Interview with Wilson Coming Soon

I have some good news and bad news.  Those of you who follow my daily stories already know the bad news... permission to use Wilson's image in my next book was not granted by the owners.  Rejection is common for writers and I've spent most of my life discovering creative ways to move forward no matter how daunting the obstacles.  That's where the good news comes in.  I'm planning on using my rejection from the people who are in charge of media relations at the happiest place on earth as a portal to something even Walt Disney himself would be proud of.  I recently discovered how to do video editing on my phone.  This is going to help with my marketing efforts to launch "The Adventures of Wilson."  Wilson's first interview will be posted right here on this blog.  I want to assure you that his image will be masked so that I don't violate any copyright laws.  Stay tuned.  Have a great day.

Happy Birthday to My Precious Wife

The love of my love is celebrating her birthday today.  Without getting too mushy here, I would like the world to know that everything I am is because of everything that she is.  Despite all my mistakes and shortcomings, there is one thing I did right... I married up.  We are blessed to have three amazing adult children who are a reflection of the love we have for each other.  Please join me in wishing my precious wife a happy birthday.  Have a great day.

Take This With You Wherever You Go

There is one essential item you need to take with you wherever you.  You can't see it or touch it.  It's intangible.  Without it, you will live in misery.  When you have it, you must guard it because you can lose it in a heartbeat.  The best way to keep it is to never lose it.  This is your peace.  I'm really serious about this.  These days, it seems like everyone is trying to steal it.  Look around and you will see what I mean.  

If you could measure your peace right now on a scale from one to ten with ten being maximum peace, where do you find yourself?  Examine ways to get raise your score.  Maybe today is a good day to cut out toxic situations.  Perhaps there are toxic people in your life you need to avoid.  Daily meditation may help you become aware of the situations causing you to lower your peace score.  One word of caution about changing your peace score.  Raising your peace somehow causes those without any sense of peace to become annoyed.  They will do everything in their power to rob you of your peace and the more you hold on, the more they will fight.  Treat your peace like a precious gem and cherish it.  I'm cheering for you to keep your peace today.  Have a great day.

What a Difference a Day Makes

It's a new day today.  If you're honest with yourself and you do a good job of reviewing everything you did yesterday, you can probably find an area of your life where you can do better.  The real competition is with yourself.  I do this every day.  I push myself to be a little better than the day before.  Over time, you will see massive improvement.  This works.  Today is a new day.  Make the best of it.  Ready.  Set.  Go.  Have a great day.

How I'm Tracking My Debt Reduction Score

You don't need to play golf to play my Par for the Course Debt Reduction game.  All that is necessary to set your goal for how much extra debt you would like to pay off every month and then keep score to be accountable.  The scorekeeping mimicks golf and is measured in 9 hole increments which can translate to weeks or months.  I'm playing the game for four rounds of nine holes for a total of 36 months.

Like golf, the more you work at debt reduction, the better you get.  I started out with seven bogeys for the first seven months before I got my first par.  This month is my first eagle.  I set my debt payoff goal really high and I knew it would be difficult to attain but I committed to improving my budgeting skills and now it's paying off.  I'm gaining confidence.  Now I'm challenging others to give this game a try.  There's always a way out of the hazards if you keep playing and don't give up.  Have a great day.

Why You Should Use Your Fingertips to Test for COVID-19

Early detection of COVID-19 can save lives.  We undergo daily temperature prechecks at my day job.  I believe we're doing all the right things.  I'm taking it a step further.  I ordered a Finger Pulse Oximeter to compliment my home digital thermometer.  The idea is to monitor oxygen saturation levels.  Any changes can be a sign of danger.  In my opinion, one of the greatest threats in our world today is from the people who are moving about freely because they are not showing any signs of COVID-19.  They don't feel sick.  I want to do everything possible to monitor my body so that I can protect others should I discover I'm carrying the virus.  Get yours at your local drug store or shop online.  This device could save your life.  Have a great day.

