Category: Randomness – Poems, Haiku, and Other Stuff

What’s one habit that has improved your life the most?

Bedtime by 11:30 PM.

At that time I make sure everything is off, my eyes are closed, and my head is on the pillow. If I don’t do that it’s hard for me to get to sleep.

What does freedom mean to you?

Be who you are without consequences.

Love who you want to love without consequences.

Live how you want to live without consequences.

Every human is a human.

No matter your race or your gender.

Equality for all.

That’s freedom to me.

How do you use social media?

Sparingly.

I’ve dumped most of them.

Surf Reddit but rarely post anything to it.

Spend sometime on Blue Sky promoting my Podcast and YouTube Channel.

That’s it.

What do you wish you could do more every day?

Read. Grab my Kindle and just read. I have time to do it but the phone usually distracts me. I am not a phone junky (truly work to limit my screen time) but it still calls to me. Like a siren leading me to the murky technical depths.

What was the best compliment you’ve received?

When I started dating my wife she had only dated guys in her church. They had never really been the best fit for her. She took a chance on me, despite reservations from a few of her friends, and agreed to a first date. I wasn’t regularly going to church at the time so many reservations were given as to why I wasn’t the right fit.

Turns out, plot twist, my wife told me years later that the reason she decided to go on a second date, and eventually marry me, was because none of those church guys ever treated her the way I treated her.

Always thought that was a great compliment.

What strategies do you use to cope with negative feelings?

I use music mostly when negativity hits. Finding a song that is super aggressive or upbeat and light easily helps change my mood. It always puts my mind into a better place. Jimmy Buffett has been my go to artists for years. Getting lost in his music will easily reset your mind.

Exercise also helps too. A long walk, hike, or bike ride clears the mind. Nature is a healer.

You’re writing your autobiography. What’s your opening sentence?

Sunshine, Jimmy Buffett, and palm trees that has defined me and shaped me into the man I am today.

What are three objects you couldn’t live without?

AirPods. Allows me not to annoy my family.

Kindle. Love getting lost in a great story. I just finished Fairy Tale by Stephen King and really enjoyed it.

I hate to admit this one – my phone. It’s a creative tool, a connection to the world, entertainment, etc. Hard to not have it.

What experiences in life helped you grow the most?

Kids.

When you become a parent it changes you – in a good way.

Plus, I stay home with them so it’s helped me change and grow in ways that are very positive.

What advice would you give to your teenage self?

“Stay focused”

I wasted a lot of time when I was young. Looking back now, at 53, I see so much unused space – space that should have been filled with more creative projects or long hikes or running or traveling, etc.

I don’t have regrets but I do have a few redos in my past.

If there were a biography about you, what would the title be?

Does he ever wear pants?

I push shorts season deep into fall almost to the edge of winter and if winter is mild I still wear them. I do not like pants, especially blue jeans, and only wear them when it’s just too cold not to.

Something on your “to-do list” that never gets done.

Vacuuming.

No matter how hard I try to make this a recurring thing, like changing bed sheets weekly, I just can’t get it in my routine.

What do you complain about the most?

Traffic and Politics.

Traffic where I live gets very busy very quickly though not as bad as some places it still is too much for me.

Politics is a recent gripe. Kind of started to get more interested in it as I get older.

What are your favorite sports to watch and play?

American Professional Football is the only sport I really watch these days. I don’t play it or any other sport for that matter. Being an athlete was not for me.

List five things you do for fun.

1. Read – love getting lost in a great book.
2. Create – writing has always brought me joy.
3. Laugh – you have to do this as much as you can. Helps so much.
4. Movies – like books, getting lost in a movie is a great way to pass the time.
5. Music – finding that one song or album can turn your day around.

What makes a good leader?

Empathy.

You just can’t lead without it.

Can you share a positive example of where you’ve felt loved?

Home.

Every time I open the door and step inside I feel love. It’s a warm hug, a comfort from the outside world, it’s my safety net. It’s where I feel love radiating off of the walls themselves. That to me is where I have felt loved the most.

What snack would you eat right now?

Pop Tarts – cherry ones with frosting. Since being diagnosed Celiac there’s no wheat for me. That means no Pop Tarts. If I could eat a snack right now that would be it. Just give me that snack with no issues and back to Gluten Free I go.

If you had a freeway billboard, what would it say?

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Move on.

What is the greatest gift someone could give you?

This one is not so much for me but the world at large.

Love.

It’s one word but it can solve so many problems. That to me is the greatest gift you could give anyone.