Please Share This With Your Doctor

Please Share This With Your Doctor
Stardate 04.21.2026

There was a time in my life when I thought I was doing everything right.

I exercised.
I tried to make healthy food choices.
I surrounded myself with positive people.

And yet, something wasn’t right.

I didn’t see it at first because the people around me looked just like me. Tired. Inflamed. Slowing down earlier than we should. It felt normal because it was common. Only later did the light bulb come on: I had been participating in a long-term health experiment without even realizing it… and I was getting a failing grade.

What startled me most was this: almost everyone I knew was failing too.

I remember being a teenager and hearing my grandfather — a primary care physician who raised ten children — say something that made me roll my eyes at the time. He would say, “Ketchup and mustard are poison.” I thought he was eccentric. Maybe a little extreme.

Years later, I realized he wasn’t being dramatic. He had simply noticed something most of us never questioned. He had watched the food landscape change during his medical training. He saw what was being introduced into the American diet, and he understood where it would lead.

I didn’t.

Not until I had two clear health strikes against me and couldn’t explain why. That’s when I started looking closer at what’s commonly called the Standard American Diet. I began to see how easy it is to slowly drift into patterns that don’t serve our bodies well — not because we’re careless, but because we assume what’s normal must be safe.

My international friends once commented on how many pharmaceutical commercials run on American television. They were stunned. To them, it felt strange. To us, it feels routine. That contrast stayed with me.

It made me ask a simple question:

What if there’s another way to run the experiment?

What if we could learn from a time when obesity wasn’t common? When certain modern ailments were far less prevalent? What if we approached our health with curiosity again, instead of assumption?

That’s the spirit behind what I’m sharing today.

Not a prescription.
Not medical advice.
Just an invitation to ask better questions.

I wrote Live Long and Prosper as a story of mistakes, lessons, and small course corrections. It’s a testimony to the fact that we don’t have to stay stuck in patterns once we see them clearly. Along the way, I developed a daily health routine — a simple stack of habits and supplements that, for me, made a measurable difference.

But here’s the key: I didn’t move forward blindly.

I talked to my doctor.

And that’s what I’m encouraging you to do.

If you’re curious, take the list from my routine and bring it to your physician. Ask if it’s safe for you. Ask if it makes sense for your situation. If you receive the green light, then you can decide whether you’d like to try your own version of a health experiment — one rooted in awareness instead of autopilot.

I’m also sharing a link today from my blog sponsor, DoNotAge, who has invited me to introduce one of their newest products to readers. If you explore it, treat it the same way: print it out, share it with your doctor, and let wisdom guide the decision. Click here to explore. As a partner, I receive a small stipend if you choose to purchase through this link.

Because your health is too important for guesswork.

This isn’t about chasing trends. It’s about learning to pause, ask questions, and take ownership again.

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit… Therefore honor God with your bodies.”— 1 Corinthians 6:19–20

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

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Captain’s Addendum

Spock: “Captain, it appears humans often accept the environment they are given without analyzing its long-term effects.”
Bones: “Which is another way of sayin’, they don’t realize the soup’s gone bad until they’re already sick.”

I smiled when I wrote that, because that’s exactly how it felt for me. I didn’t realize the soup had changed. I just kept eating what everyone else was eating.

Now, I ask more questions. And I’m healthier for it.

Grateful for another day to learn, adjust, and move one percent better.

2 Ways to Learn About Your Health

Stardate 04.20.2026

When I look in the rearview mirror at my past health choices, I can clearly see the missteps. The trial-and-error method is one way to learn what works and what doesn’t. It’s slow. It can be frustrating. At times, it’s even humbling when you realize how far off course you’ve been.

And yet, if you stay with it long enough, you eventually begin to understand your own body.

There is a second way to learn about your health.

You can learn from others.

That’s what these daily stories are really about. I’ve spent years learning from my own mistakes and from people willing to share what they discovered through their own trials. Their lessons saved me time. Their honesty spared me from repeating certain errors. Their examples gave me direction when I didn’t know where to start.

My hope for you today is simple: whichever method you use — personal experimentation or learning from others — stay with it long enough to reach your own “light bulb moment.”

Those moments don’t come overnight. They arrive after enough small daily choices stack up to reveal what’s actually working.

One of my greatest challenges over the years has been sleep.

I’ve learned from others who study sleep. I’ve also conducted my own quiet experiments for nearly three years. Adjusting routines. Changing food timing. Watching patterns. Paying attention to what helps and what hurts. Both methods — learning and doing — helped me slowly discover what works best for me.

If you decide to improve your sleep, I encourage you to document your journey. Write things down. Track patterns. Notice trends. You won’t find instant success, but if you stay with it, you will eventually uncover your own ideal rhythm.

Later this week, I’ll be sharing a couple of live streams about this in more detail — one focused on sleep itself and one on the evening routine that supports it.

“The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance.” — Proverbs 21:5

Diligence is not dramatic. It’s steady. It’s patient. It’s one small adjustment at a time.