Happy Memorial Day

Today we remember and honor our fallen soldiers.  It's the unofficial start to summer, perhaps one of the most unusual summers we have ever seen.  Despite all the negative consequences due to COVID-19, there is one positive we can all celebrated today – freedom.  We owe our freedom to those soldiers who gave their lives for us.  Take time today to remember those brave souls.  Happy Memorial Day.

Living in a COVID-19 World

My teammates and I are considered essential workers at our day jobs.  Like many others who are tasked with working during these dangerous times, we have learned how to adapt and stay healthy even though the risk of exposure to COVID-19 is high in our environment.  One of the most asked questions I get is, "How can you wear a mask for eight hours a day?"

I really don't think about the mask.  It's like snorkeling.  The snorkel is your tool to allow you easy underwater exploration.  The mask is your filter to keep you safe as well as the people around you if you happen to be asymptomatic.  The more you wear your mask, the easier it gets.

Living in a COVID-19 world is like looking out to the sea and seeing large sets of waves approaching.  The first wave wreaked havoc around the world.  In my opinion, the second and third waves on the horizon could be more dangerous because there is a false sense of security showing up and many are refraining from wearing masks because they are beginning to feel safe again after surviving the first wave.

Please do everything in your power to stay safe.  This is not a test.  The sirens are going off.  Be vigilant.  Have a great day.

Your Most Important Choice You Can Make Today

There's a lot of talk about what necessary steps are needed to deal with COVID-19.  I'm not relying on what others need to do although I'm hoping they make wise choices.  What is all comes down to is my own personal choices.  After all, my personal choices are the only ones I can control.  My belief is that these choices will affect everyone I encounter and even the ones I don't encounter.  Some of these are life and death matters.  My focus today is on the details.  There won't be any handshakes.  If someone attempts to step in or lean into within six feet of my personal space, I will immediately step out or lean out.  I will lead others by my own example.  I will wear my mask any time I'm outside the home.  I will err on the side of caution.  Someday the danger will pass.  I will not trust what others may be perceiving about returning to life the way it existed before this novel virus invaded.  The most important choice I can make today is to protect others.  Think hard about what your most important choice is today and take the appropriate action.  Have a great day.

Why Changing Your Attitude May Change Your Life

It looks like COVID-19 is going to hit us in waves.  That first wave was a tough one.  The second wave may be worse.  Sadly, people are drowning.  I have a strategy to ride the wave and it's all about adjusting my attitude.  I'm learning from the people I encounter from all walks of life at my day job.  My hope is that my lessons may assist you in preparation for the next waves approaching us.

I believe our daily habits play a big role and they can hurt us or help us.  I'm doing my best to change my ways.  I no longer view my mask as some kind of annoyance.  For me, this is my life vest.  It's my protection.  Wearing it may not only save my life but the lives of others should I be a carrier.  It's impossible to know who is sick if there are no symptoms.  In my mind, I view everyone as a suspect for COVID-19.  This really helps me build new habits such as avoiding hugs or handshakes.

Be careful out there.  The surf is up.  Do everything you can to modify your attitude and don't forget to wear your mask every time you go outside.  Have a great day.

Why You Need to Discover What Makes You Tick

If you want to make sure you're alive, check for a heartbeat.  That's the easy part.  The bigger challenge is to figure out why it's beating.  You have a lifetime to figure it out.  The clock is ticking.  Where do you search?  What do you look for?  How do you know when you discover what makes you tick?  Are the test results accurate?

I'm pushing sixty and I don't have all the answers.  In fact, I probably have more questions than ever.  What I do know is certain things give me great joy.  I love, love, love to create.  It can be as simple as writing a blog message or more challenging like my first novel.  I can lose myself remodeling a home or designing the ideal vacation travel van.  What it all comes down to is creating.  In my opinion, these deep passions are my attempts to give glory to God, the Creator of the universe.  Ponder that one for a moment.  Maybe the very reason why your heart is ticking is to give glory to your Creator.  He celebrates everything you do no matter how big or how small, just like a parent.

