When Pickle Ball and Tennis Mix

It's the best of two worlds for me today.  First, it's Pickle Ball with my wife in the morning and then tennis in the evening with my teammates who are in another quest for a national appearance.  This dream has been going for more than ten years.  At 63.5 yrs old, all I can say is I'm happy to be contributing.  I'm thrilled my wife loves Pickle Ball.  We have something to look forward to for the rest of our lives together.  Have a great day. 

Good Health Begins in Your Mouth

 I'm off to see my dentist.  My gums feel the best ever, partly from regular cleanings every six months and partly from eliminating sugar and processed foods from my food regimen.  Daily flossing also helps.  In the old days the plaque would build up quickly.  It's a different story now.  How about you?  Are you taking the first step to good health by scheduling routine visits with your dentist?  Good health begins in your mouth.  Have a great day.

My First Escape Room Experience

If you've never experienced an escape room, this is something you must try.  We were divided into two teams of two and placed in separate cells facing each other.   The timer was set for sixty minutes and the adventure began.  Cryptiq Escapes, located in Iowa City, has a variety of choices for your escape experience.   All I can say is time goes lightning fast.  We never made it out our cells but we came close only to discover there are even more rooms after that to navigate in order to be set free.  What makes these folks unique is they are not generic in any way.  They set up their own creative contraptions that challenge your skills and teamwork abilities.  

We will definitely do this again.  There are multiple escape rooms to choose from.  Have a great day.

Writing Spree Ahead

 Aside from some precious family moments where I will come up for air, the next four days are reserved for a writing/editing spree.  I must strike while the iron is hot and inspiration is flowing through my veins.  We're headed to our house of worship this morning.  There is much to be thankful for.  Have a great day.

How to Overcome Sleep Anxiety

 You decided you want to sleep better.  Congratulations!  That's the first step.  There is one danger to consider when you attempt to change your sleep habits.  It has to do with sleep tracking.  This happened to me when I started sleeping with my smart watch.  This is sleep anxiety.  It's probably the same reason my blood pressure readings go up when I visit my doctor.  I know I'm being monitored and this seems to raise my anxiety levels.  

The best way to overcome sleep anxiety is to keep measuring while paying attention to any positive improvements.  If you understand continuous improvement will eventually get you in the good range, there is nothing to fear.  Once you get to the good range and stay there consistently, all anxiety disappears.  It took approximately 30 days of measuring to finally get to a point where my sleep is where I want it to be.  Try it for yourself.  Have a great day.

Can You Give One Minute a Day to Live in Gratitude?

 Here's a thought for you – one minute a day devoted to dwelling on a time in your life when someone did something for you from their hearts.  Think about how you felt inside.  Hold that thought for one minute.  Your brain and body will change.  Get back to me in 30 days and share how living in gratitude for one minute a day enhanced your life.  Have a great day.

Is There a Better Way?

I really like the quote from Thomas Edison:  "When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this:  you haven't."  I'm always asking myself, "Is there a better way?"  This applies to simple routines as well as roadblocks.  Those who keep going eventually find a solution.  Every time I fall down I push myself to get back up.  There have been times when I honestly believed there was no way I could get back up.  I'm sure Thomas Edison felt that way too.  It's even more challenging when others tell you it's okay to throw in the towel.  Sorry.  I'm not wired that way.  I'm with Thomas.  I'm with all the people who are willing to look for one more solution even though they think they may have exhausted all possibilities.  This message is a salute to those who find a way to get back up after a fall.  Have a great day.

Make Good Choices

 Do you ever wonder how different your life would be if you made different choices earlier in your life?  Perhaps you feel some guilt over the missed opportunities.  Regrets have a way of bringing us down.  Too much emphasis on the past and we forget about what we can do today to enhance the quality of our lives.

Thank you for taking the time to read this story.  I often think about these messages I write every morning before placing them in a bottle and casting them off into the sea.  Who reads them?  Do these messages make a difference?  I don't know.  What I do know is that every morning when I wake up I make a choice to write. I make a choice to share my life with you.  The moment you pull one of these bottles out of the sea and open up the message we have some kind of connection.  My hope for you is that you see through my flaws and find something useful.  Writing is my contribution to the world.  What's yours?  Whatever you decide to do today, make good choices.  Thank you for making the choice to connect with me.  Have a great day.

