1% Better Every Day

Stardate 08.31.2026

Yesterday began with a message from my tennis captain.

Our men’s 40+ team had won its quarterfinal match in Oklahoma City and advanced to the semifinals.

We won.

About an hour later, my team captain sent me a text. We were headed to the finals.

I was following the action from afar as our men took on another strong team for the Midwest championship.

We came very close.

Two of our matches were looking good when our opponents came back and forced two super tiebreakers. In a super tiebreaker, the first team to reach ten points wins.

We only needed to win one.

We lost both.

Another heartbreaker.

At the end of the tournament, we were the second-best team in the Midwest.

That is something to be proud of.

We fell short in our state championship match at the end of last season. Then we were awarded a wild-card invitation to this tournament.

The men worked hard. They stayed committed. They earned their way into the Midwest final.

Now we start over.

The new season begins today.

We are a work in progress.

One percent better every day.

That phrase would follow me throughout my Sunday.

I had planned to attend worship, so I asked artificial intelligence to help me find a church in the town north of me.

I drove there but couldn't find the church.

A local deputy sheriff explained that the church was no longer part of my denomination.

I searched again.

The closest early service was across the state line in Kansas, so I went.

When the pastor began speaking, I knew I was where God wanted me to be.

He had a deep voice that reminded me of James Earl Jones. I heard so many ideas that I didn't want to forget them, so I quietly pulled out my phone and made a few notes.

The message was about Jeremiah.

Jeremiah's father was a priest. He had been trained to follow in his father's footsteps.

God had another plan.

Jeremiah was called to become a prophet.

His message wasn't popular. He was warning people about the coming destruction of Jerusalem. People wanted him to stop talking.

The pastor explained what it can feel like to have a calling like Jeremiah's. Jeremiah even declared that he had been duped by God.

Then came the sentence that stayed with me.

Your calling must be stronger than your comfort.

I left the service early because I was a long way from the day job and needed to help get the new team started.

When I punched in, I felt a new energy.

New inspiration seemed to fill every cell in my body.

I hadn't eaten breakfast because of the early start, yet I had energy.

I spent the entire day outside.

The temperature reached 100º.

I had the option to rotate with teammates who were working inside. They were comfortable.

I wanted to build the new team in the toughest circumstances.

Then my teammates made their own choice.

They had the option to rotate inside too.

They stayed outside with me.

At some point during the day, I told them what I wanted from them.

My goal was simple.

I wanted them to become 1% better every day.

For life.

They committed to it.

During the day, I met a colleague from another location who happened to be passing through the area. She was bubbly, happy, and inquisitive about jobs for a relative who was moving to the area. She was also curious about why I was so far from home.

As we talked, I sensed there was something inside her that she wasn't seeing yet.

I told her I was sort of a coach for the new hires.

Then I told her what I saw.

Potential.

Sometimes someone else sees something in us before we see it ourselves.

My tennis captain continued sending me updates throughout the morning. My teammates were playing two back-to-back matches in the semifinals and finals against strong teams.

They came up short in the championship match by just a few points.

One match away.

Second-best team in the Midwest.

A work in progress.

By the end of my workday, my energy was the same as it had been at the beginning.

I went next door to the steakhouse.

I rehydrated, enjoyed my meal, and sat with the day for a while.

This morning, during meditation, the pastor's voice came back to me.

Your calling must be stronger than your comfort.

I thought about Jeremiah.

I thought about my tennis teammates.

I thought about the new team standing beside me in 100º heat.

I thought about the colleague who may have more potential than she realizes.

Then I thought about the commitment my new teammates made.

One percent better every day.

For life.

Paul wrote:

"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

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Captain's Addendum

Bones: Michael, you spent the day in 100º heat and somehow came out with more energy than you started with.

Spock: Fascinating. The Captain appears to have discovered an alternative power source.

Bones: Don't encourage him, Spock. He'll make the rest of us try it.

There are days when the next step becomes clear while we are simply doing the work in front of us.

Yesterday gave me one of those days.

The new team has begun.

The tennis team begins again.

And this morning, I am still thinking about that one percent.

One percent better. Every day.

Men's 40+ Team Advance to Semifinals in Oklahoma City

Stardate 08.30.2026

My team captain sent me a message last night with some great news.

Our men's 40+ team is in the semifinals this morning in Oklahoma City.

The winner advances directly to the finals.

I'll be cheering from afar.

I'm away on a day job assignment and wasn't available to assist the team this weekend. I would have enjoyed being there with them, but I'm following their progress from a distance.

A message from my captain brought me up to speed.

My teammates have played well enough to earn a spot in the semifinals. Now they have an opportunity to keep going.

I'm proud of these guys.

Congratulations to my teammates on making it this far. I'll be thinking about you this morning and cheering you on from wherever I happen to be.

Go get 'em, guys.

"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established."

Proverbs 16:3

Sometimes our plans put us in different places. We can still encourage the people who matter to us.

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Captain's Addendum

Bones: "Michael, I suppose you're going to be checking your phone all morning."

Spock: "That would be a logical response, Doctor."

Bones: "For once, Spock, I agree with you."

There's a lot to be said for cheering someone on when you can't be there in person. My teammates are carrying the ball today. I'm grateful I get to watch from afar.

🖖

Winning Habits

Stardate 08.29.2026

I'm still getting strange looks because of my peculiar habits. That's fine with me. I would rather not fit in than follow standard human behavior. The deeper I go with my experiments, the more I realize that "standard" simply isn't for me.

Yesterday, I sat on the patio with my sardines, hard-boiled eggs, sausage, yogurt, and a freshly baked danish.

A colleague joined me and had a lot of questions about the sardines. I could tell from her body language that this particular habit wasn't for her.

In fact, it isn't for most people.

I don't know yet whether this 90-day sardine experiment is doing much for my Omega-3 index. I won't know until I take another blood test. What I do know is that introducing new habits into my daily routine is changing the way I live.

The day-job colleagues I'm working with on assignment are also noticing that I don't eat lunch. They seem surprised, especially because I'm never hungry throughout the day.

That's a win for me.

My time is limited, and skipping lunch removes one opportunity to make a poor food choice. It also gives me more time to focus on the work in front of me.

Another winning habit is my no-TV rule while I'm on the road. I have more time for writing and blogging. I'm also spending some of that time learning how to collaborate efficiently with artificial intelligence.