Good luck with your search for the meaning of life.  Enjoy the journey.  Have a great day.

Blog Enhancements Coming Soon

I discovered something yesterday that will forever change the way I share on this blog.  It's mobile video editing done through a cell phone using free technology.  It's a gamechanger.  I need to go through a learning curve before sharing the enhancements.  All I can say right now is that I feel like a kid on Christmas day.  My goal is to eliminate that sensation that some readers may get when they're in a classroom and the teacher is scratching her nails on the chalkboard.  That's what my videos look like without the editing.  That's all going to change soon.  If you like the way I'm sharing now, just wait until you see what's coming.  I'm super excited.  Stay tuned for the reveal.  Have a great day.

The Chip Shot is Working

Some of my friends at my day job think I'm a golfer.  They've been following my story about getting out of debt via my game which happens to be played on a virtual golf course.  Even virtual golf has challenges I find difficult to overcome.  That explains why I earned seven bogeys out of the first seven months.  This year I'm finally lowering my score by relying on daily chip shots.  That's what debt reduction is all about – daily chipping without giving up.

If you're serious about reducing your mortgage, credit card debt, or retiring your auto loan ahead of schedule, learn the chip shot.  It's similar to golf.  You aim for a target and swing.  You will learn from every shot you take and eventually your monthly spending will be under control.  When this happens, all that is needed is a chip shot or two to make par for the month.  Before you know it, all your debts will be gone and you can spend time learning how to play real golf.  My chip shot is getting more consistent and I'm gaining confidence playing on the virtual golf course.  I'll be sharing more about this game in future stories.  Have a great day.

Why Perspective Matters

If you want to improve your life, change your point of view.  If you keep looking at things from the same vantage point, you can't see new opportunities.  These days, many are seeing things from a different perspective and they may be feeling pain.  That's part of the learning process.  I remember what it feels like to feel like your world is falling apart.  Moving to a new state in unfamiliar gave me an opportunity to see things from a brand new perspective.  Eight years later I feel like a new person. I finally managed to dig myself out of a mountain of debt.  The fog has lifted.  The sun is shining.  Financial freedom is on the horizon.  My creativity is flowing again.

If you feel like you're trapped because you woke up and the world was suddenly shut down, use this time to shift your perspective and look for hidden treasures.  Have a great day.

The Roaring 20s are Coming Soon

It's very possible we may see history repeat itself in this new decade.  A century ago there was a brief recession at the start of the decade.  Then things heated up and the country experienced extraordinary change.  I'm hopeful our economy makes a comeback.

In my opinion, the world will be safer if we can remain patient while we do our best to slow down the spread of COVID-19.  This is the time to practice social distancing while we don our masks.  There is a great danger moving about freely because we don't show any signs of illness and we think we're okay.  I don't want to miss the opportunity to enjoy some really exciting chapters ahead in these next ten years once the danger passes.  How about you?  What are your plans to enjoy the Roaring 20s?  Have a great day.

Par for the Course Updates

My teammates at my day job made some improvements to "Par for the Course" and the ideas make the scoring more like real golf.  We are going to present the game on the next conference call nationwide for others to join our efforts to promote health and wellness.  Here are the updates:

1. The scorecard will resemble the scorecard used at your local golf course.  The game will be played as often as players like in nine-week increments.
2. The lowest score wins.  Bogey = 4pts, Par = 3pts, Birdie = 2pts, Eagle = 1pt.  If you come up short on your goal for the week, you earn a bogey on your scorecard for your efforts.  Hit your goal and log a par.  Exceed your goal by any margin and post a birdie.  Invite a friend to play and log an eagle for the week they join the game.  If you choose to work on two or more goals at the same time, you earn a birdie for that week.
3. We are posting four pictures of top golf courses in the world at my day job.  Each course represents an area of your life you want to improve.  I will share more about this when the design is complete for friends and family who may want to give this a try.

