First Royalty Check Donated to Children's Hospital

 

I'm happy to report I received my first royalty check from Amazon in time to donate it during my day job's May fundraiser for Children's Miracle Network.  I'm also happy to report that the donations will continue year round.  I prefer to donate at my day job as there is a partial match from my bosses, however, the period of time for doing this ends today, May 31.  Due to the popularity of my latest release, I plan to donate all additional royalties directly to University of Iowa Stead Family Hospital as they come in throughout the year.

I would especially like to thank the seed farmers who purchased multiple copies of "Live Long and Prosper."  Your donations helped me to reach a wider audience and multiply the donations to the sick kids.    Thank you, thank you, thank you.  Have a great day.

Dodici's – Where You Can Nourish Your Body and Soul

Be the change you want to see in the world – Mahatma Gandhi

 Lorraine Williams, co-owner of Dodici's, located in Washington, Iowa, says everyone in her Italian restaurant from the dishwasher to the server is in charge of a performance.  Perhaps you have never visited a place where you are treated like royalty.  This is the place where you can nourish your body and soul. 

Lorraine spent decades living in Italy and traveling all over the world before returning to Washington, Iowa with her Italian husband, Alessandro Scipioni, who helps man the kitchen.  Their niece, Tsalika Rich, the third co-owner, won the 40 under 40 award in her community for her contributions to the town square.  This family owns multiple businesses including several airbnb suites located above the restaurant and cafe/gift shop next door to Dodici's.

Come and see for yourself why Dodici's ranks as the number one choice to eat in Washington.  I visited last night for a family birthday celebration.  Lorraine visited with us several times during our three course meal while our server, Sandra, tended to our every need.  On a one to ten scale, I give this place 12 stars.  The number twelve in Italian is 'dodice.'  Tell them the Mulligans of Williamsburg sent you.  Click the link for the details.  Have a great day.

Family Day and Date Night

 We are celebrating a full day and night of family time today.  It's rare to have the entire family together without any outside obligations.  It looks like Mother Nature is fully cooperating with our plans.  The weather couldn't be any better.  Highs will be in the low 70's.  It's time to hit the showers and get ready for the best day ever.  Have a great day.

Do You Suffer From Decision Fatigue?

I admit I never heard of 'decision fatigue' until this morning when I came across an article which referenced recent studies about this subject.  It made sense to me.  Top performers know how to get things done.  They say no often to help stay on track with their goals.  They also do something else that I happen to do naturally – work on the most important tasks at the beginning of the day.  Most of my writing is done before sunrise right after a great sleep cycle.  In my opinion, a solid night of sleep sets up the best way to prevent decision fatigue.

My last three nights of sleep have been mostly in the 'blue zone.' According to my sleep reports, the last three scores have been in the 'blue zone' in 13 times out of 15 categories.  Last night was nearly perfect coming in at a score of 88 in the excellent range.  My mental recovery hit 87% which sets up an opportunity to face this new day refreshed.   

If you would like to delve further into this subject, click here for the story.  I highly recommend you begin monitoring your sleep and use the feedback to make better decisions about your sleep habits.  Have a great day.

Happy Memorial Day

 

The best way you can thank a fallen soldier for the ultimate sacrifice he or she made is to pause and remember them today on their special day today.  Pray for their families.  Acknowledge the debt they paid so you can have a day like to today to enjoy freedom.  God bless our fallen.  Happy Memorial Day.

Last Words of Moses

 There is a reason Moses was not allowed to lead his people into the promised land – disobedience.  I believe he learned an important lesson when he made an error in judgment.  Moses wanted to pass this lesson to his people in his last words.  The Book of Deuteronomy can be summed up in verse 33 of the fifth chapter.  Here goes:

Stay on the path that the LORD your God has commanded you to follow. Then you will live long and prosperous lives in the land you are about to enter and occupy. – Deuteronomy 5:33

There may be descendants of Moses who debate the validity of this message since the Jewish people have been attacked more than any other group in history.  My heart goes out to these people.  I'm thankful Moses stood up to a tyrant and led his people out of captivity.  Forty years in the desert is a long time.  Did Moses sugar coat his final message to his people before saying good-bye when he predicted his people would live long and prosper?  Did he not know about the Holocaust?  