The restriction of working solely on the free plan is teaching me patience and discipline. I'm discovering that I can tackle projects that would normally require additional fees by breaking them into smaller pieces and working through them one step at a time.

Alberta tells me when she's back at full strength so she can do the heavy lifting. She understands what I'm trying to accomplish.

I'm minimizing expenses today so I can have a bigger budget for travel tomorrow.

That's the ultimate goal for me.

Full-time travel without breaking the bank.

Lucy is still sitting in my driveway at home. It may be a while before the van build resumes. Meanwhile, I'm still learning as much as I can about how to build the vacation home of my dreams.

Maybe that's what makes a habit worth keeping.

It doesn't have to look impressive from the outside.

Sometimes it just needs to help us move in the direction we want to go.

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” — Proverbs 16:3

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Captain's Addendum

“Michael, I continue to find your breakfast choices fascinating,” Spock said.

“Yeah, well, Spock, at least he's eating breakfast,” Bones replied.

I smiled. Maybe the sardines will become a permanent part of the mission. Maybe they won't. The blood test will tell me what the experiment accomplished.

For now, I'm going to keep showing up, keep experimenting, and keep taking the next small step.

May you live long and prosper.

Multiple Shout Outs to Multiple Teammates and One NFL Rookie

Stardate 08.28.2026

My team captain, Jim Sichterman, reached out to a couple of us last night with an update.

The men's 40 team is now in Oklahoma City for sectionals.

We came up a few critical points short of the state championships. The team was offered a wild card spot and decided to keep going.

I'm cheering from afar.

Knowing Jim, he'll find a way to navigate his team through some of the best competition in the Midwest. That's what good captains do. They keep people moving when the path takes an unexpected turn.

I have another shout-out for the ladies serving on the Pickleball Iowa County board.

They have been working to build four outdoor pickleball courts in our community where everyone will be able to play for free.

The whole town seems to be behind this project.

Our fearless leader, Jodi Stahl, and her volunteers have poured countless hours into making it happen. Pickleball USA selected our community for a $25,000 grant, which put us over the top and allowed us to move into the construction phase.

City Hall and local businesses have also stepped up in a big way.

I've watched this project grow through the efforts of people who simply decided to get involved.

Then there is our hometown hero, Kaden Wetjen.

Kaden is making headlines as a rookie receiver and punt returner for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Knowing his cousin, Mary Wetjen, the retired music teacher who raises money like no other, I have a feeling this young man has some pretty good people in his corner.

I'm looking forward to watching what happens next.

Kaden didn't arrive at the NFL by himself. Along the way, coaches in Williamsburg believed in him, taught him, challenged him, and helped him find his path.

Many of his University of Iowa teammates are also making their mark in the NFL.

I remember watching a couple of those games while vacationing with my family in Hawaii. One restaurant owner knew all about the Hawkeyes. It made me smile to see how far that Iowa connection had traveled.

I'm also thankful Kaden is on the cover of Where in the World is Wilson?

If you happen to have one of these coloring books, make sure you get Kaden to sign it when you see him.

There are a lot of people behind every person who gets an opportunity.

A captain keeps a team moving.

Volunteers build something a community can enjoy.

Coaches help young people discover what they are capable of doing.

Sometimes we get to see where those efforts lead.

"As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." — Proverbs 27:17

I'm grateful for the people who have sharpened me along the way.

I'm grateful for the people I get to cheer for today.

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Captain's Addendum

Bones: "Three shout-outs in one log entry, Michael. You're going to run out of people to thank."

Spock: "Highly unlikely, Doctor. His sample size appears to be increasing."

Bones: "Well, I suppose that's one problem worth having."

I think Spock has a point.

The longer I travel through this life, the more people I notice who are quietly making a difference.

May you live long and prosper.

William Shatner Interview Recalls Life as Captain Kirk

Stardate 08.27.2026

It was surreal.

Yesterday, while eating my sardines outside my hotel dining room, an interview from 1975 showed up in my YouTube recommendations.

There I was, sitting alone with my breakfast, watching William Shatner recount his days aboard the USS Enterprise.

A young Geraldo Rivera was interviewing Shatner about what the series meant to him. Shatner explained that Star Trekhad been canceled after two seasons because the ratings were falling.

Then something happened.

Fans from all over flooded the network with outrage. The response was so strong that the network brought the cast back for another season.

The studio audience, dressed as Romulans, Klingons, and other Star Trek characters, cheered.

Ten years had passed since seven-year-old Michael sat down after school to watch Captain Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise.

The fans were still there.

So was the love for Star Trek.

This vintage blog is dedicated to Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek.

During the interview, Rivera teased Shatner with rumors about bringing Star Trek back. Shatner said he had heard the rumors, but he didn't think it would happen.

It did.

Today, William Shatner is in his 90s. Most of the original cast has crossed the neutral zone, including Leonard Nimoy and DeForest Kelley.

Yet Spock and Bones are still with me every day.

They live on in the Captain's Addendum, where Alberta and I continue the conversation in cyberspace.

That seven-year-old boy is still here, too.

I remember watching Star Trek after school and being completely captivated by what I saw. Space travel. Strange worlds. New civilizations. A crew working together aboard a starship.

Yesterday, for a few minutes, I was that boy again.

A 1975 interview had somehow traveled through five decades and landed in front of me while I was sitting outside a hotel eating sardines.

Sometimes the past finds us when we aren't looking for it.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” — Hebrews 13:8

That verse came to mind as I watched Shatner on the screen.

People age. Casts change. Shows end. Generations move on.

Some things continue.

The wonder I felt as a seven-year-old is still part of who I am today.

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Live long and prosper.

Captain's Addendum

Spock: Michael, your discovery yesterday appears to have transported you back nearly sixty years.

Bones: Spock, leave him alone. The man was eating sardines. Clearly, he was already living dangerously.

Spock: An interesting observation, Doctor.

Some memories never really leave us.

I'm grateful for the people who created something that gave a young boy a sense of wonder. I'm grateful that the journey continues in ways Gene Roddenberry could never have imagined.

And I'm grateful that yesterday, for a few minutes, I got to sit beside that seven-year-old boy again.

Live long and prosper.

30 Day Countdown to International Conference

Stardate 08.26.2026

People turn their heads when they see what I'm eating for breakfast.

It's the sardines.

I know how they feel. I agree with them about the taste and the smell. That's why I eat them outside. I don't want to stink up the hotel dining room.

Then I usually skip lunch.