I'm happy to report my first official eagle in my personal life.  This may look like a game on the outside but this is serious.  It breaks my heart to see our world falling into the debt trap, one that our children and grandchildren may never recover from.  That's why I'm doing my best to win this game and gain financial freedom.  I didn't give up after the first seven bogeys out of the first seven months playing this game.  Have a great day.

Your Par for the Course Invitation

If you are one of my teammates at my day job, you will be invited to play "Par for the Course," which is being adapted to help others with health and wellness.  Anyone can play the game.  It's fun.  I've been using it to help me get a grip on my finances.  Here's how it works:

1. Decide if you want to play solo, with one teammate, or join a foursome.
2. Pick an area of your life you would like to improve.  
3. Put your name or names on a scorecard and have fun.
4. Track your score weekly.
5. Give yourself one point for every week you play the game, even if you come up short with a bogey.  Give yourself two points for every par meaning you achieved your weekly objective.  If you exceed your target, give yourself three points for your eagle.
6. Challenge your friends to play the game.  
7. Decide on a suitable award you can share for completing the course.
8. Play as often as you like and for as many months as you choose.

We are setting up a player's board at my day job.  If all goes well, this game will be played virtually across the country.  We are setting up specific golf courses for players who choose weight loss, physical fitness, savings goals, and a new category for social contact.  In the social contact category, players choose activities like participating in weekly Zoom calls, phone calls, or letter writing to friends and family.  All activities are tracked to help inspire consistency.  Players can play as many courses at the same time if they're feeling especially bold.  Let me know if you need any help with this.  I'm designing scorecards with a teammate today and we're sharing this with other interested players across the country.  Have a great day.

Today is a Great Day to Count Blessings

Are the pandemic blues hitting you today?  I have a solution and it's really easy to implement.  I have a feeling that if you pause for a moment and seek the blessings in your life, you will find them.  Better yet, count them.  Make a list.  Write them down.  You may fill an entire page.  Beware.  The news media is going for ratings and they would rather distract you with news that could bring anyone who binge-watches into a tailspin.  Get a pen and paper and start writing.  Make sure the news is turned off while you're writing your list of blessings.

Today's story is sponsored by my auto insurance company.  Without asking, they made a decision to give our family a 20% discount on our premiums for a couple of months to assist us during these challenging times.  This may help me earn my first eagle on my virtual debt reduction game I've been playing since the beginning of January 2019.  If I can keep this up, it won't be long before we can put a plan together to adopt Lucy, our future travel van.  What's on your list of blessings today?  Have a great day.

YouTube for Learning Opportunities

I'm fascinated with all the ways you can learn from others on YouTube.  Pick a topic, do a search, and suddenly you have all the information you need.  I was having trouble getting my lawnmower started for the first Spring mow yesterday.  Normally, I take it in and have it serviced.  This time I gave YouTube a try and found everything I needed to get it up and running.  Give YouTube a try the next time you want to learn something new.  Have a great day.

Google Meet is Now Free

News flash!  Google Meet, the app used by businesses for online meetings and conference calls is now free.  I downloaded my app today and can't wait to try it out with friends and family.  You don't need to be a business owner to use this.  It's the perfect solution for those in isolation.  The potential for this free app is unlimited.

I've been using Blogger, a free app from Google, for my blog for over ten years and love it.  Give Google Meet a try.  I'll share more about this once I've tested it out.  Have a great day.

You Don't Have to Get it Right the First Time

Failure can be harsh.  I know people who go to extremes to avoid failure.  They're missing out on the opportunity to succeed.  Failure is a necessary part of the process.  Embrace this:  You don't have to get it right the first time.  Or the second.  And so on.  Use your mistakes to help you expand your comfort zone until you find the right answers.

How many times does a baby fall until he or she learns to walk?  I don't know.  They haven't learned to count.  Babies only know one thing – get up.  When Jesus says, "Seek and you shall find," he didn't talk about how long it will take, he simply told us to seek.  Go ahead.  Explore.  Keep trying.  Have a great day.