I’d also like to acknowledge my blog sponsor, DoNotAge, for being part of my health journey. Their research-first approach is one of the reasons I became interested in their work years ago. As I’ve worked to improve my sleep and overall wellness, I’ve learned how important it is to give the body what it needs to function well.

Recently, they refined several of the supplements I’ve been using into a single daily sachet that mixes easily with cold water. For someone like me who values simplicity, this has been a welcome change.

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

If you’re curious to learn more about what DoNotAge is releasing, you can explore it through my partner link. I do receive a small stipend when readers purchase, which helps support this mission. Only explore it if it feels right for you. Click here for the link.

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Captain’s Addendum

Spock studied his console. “Captain, it would appear that health improves through careful observation and repeated adjustment.”

Bones shook his head. “In other words, pay attention to what your body’s telling you.”

I smiled.

Learning about my health wasn’t a single discovery. It was a series of small realizations, one after another, until the pattern finally made sense.

One percent better. One day at a time.

I’m grateful you’re here on this journey with me.

Health Week Begins Today

Stardate 04.19.2026

Two days ago, a small package arrived from DoNotAge, my international blog sponsor. I’ve shared my personal experience with their research-backed supplements for years. If you’ve read Live Long and Prosper, you already know what my daily routine looks like. If you’ve followed these daily stories, you’ve watched the changes unfold in real time.

There was a season when I realized just how unhealthy I had become. The standard American diet had quietly taken its toll. Left unchecked, I’m not sure where that path would have led, but I knew it wasn’t somewhere I wanted to go.

So I made changes.

I stepped away from processed foods. I began eating in a way that resembled how our ancestors once did. I searched for credible research in the world of health and longevity. That search led me to DoNotAge.

Today, at 65, I can play tennis for hours without fatigue. I can work on detailed projects for an entire day without losing focus. I feel a steadiness in my body and mind that I didn’t have years ago.

My only real challenge was managing the number of supplements I was taking each day.

That’s what changed with the package that arrived this week.

You’re getting a first look at a new product before its worldwide release. What makes it remarkable isn’t that it introduces something entirely new. It’s that it simplifies what many of us have been doing for years. Instead of multiple capsules and powders, this refined formula comes in a single daily sachet mixed with water.

Simple. Practical. Thoughtful.

While researching for my book, I discovered something that bothered me deeply. The supplement market is largely unregulated. There are sellers who offer products that don’t contain what the label claims. If you’re like me, when you try something and it doesn’t work, you assume the idea itself is flawed and you move on.

That’s why it matters who you trust.

I found DoNotAge through a health community that followed respected scientists in the longevity field. What stood out to me is that DoNotAge began as a research company created to support scientists and their studies. Their work grew from the laboratory outward.

Last September, I was invited to attend their first international conference in New York City. I met doctors, researchers, and people from all over the world who shared a common desire: to live healthier, longer lives with intention. We were offered samples of a product still in the final stages of human testing and kindly asked to keep it confidential until the research was complete.

That veil has now been lifted.

This week, I’ll be dedicating each day’s story to health and wellness — sharing what I’ve learned, what I practice, and why it matters. Not as an expert, but as someone who needed a change and found a path forward.

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit… therefore honor God with your bodies.” — 1 Corinthians 6:19–20

For me, this journey has never been about appearance or performance. It’s been about stewardship. Taking care of the body I’ve been given so I can continue serving, writing, building, and showing up for the people around me.

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

If you’re curious to explore the new product from DoNotAge, you can use my partner link here. I do receive a small stipend when readers purchase, which helps support this mission. Only share if it feels right for you.

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Captain’s Addendum

Spock tilted his head. “Captain, it appears you are suggesting that small daily disciplines produce long-term outcomes.”

Bones smirked. “Imagine that. Take care of yourself, and you feel better. Who would’ve thought?”

I nodded.

Health didn’t change my life overnight. It changed because of quiet, consistent choices repeated day after day. One percent better. One day at a time.

I’m grateful you’re here for this week’s journey.

Defining Moments

Stardate 04.18.2026

It feels like something has quietly shifted.

A long dry spell has ended. If you’ve been walking with me through these pages, you know exactly what I mean. There are seasons where effort feels heavy, where progress seems hidden beneath the surface, where you wonder if the seeds you’ve been planting will ever break through the soil.

Today feels different.

Today feels like alignment.

Last night our community gathered for a pickleball fundraiser, and what unfolded was more than an event. It was a reminder of what happens when people rally around something good. Business leaders, friends, supporters, and pickleball enthusiasts filled the room shoulder to shoulder. Laughter echoed. Conversations overlapped. Generosity moved freely from table to table.

By the end of the night, over $30,000 had been raised toward four outdoor courts. We are so close to the finish line now we can almost see it.

In the middle of the evening, I had the privilege of speaking with both parents of Kaden Wetjen, the young man who generously donated autographed footballs and jerseys to support the cause. His mom asked where she could get copies of Where in the World is Wilson? — the coloring book that features her son on the front cover.

I smiled and told her not to worry. It was already taken care of.