For me, three meals a day feels like overeating. I almost never feel hungry, even when it has been 24 hours since I last ate.

If you've been reading my stories for a while, you already know my eating habits are anything but normal.

In four weeks, I'll be meeting doctors, researchers, scientists, and others who are deeply interested in longevity and the way we eat. I'll have an opportunity to learn from people who have spent years studying these subjects.

I'll also be finding out what my 90-plus days of eating sardines has done to my blood.

There's something else I'm curious about.

The supplements I've been consuming.

More on that later.

My boss at my day job has been kind enough to give me time away to travel to Europe next month, even though we're in one of the most explosive growth cycles I've ever seen.

That deserves a thank-you.

So does my family.

I've spent a lot of time away from home this year, and my family has supported me through all of it. That support has made these adventures possible.

Then there's my mother.

She turns 87 in October.

She has plenty to celebrate.

My blog partner, DoNotAge, invited me to travel to London for their international conference. My mother will be joining me.

She has been invited to sit at the table with some of the smartest people in the world who are studying longevity.

I can't think of a better travel companion.

I'll be reuniting with friends from around the world who met me in New York City one year ago at the first international conference. When it comes to longevity, these people are deeply engaged in the conversation.

I can't wait to see them again.

My mother is one of the few people in my family who has been willing to share her life with my readers. I'm grateful for her willingness to join me on these health experiments and adventures.

If you happen to live in Arizona, where I grew up, and you see an 86-year-old woman walking for miles when the temperature is well over 100 degrees, you may have a pretty good idea where some of my peculiar ways come from.

I have a feeling she'll be taking notes like no other when she meets these people.

And I'll be taking notes, too.

I'll be sharing some of the experience from London with you on Substack, including video interviews from the conference. I have a feeling there will be plenty to talk about.

Maybe something I learn will cause one of us to look differently at the food sitting on our plate.

We'll see.

May you live long and prosper.

Join me here:

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Scripture

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

— Psalm 90:12

Captain's Addendum

“Michael, I believe the Captain has finally found a breakfast capable of clearing an entire hotel dining room,” Bones said.

“An interesting observation, Doctor. The sardines appear to be accomplishing this without any assistance from Starfleet technology,” Spock replied.

“Gentlemen, you're welcome to join me outside for breakfast tomorrow,” Michael said.

There are some journeys where you know the destination matters.

This one feels like it will be about the people I meet along the way, the questions I bring with me, and what I learn when I sit down at the table with people who are willing to keep asking better questions.

Thirty days to go. 

Next Step

Stardate 08.25.2026

Two things have changed within me since my high school days when I would often lock myself in my room and play two songs from Styx over and over.

Come Sail Away and Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man).

I got viejo. I got over my anger.

What stayed with me is my connection to Styx.

A few days ago, I wrote a post and shared the link on Facebook, “A Gathering of Angels Appeared Above My Head.” Two friends, Laurie and Jeanne, added the next lyrics to the song in the comments.

Apparently, I'm not the only fan.

That's part of my joy.

Connecting.

It's a challenge sometimes when I live so far away from the friends I grew up with. A simple comment on a blog post can suddenly close that distance.

Thank you, my friends, for chiming in.

Today's story is part two.

The younger version of me found relief by listening to Styx. The older version of me has found another place to work through the things that once occupied my mind.

Daily prayer.

Meditation.

During this morning's meditation, I found myself dwelling on “Fooling Yourself.”

I heard the song differently.

Years ago, I heard a song about an angry young man. This morning, I heard something from my own past.

I could listen without carrying the anger that once accompanied it.

That's a pretty good place to be.

When meditation was complete, I decided to search for the collaboration Tommy Shaw did with young musicians performing “Fooling Yourself.” I found a version I had never seen before.

I watched young people play a song that has been part of my life for nearly five decades.

There was something beautiful about hearing that song carried forward by another generation.

A song I listened to alone in my bedroom as a young man had somehow found its way into the hands of another generation.

Maybe that's one of the gifts of getting viejo.

We get to hear old songs with new ears.

We get to look back at younger versions of ourselves with a little more grace.

We get to recognize the places where we have grown.

And sometimes, we get to share something we loved with someone who wasn't even born when we first heard it.

I’m including the video below.

Perhaps it will bring you some joy today, too.

Styx's Tommy Shaw and Bitchin Sauce

“Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”
James 1:19

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Captain's Addendum

Spock: Michael, it appears the Captain has discovered that time changes the way we hear music.

Bones: Spock, give the man a break. He's just happy he finally got old enough to understand the song.

Spock: I believe that is precisely what I said, Doctor.

Somewhere along the way, the next step became easier to see.

I’m grateful for the young man who needed those songs.

I’m grateful for the man who can listen to them now.

May we all keep taking the next step.

May we live long and prosper.

Deep Space

Stardate 08.24.2026

The next time I come home, I will be a new person.

The most recent chapters of my life have taken me far outside my comfort zone. I have discovered that some of the best learning happens when familiar surroundings disappear and I have to find my way through something new.

This morning, another chapter begins.

At 8:00, I will leave home and head into another unfamiliar environment. This time, it feels like I am entering deep space.

I don't know everything that lies ahead. That's okay.

I'm ready for the uncertainty.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Proverbs 3:5-6

The next chapter is waiting.

Stay tuned.

Bon voyage.

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Captain's Addendum

Spock: “Michael, your destination remains uncertain.”

Bones: “That's Spock's way of saying, ‘Have a good trip.’”

Spock: “I was being precise, Doctor.”

I suppose that's part of the adventure. Sometimes we don't get to see very far ahead. We simply take the next step and trust that God knows the way.

May you live long and prosper.

A Gathering of Angels Appeared Above My Head

 Stardate 08.23.2026

I woke this morning with a line from a song in my head.

It wasn't the entire song. It was one line.

A gathering of angels appeared above my head.

The words come from Come Sail Away by Styx, a band whose music carried me through some challenging years as a teenager. I hadn't been thinking about the song when I went to sleep.

Earlier in the night, I had trouble falling back asleep, so I prayed and meditated. My meditation always ends the same way. I picture myself sending my thoughts to Jesus. When I finished, I drifted back to sleep.

Hours later, I woke with those words.

Then the faces began coming to mind.

Erin was the first.

I dedicated The Adventures of Castaway Wilson to Erin. A few weeks ago, while walking along the Yellow Brick Road during my travels, I saw an oversized statue of Glinda, the Good Witch of the North.