Happy Mothers Day to all the Moms

Some mothers are in Heaven.  Others, like my mother, are in isolation during this pandemic.  The hugs and in-person visits are suspended.  I'm sending my mother a virtual hug and best wishes for a Happy Mothers Day.  The photo above was taken last year when all six of her children gathered to celebrate her 80th birthday in Mexico.  We have a couple more trips planned with mom once this pandemic passes.

A mother's influence is everlasting.  My mom is always teaching us, mainly by example.  She is loving and caring.  The last time I visited her in the home we grew up in, I asked her what she wanted to do and she asked me to sit with her next to her computer while she showed me some of her favorite YouTube videos.  There is one in particular that inspired me to give daily meditation a try by Dr. Joe Dispenza.  I read three of his books and started meditating in September.  The meditations help me to cope with all the craziness we're all dealing with in the world today.

Thank you, mom, for your constant encouragement and your upbeat attitude.  I look forward to seeing you in person when it's safe to travel again.  I love you.  And to all the moms in this world, I'm wishing you a Happy Mothers Day.  Thank you for making this world a better place.  Have a great day.

Leapfrog Approach May Assist Coping with COVID-19 Challenges

If you're having trouble coping with canceled travel, closed stores, and self-quarantines related to COVID-19, give the "leapfrog" approach a try.  It's a mental visualization tool I use.  Here's how it works:

Pick a date somewhere in the future where you feel safe from all the ramifications of the pandemic we're stuck in and imagine what you're doing.  See yourself living the dream life.  There aren't any travel restrictions, the world is back at work, and life is good.  Hold onto that vision and keep it with you when you're feeling down.

The point in time you select may be different depending on how long you feel these current challenges will remain.  History teaches us that the Spanish flu stuck around longer than a few months.  If history repeats itself, maybe we will revisit the roaring 20's in this new decade.  My leapfrog date is about two years from today.  It's a vivid dream of my ideal life and I'm doing the hard work daily to get there.  COVID-19 is simply an obstacle, not a dead end.  Go ahead.  Leapfrog in your mind and your body will eventually catch up.  Have a great day.

Happy Friday

Happiness is a choice.  Choose it and make today a happy Friday.  I know.  I know.  You have this list of all these things that are causing you some discomfort in these times.  The challenges of stay-at-home, self-quarantine, closed businesses, and changing schedules at work or no schedules at work are getting to you.  Despite all these inconveniences, you still have the power to make today a happy Friday.  I'm already in my happy state.  I decided last night when I went to bed that this day was going to be a happy one.

Warning.  There are plenty of naysayers out there in the world who will do everything to take your positive energy away from you.  They may try to criticize you for choosing to wear your mask.  Don't they understand you're only trying to possibly save their life?  You may feel a sense of smallness when they explode.  Just be thankful no one is allowed within six feet of your space.  Don't let them in, especially the negative ones.  Stand firm.  Be happy.  Have a happy Friday.  I'll see you tomorrow on Happy Saturday.  Have a great day.

Why the One Day at a Time Strategy Works

Life can get really complicated.  I do my best to keep it simple.  My strategy is to live one day at a time.  Dwelling on the past only adds to the stress of what's happening today and I really don't have time for that.  The reality is I only have enough energy to take care of today's challenges.  If I start pondering future challenges, I find myself draining the energy I need for today and that contributes to increased anxiety.  When life gets really tough, I break it down even further.  Instead of looking at the entire day, I go thirty minutes at a time.  That's it.  Thirty minutes.  I ask myself, "What do I need to do to get through these next thirty minutes?"  It comes down to specific actions limited to the moment in front of you.  Nothing else matters.  Thirty minutes is a small enough block of time to handle.  Try it.  Make sure you end the day with enough time to get eight hours of sleep.  Keep going.  You can do this.  Have a great day.