My first super hero, Mr. Spock, a fictional first officer who hasn't been born yet, draws his logic from Leonard Nimoy, who learned all about Moses in his synagogue.  His Spock hand gesture is meant to convey a blessing to others.  This is a message of hope.  The truth of the final message in Deuteronomy will be revealed at the end of the story.  In my opinion, things will get worse before they get better.  My money is on the underdogs.  These people will live long and prosper just as Moses promised provided they and any others outside of the group of Chosen Ones stay on the path the Lord your God has commanded you to follow.  This message is for the whole world.  May you live long and prosper.  Have a great day.

Entrepreneurship 101 Led by Bob & Kristy Walker

 "Our mission is to build community through agriculture education and culinary celebration. It is a perfect place for a micro vacation." – Bob & Kristy Walker

One could say that it was a chance encounter.  I know better.  I was immediately drawn into to the ambience at Walker Homestead in Iowa City owned and operated by Bob and Kristy Walker.  A family friend was getting ready for her dream wedding at the 85 acre facility and I was doing a drop off when I met a sweet lady who was setting up tables for the event.  There is something special about being on properties where grapes are growing and I felt right at home, especially when Kristy invited me to take a stroll on the property she and her husband cultivated.  Kristy handed me her husband's business card and invited me to come back on a Thursday night for a farm-to-table dinner which is open to the public.

I met Bob while meandering through the backside of the property.  Bob shared his plans to add value to the community and bring people together.  These folks are the real deal.  Both are professors at the University of Iowa.  Bob not only teaches Entrepreneurship, he lives it.  He shared stories about how he brought his students to a town along the RAGBRAI bike route and asked them to come up with projects that would enhance the communities during the bike ride across the state.  He stated that the family acquired the property shortly before the start of the pandemic.  Bob used his entrepreneurial skills to thrive when times got tough.  Kristy added that a carrot may only be worth one dollar until you cut it up and do something to enhance its value in the marketplace.  That's exactly what these folks do – add value to everything they touch.

Bob took the time to get to know me and what makes me tick.  He was quick to offer ideas that can help me make my own community better.  It turns out Bob happens to be a writer.  All I can say is you must visit the Walker Homestead.  Click here and discover "a little bit of Napa in the heart of Iowa."  I will be there with my wife for a date night soon.  Thank you, Bob and Kristy, for sharing time with me.  Bob, I really like what you said about opportunity:  "Surely, you will miss 100% of the opportunities that you fail to attempt.  What do you have to lose?"  Thank you for inspiring me.  I will see you soon and I will make sure my friends visit your place.  Have a great day.

More Storms Today

 

"Don't give in to your fears.  If you do, you won't be able to talk to your heart." – Paulo Coelho

The sirens were blaring this morning in our neighborhood confirming what the weather forecasters accurately predicted – possible tornadoes.  If you're like me, when your cell phone starts beeping indicating there is a dangerous storm headed your way, you immediately feel your heart rate increasing.  The fight or flight response goes into high gear.  I spent part of my early morning in my basement until the threat passed.  Besides something like the threat of a tornado, do you ever experience fear that may not necessarily be a real threat?  If so, why do you think this is so?

Perhaps today is a good day to have a conversation with your heart about your fear.  I truly believe your fear can serve as a great motivator.  You don't have to confine yourself to your basement if you can address what is causing you to cower unless there happens to be a tornado nearby.  I'm grateful for the team I had that helped me overcome my fear of getting behind the wheel after my near death experience during a massive snow storm.  I started with baby steps.  The whole process took about six weeks.  The conversations with my therapists changed my outlook.  Now I can talk to my heart about my travel dreams.  There is a time to be in the basement and there is a time to go outside.  Don't let your fears stop you from living your best life.  Your heart will thank you.  Have a great day.

Celebrating the Life of Childhood Friend, Mark E. Swanson

 I got word last night that my childhood friend, Mark E. Swanson, who lived across the street from me in Sunnyslope, passed away.  Mark commented in a FaceBook post a while back that he suffered from an oversized heart that would likely shorten his lifespan on earth.  Although he knew his days were numbered, he didn't let that stop him from living his life to the fullest.  