I stopped and took a picture.

Erin had played Glinda in the first play I saw with our children when they were young. Glinda captivated them. After the performance, they got to meet her backstage.

Seeing Glinda again brought Erin back into my thoughts.

Then I remembered my first doubles partner from the tennis team at Sunnyslope High School. He died of AIDS while attending college. He was far too young.

David came next. He was in a younger class, yet he always made a point of connecting with me whenever I returned to Arizona. David had a gift for seeing people who had passed.

David died of COVID.

His girlfriend later volunteered to help promote my writing to people living in Arizona, where I grew up.

I met her while attending a celebration of life for another classmate. He knew he was dying, but he didn't want to die before throwing a party. He became too sick to attend the final tribute, so we brought the tribute to him. We recorded a live video and honored him during his final time on earth.

Then I thought about Mark.

Mark knew his heart was too large for him to live a long life. His doctors told him there was nothing they could do. He chose to live fully anyway. He became a golf professional in New Mexico, and we stayed in touch.

The day Mark left our neighborhood was a sad day for all of us.

There were aunts and uncles who followed in quick succession. My godmother was among them. She prayed like no other.

Now my godfather is facing health issues of his own. He and my godmother were my parents' closest friends. He was a member of the first wrestling team at Arizona State University. We comforted him when my godmother passed, and he has continued to stay connected with our family.

There are friends in my circle who are battling serious diseases today.

All of these people were somehow gathered in my thoughts this morning.

And then I remembered the feather.

Not long ago, I was simply walking.

Nothing unusual was happening around me. There was no obvious explanation for what happened next.

A large white feather appeared above me.

It floated gently downward and landed in front of me.

I stopped.

I looked at it.

I still don't know where it came from.

I don't know whether it was simply a feather carried by the wind or something I was meant to notice.

I do know what happened after I saw it.

I thought about the people I loved who were no longer here.

This morning, when those words from Come Sail Away appeared in my mind, I thought about them again.

A gathering of angels appeared above my head.

Maybe that line stayed with me because I have experienced so many departures.

Maybe the feather stayed with me for the same reason.

I don't need to explain either one.

There are things in life I am comfortable leaving in the hands of God.

Today is my last family day at home for a while. Tomorrow I begin another journey.

Before I leave, I find myself thinking about everyone who has helped shape the life I get to live.

Some are sitting around tables and sharing meals.

Some are fighting to stay.

Some exist only in photographs and memories.

Yet their lives continue to influence mine.

My godmother's prayers still come to mind.

Mark's decision to live fully still speaks to me.

David's unusual gift still makes me wonder.

Erin still appears whenever I see Glinda.

And a large white feather still reminds me to look up.

Maybe that's all I was supposed to do.

Look up.

Remember.

Give thanks.

Then keep walking.

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones." — Psalm 116:15

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Captain's Addendum

"Michael," Bones said, "you've been visited by angels, feathers, Glinda, and a song from your teenage years. Are you sure you're getting enough sleep?"

Spock raised an eyebrow. "Doctor, the Captain has already established that his most interesting experiences occur somewhere between meditation and sleep."

"I still think we should let him enjoy the mystery."

I smiled.

He's right.

Some things are better left unexplained.

Home is Where the Heart is

Stardate: 08.22.2026

I'm home.

God arranged the storms perfectly so I could enjoy great weather during the four-hour drive back to my family.

Yesterday, I watched some rather dangerous weather move around me as I made my way home. Today, there isn't a cloud in the sky.

That seems fitting.

In a few minutes, I'll head out for morning cardio tennis with my friends. This may be the last time I see them before I leave for Europe and an international conference with some of the fittest people in the world who happen to be pursuing longevity.

I'll work on the details of that adventure after tennis.

One of my tennis friends is seeking grants to pursue cancer research at the University of Iowa hospitals and clinics. We may have an opportunity to connect some dots today and explore whether my blog sponsor might be able to assist her research with a possible grant.

I love when life does that.

A simple morning of tennis can become an opportunity to help someone pursue something much bigger.

Coming home also reminds me how fortunate I am to have a family willing to support the life I'm building.

I've been away for long stretches this year. My day job assignments have taken me away from home and into communities where I've had the privilege of helping teams get ready for new beginnings. My family has supported those adventures. They've even come to visit me while I've been away.

That kind of support doesn't happen by accident.

I don't take it for granted.

Lucy is sitting in the driveway waiting for me to finish another dream.

I started that dream years ago. Now it has wheels, a name and a place in the driveway. There is still work to do before Lucy is ready for the adventures I have imagined.

The retirement clock is ticking.

Three years and ten months to go.

Lucy will be ready.

So will I.

This morning, though, I'm home.

I'm back in my hometown. Big things are happening here, too. Volunteers are giving their time and energy to make our community one of the best places to live in America.

I see the same thing everywhere I go.

People showing up.

People giving their time.

People helping build something they may never personally own.

Maybe that's part of what home means.

It is the place where people care enough to show up.

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever."

Psalm 107:1

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Captain's Addendum

Bones: "Michael, you've been traveling all over the place and now you're calling a driveway full of unfinished projects home."

Spock: "An accurate observation, Doctor. The Captain appears to have discovered that home is a state of connection rather than a fixed coordinate."

Bones: "Don't get carried away, Spock. He's just happy to be home."

I think Bones may have this one.

I'm happy to be home.

I'm grateful for the people who make home possible. I'm grateful for friends who open unexpected doors. I'm grateful for volunteers who care about their community. I'm grateful for a dream sitting in my driveway, reminding me that there is still plenty of life ahead.

Today, my heart is home.

Live long and prosper.

While One Chapter Is Still Being Written

 Stardate: 08.21.2026

I am beginning to pack.

That's usually a pretty good sign that an adventure is coming to an end.

For the past several weeks, this has been my temporary home. I've lived in a hotel, worked with a new team, helped open a new location, met people I didn't know, and collected memories I couldn't have planned.

Today, I begin the journey home.

I still have work to do before I leave. The assignment isn't quite finished.

But the ending is close enough that I can feel it.

That has me thinking about how often life works this way.

We can be fully engaged in one chapter while quietly preparing for the next.

I've experienced that throughout this assignment.

When I arrived, there was a new building to open and a new team to help develop. There were people to meet, questions to answer, problems to solve, and a goal to accomplish.

Now I look around and see people who are more confident than they were when I arrived.