Early this morning, during golden hour, I placed an order for 100 author copies. The first ten will be gifts to her. She hasn’t even seen the book yet. It felt right that she should be among the very first.

Those copies are scheduled to arrive just in time for our Children's Miracle Network Hospitals fundraiser at my day job on May 1.

Sometimes the timing of things feels less like coincidence and more like choreography.

Yesterday, a package also arrived from my international blog sponsor, DoNotAge, ahead of a partner-only product release. I’ve been using their research-backed supplements for some time, and I’ll be dedicating the next seven days to a health and wellness series centered around what I’ve learned.

It feels fitting. Body, mind, and spirit all being brought back into alignment at the same time.

Later today, after cardio tennis, I’ll finish the garage shelf project I started earlier this week. It may seem like a small thing, but it’s a necessary step toward a much bigger dream project waiting in the wings. One board, one hinge, one step at a time.

I’ve also been quietly working on a pilot project with leaders at my day job. They’ll be visiting soon to see what I’ve been building. My hope is simple: that the effort makes a difference. If I’m given permission, I’ll share more about it here.

And as if to underline the theme of the day, tornado warnings circled our area yesterday afternoon. Dark clouds gathered. Winds picked up. Radar alerts chimed across phones in the room.

Then, just before the fundraiser began, the skies cleared. The sun came out. The house filled.

You can’t script moments like that.

You can only notice them.

I want to pause here and thank friends, family, and this community for standing with me through some challenging seasons. There were days when progress felt invisible. There were days when I questioned if any of this mattered.

Last night answered that question.

We are nearing final city approval to build the courts in Williamsburg. The books are on the way. The fundraiser for the children’s hospital is around the corner. Health week begins today. The shelf is almost finished. New doors are opening at work.

The drought is over.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9

Maybe today is one of those “proper times.”

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

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Captain’s Addendum

Spock raised an eyebrow. “Fascinating, Captain. You appear to believe these events are connected.”

Bones folded his arms. “Or maybe the man’s just been doing the right thing long enough for the results to catch up.”

I smiled at them both.

Sometimes defining moments don’t arrive with fireworks. They arrive when you realize the quiet, faithful steps you’ve been taking have finally met their moment.

One percent better. One day at a time.

Thank you for walking this road with me.

Pickleball Anyone?

Stardate 04.17.2026

Tonight is more than a fundraiser.

It’s the sound of paddles, laughter, music, and neighbors gathering for something bigger than themselves.

A simple question has been circulating around town for weeks now:

Pickleball anyone?

And what I love most about that question is that it’s not really about pickleball.

It’s about connection.

It’s about community.

It’s about building something that didn’t exist before because a group of ordinary people decided it should.

Tonight, at Sundown Bar & Grill, friends and families will gather to dine, drink, listen to music from No Bad Days, and take part in a live auction. A portion of the food sales will go toward Pickleball Iowa County. Every dollar raised is helping fund four outdoor pickleball courts for our community.

Four courts.

That’s the visible part.

But what’s really being built is invisible.

Belonging.
Movement.
Health.
Friendship.
Joy.

Pickleball has a way of doing that. It welcomes beginners. It invites conversation. It allows laughter between points and encouragement after missed shots. It is competitive without being cutthroat. Social without being exhausting.

It’s a game that looks small from the outside but feels big once you step onto the court.

That’s what tonight is about.

A group of people decided that our town needs a place where grandparents can play with grandchildren, where new neighbors can meet old friends, where people who might never cross paths can share a court, a smile, and a story.

Courts don’t just appear. They are built by people who care.

And that’s what moves me.

Nobody is getting paid to do this. Nobody is chasing recognition. This is simply neighbors saying, “This would be good for us,” and then doing the work to make it happen.

Scripture says:

“Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9

That verse feels alive to me today.

Because I’ve watched the committee meetings. I’ve seen the planning. I’ve heard the conversations. I’ve watched people show up again and again because they believe this will bless others long after tonight is over.

Tonight is a seed.

The courts will be the harvest.

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

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Captain’s Addendum

Spock: “Captain, it appears humans require games to form community.”

Bones: “Spock, humans don’t require games. They require excuses to be together.”

Spock: “An efficient method, Doctor.”

Michael smiled. Sometimes the simplest invitations—Pickleball anyone?—become the doorway to something much larger. A court becomes a gathering place. A game becomes a bridge. And a small idea becomes a blessing for many.

I’m grateful to be part of a town where people still build things for each other.

Becoming Hinged

Stardate 04.16.2026

The garage workshop project is moving right along.

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

Then reality showed up.

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

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

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

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

But here’s the good news.

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

And that’s when it hit me.

This whole process is what becoming hinged looks like.

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

Now the fire trucks are parked.

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

Slowly. Thoughtfully. Patiently.

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

Hinged is better than unhinged.

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

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

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

Scripture says:

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

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

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

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

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

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Captain’s Addendum

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

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

Spock: “A common human experience, Doctor.”

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

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

DIY Garage Shelf Project Happens Today

Stardate 04.15.2026

Today is project day.

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

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

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

Simple. Functional. Purposeful.