Mark's FaceBook page is loaded with lost dogs.  He made it his mission to reunite these lost pets with their owners.  Mark's last FaceBook post was a photo of his mother on Mother's Day who departed this world before his exit.  

This message is for Mark's wife of nearly 36 years, and his children.  May you be comforted at this difficult time.  The day Mark and his family moved away from Sunnyslope I felt a tremendous loss.  There was this void in the neighborhood.  Mark was a leader in our large circle of friends.  We were together from early morning until dark, planning expeditions to the local mountains for hikes.  We built go-carts.  We invented our own games.  Mark was always happy and full of life.  It was fun to reminisce about our childhood when Mark 

Pause Button Today

Today is a perfect day to push the pause button.  Three storms passed through our community last night leaving behind cooler temperatures that will peak at 72º later today.  Sadly, communities to the west of us are waking up to devastation from tornadoes.   The town of Greenfield was hit the hardest with multiple tornadoes that destroyed nearly everything.  I came home early from my day job yesterday to avoid driving during the last band of storms.  

What a difference a day makes.  It looks like sunshine will be in abundance today.  The light breezes have replaced the 70mph winds.  There is a saying in Iowa, "If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes."  If only we could fast forward through days like yesterday when Mother Nature delivered a knockout punch to a community of 2,000 people.  My prayers go out to these families.  I understand why my wife insisted we live in a home with a basement.  Today will be a day to slow down and enjoy family time.  Have a great day.

Celebrating 12 Years at My Day Job

 Call it serendipity.  On this day twelve years ago I became a marketer for a well-known company that prefers anonymity.  If marketing and anonymity seem like an oxymoron, you're right.  How does an employee walk the tight rope when sharing all of his or her life stories and many of them are rooted in daily work life?  The answer is simple – boundaries.  The same is true regarding family life.  Confidentiality is critical.  Trust is everything.  If you can't be trusted to respect boundaries, you are going to be a challenge in the workplace.  

While today marks an important anniversary in my life, there is another one on the horizon that eclipses this one – my 35th wedding anniversary in July.  Schedule writers at my day job are making sure my anniversary in July is reserved to spend quality time with my wife.  I would like to wish my colleagues a happy 12th anniversary.  I really enjoy being your teammate.  Have a great day.

A Houdini Act for Your Brain

Be careful.  Any attempts to trick your brain may backfire.  Your brain is highly intelligent.  I pulled a magic trick out of my hat in order to pull a fast one and my brain still hasn't figured out how I did it.  It's a Houdini act.  This works because there happens to be a blind spot.  The brain relies on signals from the stomach in order to figure out what is going on in the outside world.  If you happen to be carrying around some extra pounds you would like to release, I will share my magic trick with you.

The secret to releasing unnecessary pounds is to trick your brain into thinking there is a famine going on.  In times of famine, what's missing?  This is the hard part of the Houdini act.  You must cut off all things that are present in the good times.  In times of famine all the sweets disappear.  There is no sugar anywhere.  Even foods with "good sugar," like fruits, disappear.  Your brain gets spooked.  Something interesting happens.  Your prepared immediately prepares the body for the hunt just like our caveman ancestors.   It's like flipping a switch.  The number one counter-measure is the mobilization of your stored energy.  Most Americans have this in great abundance.  Another name for this is fat.  Once your reserves are activated, you begin to burn this stored energy until you find the missing sugar.  Please, whatever you do, don't pull the sugar out of your magic hat.  Do this and it's game over.  The magic trick ends.  Your brain calls off the reserves and goes right back into fat storage mode.  No bueno.

There is a great debate going on in the world today about what works and what doesn't work when it comes to losing weight.  The standard American diet has been around long enough to show the world that it is greatly flawed.  I learned another important lesson about my brain during my experiments;  eliminating processed foods and all things sugary has been beneficial because I'm much more alert in the "hunter gatherer" mode.  There is absolutely no reason for me to ever share my magic trick with my brain.  The extra 25 pounds that disappeared years ago can stay in the hat forever.  How about you?  Are you ready to try your own Houdini act?  Have a great day. 