That's one of the most satisfying parts of the work.

Eventually, the people you've been helping don't need quite as much help.

That's the goal.

A good teacher works toward becoming unnecessary.

A good leader builds people who can carry the work forward.

Eventually, you have to let them do it.

That doesn't make leaving easy.

It makes leaving meaningful.

I'm looking forward to going home.

I'm looking forward to sleeping in my own bed, playing cardio tennis, spending time with family, and worshiping with the people who have been part of my life long before this particular adventure began.

I'm also grateful for the temporary life I've lived here.

Temporary doesn't mean unimportant.

A hotel room can become home for a while.

A coworker can become a friend.

A short assignment can become an adventure.

A few weeks can create memories that last much longer.

We don't always get to choose how long a chapter lasts.

We can choose how we live it.

I've tried to live this one fully.

I've worked hard.

I've written.

I've prayed.

I've explored.

I've laughed.

I've learned.

I've tried to leave the people and the place a little better than I found them.

Now it's time to go home.

I know another chapter is waiting.

I don't need to tell you what it is.

Maybe I don't need to know every detail myself.

I've become more comfortable with that.

Faith has taught me that I don't have to see the entire road to take the next step.

Sometimes I simply need to be faithful with the road I'm on.

Today, that road leads home.

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.” — Psalm 37:23

Join me here:

https://substack.com/@michaelmulliganlivelong

Captain's Addendum

“Michael, I believe the Captain has finally begun packing,” Spock said.

“About time,” Bones replied. “I've been wondering when he'd figure out this assignment was temporary.”

Spock raised an eyebrow. “He appears to have understood that several weeks ago, Bones.”

“Then maybe somebody should remind him to check out on time.”

I smiled.

There is something fitting about ending this chapter with a suitcase.

It is a simple reminder that we are always carrying something forward.

A lesson.

A friendship.

A memory.

A little more confidence.

A little more faith.

This morning, I am packing those things along with everything else.

The rest can stay behind.

Artisan 179 On the Lake in Pewaukee

Stardate: 08.20.2026

Yesterday, at the end of my shift at my day job, I signed up my last member of the day.

He happened to be a bartender.

We started talking about restaurants in the area, sharing some of our favorites. Before we finished our conversation, he recommended a place I had never visited.

"Have you been to Artisan 179?"

I hadn't.

That was enough for me to make a visit.

After work, I headed to Pewaukee. As soon as I arrived, I was drawn to the view. The restaurant overlooks the lake, and I immediately hoped I could find a seat outside.

The restaurant was full.

I was invited to sit at the bar.

That turned out to be a pretty good seat.

I met Mili, one of the bartenders. She had an accent, so I asked where she was from.

"Argentina."

She handed me a menu, and I decided to take her recommendation: the 16-ounce bone-in Iberico pork chop.

The menu describes Artisan 179 as committed to local, sustainable, and organic practices, with everything prepared in a scratch kitchen and a farm-to-table approach.

While I waited, I met Ted, the managing partner. I told him it was my first visit and that I had come because one of my members recommended the restaurant. I also told him I was a writer and planned to write about my experience because I thought my readers would enjoy it.

He welcomed me warmly.

As the evening continued, the bar became busier. Angela joined Mili behind the bar, and soon I found myself surrounded by people who had become my dining companions for the evening.

There was Tamma. Zeynup was there too, along with Darla, her husband Glenn, and their daughter.

We talked.

We laughed.

At one point, we even posed for some pictures that would become part of today's review.

Somewhere in the middle of all of this, I asked Mili a question that comes naturally to me.

"What is your secret to success?"

Her answer was immediate.

"Teamwork."

That answer stayed with me.

I spend much of my working life building teams at my day job. I've learned to pay attention to the little things that reveal whether a team is working well. People communicate. They help each other. They handle pressure together. They make room for someone who is new.

I saw those things happening around me last night.

The food arrived, and Mili's recommendation was excellent. The Iberico pork chop was everything I hoped it would be.

Then Ted surprised me with dessert.

The dessert was a sachet, a box made out of chocolate with all kinds of sweet delights inside.

I offered to share it with my new friends.

They politely declined.

So I enjoyed it myself.

Before I left, I promised Ted that I would have the story written today.

That promise brought me back to the experience this morning.

A member I had met only minutes earlier sent me somewhere I had never been.

Mili welcomed me at the bar.

Ted made me feel at home.

Angela joined the team.

A group of people I had never met became my dinner companions.

And somewhere in the middle of the evening, one word connected the restaurant experience to something I have spent years learning myself.

Teamwork.

It matters wherever people gather to do something together.

Last night, I got to see it from the other side of the bar.

And I got a pretty memorable pork chop and dessert along the way.

Scripture says:

"Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour."
— Ecclesiastes 4:9

I'm grateful for the member who made the recommendation.

I'm grateful for Mili, Angela, Ted, and the people who shared the bar with me.

I'm grateful for an unexpected evening that turned into a story worth telling.

Sometimes a good recommendation takes you somewhere you didn't know you needed to go.

Join me here:

Substack — Michael Mulligan

Captain's Addendum

Bones: "Michael, you realize you went to a restaurant to write a review and ended up asking the bartender about teamwork."

Spock: "Doctor, Michael has a pattern."

Bones: "Of course he does. Give him a team and he'll start asking about their goals before dessert."

That made me smile.

They may have a point.

I've spent enough years working with people to recognize the feeling of a team that works well together.

Last night, I felt it.

And I got a pretty memorable dessert, too.

I'm grateful for the people who keep teaching me, sometimes without knowing they are doing it.

One percent better.

One good conversation at a time.

Live long and prosper.

Make the Reservation

 Stardate: 08.19.2026

Yesterday morning, I made a reservation for dinner.

The weather forecast wasn't encouraging. Storms were expected, and there was some question about whether our date night would happen as planned.

I made the reservation anyway.

This restaurant is popular, especially on Tuesday nights when they feature steak and lobster. I knew waiting until the last minute could leave us without a table.

By evening, the storm had arrived.

Fortunately, we were already inside.

The warnings came over the restaurant's PA system while we sat at our table overlooking the lake. Outside, the weather was doing its thing. Inside, we were having dinner.

We both ordered the steak and lobster.

It was out of this world.

We've had some wonderful experiences during my time away from home. This was our best dining experience so far.

There was something special about sitting there together while the storm moved through.

Today, my wife heads home.