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

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

That realization stopped me in my tracks this morning.

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

But that voice is losing its influence.

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

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

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

Because staying in the process is what matters.

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

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

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

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

That’s how growth really happens.

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

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

Why not begin today?

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

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

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Captain’s Addendum

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

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

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

Taxes are Complete and Accepted

Stardate 04.14.2026

I came home from my day job yesterday and told my wife I needed to lock myself in my home office until the taxes were done.

She smiled, made me dinner, and gave me the space to do what needed to be done.

I sat down at my laptop with one goal: finish this in one sitting.

No distractions. No wandering thoughts. No “I’ll do it later.”

Just me, the screen, and the quiet determination to close a loop that had been hanging open for too long.

When the confirmation came through that both the federal and state returns were accepted, I felt something deeper than relief. I felt lighter. Clearer. As if mental shelf space had been freed up for better things.

There is a unique peace that comes from doing what is hard and necessary.

And now that this assignment is complete, my attention turns to something creative and life-giving: building a DIY folding workbench for the garage. That’s the reward. Not because I “earned” fun, but because finishing responsibilities creates room for joy.

That’s a lesson I’m still learning.

Here’s the good news for anyone who believes they can’t take on new projects because life feels overwhelming: if I can do this, anyone can.

For a long time, my own thoughts were my biggest obstacle. Self-limiting beliefs whispered that tasks were bigger than they really were. That I didn’t have the focus. That I would procrastinate. That I would mess it up.

But something has been changing.

My brain is slowly becoming an ally instead of an adversary.

Whether it’s filing taxes, building cabinets, or designing a folding workbench, the process is surprisingly the same: sit down, begin, and keep going until it’s done.

No drama. No overthinking. Just steady movement.

I’ll admit — this tax deadline was closer than I would prefer. That’s part of the growth still in progress. I’m learning to give myself more margin, more breathing room, more time to complete important things without the pressure of the clock ticking loudly in my ear.

That’s where the “one percent better” comes in.

Not perfection. Progress.

One small adjustment at a time.

This Saturday, after my morning cardio tennis workout, I’ll be in the garage building that folding workbench. And I’ll enjoy it more because I know I didn’t ignore what needed to be done first.

There is a rhythm to a healthy life:

Responsibility.
Relief.
Reward.

And it starts by doing the next right thing in front of you.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”— Galatians 6:9

Sometimes “doing good” looks less like grand gestures and more like finishing your taxes.

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

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Captain’s Addendum

Spock: “Captain, it appears the completion of administrative duties has resulted in a notable increase in morale.”
Bones: “Imagine that, Spock. Turns out doing what you’ve been avoiding feels better than avoiding it.”

I’m learning that peace often waits on the other side of the tasks I don’t feel like doing. One percent better, one finished responsibility at a time.

Mission Log complete.

Grateful for another day to grow, to build, and to keep moving forward.

Preparations Underway for the Next Project

Stardate 04.13.2026

Now that the basement shelf project is complete, my mind is already building something new for our one-car garage.

That project required four large exterior panels, but I only needed three. Because I combined two kits, I ended up with a bonus piece. Instead of letting it sit in the corner, I have a plan. I’m going to add hinges and mount it to one of the side walls. When folded down, it will create a generous workspace. When folded up, it will disappear neatly against the wall.

Little by little, the garage is turning into a place where I can step in and create when time allows. A quiet corner. A simple man cave. A place to work with my hands and clear my mind.

But the real lesson forming in me right now isn’t about hinges or panels.

It’s about time.

I’ve heard friends say, “I just don’t have any free time.” If you’re raising a family, I understand that completely. If you’re in my age group and finding yourself in retirement years, it can still feel strangely true. The concept of “free time” can feel foreign, even when the calendar looks open.

What I’m learning is that free time doesn’t appear. It has to be gently created.

I’m teaching my brain to fine-tune each day so small pockets of usable time begin to show up. Nothing dramatic. Nothing overwhelming. Just small adjustments that slowly make room for the things that matter.

So far, so good.

If you want to become more efficient with your time, the key is to make very small adjustments. Too much change too quickly creates internal resistance. Your own brain will push back if it feels like its familiar routine is under attack.

That lesson became very clear to me this week.

While I was focused on the shelf project and learning to work with hinges, something quietly slipped under the radar: tax preparation. I’m honestly surprised to realize I’m now only two days away from filing my federal and state returns.

So today, I’m dedicating my created “free time” to finishing and filing those returns.

And here’s the reward: once they’re done, I’ve already scheduled a block of time on my calendar to design the fold-down work table for the garage.

My brain is cooperating now. It no longer sees hinges as a threat. The comfort zone has expanded. What once felt unfamiliar now feels possible. And because of that, it’s giving me permission to try something new.

Little by little, I’m noticing that growth doesn’t happen by force. It happens by gentle, steady permission.

“For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.” — 1 Corinthians 14:33

Peace shows up when we stop trying to rush change and start allowing it to unfold one small step at a time.

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

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Captain’s Addendum

Spock: “Captain, it appears you are not managing time. You are managing resistance.”