Love on the Tennis Courts

 

The Australian Open is going on right now.  While I'm not watching match play due to my self-imposed time constraints, I am following the athletes, especially the ladies who represent wore-torn Ukraine, a place filled with fiercely independent people who want their people to survive.  This morning I read a story about a 16yr-old from Ukraine, Yelyzaveta Kotliar, who shook hands with her opponent from Russia, Vlada Mincheva, after losing 2-6, 4-6.  Shaking hands?  Really?  What about the enemy?  I'm sure it's pressure enough when your country is fighting for survival and you have to be on the court with the enemy in front of a world-wide audience who scrutinizes your every move.  But shaking hands?  Isn't it bad enough that you lost in front of the whole world?  And now the Ministry of Youth and Sports is looking into your behavior.  Really?

Tennis begins with love.  You start with nothing.  You fight.  You leave your heart on the court.  When it's over, you have a choice – walk away in a show of solidarity or shake hands with the enemy.  What would you do?  What would Jesus do?  Well done, Yelyzaveta.  I salute you.  I'm cheering for you entire country.  You are showing your true colors to the world.  I hope to meet you some day and shake hands with you.  Thank you for showing your opponent and the world some love.  Have a great day.

Basketball added to Workout Regimen

 We're headed to pickle ball in a few minutes.  A new twist has been added between games when my wife and I rotate out – basketball.  We take turns shooting baskets and dribbling.  This is part of our quest to have variety in our workout regimen.  When we're done, it's back to the home office for a full day of writing.  The good news is I don't have to contend with dangerous road conditions on the interstate today as we had a bit of an ice storm last night.  These are the most dangerous conditions one can face when the temps hover around 32º during the commute.  Be safe.  Have a great day.

My Backyard at 1º During Sunrise

 

My Arizona/California friends struggle to see what I see in my Midwest environment this time of year.  Yes, it's cold.  Brutally cold.  Yes, the roads are hazardous.  Yes, I was involved in a serious auto accident that nearly ended my life during a winter storm similar to the ones that have been passing through lately.  Yes, more storms are on the way starting tomorrow.  So, what do I see?  They say a picture is worth a thousand words.  Here it is.  Sunrise.  I noticed vibrant colors kissing my closed blinds good morning prompting me to open them wide and see what you see.  Ah, the sunrise casting a warm tint of color on the fresh blanket of snow, now over two feet in depth stretching as far as the eye can see.  It's glorious.  The walk to our house of worship will be brisk.  Sure, we could drive.  We choose to walk and absorb all that Mother Nature offers this morning.  Have a great day.

Thank You, Joni

An amazing colleague at my day job is saying good-bye to our team today.  Joni was a transfer into our store when we were newbies.  Her marketing expertise was felt by all since day one.  Relationships with key members of the community propelled us to the top of the charts.  Sadly, Joni lost her beloved husband one year ago.  Her time with us was limited.  Recently, Joni rejoined us at a full-time level but that time was short-lived as a dream opportunity fell out of the sky.  She will be greatly missed.  Our team will never be the same.  Joni, you will live on in our hearts.  Thank you for being you and for shining a light on all of us.  Have a great day. 

As Far as the East is from the West

 King David composed Psalm 103.  It's amazing to me how he could describe the solution for removing the transgressions of our sin from us so many years before the solution was unveiled.  It's worth taking a look at the entire Psalm 103 keeping in mind this solution, although first revealed to the Israelites, is for the entire world regardless of what particular denomination one follows.  We are free.  As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.  Savor that one.  Have a great day.

The Marginal Decade

 I came across an interesting doctor from Toronto, Canada who wrote a book, "Outlive."  He talks about the best diet for living longer focusing on food and exercise routines that help you prepare for what he calls, the "marginal decade," the last decade of your life.  He emphasizes what is needed today to make that marginal decade more enjoyable.

What are you doing today to help you prepare for your marginal decade?  If you would like to take a peek at Dr. Attia, click on the YouTube video below for a glimpse.  Have a great day.

The Sleep Tracking Payoff

 We spend one-third of our lives sleeping.  For some of us, sleeping is easy.  For others, it can be challenging.  I'm one of those people who can be in either category depending on outside influences.  I never really paid much attention to my sleep habits until I upgraded to my first smart watch equipped with a built-in phone.  