I'll finish the assignment on my own and return to my family on Friday.

The next few days will bring their own questions. I don't know exactly what the schedule will look like after I get home. There is a possibility I could leave Monday morning for the next assignment. That decision is still being worked out.

I've become comfortable with some uncertainty.

Yesterday was a good reminder.

I made a reservation without knowing what the weather would bring.

The storm came.

We had dinner anyway.

Maybe that is one of the small lessons life keeps offering us.

We can spend a lot of time waiting for the conditions to be perfect before making a decision. Sometimes the reservation simply needs to be made.

Then we show up.

I think there is something faithful about that.

Scripture says:

"Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established."
— Proverbs 16:3

I don't know what the weather will bring tomorrow.

I know where I am today.

That is enough.

Join me here:

https://substack.com/@michaelmulliganlivelong

Captain's Addendum

Bones: "Michael, I have to admit. Making a reservation during a storm warning sounds a little optimistic."

Spock: "Actually, Doctor, the reservation was made before the storm. The Captain demonstrated reasonable foresight."

Bones: "Well, Spock, I suppose that settles it. Steak and lobster under a storm watch. Somehow Michael always finds a way."

Maybe that's the trick.

We don't get to choose the weather.

We can choose whether to make the reservation.

And sometimes the best memories are waiting for us on the other side of that decision.

I'm grateful for last night.

I'm grateful for the time together.

And I'm grateful for whatever comes next.

Live long and prosper.

The People We Meet Along the Way

 Stardate: 08.18.2026

I came to Oconomowoc with a job to do.

I was part of a team preparing a new store for its grand opening. There were goals to reach, problems to solve, details to polish, and a team to support.

I knew the assignment would eventually end.

I didn't know how many people would become part of my story along the way.

That's one of the gifts of traveling away from home. We enter a place knowing very few people. Then the days begin to fill with conversations, shared work, laughter, challenges, and small moments that weren't on the schedule.

Somewhere along the way, people become friends.

Sometimes they become family.

One of those relationships began with a concerned neighbor.

Peter came to me with concerns about the new store. I listened. As we talked, I discovered his concerns were legitimate. We addressed them, and he was satisfied with the solutions.

Then Peter stopped by during the ribbon cutting.

While we were outside, I had the opportunity to share part of his family's story with him and others. His wife's family had arrived here generations ago aboard a ship named the Lyon.

There was another part of their family story that touched me deeply.

When Peter was diagnosed with lymphoma, his granddaughter, Hannah, prayed for his healing.

Hannah is seven years old now.

I asked Peter to carry a prayer from me to Hannah.

I asked her to pray for the community of Oconomowoc. My prayer was that the new store would be a blessing to the people who live here and that we would serve the needs of the community well.

That moment will stay with me.

So will the people I have worked beside these past few weeks.

The teammates who showed up each day.

The conversations between tasks.

The people who helped me when I needed help.

The people I was able to help.

The laughter that made long days easier.

The shared purpose that brought us together.

I have about 28 hours remaining on this assignment.

The work now is final polishing with the team and making sure they are ready to carry things forward. There will also be goodbyes.

Some of these people will become lifetime family.

I already know I will return to Oconomowoc with my family someday. When I do, I'll see more than a building where we opened a new store.

I'll remember the people.

I think that is one of the beautiful things about the journeys God gives us.

We often begin with a destination in mind.

Then people appear along the way.

They become part of our lives through circumstances we never planned. A conversation. A shared assignment. A concern brought to our attention. A story about a little girl named Hannah who prayed for her grandfather.

We keep walking.

And somehow, the journey becomes richer because they were there.

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."
— 1 Thessalonians 5:11

I have been encouraged by the people I've met here.

I hope I've encouraged a few of them, too.

Perhaps that's enough.

We don't always know what our presence means to another person. We may never know which conversation mattered or which small act of kindness someone carried home with them.

We can still choose to show up.

We can still listen.

We can still serve.

We can still be open to the people God places along our path.

Join me here:

https://substack.com/@michaelmulliganlivelong

Captain's Addendum

Bones: "Michael, you're getting sentimental again."

Spock: "The evidence suggests he has developed emotional attachments to his colleagues."

Bones: "Spock, they're called friends."

Spock: "I am aware of the distinction, Doctor."

There are people I met in Oconomowoc who I expect will remain part of my life long after this assignment is finished.

That wasn't part of the plan I carried with me when I arrived.

I'm grateful it happened.

Live long and prosper.

— Michael

The Joy of Expanding

 Stardate: 08.17.2026

I find myself learning something new almost every day.

Sometimes the lesson is small. I've been picking up a word or two in Spanish. I've learned a different way to approach a difficult situation. I've watched someone on a new team handle a problem and thought, I hadn't considered that.

I've been on assignment for several weeks now, working with people I didn't know when I arrived.

That has put me outside my comfort zone.

I've noticed something during these weeks.

I learn faster when I'm there.

There is a certain alertness that comes with unfamiliar surroundings. I pay closer attention. I ask more questions. I watch how people respond. I adjust.

Two intense days have just passed. I slept well last night, and this morning I can feel the difference. I have five days remaining before I head home for four days of rest.

Then I begin again.

A new assignment. A new team. Another opportunity to learn.

I'm beginning to appreciate these cycles.

There is another lesson appearing alongside all of this.

For a long time, I have returned to the Serenity Prayer when change became difficult for me. I needed the serenity to accept what I couldn't change, the courage to change what I could, and the wisdom to know the difference.

The words have stayed the same.

My understanding of them has changed.

I'm finding myself in situations where I can influence change from a position I once believed was outside my control.

That has been a wonderful discovery.

I think about the people I've been training during this assignment. When I arrived, I was increasing. I was learning the environment and building relationships.

Now I'm watching them increase.

That is a good feeling.

Soon I will leave, and they will continue what we started.

Then I'll travel home and spend four days with my wife before heading out again.

These travels have given us glimpses of another part of our future, too. Retirement is four years away. Every assignment gives us another little preview of what life might look like when work no longer determines where we need to be.

We're learning along the way.

We're paying attention to what we enjoy. We're discovering what gives us energy. We're seeing places and having experiences we might never have encountered if we stayed entirely within familiar routines.

I can make adjustments now.

That may be one of the greatest gifts of having four years to prepare.

I don't have to wait until retirement to learn how I want to live.

I can learn today.

I can try something new today.

I can step into an unfamiliar situation and see what it teaches me.