Bones: “He’s right, Michael. You’re not fighting your brain anymore… you’re working with it.”

And that’s exactly what this season feels like. Not pushing harder. Not doing more. Just making small, peaceful adjustments that open the door for steady progress.

Mission Log complete.

Grateful for the quiet art of making room for what matters.

Honey Do List Basement Project Complete

Stardate 04.12.2026

If I had to summarize my high school wood shop experience in one word, it would be incomplete.

Every assignment came with a deadline. I watched classmates move confidently through joints and hinges while I stood there trying to make sense of instructions that felt written in another language. My wood shop teacher showed me a lot of grace. He was also my tennis coach, so he knew my strengths lived on a different court. Still, those unfinished projects left a mark. For years, I quietly carried the belief that building things with my hands simply wasn’t “my thing.”

Because of that, I avoided projects that pushed me outside my comfort zone. If something required tools, measurements, and mechanical thinking, I was quick to find a reason to step aside.

Until this basement shelf project.

This one had thirty-two hinges. Four drawers. Measurements that had to be right. Pieces that had to line up. There were moments when I could almost hear that old wood shop classroom whispering, You’re not good at this.

But something different happened this time.

I stayed with it.

One hinge at a time.
One drawer at a time.
One small correction at a time.

No rushing. No quitting. Just quiet persistence.

Last night, when my wife walked into the basement and saw the finished shelves, the look on her face told me everything I needed to know. I didn’t need a grade. I didn’t need applause. I just needed that moment to realize that the story I had been telling myself for decades was no longer true.

I wasn’t “bad at this.”

I was simply unfinished.

And unfinished things, given enough patience, can still become beautiful.

There was a little bonus attached to this victory. The store where I purchased the shelves was offering an 11% rebate. I mailed that form in on the very first day. When that rebate arrives, it will go toward tools for what I’m now calling my dream project.

More on that later.

For today, I’m just celebrating this quiet win.

It’s never too late to rewrite an old story.
It’s never too late to learn something new.
It’s never too late to finish what we once thought we couldn’t.

“Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9

Some victories aren’t loud.
Some are built slowly, hinge by hinge, drawer by drawer, belief by belief.

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

---

Captain’s Addendum

Spock: “Fascinating, Captain. Evidence suggests your limitation was never mechanical ability, but an outdated self-assessment.”

Bones: “In plain English, Spock… the man finally stopped believing an old lie.”

I smiled when I heard them. Because that’s exactly what happened in that basement. I didn’t just build shelves. I dismantled a decades-old belief about myself.

Mission Log complete.

Grateful for small victories that quietly change big stories.

Mission Accomplished

Mission Accomplished

Stardate 04.11.2026

Yesterday, Miss Joni completed the delivery of 50 coloring books, 50 packs of crayons, and 50 hand-made bracelets to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital.

It happened to be the very same day our astronauts returned safely home from their journey to the moon and back. I smiled at the timing. One of the illustrations inside the coloring book shows a child dreaming of becoming an astronaut after healing is complete. Two very different missions. One shared thread: hope for the future.

The first photo from the day captures Miss Joni standing in front of the hospital beside the concierge who receives and distributes deliveries. It’s a quiet, beautiful moment. No spotlight. No ceremony. Just faithful people doing meaningful work for children they may never meet.

Later, my joy doubled.

A friend shared a picture of Helen M. Swearson autographing Where in the World is Wilson? while on a break from her day job. There she was, taking ordinary time in an ordinary place to do something extraordinary for someone else. The second photo carries that spirit — a reminder that missions are often carried forward in the small in-between moments of daily life.

Now that the logistics are complete and the coloring books are making their way into patients’ hands, I can already see ways to make the next mission more seamless. Each step teaches something. Each delivery becomes a little smoother than the last. One percent better.

None of this happens alone.

It is carried by supporters, encouragers, and prayer warriors who stand behind the scenes. People who give, who share, who believe, who lift these efforts up when no one else is watching.

Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.

“Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9

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

Captain’s Addendum

Spock: “Fascinating, Captain. The scale of the mission is small, yet the impact appears… immeasurable.”

Bones: “That’s because you’re measuring with logic again. The heart doesn’t work in units, Spock.”

Michael: The more I do this, the more I see that meaningful work rarely looks dramatic. It looks like Miss Joni at a front desk. It looks like Helen signing a book on her lunch break. It looks like ordinary people choosing to do one small good thing at a time.

Mission Log: Another small mission, carried out with big love.

Have a great day.

Drawer #3 Before Sunrise Today

Stardate 04/10/2026

It’s just after 5:00am as I write this.

I’ve already been awake for an hour. Like most mornings, the first part of my day began with prayer and meditation, followed by a quick look at my sleep report. I pay attention to deep sleep and REM because they tell me something important: whether the way I’m living is supporting peace… or quietly working against it.

So far, so good.

That matters to me because my workload is on the high side, and I’ve learned the hard way that inner peace doesn’t survive long when I ignore the signals.

I’m also happy to report progress on the number one item on the honey-do list.