I must admit that when I began tracking my sleep I became aware I was in a dangerous place.  I knew it was bad.  My smart watch told me my sleep needs attention.  It didn't take long to change my sleep habits in a positive direction.  I'm now on the cusp of reaching the excellent range.  For me, feedback is everything.  I will leave it to the experts to debate the accuracy of these devices.  In my opinion, when you have an opportunity to get feedback, you can use that feedback to make improvements.  This is true in any area of your life you wish to enhance.  The sleep tracking payoff is a higher quality of life.  If you are having trouble with your sleep, give sleep tracking a try.  Have a great day.

Sunny Skies and Playtime

 The sleep report card is in the good range.  It looks like the coaching advice is working.  I still find it hard to believe that my smart watch is capable of coaching me.  The feedback I'm getting really does seem to be right out of a sci-fi movie.  

We are headed to the pickle ball courts for an hour of exercise and fun.  The skies are clear.  We may see highs in the single digits which is a vast improvement.  When playtime is over I'm headed back to my home office for some more polishing on my writing project.  It sure is helpful to be doing this on a good night of sleep.  Have a great day.

The Arctic Blast is Here

 It's -13º this morning with a windchill that makes it feel like -28º as of this writing.  That's an improvement over yesterday.  It will be a while before we get back into the positive range.  That's okay.  I signed up for this.  I'm not going to complain about the conditions.  This message is to let friends and family know we are overcoming the challenges.  My wife and I enjoyed our online worship service yesterday.  It's time to head off to my day job.  Today is Martin Luther King day.  Although we are closed for the majority of the major holidays, this day is set up as a floating holiday and we are open for business at my day job.  Have a great day.

It Feels Like -42º This Morning

 While the real temperature is a mere -17º this morning, that doesn't consider the blowing wind.  Yep.  It feels like -42º this morning.  The good news is we now have abundant sunshine and the storms have passed. The folks living in the backroads are pretty much trapped until the roads less traveled are snowplowed.

Our house of worship is closed today.  I'm headed to my day job after my wife and I conclude online worship.  I'm really happy to see the sun.  This was a challenging set of blizzards we encountered.  The forecast for the upcoming week is extreme cold but no more storms.  It's time to get back to some kind of normalcy.  Have a great day.

The Interstate is Closed

 It's official.  My town is snowed in.  With the exception of the snow removal crews, everything is stopped.  Some counties told the crews to pack it in.  That's when it gets really bad.  No snow removal.  No tow trucks.  Dangerous low temperatures.  More snow is on the way.  Looks like I'm locking myself in my home office and cranking out some more output.  At least my fingers are getting a workout.  At some point I will bundle up and attack the driveway.  The foot of snow I removed yesterday re-appeared with the latest storm.  My cell phone is telling me it feels like -14º outside.  This is the most snow I've seen since I relocated to Iowa.  Have a great day.

Oh Boy!

 This is one of those days when you want to pull the covers over your head and go back to sleep.  One foot of snow in one day is more than enough.  Well, today is a repeat of Tuesday.  The winds are picking up and the snow is falling continuously.  The good news is I was granted a vacation day at my day job and I will be indoors writing all day.  

Please offer up prayers for those who are out in the elements.  Travel is not recommended during conditions like these.  Have a great day.

Unusual Sleep Idea Yields Benefits

 This story is to help me keep a record of my sleep experiments while also sharing my results for the benefit of others who may be seeking ways to increase the quality of their sleep.  If you happen to be waking up in the middle of the night and struggle to get back to sleep, this story may be helpful.

I woke up at 2:30 am.  Most people can get right back to sleep.  Not me.  Sometimes, I'm awake for the rest of the night.  Meditations have been helpful in the morning.  Last night I tried something new – meditating at 2:30AM, the earliest I've ever tried this.  The guided session last more than two hours.  After that, I returned to regular sleep while monitoring my progress for the entire night.  The results are huge... I reached 80 on my sleep score.  All areas measured were in the good range with the exception of the total sleep which was just shy of 8 hours.  Another 15 minutes of sleep and I would have reached the "excellent" range.

