment this weekend.  We're taking advantage of this opportunity to be away from our day jobs at the same time.  The added bonus for us is welcoming my sister to the Midwest for some fun together.  The sun is shining and the Fall weather is ideal for outdoor fun.  This is an amazing blessing to be visiting my sister.  Have a great day.

End of an Exciting Chapter

Climbing mountains isn't for everyone.  For me, it's a personal choice and a life-long pursuit.  The mountain I've been climbing these last four weeks is related to my day job.  I'm part of the "welcoming committee" tasked with spreading our culture to our new hires and to the people we serve in our community.  Despite challenging weather, we're on track to have a successful outcome when we roll our doors for the first time next month.


My sister is in town and she will be joining my wife and me for a dinner cruise on the Mississippi river tonight before we return home to my base camp.  I'm thankful for the new friends and for the opportunity to share my life on top of this mountain in Davenport.  Have a great day.

Gratitude or Entitlement?

It's a pendulum.  Gratitude is on one side, entitlement on the other. It's like the positive and negative terminals on your car battery.  When you feel yourself being pulled to the side of entitlement, you lose your ability to feel gratitude in your heart.  You lose positivity. 


I learned a long time ago the world owes me nothing.  Zero.  As unfair as life may be sometimes, I have this overwhelming sense of gratitude that I'm here.  I want my pendulum to swing over to the side of gratitude.  This is where I can see clearly all the blessings in my life.  How about you?  Gratitude or entitlement?  Have a great day.

Overcoming Challenging News

Your life seems perfect.  Everything is on cruise control.  Then it strikes.  The news hits you in the gut.  I've been there, done that more times than I would like to admit.  I do know one thing, the sun always comes out tomorrow.  It may be impossible to see in the dark clouds but it's there.  Clear skies are on the horizon.


The best way I know to overcome challenging news is be patient, remain calm and pray.  There are lessons between the lines in the story.  Don't allow the headlines to destroy your optimism.  Keep moving forward.  There are better days ahead.  Have a great day.

One List Complete, One to Go

The honey do list is officially complete.  I needed all three days off from my day job to do it.  Barbecuing.  Mowing.  Cleaning carpets.  Repairing broken items.  Checking in with our adult children.  Patient recovery observation.  Whew!  The good news is the patient is 100% free of polyps.  I'm cleared to return to my day job today and finish my work list in time to visit with my sister.  There is much to do during my final week on loan to our expansion city before settling back into my normal routine the following week.

I'm happy to report solving one of the greatest mysteries in the universe – patient billing.  It required a 3-way conversation with the billing department at the hospital and my health insurance company.  I listened while the other two parties dealt with my claims, one by one, dating all the way back to February.  It was like a Sci-fi thriller.  The call ended better than expected when I was told, "you don't owe anything today."

I'm thankful for all the people in my life who prayed for me and cheered for me to get better after my car accident.  I called my local insurance agent to thank him for his help getting my claims paid.  He's truly a miracle worker.  Now it's time to finish what I started in Davenport.  Have a great day.

Just Visiting

This year is going to be a record breaker for most hospital visits.  Today it's my wife's turn.  She's the patient and I'm the visitor.  It's colonoscopy time.  I'm on the ten year checkup plan and she's hoping for the same when she gets her results later today.  I'm thankful she cares enough about her health to go through this process.  The extra time off from my day job today is exactly what I need to complete the honey do list.  Have a great day.

A Birthday Shout Out to My Cousin, John

Happy birthday to my cousin, Dr. John Mulligan.  He came into my life two months and five days after I was born and we've been pretty much connected at the hip ever since.  I owe my good health to his wise food experiment he initiated when he was searching for ideas to help me with my sky rocketing blood pressure readings.  Although he specializes in putting patients to sleep during medical procedures, it's his talent for waking them up again that makes him so valuable as an anesthesiologist.  I'm happy for the wake up call he gave me.  It didn't happen in the hospital room.  It happened when he asked me to cut out foods with a label and stick with fruits, veggies, nuts, beans and seeds for 45 days. Water and wine were the only recommended fluids.  His experiment worked.

The best birthday present I can give my cousin is to share his experiment with others.  Friends and family are benefiting.  Happy birthday, cousin.  Enjoy your special day.  I promise to keep encouraging others to give your experiment a try.  Once enough volunteers agree to share their success with the experiment, I will publish something in your honor and pay you forward for all you've done to improve the quality of my life.  Thanks for being my inspiration for 58 years.  Happy birthday!  Have a great day.