If you’ve been following along, you know there was a difference of opinion about who should build the shelves in the basement. That difference of opinion was rooted in past experiences. Fair experiences. Honest experiences.

What I’m realizing now is that this whole shelf project is actually an experiment disguised as a home improvement task.

I’m trying to prove something — not to my wife, but to myself.

I’m learning that when I gently step outside my comfort zone and give myself permission to learn new things without pressure, I can accomplish far more than my own brain thinks I can handle.

My brain can be stubborn.

When there’s tension or unfinished business in my head, it often shows up during sleep. That’s where the real battle happens. I used to think the solution was to push harder during the day. Now I’m discovering the solution is to cooperate with my own mind instead of fighting it.

I’m learning how to team up with my brain.

Less tension.
More patience.
One small task at a time.

Once this story is scheduled for release at 8:08am Pacific Time, I’ll be in the basement working on drawer #3. I’ve given myself one hour for the task.

If I were a professional cabinet maker, this might take ten minutes.

I am not a professional cabinet maker.

I am a man learning to be comfortable in the “uncomfort zone.”

When the hour is up, I stop. No frustration. No overrun. No pressure.

This is an experiment I can’t lose.

If the drawer is complete in one hour, I win.
If it’s not complete, I still win.

Because the real goal isn’t the drawer.

The real goal is learning to live peacefully while doing things that once felt intimidating.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.” — John 14:27

Peace isn’t the absence of work.
It’s the presence of calm while doing the work.

And that’s new for me.

I can already sense that when this shelf project is complete, there will be a conversation with my wife about what comes next. If this experiment continues to go well, I have a feeling it may lead to some interesting projects in the future.

But that’s a story for another day.

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

---

Captain’s Addendum

Spock: “Captain, it appears you are conducting an experiment on yourself.”

Bones: “I’ve seen worse patients, Spock. At least this one’s learning.”

Michael: “Gentlemen, I’m finally figuring out how to work with my own mind instead of against it.”

---

Grateful for another quiet morning, one drawer at a time.

Goal for Today: Build One Drawer

Stardate 04.09.2026

Now that the first bulk order of coloring books has been handed off to Miss Joni and her team of student volunteers, I can turn my attention back to the honey-do list.

The basement wall-to-wall shelving project is moving forward. Most of the shelves are in place. Yesterday, I completed the first of four drawers.

What’s interesting is how this project is teaching me something I didn’t expect.

Small daily goals are working better for me than trying to do too much at once.

At the beginning, this project felt overwhelming. Measurements, materials, tools, and steps all piled up in my head at once. It felt like something that would take forever to complete. But when I reduced the goal to something simple — build one drawer — everything changed.

One drawer is manageable. One drawer is clear. One drawer is doable.

And one drawer, repeated four times, becomes a finished cabinet.

I woke up especially encouraged this morning because I hit a new high mark on my sleep report. Deep rest. Strong REM. A clear mind. There’s something about waking up rested that makes steady progress feel not only possible, but enjoyable.

There’s no pressure to build another drawer today. My wife even offered to let me slow down and take a break. But this isn’t about pressure. I simply enjoy creating. I enjoy learning. I enjoy watching something take shape that didn’t exist before.

This project is giving me an opportunity to practice patience in a very practical way.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9

Sometimes “doing good” looks like serving others.

Sometimes it looks like building a drawer.

Both require the same thing: steady faithfulness in small steps.

I have plenty of time this morning to complete another drawer before heading to my day job. No rush. No stress. Just quiet progress.

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

---

Captain’s Addendum

Spock: “Captain, progress appears statistically inevitable when the task is reduced to its simplest component.”

Bones: “In plain English, that means stop trying to build the whole thing at once.”

Michael: “One drawer at a time, gentlemen.”

---

Grateful for another day to build, learn, and move forward.

Logistics 101

Stardate 04.08.2026

Sometimes the best way to handle complicated details is to pretend you’re a fifth grader.

Not to simplify the mission — but to simplify the steps.

Today’s story is inspired by my accountability partner, Miss Joni, who has a heart for serving children. She doesn’t just serve. She teaches. She models. She invites others into the work.

I saw her yesterday when she stopped by my day job to fulfill the kids’ order for items headed to a local food pantry. Those same kids who held a bake sale because they wanted to help children they will likely never meet.

Later today, I’ll see her again. This time, I’ll hand off the first bulk order: 50 coloring books and 50 packs of crayons.

Because of Miss Joni, there is now a clear path for getting these supplies into the hands of patients at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital.

And here’s what struck me.

What felt complicated in my head became very simple in her hands.

Order.
Receive.
Deliver.
Document.
Repeat.

That’s it.

A fifth grader could follow that.

And that’s the point.

I now have a working template for logistics — a step-by-step process for handling bulk donations, from ordering to distribution to accounting. Not because I designed it, but because I watched someone who serves with clarity instead of clutter.

It doesn’t get any better than kids helping kids.

An honorable mention goes to Kiwanis International for seeing what these students were doing and multiplying their efforts. What started as a bake sale is turning into a model that can be repeated again and again.