Nothing Beats Family Time

This is a time of great joy in our household.  Nothing beats family time, especially when every member of our family is at the same place at the same time.  We went through the drive through at Arby's yesterday with a full load of passengers.  Our order shocked the guy on the intercom.  "That's all?" he asked.  Yep.  We ordered one sandwich and it wasn't for us.  No drinks.  Nothing extra.  That's what happens when pretty much the whole family has given up on fast foods.  This sandwich may be the last one ever ordered by my immediate family.  My wife's aunt is the last holdout for fast food and this sandwich is for her.  She may only eat one bite.  That's okay.  It's sort of a last happy meal for her as she is in her final stages of hospice care before getting called up.  Susie LOVES Arby's.  The joy I saw on her face when we showed up unannounced will remain in my head all the days of my life. 

When it comes to family meals, we are a bit odd.  Some of us are OMAD (one meal a day), and others are 2MAD (2 meals a day).  Last night we sat down for something really special – grass fed barbecued steaks on the Weber from our own supply of meat.  We decided to split the special order with a couple of other families.  The preparation was a bit tedious because these steaks were over-sized.  I was able to get six generous portions, enough for the whole family with one left over for my breakfast this morning. 

If you're curious about our odd eating habits, stay tuned.  Soon you will be reading a guest post from one of our adult children who is inspiring his own circle of friends to give up the standard American diet.  The results are shocking.  Have a great day.

Find Your Flow

Something strange is happening in my life with greater frequency.  I seem to have these moments where I lose track of time.  I'm noticing it more and more at my day job.  The time between breaks seems to be getting shorter although I know this can't really be true.  Time is constant, right?  I truly believe this twist in time has something to do with finding your flow.  

If you want to find your flow, the best thing you can do is completely absorb yourself in the moment.  Block everything else out including the past and the future.  Be here.  Nothing else matters except the person in front of you.  Connect.  Lock all of your senses into the moment.  This is what others mean when they tell you they are in the zone.  

I came across a great quote from a psychologist I discovered this morning while researching for today's message.  Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, the co-founder of the field of positive psychology, also known as "the father of the flow," has this to say about finding your flow...

“It is when we act freely, for the sake of the action itself rather than for ulterior motives, that we learn to become more than what we were. When we choose a goal and invest ourselves in it to the limits of concentration, whatever we do will be enjoyable. And once we have tasted this joy, we will redouble our efforts to taste it again. This is the way the self grows.” 

― Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience

Have a great day.

Sleep Lessons from 6 Months of Tracking

 Life can be messy at times.  That's why sleep is so important.  This is your time to clean up the mess that occurs in your waking hours.  Cut your sleep short and the mess gets messier.  I've been tracking my sleep for six months since acquiring my Samsung Galaxy 6 Smart watch.  The beauty of having your own sleep tracking device is that you can be your own coach.  If this happened to be the only thing my watch could do for me it would be enough for me to say I'm getting a return on my investment.  Actually, my investment was zero after my rebate when I jumped on a Black Friday promotion.

My sleep journey began in the "Needs Improvement" stage which was no surprise since I was going through some stressful situations while away from home for an extended period of time.  There was this gnawing feeling inside me that I was being taken advantage of by my previous cell phone carrier.  My decision to part ways helped me feel like I was breaking up from a toxic relationship.  Do you know anyone who is willing to remain on the phone for hours at a time on a day off just to make sure their voice is heard?  I'm that guy.  I refuse to let a company that I patronize delegate me to robots when all I want to do is speak to a human being.  I also refuse to be treated like garbage when the human I've been waiting to speak to lacks empathy.  I don't blame the poor soul who was unlucky enough to take my call because the real blame goes to the company who made the decision to bring in robots and cut seasoned employees to save money.  All I can say today is my sleep is the best ever and I have proof of this with six months of data.  If you're serious about improving your sleep, the first step is to monitor your sleep.  Experiment with your sleep and find the sweet spot.  Have a great day.

Pickleball Iowa County is on the Precipice

Ay, on the shores of darkness there is a light, and precipices show untrodden green; there is a budding morrow in midnight; there is triple sight in blindness keen. ~ John Keats 

There is a great challenge in front of us in our county.  When the world appears more divided than ever in modern times, something special is happening that transcends history – unity.  I witnessed this first-hand when I stood up in front of our community leaders to share an idea about bringing outdoor pickleball to my hometown.  This is the great uniter.  The only real obstacle that stands in our way is money.  