How to Inspire Change

Permanent change requires one main ingredient – desire.  Force a person to make a change against his or her will and they will revert to their old ways once you're no longer around.  Inspire someone to try a new approach or idea and your odds of success increase dramatically.

I like to ask questions in order to determine satisfaction levels before introducing change.  The more dissatisfaction, the better the odds someone will give change a try.  Consider your new idea as bait on a fishing hook.  The bait is the question you ask and you're fishing for something others may desire.  Bait that lacks appeal keeps your fish from biting.  Change your bait often until you find the right question that inspires change.  Have a great day.

Family Time Starts Tonight

I apologize for my tardiness today.  My normal routine was disrupted and I delayed today's message until I returned home late this afternoon from a busy week out of town.  Family time begins in just a few minutes.  My wife and I are getting ready for a VIP visitor – my sister.  She will be visiting next week, just in time to witness the fall colors.  I'm really hoping the rain will finally subside.  It's been raining almost nonstop and all of the rivers are on the verge of flooding.  Please pray for those living near the river.  I'll be back on my regular blog time tomorrow.  Have a great day.

Rainy Day Ahead

The rivers around us are topping out and the rain continues.  I'm thankful for indoor tennis courts.  I took a beating from the younger players last night and it looks like I need to step up my game to keep up with them.  That's okay.  I love a good challenge.  Players are asking about the pink headband and it's a great way to raise awareness about cancer.  That's an opponent I hope we can one day defeat for good.  Until that day, the prayers continue.  Have a great day.

Indoor Tennis Tonight

Temps are cooling, leaves are turning color and my new tennis season is about to begin.  I'm indoors for the first time tonight for our Wednesday night league featuring players of all levels.  Win and players move up, lose and drop down.  I'm wearing my new pink bandana for the first time on the courts in honor of those fighting cancer.  Have a great day.

Got Joy, Joy, Joy?

Today's message is inspired by the first song I heard on the radio when I woke up.  The YouTube video garnered over 4-million views since it was released by the Christian group, For King and Country.  May this music video light a fire in your soul.  Have a great day.

Fear or Fearless?

Fear is like a shadow.  It's always lurking.  Depending on your relationship to the sun, fear's shadow can shrink or grow so large in size it appears as an overwhelming obstacle.  The one constant for me is my relationship with Jesus, Son of the Most High God.  With Jesus behind me, the shadow is powerless.

I don't have time to look down at my shadow.  I'm too busy looking up and around.  I see friends who have good reason to believe their own shadow cannot be easily defeated.  These same friends remind me that no matter how challenging their struggles may be, they refuse to let fear get the best of them.  One of these special people sent out a message she has been diagnosed with cancer.  The exclamation point at the end of her message was, "believe, pray, conquer."  There weren't any shadows in her message.  Hope is her flashlight.  Prayer is her compass.  And love is the voice she hears from all her friends and family cheering for her to look up and be bold in her time of uncertainty.  Choose fearless.  It's habit forming.  It's a lifestyle.  Have a great day.

Lake Day Today

What a blessing it is to spend the long weekend with my wife.  We're headed to lake Iowa today for some afternoon fun in the sun.  Although rain is in the forecast for the next seven days, Mother Nature decided to smile upon us today and we're going to take advantage of the ideal weather conditions for a Fall picnic.  Have a great day.

And So the Second Iowa Wave Begins

Many across the United States and some overseas are aware of the first Iowa wave that left fans and opponents alike awestruck.  This wave started in Kinnick stadium last year during a football game and hit the target audience in the heart like a Hail Mary pass in the end zone.  Sick patients watching the game from the 12th floor of the University of Iowa Stead Family Hospital received a message of love and support from the 70,000 plus fans waving at them.  This act of kindness is repeated at every Hawkeye home game.

It's a new season today and Iowa fans are assembling once again.  The Iowa wave will likely become a permanent fixture for generations that follow.  Today is the perfect day to introduce the next Iowa wave.  My inanimate friends, Wilson and Cory the Costco bear, are sporting their new pink headbands in support of two people from my tennis circle of friends.  Dr. Fred Dietz, an affiliate of the University of Iowa hospital who specialized in treating club foot for youth, was my teammate and passed away recently after losing a battle to pancreatic cancer.  Another anonymous friend from my hometown in Southern California was recently diagnosed with cancer.  These headbands are meant to offer support for anyone fighting cancer and to honor these two people who are close to my heart.  And so the second Iowa wave begins today on a day that happens to be my friend's birthday.  Happy birthday from Wilson, Cory and the rest of the Mulligans of Iowa.  May this wave reach all the ends of the earth.  Have a great day.