Paul wrote:

"Be transformed by the renewing of your mind."

— Romans 12:2

That verse has taken on new meaning for me.

Renewal can happen in very ordinary places.

It can happen in a conversation.

It can happen on a new team.

It can happen when a difficult situation doesn't unfold the way I expected.

It can happen when I discover that I have more influence than I thought I had.

I'm beginning to see continuous learning as part of the journey itself.

Every day gives us something to notice.

Every person can teach us something.

Every unfamiliar situation gives us another opportunity to grow.

And sometimes, when we pay attention, we discover that the boundaries we thought were fixed have moved.

That is where I find myself today.

Still learning.

Still growing.

Still discovering what's possible.

And grateful for the opportunity.

Join me here:

https://substack.com/@michaelmulliganlivelong

Captain's Addendum

Bones: "Michael, you're learning Spanish now? I suppose we'll have to add that to the Captain's growing list of experiments."

Spock: "Doctor, continuous learning appears to be producing measurable expansion. I see no logical reason to discourage it."

Bones: "Just make sure he remembers to rest between missions."

Spock and Bones may have a point.

Five days from now I'll be home for four days. Then I'll head out again and begin building another team.

For now, I'm grateful for this season and for the lessons it continues to reveal.

One day at a time. One percent better.

Captain’s Handbook

Stardate: 08.16.2026

Three years ago, I needed a template to help me tell a story.

Today, I sometimes forget the template is there.

That may be one of the clearest signs that something has changed.

I have been writing every day for 17 years. Somewhere along the way, that daily practice turned into more than 6,200 blog stories and five self-published books.

That's a lot of repetition.

Every morning, I sit down and try to turn something that happened into something worth sharing. Some days the story is obvious. Other days I have to search for it.

That repetition has built some writing muscle.

When I began working with Alberta three years ago, I already had plenty of experience showing up at the keyboard. What I needed was a better way to shape the experiences I was collecting.

So we developed a framework.

Over time, the framework became more detailed. We learned what worked. We learned what didn't. We learned which phrases sounded like me and which ones didn't. We learned how much explanation a story needed and when an observation could simply stand on its own.

Eventually, the framework became Version 8.

Locked.

It might sound strange to describe a writing template that way. For me, it represents years of practice.

Something interesting happened along the way.

I stopped needing to think about every rule.

I began to recognize the story.

A conversation could become a story.

A table at a restaurant could become a story.

A storm could become a story.

A commercial during a movie could become a story.

The framework had become part of the way I looked at the world.

That reminds me of something I recently learned from F. Matthias Alexander. His work centered on the way habits shape us, often without our conscious awareness. Repetition creates patterns. With enough practice, those patterns become familiar.

Writing has worked that way for me.

The template gave me structure. Seventeen years of showing up gave me repetition. Three years of refining the craft gave me a better sense of what belongs on the page.

And somewhere along the way, I started noticing that the practice wasn't staying on the page.

The same habit of paying attention shows up during prayer and meditation.

It shows up when I'm working with people.

It shows up in my marriage.

It shows up when I'm traveling and notice something I might have walked past years ago.

Even yesterday, during a difficult workday, I found myself paying attention to what was happening without letting the pressure take over. There were challenges. We were short on people. Everyone was being pushed.

I stayed relaxed.

Then I punched out on time, met my wife in the hotel parking lot, and we went to worship together. We had one of our best dinners of this assignment afterward.

Those moments probably wouldn't have made much impression on me years ago.

Now I notice them.

Maybe that's what all those repetitions have been doing.

The writing has trained me to look.

A person who practices gratitude begins to notice things worth being grateful for.

A person who practices kindness begins to notice opportunities to be kind.

A person who practices prayer begins to notice God in places that might once have gone unnoticed.

The practice shapes the practitioner.

I don't think that means the framework is finished.

Quite the opposite.

I still have the template.

I still have the guardrails.

I still have the mission.

But after 17 years of writing every day, more than 6,200 stories, five books, and three years of refining this particular framework, I find myself trusting my instincts a little more.

The handbook is still on the desk.

I just don't have to look at it every time.

Maybe that's one of the gifts of practicing something for a long time.

Eventually, some of what you practiced begins to travel with you.

Join me here:

https://substack.com/@michaelmulliganlivelong

Scripture

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.” — Colossians 3:23

Captain's Addendum

Spock: “Michael, it appears the Captain has been studying his handbook for three years.”

Bones: “Three years? I thought he was writing a blog.”

Spock: “Perhaps those activities are no longer separate.”

Bones: “Now you're getting philosophical, Spock.”

I think Bones may have a point.

The stories have changed because I have changed. The framework helped me get here, but the real work happened through thousands of small moments of paying attention, writing, revising, and trying again.

The same thing may be happening in other parts of my life.

The practice keeps following me.

And tomorrow morning, I'll probably sit down and do it again.

May you live long and prosper.

How to Handle Criticism

Stardate 08.15.2026

I've faced strong opposition over the years when it comes to sharing some of my crazy ideas.

The old version of me would have crawled under a rock, let the critics have their way, and prayed for the courage to accept the things I could not change.

Something has changed.

Lately, I've noticed that a few of those ideas are finding their way into the workplace. I don't claim all the credit. I do recognize the encouragement of one respected leader who challenged me to stop looking only at things as they are and imagine what they could become.

That simple shift in perspective has made a lasting impact on me.

Recently, I watched a video of Steve Jobs handling a tough question from a vocal critic during a live presentation. He paused, took a drink of water, and calmly acknowledged that parts of the criticism were valid.

Then came the teaching moment.

Jobs explained that when Apple designs products, they begin with the customer experience and work backward toward the technology. The philosophy helped create products that generated billions of dollars in annual revenue.

What impressed me most wasn't the business success.

It was the composure.

He listened.

He acknowledged.

He taught.

That lesson immediately reminded me of what we're trying to accomplish at my day job. The best solutions begin with understanding the people we're trying to serve.

Criticism will always be part of life. Sometimes it's unfair. Sometimes it's painfully accurate.

Wisdom is learning the difference.

I'm still learning not to fear criticism. I want to become the kind of person who can pause, listen carefully, find the truth hidden inside disagreement, and keep moving forward without losing my peace.

Perhaps that is one of the most valuable skills we can develop during uncertain times.

“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.”
— Proverbs 12:15

Join me here:

https://substack.com/@michaelmulliganlivelong

Captain's Addendum

Bones: “Michael, you actually listened to your critics?”