I woke up this morning after dreaming about a scene from Jerry McGuire where Tom Cruise is fighting for his life trying to go out on his own.  He is about to lose everything.  It all comes down to one client who pleads with Jerry to "Show him the money."

I'm excited our community is rallying to advance something that will benefit people of all generations and future generations.  I'm all in.  The community is coming together.  Stay tuned.  We are on the precipice.  It's going to be one exciting journey.  Have a great day.

If You Build it, They Will Come

"If you build it, they will come" – Field of Dreams

If you could make a list of all the amenities necessary for the perfect place to live, what would be on that list?  How does that list stack up against your current home town?  What's missing?

I count my blessings every morning when I wake up in my neighborhood just five miles due north of where my wife grew up.  The town has almost everything you could imagine.  The crime is super low.  The grass grows without the need for sprinklers.  The schools have top notch teachers.  Our local football team happens to be state champions.  It's almost perfect.  In my opinion, what's missing is outdoor pickleball.  Thanks to my friends living in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, a five hour drive due north of my home town, the one missing ingredient may be added to our community.  Our leadership team is finding a way to raise the necessary funds to create an experience similar to what my friends constructed at Mcdonough Park.  Click here to see some pictures of the park overlooking the Chippewa River and read about how this group made it happen.

I featured a blog story last Fall about the leadership team who inspire me to replicate something similar in our town.  Current president, Greg, offered to share details about his vision to expand his pickleball club even further by adding more courts in the Village of Lake Hallie.  His ideas serve as a template for our own future vision.  All we need to do now is raise awareness in our community and raise funds.  I would like to thank all the kind people five hours due north of our community for helping us make our community better.  

Ray Kinsella of Field of Dreams heard a voice in his head and followed it.  Friends and family thought he was crazy.  I'm following that same voice, this time building pickleball courts.  Is this Heaven?  Come and see for yourself.  This is where people of all ages will come together.  Stay tuned.  Have a great day.

The Pickleball Seed Has Been Planted in Williamsburg

As predicted, last night's meeting at City Hall was spirited.  It's still too early to report the details, other than to say the pickleball seed has been planted on fertile soil.  Support is building.  The team is in place.  We have much work to do to turn this dream into a reality.  Stay tuned.  I will share more once I hear back from the city about the proposed resolution that will be taken up with our town mayor.  I would like to thank my friends and family for all their support.  Have a great day.

The Elephant in the Room

The moment we have been waiting for happens tonight at 6:30 pm at City Hall in Williamsburg.  There is no doubt the community wants outdoor pickleball courts at city-owned property where the rec center is located.  The elephant in the room tonight is funding.  Lowering taxes is a hot topic and the state has done a masterful job of cutting taxes in recent years.  Sounds like a great idea, right?  This also means reducing city budgets.  The majority of members in the newly formed Pickleball Iowa County Club want free access to the pickleball courts.  Who is going to foot the bill for this project and who is responsible for the upkeep?

There is a win-win solution.  I call it OPM – other people's money.  Some of this money is actually outside of Iowa county.  The city will be asked to contribute the land for the four outdoor pickleball courts.  Volunteers on the fundraising committee will be tasked with finding OPM.  The discussion tonight will be spirited.  Stay tuned.  Have a great day.

Happy Mother's Day

God bless all the moms in this world.  For those who have a mom in Heaven, today is a great day to treasure their memory.  If you are married with children, this day is a double blessing because the lady of the house is showered with love and attention as she honors her own mother on the same day. 

My mother shows me by her own example what is possible when you love unconditionally.  She is the first to admit that being a mother is not easy.  Nothing in life worthwhile is ever easy.  Thanks, mom, for never giving up on us.  Thanks for always being there.  Thanks for all your sacrifices.  Happy Mother's Day.  