Miss Joni plans to share photos once the books reach the children’s hospital. I’m looking forward to that moment — not for recognition, but for confirmation that simple steps, done faithfully, make a real difference.

“For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.” — 1 Corinthians 14:33

Peace often looks like simplicity.

Clarity.

Order.

And sometimes, pretending you’re a fifth grader so you don’t overcomplicate what God is trying to do through willing hands.

Near the end of days like this, I find myself smiling at how something that once felt like a fog of logistics has turned into a clear path forward.

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

Captain’s Addendum

Spock: “Captain, the process appears almost… elementary.”

Bones: “I’ve seen grown men complicate a glass of water. This? This makes sense.”

Michael: “Sometimes the smartest plan is the one a child could follow.”

May you live long and prosper.

Have a great day.

First Bulk Order Arrives Today

Stardate 04.07.2026

Sometimes the best solutions don’t come from us at all. They come through us — carried by other people’s hearts.

What began for me as a personal pursuit of better health, stronger finances, and clearer purpose has now become three books. Different stories. One mission: help others navigate hard seasons with hope.

Lately, I’d been wrestling with a stubborn case of writer’s block. Some of it came from within. Some of it came from circumstances around me. The breakthrough didn’t arrive as a lightning bolt of inspiration. It came in the form of friends, family… and thirty elementary students who simply wanted to bless children they’ve never met.

Those students held a bake sale because they wanted to make a difference for patients at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital.

They didn’t overthink it. They didn’t form a committee. They saw a need and acted.

Then something beautiful happened.

Kiwanis International heard what the kids were doing and doubled the money they raised. Miss Joni told the students she knew someone who could get coloring books at a discount and reached out. Word spread. Other donors wanted in. More hands went up.

And today, I’m receiving a box of 50 coloring books from Amazon.

My head is still spinning.

Not because of the books.

Because of the hearts.

This is what happens when people stop waiting for perfect plans and start acting with simple compassion. This is what happens when generosity becomes contagious. This is what happens when a few kids decide to care.

Volunteers are stepping in. Doors are opening. Momentum is building.

And the writer’s block?

Gone.

Stay tuned.

Have a great day.

Early In, Early Out

Stardate 04.06.2026

One of my teammates from my day job is on vacation this week, so I’m starting my shift a little earlier today and tomorrow to help cover for him.

There’s something satisfying about walking into a quiet workplace before the day fully wakes up. The lights seem softer. The noise hasn’t started yet. It feels like borrowed time — a head start not just on work, but on the day itself.

The tradeoff is a gift: extra family time at the end of the day.

I’ve learned to recognize these moments for what they are. They’re small adjustments that create meaningful returns. An earlier alarm. A little more effort on the front end. A little more presence on the back end.

That’s a trade I’ll take every time.

Later today, I plan to check in with the place I ordered our shelves from. I discovered I’m missing a few parts needed to complete the four drawers in the cabinet project I’ve been working on. Once those drawers are installed, the project will be finished.

I didn’t expect to enjoy this process as much as I have.

There’s no better way to learn than by doing. Measuring twice. Adjusting. Realizing you installed something backwards. Taking it apart. Trying again. Learning patience in a very practical, very humbling way.

Some lessons don’t come from books. They come from screws, wood, instructions, and the quiet decision to keep going when it would be easier to walk away.

What surprises me most is not that the cabinet is coming together.

It’s that my confidence is.

I can feel it building as the project progresses. The kind of confidence that doesn’t shout but quietly says, “You can handle more than you thought.”

And because of this one project, I’m already thinking about a bigger one.

More on that later.

For now, I simply want to savor what it feels like to cross a finish line. To see something that once existed only in boxes and loose parts slowly take shape into something useful, sturdy, and complete.

There’s a lesson in that.

Sometimes God builds us the same way.

Piece by piece. Adjustment by adjustment. Mistake by mistake. Until one day we step back and realize we’re not who we were when we started.

“Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9

This cabinet didn’t come together all at once. Neither do we.

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

Captain’s Addendum

Spock raised an eyebrow. “Fascinating, Captain. You appear to be deriving confidence from cabinetry.”

Bones shook his head. “I’ve seen men find themselves in stranger places than a pile of hardware.”

I smiled. Sometimes the work in front of us is doing more than building a project. It’s building us.

Mission Log complete.

Grateful for early starts, steady progress, and the quiet joy of finishing what we begin.

Happy Easter

Stardate 04.05.2026

Imagine walking up to the tomb and finding it empty.

The week leading up to this moment felt like a week from hell. Confusion. Fear. Grief. You remember wanting to fight back when the mob came for Jesus. One of your friends did draw his sword and struck a man, cutting off his ear. And you watched, stunned, as Jesus calmly picked up the ear and restored it as if violence had no authority in His presence.

That memory is still fresh when you arrive at the tomb.

And now… it’s empty.

Then His words come rushing back.

“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

The light dawns slowly. The kind of realization that starts in the mind but lands in the heart like thunder.

The temple has been rebuilt.

Jesus is alive.