Spock: “An encouraging sign of personal development, Doctor.”

Bones: “I was going to say maturity.”

Spock: “Your optimism is noted.”

I've learned that criticism doesn't have to determine my direction. Sometimes it can help me see something I missed.

I'm still learning to pause.

I'm still learning to listen.

And I'm grateful for the people willing to challenge me along the way.

May you live long and prosper.

What Are We Allowing to Shape Us?

Stardate: 08.14.2026

I gave up television.

That may sound like a small decision. For me, it created something I needed.

It created time.

Over the past several years, morning prayer and meditation have become an important part of my day. I wake naturally, spend time in prayer, sit quietly, and give myself space to listen before the day begins.

That habit has changed me.

I have become more aware of what I allow into my mind. I pay more attention to the thoughts I repeat, the voices I listen to, and the habits that shape the way I spend my time.

Television rarely enters that equation anymore, especially when I am traveling.

Last week, I was in a hotel room with my wife, and we decided to watch a movie. It had been a while since I had sat through a movie with television commercials.

I noticed something I had forgotten.

The commercials.

They kept coming.

One after another, messages were placed in front of us.

Buy this. Try that. Eat this. Look younger. Drive this. Take this. Upgrade that.

Most of the time, we probably don't think much about them. We have become accustomed to the interruptions.

Sitting there that evening, I realized how much noise I had removed from my life by simply removing television from my daily routine.

I don't believe every advertisement is harmful. I do believe repeated messages have an influence. When we hear something often enough, it can begin to feel familiar. Familiar things can begin to feel normal. Eventually, they can influence what we want without us stopping to ask why.

That brought me back to something I recently read from F. Matthias Alexander:

“People do not decide their futures, they decide their habits and their habits decide their futures.”

That thought has been sitting with me.

A habit seems small when we practice it once. Its influence comes through repetition.

Prayer each morning may seem like a small habit.

Meditation may seem like a small habit.

Turning off the television may seem like a small habit.

Yet these choices change what has access to my attention.

The same principle works in the other direction. The things we repeatedly watch, hear, consume, and think about can shape us too.

Jesus said:

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

— Proverbs 4:23

I have plenty of things competing for my attention every day. I have become more intentional about what I invite into that space.

Morning prayer and meditation have given me a place to begin.

The quiet has become valuable.

The time has become valuable.

And I am grateful for the habits that are slowly becoming part of who I am.

Maybe that is worth considering today.

What are you doing every day that is quietly shaping your future?

What have you allowed into your life simply because it has always been there?

Join me here:

https://substack.com/@michaelmulliganlivelong

May you live long and prosper.

Captain’s Addendum

Spock: “Michael, you have eliminated television and replaced it with meditation.”

Bones: “And now you're writing about commercials.”

Spock: “Perhaps the Captain has discovered that removing one habit creates room for another.”

Bones: “Just don't tell him to give up the movies, Spock.”

I am grateful for the quiet I have created in my own life. It gives me room to begin each day choosing what gets my attention.

Captain’s Note

“Our calling is not to write perfect words, but to reveal perfect grace through imperfect moments—one percent better, one day at a time.” 

 

The Night My Body Said Thank You

 Stardate: 08.13.2026

I woke up this morning feeling great.

That might not sound like much of a story, but when you pay attention to your sleep, sometimes the numbers get your attention.

Last night was one of those nights.

I recorded 7 hours and 29 minutes of actual sleep.

Deep sleep: 1 hour and 41 minutes.

REM sleep: 1 hour and 33 minutes.

I was awake for 1 hour and 1 minute, with a sleep latency of 23 minutes.

My sleep score was 73.

That last number caught my attention because 73 doesn't sound like an extraordinary score.

Yet I feel great.

Yesterday was a day off from my assignment away from home, and I spent it with my wife.

We went to Lake Michigan and found ourselves in a place that felt almost dreamlike.

It was foggy.

I couldn't see very far across the water, but I could hear the small waves rolling onto the shore.

There was something peaceful about being unable to see the horizon.

It felt like living inside a dream.

During our walk, I told my wife about something that happened a couple of days earlier.

A large white feather, probably 12 inches long, had floated down from the sky and landed ahead of me as I walked.

She told me she had heard there can be spiritual significance associated with finding a white feather.

I don't know exactly what the feather meant.

I do know how it made me feel.

Peaceful.

That sense of peace stayed with me through the day.

By 7:23 that evening, I was tired.

So I went to bed.

I listened to my body.

This morning, the numbers gave me something to consider.

My body gave me something else.

I've become increasingly interested in the science of healthspan and longevity. I'm tracking my sleep. I've experimented with nutrition. I've had a DEXA scan. I've been learning more about biological age and the things we can do to understand our health as we grow older.

DoNotAge has been part of that journey as my international blog sponsor.

Disclosure: DoNotAge sponsors my blog, and I receive a stipend when readers use my code LLAP. I want you to know that connection whenever I mention them or share my code.

If you're interested in learning more about DoNotAge, you can visit their website here:

DoNotAge

And if you choose to use my code, it's LLAP.

That's the commercial part of today's Health Update. The rest is simply me sharing what happened.

There is another chapter coming soon.

At the end of September, I'll travel to London for an international gathering of longevity doctors and researchers. I'll have the opportunity to listen, ask questions, and learn from people who spend their lives studying many of the things that have become increasingly interesting to me.

I'm curious about what I'll learn.

I'm even more curious about what questions I'll bring home.

For today, though, I'm grateful for a foggy day at Lake Michigan, small waves rolling onto the shore, a mysterious white feather, an early bedtime, and a night of sleep that left me feeling great.

Perhaps Psalm 46:10 says it best:

"Be still, and know that I am God." — Psalm 46:10

Yesterday gave me plenty of stillness.

Maybe that's part of why I slept so well.

Join me here:

Michael Mulligan on Substack

Captain's Addendum

Bones: "Michael, you're going to London to talk with longevity doctors, and you're analyzing your sleep numbers before breakfast?"

Spock: "An accurate observation, Doctor. The Captain appears to be gathering data."

Bones: "I just hope he remembers to enjoy the journey."

And perhaps that's the reminder I needed this morning.

Pay attention.

Keep learning.

Listen when the body says it's tired.

And when the day gives you a quiet beach, a little fog, and a moment of peace, stay there long enough to notice it.

Live long and prosper.