A Recipe for Your Heart

 If you had to limit yourself to three ingredients to make your heart healthier, I have an idea for you.  Consider it a recipe for optimized health and wellness.  Here goes:

1. Live well.  This is your first ingredient.  This includes avoidance of any foods with high levels of pesticides, refraining from unnatural additives while concentrating on the consumption of foods raised naturally.  Living well begins with sleeping well.  Go to bed early and wake up refreshed and energized.  
2. Love yourself and love others.  Life is too short for you to be critical of your flaws.  Stop judging what everyone else is doing.  The more you love the easier it is to forgive those who hurt you.  
3. Play pickleball until you die.  This sport sprung up out of nowhere in the midst of a world-wide pandemic.  Churches closed.  Casinos shut down.  Participation sports were forbidden.  The elderly were shut in.  When the world was in its darkest moments, pickleball peeps found a way to socialize.  The next time the world faces a new crisis, you will find me on the pickleball court with my loved ones.

May you live long and prosper.  Have a great day.

What's Stopping You from Acting on Your Passion?

 Something inside me seems to light up when I encounter someone else who shares a dream they have.  The conversation usually revolves around the objections these people have.  I know these objections.  I have lived through most of them.  I'm happy to share with you that no matter how big or stubborn the obstacle, I found a way to go around it, jump over it, crawl under it or bust through it.  Is this process time consuming?  You bet it is.  Is it worth it?  With every fiber of my being the answer is yes.

Visualize yourself at the end of your lifespan.  Now, turn around and give yourself an evaluation of your time on this planet.  Did the obstacle stop you or did you act on your passion?  Focus on how you feel about your journey.  Now the good news.  You're not at the end of your life and you have time to face those obstacles in front of you today.  Are you going to let these obstacles stop you or are you going to live your dreams?  

Dream big.  Pursue your passions with all your might.  Whatever you do, never ever give up.  Never surrender.  You are created for a purpose.  That purpose is reserved for you only.  If you give up, the world suffers a great loss.  What's stopping you from acting on your passion?  Please ask yourself this question every morning when you wake up.  Have a great day.

How Did You Sleep Last Night?

 

Are you having trouble sleeping?  Read on.  Despite a storm that passed through the night last night that kept me up for two hours, much to my surprise, my sleep score reached an all-time high of 95.  The one blemish in the red zone was sleep quantity.  Had I slept two minutes longer, I would have received a near perfect sleep score.  There is a ding for sleeping outside the recommended 7-9 hour range.

If you've been following my stories, you understand my curiosity for finding the best path to success.  I can't say enough good things about my smart watch for measuring the quality of my sleep.  I use the feedback to try new approaches.  So far so good.  Here's what I did during the day yesterday to set up a great night of sleep:

• Eating window was shortened.  I ate a late breakfast and an early dinner.  Breakfast was at noon.  Dinner was at 3:30.  
• Breakfast:  steak, two eggs, bacon, and cottage cheese.
• Dinner:  Steak.
• Fluids:  water mixed with electrolytes.
• Activity:  Two hours and twenty minutes on the tennis courts with my teammates (We're getting ready to complete for state titles in two age groups next month).

Summary:  My body was exhausted when I returned home from my tennis.  I hit the pillow about ten minutes after I got home.  According to my smart watch, I entered my first sleep cycle fifteen minutes later.  I had a total of 4 sleep cycles which contributed to 55 minutes of REM sleep and one hour, 35 minutes of deep sleep.  Aside from the two hours I was awake during the storm, my wakefulness was only 12 minutes.  My dreams were vivid and I remember some of them.  I'm certain having a day off also contributed to the quality of my sleep as I was able to eat my meals closer together.  By the way, two meals a day with no snacks is now my norm.  I'm never hungry since making all the changes I note in my latest book release, "Live Long and Prosper."  Lastly, there is almost zero muscle fatigue even though I pushed myself to my limit on the courts last night.  I will continue monitoring my sleep and sharing results with the hope of helping you maximize your own sleep quality.  Have a great day and may you have your best sleep ever tonight.  Should you fall short of your expectations, don't fret.  Sleep quality is a long-term process.  Start with minor changes and build on your success.  Thank you for visiting.

36 Million Americans Now Playing Pickleball

City Council is holding an important vote in our community on Monday, 5/13.  Our newly formed pickleball club, now at 150 members, is working behind the scenes in preparation.  Should the city of Williamsburg located in Eastern Iowa give us their blessing, we will go into hyper-drive raising the necessary funds to construct four outdoor pickleball courts on city property on the south side of the recreation center.  Key members of the community are joining the fun and will offer their thoughts about why we should move forward at the upcoming meeting.