Death has been conquered.

What felt like the darkest week in human history was actually the setup for the greatest victory the world would ever know.

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” — Psalm 118:24

This morning, we are headed to our house of worship to celebrate Easter Sunday with hearts that are full. Full of gratitude. Full of relief. Full of joy that doesn’t come from circumstances but from truth.

I’m especially thankful today that my body has recovered from whatever crept into my life on Friday and forced me to leave my day job early. For a moment, it felt like my own little retreat into weakness. A forced pause. A reminder that I am not in control of as much as I think I am.

But today, strength is returning.

The sun is shining. The air feels lighter. And the timing is not lost on me.

Just as the tomb did not stay occupied, neither did my bed.

Just as despair did not have the final word, neither did fatigue.

Just as death did not win, neither did whatever tried to slow me down this weekend.

Easter has a way of putting everything into perspective.

The setbacks. The sickness. The exhaustion. The grief. The fear.

They are real.

But they are not final.

We worship a Savior who specializes in turning what looks finished into a fresh beginning.

So today, we rejoice.

Not because life is perfect.

But because hope is alive.

---

Captain’s Addendum

Spock tilted his head slightly. “Captain, the data suggests that hope often appears most illogical at the very moment it is most necessary.”

Bones folded his arms. “I’ve seen enough to know, Spock, sometimes the only cure for a weary body is a reminded soul.”

And I smiled, realizing that Easter doesn’t just change history.

It changes how we see today.

---

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

Mission Log: Strength returns. Hope remains. Gratitude rises.

Happy Easter.

Health Setback Forces a Retreat

Health Setback Forces a Retreat
Stardate 04.04.2026

This morning, I was treated to breakfast in bed.

Not because it was planned. Not because it was a celebration. But because my body needed a pause.

Something caught up with me near the end of my shift yesterday and made it clear that retreat was the wise choice. I went home early. I skipped Good Friday services. I canceled cardio tennis this morning. And I spent 11½ hours in bed letting my body do what it was asking me to do — recover.

Today will be slow.

Intentional. Gentle.

My hope is to have enough strength later to install the cabinet doors on the new shelves in the basement. But even that will depend on how I feel. There’s no forcing anything today.

And strangely, there’s peace in that.

I’m off today and tomorrow, which feels like a gift. Space to heal without pressure. Space to listen instead of push.

It’s not easy for me to retreat. I like momentum. I like movement. I like checking things off the list.

But sometimes the most faithful thing we can do is step back and let our bodies catch up with our intentions.

“He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul.” — Psalm 23:2–3

This morning feels like green pastures.

Not dramatic. Not exciting. Just restorative.

And I’m grateful for that.

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

---

Captain’s Addendum

Spock: “Captain, a temporary retreat appears necessary for long-term effectiveness.”

Bones: “In plain English — sometimes you just need to lie down.”

I’m learning that rest is not a setback. It’s often part of the path forward. And today, I’m thankful for the reminder.

Good Friday

Stardate 04.03.2026

Some people wonder why it’s called Good Friday.

They see the suffering. The betrayal. The cross. And they struggle to connect that to anything good.

But what Jesus did on this day over 2,000 years ago stands as the ultimate act of love. Through His suffering came the opening of a door that none of us could open on our own. What looked like loss became the pathway to life.

That’s why it’s good.

Last night, I listened closely as my pastor led the Holy Thursday service. The theme was simple: service. Just as Jesus washed the feet of His followers, we are called to serve others with the same humility and love.

That message stayed with me.

Because I’ve been watching something quietly come full circle in my own life.

About a year ago, I met the person who oversees the Children’s Miracle Network connection at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital. At the time, it felt like a simple conversation — a seed planted for something that might happen someday.

Now, that “someday” is beginning to take shape.

I’m preparing to introduce a coloring book created specifically for patients at the hospital. A small offering meant to bring comfort and distraction during difficult days.

A few weeks ago, my pastor mentioned that part of his calling is visiting these same patients, representing Jesus in their rooms. And as it turns out, my original contact is connected to this same circle of chaplains and caregivers.

Even more surprising, the very group that gathers funds to support this work is now helping spread the word about the coloring book.

And I wasn’t even in the room when these connections came together.

Others were speaking. Doors were opening. Threads were weaving.

I’m simply watching it happen.

On Good Friday, I’m reminded that sometimes God is working behind the scenes long before we understand the pattern. What once looked like separate conversations, separate ideas, separate people are revealing themselves to have been connected all along.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him.” — Romans 8:28

Just as Jesus opened the door to Heaven through His sacrifice, I’m watching doors open here on earth through quiet acts of service and faithfulness.

I’m thankful for Good Friday.

I’m thankful for momentum in this mission.

And I’m thankful to be walking this journey one step at a time.

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

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Captain’s Addendum

Spock: “Captain, it appears the connections were established long before you perceived them.”

Bones: “Funny how the pieces come together when you weren’t even looking.”

I’m learning that God often builds the path ahead of us while we’re simply taking the next faithful step. And for that, I’m deeply grateful today.