Here's the takeaway I discovered...when the meditation is uninterrupted my sleep mimics a regular cycle meaning I'm getting REM and deep sleep while in a meditation session, according to my sleep tracker on my smart watch.  I will be continuing with the experiments and gradually introducing new variables in my pursuit of optimum sleep.  Have a great day.

The Town Stands Still

It's quiet.  All the sounds are muffled by the blanket of snow covering our state.  I'm estimating about a foot of snow that needs to be pushed out of our driveway in order to head to my day job.  My wife and I are taking turns.  The work I did last night on the driveway barely made a dent.  The town stands still.  More snow is on the way later today.  The only sounds I hear outside are from the snow removal vehicles.  It's going to be an interesting week as we are about to be hit be a series of snow events.  Have a great day. 

Heavy Snow Event Going On Now

 It's snowing.  It's heavy.  We have the kind of view you see on postcards.  It's beautiful.  We're venturing next door to our rec center for some Pickleball.  This will be our only time away from home during the storm.  I will be alternating between shoveling snow in our driveway and typing on my keyboard.  Have a great day.

Hunkering Down

 A major snow storm is hitting us today.  We got our morning pickle ball session in and our errands are complete.  It's time to hunker down.  I will be writing for the next two days and then back to my day job.  Have a great day.

Got Lemons?

 You've heard said, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade."  This has been around for more than a hundred years.  First coined by writer, Elbert Hubbard in 1915, and popularized by Dale Carnegie in one of his books published in 1948 entitled, "How to Stop Worrying and Start Living," these words are still inspiring.

I'm making enough lemonade in my life to start a lemonade stand.  It's tedious.  It's time consuming.  It's also quite rewarding.  I must admit the process is painful.  In my opinion, it's better to make lemonade than to complain about my lemons.  If lemons were snowflakes, be happy you're living in a place where you don't have to deal with them because we may see one foot of snow tomorrow.  Yep.  There may be a blizzard in our area.  What am I doing?  If you guessed making a snow man, you're close.  I'm making the final chapters of my next book.  Stay tuned.  Have a great day.

Accidental Lucid Dream Discovery

 It's no secret I'm experimenting with my sleeping habits in order to improve the quality of my sleep.  While I may not be a scientist, I am quite fond of experiments.  I am also a creature of habit.  What happens when habits and change clash?  In my case, new ideas emerge which may lead to new habits.

The other day I accidentally left my smart watch on after I woke up to begin my morning meditations.  This led to an interesting discovery – lucid dreaming while under observation.  After this lucid dream experience, I immediately checked my smart watch to see the results of my meditation.  The state I was in is part sleep and part awake.  I knew in the dream I was flat on my back in bed yet I was on a swing with one rope leading up to the sky.  I couldn't see the end of the rope yet it was somehow attached to the swing.   While I was dreaming I had no sensation of my fingers or toes yet I could feel my body coiling up with my knees almost touching my chest.  I knew I was dreaming but I was partially awake at the same time.  I didn't know If my body was flat or curling but I felt like I was curling.  Then, my wife touched me while she was still asleep and this confirmed I was in my bed and not on a swing.  I woke up.  Yes, my body was still flat and I was not curled up.  What does this mean?  I don't know.  What I do know is my smart watch detected I was in deep sleep during this lucid dream.  Interesting.  The experiments will continue.  

I'm thankful for my smart watch.  I'm grateful the quality of my sleep is improving.  I have absolutely no idea where my experiments will lead me.  If Mr. Spock were here he would probably say, "Fascinating."  Stay tuned for more about this topic.  Have a great day.

Actual Sleep Time in "Good" Range

 A new pattern is forming regarding my sleep quality.  Last night I reached a score of 78 putting me in the "good" range despite a rigorous and exhaustive work list.  Yes, I have a lot on my mind right now.  All I can say is I'm putting my head down and I'm plowing forward.  I will share more later as I grapple with new ways to improve my sleep quality.  Have a great day.

Sleep Score Hits All-Time High

My smart watch tells me my sleep score is 85.  This is the first time since measuring I've reached the excellent range.  This was a surprise to me as I went to bed beyond my target time of 8:45 pm.  I was chatting with a sibling and the conversation didn't end until late.  I woke up expecting to get another "need's improvement" message.  Surprise!  I'm making progress.  It looks like there's hope for me at a most critical time in my life.  It's difficult for me to be so disconnected from the outside world.  Family members are concerned.  I keep telling them, "Don't worry.  I will be back to my old self soon."

