What's on Your Calendar?

The hand-made calendar on my wall covers the next three years.  Each box contains goals and time targets.  The headline on the calendar is from Jeremiah 29:11-13...

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹² Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

The subtitle is from 1 Corinthians 13:7...

⁷ Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

I posted a hand-written statement in the center of the vision board to remind me about my commitment to debt-free living...

Live within your means.

My buddy from California who sold my dad his last automobile taught me this phrase and it's also on my calendar...

"Every day, every time, without fail, no exceptions!!!"

My calendar is meant to be a template for living my life.  There's a heart on it with the words 2 Vacations next to it.  This is one of my favorite items.  The challenge is to tie all these ideas together and make them work in harmony.  There are times when adjustments are necessary to keep my sanity.  So far, so good.  Now it's your turn.  What's on your calendar?  You don't have to share if you don't want to.  The question is for your benefit.  Have a great day.

Good Things Happen When You Come Out of Your Shell

I would like to welcome all the new readers who are checking in for the first time.  My writing life is something I kept quiet about, especially during my first three years in Iowa while I was working on my first novel.  Thank you for joining me here on this blog.  I'm getting the hang of shipping for those of you who requested autographed copies from me.  If your packaging looks odd, that's because I'm recycling the cardboard for my books to keep expenses down.  Please let me know if your package arrives safely.

My wife and I just finished a Skype call with our army son and we are happy to report he is enjoying his life overseas.  Have a great day and remember good things happen when you come out of your shell.

Happiness is an Inside Job

There are many things or situations in life you have no control over.  Happiness is not one of them.  Some people I know have a happiness thermostat.  When the temperature gets too hot or too cold, the complaining starts and the happiness fades.  The same is true with the weather.  My happiness thermostat has been tested beyond normal comfort levels.  It's been tested in firestorms.   I'm thankful for one lesson I've learned – happiness is an inside job.

Post this quote on your refrigerator.  Pass it along to a friend.  Be happy.  Have a great day.

Are You Ready for the Next Chapter of Your Life?

Warning.  The next chapter of your life may be filled with surprises.  Something happens.  It's different from yesterday.  You've been there, done that.  Why not turn the page?  I believe there are two reasons why you should move on to the next chapter.  The first is hope for gain.  By moving forward, you will meet new people, find new opportunities and improve your life.  The second has to do with fear of loss.   If you choose to keeping re-reading old chapters, you will miss your date with your destiny.  You will die with a sack full of regrets.  Your book of life will be incomplete.

Start your next chapter today.  Don't wait for the perfect time.  There is no perfect time.  Be bold.  Seek adventure.  Change may be painful but it's worth it.  Have a great day.  Happy reading.

Fight or Flight?

Kenny Rogers sings, "You have to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em."  And those in the animal kingdom instinctively see through the poker face.  Our pets have something to teach us.  We humans probably spend too much time over thinking our options.  There are only two – fight or flight.

Whichever you choose today, make sure you are well-equipped.  Prepare yourself to outrun the fastest lion chasing you down.  And if you find yourself in a situation where aggressive tactics are necessary for survival and you choose to fight, pursue your prey with everything you've got and don't let anything stop you.

My own personal battle is complicated.  It won't be over until I breathe my last breath.  My enemy is invisible to most.  All I can say is I have a secret weapon.  If you find yourself fighting an enemy you cannot see, try this prayer...

Share This Quote with the Love of Your Life

Yes, I do dance to a different rhythm.  My wife is responsible for this.  I hope the song lasts forever.   I've been hearing her music in my head ever since the day I met her.  The quote by Kirk Diedrich summarizes it best.  Share it with the love of your life.  And dance.  Have a great day.

What's Inside the Last Layer of Your Onion?

Sharing doesn't come naturally for me.  I remember pulling over to the side of the road a few times while pondering chapters for my memoir.  The suppressed memories were so overwhelming I felt sick to my stomach.  The same thing happened while penning my first novel.  It didn't matter my characters were fictional.  I felt their pain.  One of my first readers told me he had to close the book and walk away when he began reading my memoir about dad's return home after a long absence.  "Your book brought back memories I didn't want to deal with.  Sorry.  I don't think I can make it to the end," he said. 

Relationships are like layers of an onion.  We are attracted by outward appearances and we want to know more about what's inside.  Fiction is another layer.  It's a form of hiding behind imaginary characters.  Readers are asking, "are these people in your novel real?"  My answers are vague.  All my characters, real or imagined, are in a witness protection program.  That's my onion story.  What matters most to me is that my stories inspire you to share more of yourself with others without being afraid.  Have a great day.