There are several reasons why 36 million Americans play pickleball.  Unlike traditional sports which require large groups in order to play, a pickleball player can show up any time and most likely find someone to play with.  No reservations are required.  No commitment to play for the season is necessary.  Players can drop in or drop out any time.  There is no upper age limit.  Some members of the newly formed Pickleball Iowa County Club take breaks for walks around the indoor track or go on hikes on our surrounding trails between games.  In my opinion, the number one reason people are getting hooked on pickleball is the socialization aspect.  I was nearly moved to tears when a couple of members shared how pickleball helped them overcome loneliness because they were isolated in their homes.  

My number one reason for playing pickleball is because my wife loves playing and we can do this together.  My tennis buddies will readily admit the learning curve for tennis is rather long.  In my case, it took 49 years of playing tennis before I weaponized my backhand.  My wife mastered her pickleball backhand on her first day of playing.  I do find my time on the pickleball courts rewarding when it comes to physical fitness.  Pickleball is a great cardio workout.  Cross training in multiple sports helps me with my endurance on the tennis courts.  

Stay tuned for updates regarding our meeting with City Hall next week.  I have a feeling this meeting will be standing room only.  Have a great day. 

Servant Leadership

 The one I follow teaches servant leadership like no other.  It's a lesson most prefer to ignore because there is no glamor or glory.  Perhaps that's why I'm attracted to those people who serve without any desire to live in the spotlight.  

I got an opportunity to meet one of my mentors while on a day job assignment.  The first time she met me I appeared to be wandering around, perhaps out of sorts because I was asked to join a training session with people who were way above my pay grade.  

We met again years later when she visited a new location we were setting up in another state.  "Are you in charge?"  she asked, knowing I had been properly trained by her extraordinary team and that I was given credentials to lead others.  "I'm support," I answered;  "I'm one of the servants."

Why is it so important to learn the servant role?  I believe this keeps you from getting a big head.  Maybe you can recall a time in your life when you suffered having a boss who treated you poorly because you were "below" him or her.  Or, maybe you remember a boss who treated you like family.  I fully understand that motivation to excel can come from leaders who display empathy for the servants.  I prefer the servant role because this allows me to see first-hand how people of influence behave.  The same is true when I'm dining out with others.  If you want to see me lose my cool, all you need to do is mistreat the server.  

If you happen to be in a leadership role and you're looking to move up, I have one important tip for you.  Step out of your comfort zone and do something in a servant role.  Go somewhere where no one knows you and volunteer.  If you get mistreated because the people around you assume you are "below" them, you will learn a valuable leadership lesson that you can apply to yourself.  Have a great day.

Date with Destiny Next Monday, 5/13

 In a world that seems to be increasingly divided as each day passes, there is one place where people from all walks of life are coming together – City Hall in my community.  One week from today we will continue the pickleball discussion that began at our first official meeting with representatives of our parks and recreation department on May 1.  We have been added to the agenda to discuss the construction of four outdoor pickleball courts on city property at the next City Hall meeting on May 13 at 6:30 pm.

Abraham Lincoln said it best, "A house divided against itself, cannot stand."  Perhaps what's happening in our community can help swing the pendulum back in the direction of unity for others.  

Unity begins in the home.  My wife and I discovered two new activities we can do together – Bike riding and pickleball.  Coincidentally, our town recently created new trails which happen to lead to our proposed pickleball site for four outdoor pickleball courts.  Support for the idea is growing.  Our newly created FaceBook Page, Pickleball Iowa County, now lists 147 members.  Players from surrounding communities are pledging support for our cause.  

History was made when the French Revolution began on the Royal Tennis Court at Versailles on June 20, 1789.  Perhaps we can depart from our fighting ways and find peace on the pickleball courts springing up all across America.  Abraham Lincoln would be proud to see a house no longer divided.  Who knows?  The vote to accept our proposal may be unanimous when City Hall sees how we are united for the common good of all living in our community and beyond.  Have a great day.