How to Win the Battle

Sun Tzu, the author of "The Art of War," states, "Every battle is won before it's fought."  Ponder that one for a moment.  He places great emphasis on planning and preparation.  Looking back at my mistakes in life, I agree with Tzu.  Those losses are in the past but the lessons I learned are a big part of my future.  These days it seems like most of us are fighting some major battles.

How are you doing with this pandemic?  Are you going to win the battle?  If Tzu were here today, he would ask you, "who are your preparations?"  If you don't have a checklist for your day, you're in danger of losing.  Every action you take is vital for success.  Are you putting your mask on before you enter the battlefield?  Are you keeping your hands away from your face?  How is that hand washing going?  Are you making sure no one enters your space which needs to be a least 6 feet at all times?  You can win this battle if are properly prepared.  Have a great day.

How to Deal with the Pause Button

Life as we know it is on hold indefinitely.  The pause button has been pushed.  Pushing the play button prematurely can lead to dangerous consequences as in death.  It could be yours or a loved one. Survival is a big deal.  In my opinion, this is a good time to look at the pause button as a form of deferred gratification.  Stay on pause and you live.  Push play and you die.  The longer you wait to hit that play button, the better your rewards.

There are a couple of activities you can do right now while your life is on pause.  The first is dreaming.  Think about what your life is going to be like when it's no longer on hold.  The second activity is the perfect complement to dreaming, planning.  Pay attention to every detail you see in your dream life and write it down.  Be vivid with your imagination.  Have a great day.

Lessons from the Birds

The birds don't know about COVID-19.  I appreciate their ignorance.  While most of us are sequestered in our homes, they are mating and building nests.  The yellow finches have re-appeared in my backyard.  They are my favorite species.  I especially appreciate how they flock together and keep each other company.  While it may not be prudent to be within 6ft of others, I do believe we can learn from the finches.  They keep tweeting in all circumstances.  They don't let anything stop their natural instincts to explore and play.  They stay together.  No matter what's going on, they carry on.

I may not be able to speak "Finch" but I'm getting the message these fine creatures are communicating today through their actions.  I'm going to do my best to stay upbeat and keep my tune positive.  These birds are offering some great lessons for all of us.  Have a great day.

Maximum Social Distancing Today

It's time for another hike with my wife today.  We're headed to a remote area in the northern part of the state to spend some time basking in the sun.  The high today is expected to be 75º which is perfect for restoring our vitamin D levels.  Managing our health and wellness is critical during these crazy times.  For me, there's nothing better than getting outside on a day like today.  I'm thankful to have this day with my wife.  It's time to maximize our social distancing.  Have a great day.

The Trade-in Value of a Grudge

For some, there is no trade-in value of a grudge.  It's theirs.  They earned it and there's no way they're ever going to sell it, trade it in or let go of it.  I'm a value guy.  I like to weigh the costs of certain things in my life, like opportunity costs.  There are costs associated with taking action and taking no action.  There are costs of holding on to things and letting go of things.  Take a look at your most treasured grudge, the one you've been holding up like some kind of trophy you won when someone you trusted did something so terrible to you that you will never ever forgive them.  Your grudge is your way of telling the world how despicable this other person is.

You may think it's better to keep the grudge since it appears to have no trade-in value but I disagree.  In fact, I would gladly pay someone else to haul my grudge away just to get it out of my sight.  My grudges are like condemned buildings that are no longer safe to inhabit.  Once these buildings are removed, I can renovate my soul and enhance my life.  Forgiveness is freedom.  That's why Jesus is so important to me.  He died for every grudge I own.  I traded them in for eternal life.  If he can let go of grudges while he's dying on a cross, I think I can do the same thing while I'm drowning in grudges.  They weigh too much for me to carry and I'm better off just letting go.  Try letting go of all your grudges today.  Have a great day.

Quote of the Day

We are not in charge.  The world is changing fast and everywhere I look I see anxiety levels increasing.  In my opinion, today's quote of the day may help us get through these challenging times. I'm doing my best to focus on this during my busy day ahead at my day job.  Have a great day.