Please keep me in your prayers.  My wife too.  She is the one who has to endure during my writing/editing/marketing blitz.  Thank you for your concern.  At least I can tell you my sleep has never been better.  Have a great day. 

Back on the Tennis Courts Tonight

 I suffered a crushing singles defeat several weeks ago in a Men's 40+ league match in the 4.0 division against a talented younger player from Mexico City.  One of my greatest weapons is my ability to outlast my opponents.  This never happened as my opponent grew up playing soccer.  It was like playing the Energizer Bunny.  The 6-0, 6-1 thrashing served as a wakeup call.  Last week I drilled like a madman.  Tonight I will be playing doubles in preparation for our last match of the season in this age group.  It's not easy juggling my life around in order to play on three different tennis teams.  In the back of my mind I know Fr. Time is casting his shadow over my game and someday I will need to step aside.  Not today.  Not Saturday.  Not this season. My teammates are counting on me to be there for them when we defend our state title.  The Midwest playoffs are rigorous with scorching heat and high humidity.  The opponents are relentless.  All I can say is we will be ready.  Have a great day.

A View from My Desktop

 There have been many moments in my life when all I did was stare at a blank page on my MacBook Pro uncertain about what ideas to convey.  I thought I would share what else I see on my desktop when I'm trying to get out my my writer's funk.  On my left is a photo of my wife donning dark sunglasses, a toothpaste commercial smile, a black sweater with a bright orange scarf, jeans and knee-high boots.  She's standing on a slope overlooking the Mississippi River in Dubuque, Iowa, one of my favorite places to visit when I need a reset.

To my right and closest to me is a picture of my mom.  Although her hair is long now and often in a braid, she sports a hair style reminiscent of the mom from the "Partridge family."  Next to her is a photo of our three adult children I snapped during the Holidays while we were living in Southern California.  They are dressed up and ready to celebrate Christmas morning.  Their smiles offer me joy when I need a lift.

Directly behind the family photos is a crystal ball with a model of Glendalough inside.  This is a small town in Ireland we visited a while back.  The importance of this place to me is this happens to be one of the places I visit during my morning meditations for refuge.  I was there a thousand times in my dreams before I got the opportunity to visit during a pilgrimage with my wife.

Next to the crystal ball is a wood carving from the Holy Land depicting the Good Shepherd, a gift from my jewish friend, Boris, one of my teammates from another city.  Last but not least is a Star Trek photo with me inserted between Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock on the bridge of the USS Enterprise.  The scene is from Star Trek II, The Wrath of Kahn, taken on star date 12/02/2002 with teammates from another life while we were celebrating an important victory in Las Vegas when Star Trek The Experience, the Las Vegas Edition was on display.  This photo reminds me of my mission to publish "Live Long and Prosper," a tribute to Spock.

There are some challenging times ahead and I'm preparing myself by practicing daily rituals.  At times, I come up for air and treat myself to a diversion like the next book I ordered yesterday.  It turns out that one of my new friends went to school with the author of "The View From The Bridge," a story about his time in Hollywood.  Nicholas Meyer is the director of two Star Trek movies including Star Trek II, The Wrath of Kahn.  

I would like to conclude today's session with the final carving on my desktop, also from the Holy Land.  The words I live by are from Psalm 91:4...  He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge.  Have a great day.

Happy New Year

 Did it feel different this morning when you woke up?  What kind of year is this going to be for you?  Are you excited?  Nervous?  Prepared?  Are your expectations high?  How will you feel when this year comes to a conclusion at the end of twelve months?  If you're not sure about what's ahead, I have a thought for you.

This morning I woke up and an old song popped into my head, "You Get What You Give," by the New Radicals.  Gregg Alexander said the main theme of the song was "remembering to fly high and be completely off your head in a world where you can't control all the elements."  This strikes a note with me.  So does "you get what you give."  All I can say is I'm ready.  I'm all in.  I want to do a whole lot of giving.  Yes, none of us can control the elements.  What we can focus our energy on is making the world around us better through our own unique contributions.  What do you have to offer this world?  Fly high.  Be completely off your head.  Happy New Year!  Have a great day.