Happy Cinco de Mayo

We are blessed to have two Mexican food restaurants in our town and both happen to be located close in proximity on the east side of our town square.  Either one is a great place to celebrate 'Cinco de Mayo.' This is the day our neighbors to our south commemorate victory over the French at the battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.

Many people in the United States mistakenly believe Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of Mexican independence.  It's not.  The battle of Puebla was a huge win for the underdogs who were greatly outnumbered in Puebla but much more work was necessary before the enemy was sent packing years later.  Napoleon III ordered the withdrawal of his troops on January 31, 1866.  The last troops exited in November, 1867.  

My own personal celebration of Cinco de Mayo may appear strange to those who love Mexican food.  Although I trace my heritage on my mother's side of the family to Zacatecas in Mexico, I choose to eat my burritos without tortillas.  Flour has been banished from my food choices as my body responds with inflammation.  For me, no inflammation increases the happiness of my family physician, my wife and family, and yours truly.  Happy Cinco de Mayo.  Have a great day.

May the 4th Be With You

Difficult to see: always in motion is the future – Yoda, The Empire Strikes Back

Today is a great day to be a science fiction fan, especially if you are a Star Wars fan.  I stood in line to be one of the first to see Star Wars in 1977 while in my junior year of high school.  The original movie, Star Wars, was later renamed Star Wars: A New Hope.  This is fitting because, in the beginning, there were low expectations for success so the film was given a low budget.

In a parallel universe, Star Trek, created by visionary Gene Roddenberry, barely made it to season three prior to cancellation one month shy of my 10th birthday.  Network executives never really grasped the hunger fans like me have for science fiction.

May the 4th be with you.  May you live long and prosper.  Have a great day.

If You're Gonna Do It, Do It Right

My dad's timeless instructions seem to be reverberating inside my head these days, "If you're gonna do it, do it right."  Perhaps it's because I seem to find all the ways to do it wrong first before some kind of revelation strikes.

Our community is coming together at City Hall ten days from today on May 13 for a meeting with the full town council to discuss outdoor pickleball courts in my community.  Register here to watch the meeting on Zoom.  Grass roots support is building.  The director of community outreach for our county is watching over us making sure no stone is left unturned when our group, Pickleball Iowa County, makes the case for the fastest growing sport in America and why we should all be playing in our community.

I'm excited to see our group growing exponentially since one of our members started a FaceBook page for pickleball enthusiasts.  Click here to follow our journey.  Perhaps we will meet on the outdoor pickleball courts sometime in the future once this project is completed.  I'm confident our group, now at 145 members, will get the job done providing we stay true to dad's infamous words, "If you're gonna do it, do it right."  Have a great day. 

Time to Say Good-bye

 My sister returns to Arizona today.  She arrived one week ago to support my book release.  It's hard to say good-bye.  That's the challenging part about living so far away from my siblings.  My sister is the reason why my own health turned in a much needed positive direction.  Her 18day ordeal battling a near fatal infection inspired all of us to pay greater attention to what's going on inside our bodies.

In other news, the leaders of our local parks and rec committee approved advancing our project to the full city council for outdoor pickleball.  Our Iowa County Pickleball Club now boasts 140 members as of this morning.  There is much work to be done.  Keep these folks in your prayers.  Have a great day.

When Miracles and Politics Mix

Today is a significant day. It began before dawn, and as the day progresses, our community will converge at City Hall for a pivotal moment: the first official step toward establishing outdoor pickleball courts. Before this gathering, I'll be reaching out to friends, relatives, coworkers, and business leaders, urging them to join me in raising funds for sick children at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital.

Do you believe in miracles? I certainly do. I'm envisioning ambitious outcomes. Some members of our community might believe that only an extraordinary intervention could sway authorities to build pickleball courts at the recreation center. Others may feel despair about finding cures for sick children. Perhaps they're unaware of the power of collective faith, the belief that with Christ's strength, anything is possible.

Today offers a remarkable opportunity to witness the unity of people from diverse backgrounds, all coming together for the greater good. Believers and non-believers, Republicans and Democrats, working and retired individuals, the healthy and the sick, the inspired and the disillusioned—everyone is rallying around a shared cause. It's a day where miracles intersect with politics, a day I'll cherish forever. Stay tuned. Yes, today truly marks a momentous occasion.  Have a great day.