Dave Glardon – Page 2

Sour Grapes Don’t Make Sweet Jam

January 8, 2024 by Dave Glardon, posted in Uncategorized

Good morning! I hope your day is off to a great start.

So, here we are a week into the new year, and already planning next year’s resolutions. Just me? It’s not that I’m suddenly so proactive – just that I’m not ready to completely give up on the ones I’ve already blown out the window this time. That’s the way this works. If you really, really want to lose weight, you don’t just give up on the idea. You set a new date. That way, you keep the dream alive.

Okay, we all have our weaknesses. Mine, apparently, is buttered popcorn. And candy. I went six months without touching a piece of candy, and then found a recipe to make one of my favorites at home. It’s made from marshmallows, white chocolate chips, butter, and gum drops. And I only have two pieces each day. Then I have two more, just to keep it from going to waste. Can I get an amen?

We’ve been talking about things that hold us back in life, and I’ll be the first to admit my greatest limitation is between my ears. I can do anything for a week. Beyond that, all bets are off. I thought intermittent fasting was the key. And it works! But it doesn’t do much good to put off your first meal until noon if you eat a water buffalo for lunch. I’m sure I read that somewhere.

You ever feel like you just need an attitude adjustment? You ever feel like somebody else does? I know I’m failing in my goal of losing weight, but that doesn’t mean I have to be miserable about it. You see, that’s the part about goals they never tell us. It’s okay to feel discouraged, even upset, about our failings. But we don’t have to share them with the entire world.

We’ve all met people who couldn’t be happy if you handed them a bag of cash. “Thanks! Sure, it’s a lot of money, but the government is going to take it all in taxes. And, what are all these ten-dollar bills doing in here? Did the bank run out of fifties? This won’t even buy a pound of bacon! And now the whole family will want some, too. See what you started?” Sound familiar?

Nothing can get in the way of our happiness quicker than a sour attitude. We all know that. Yet, some people not only embrace negativity, they buy it in bulk. And when that runs out, they make more. Misfortune is the only thing that makes these people happy. And if you weren’t aware of just how sad their life is, pull up a chair. They’ll be happy to enlighten you.

Then there are the others – people facing insurmountable odds, yet somehow, they never got the memo. I’m often reminded of a woman in our church who faced terminal illness with such grace and positivity, cancer didn’t stand a chance. Della didn’t stop living until her eyes closed for the last time. And knowing how she lived, I’m sure she left this world with a contented smile on her face.

I’m not sure every cloud has a silver lining, but if you look high enough, they’re all puffy and white. Our choices is to sit here in the darkness or reach for something better. We can’t change the challenges we’ll face, but we can change our response to them. And if an octogenarian can face terminal cancer with such grace, I can handle pretty much anything life throws my way. So can you. That’s all for now. Put on a smile and have an awesome day!

Confidence is So Under-Rated

January 5, 2024January 5, 2024 by Dave Glardon, posted in Uncategorized

Good morning, and happy Friday! I hope your day is off to a great start.

As we move into the new year and toward the goals we’ve set for ourselves, it’s important to identify what’s standing in the way. It’s not so much about avoiding obstacles, but kicking them in the shins and showing them who’s boss. Now, if you have any ideas for making winter more accommodating to an old guy who needs to get out and walk, I’m all ears.

Today is my oldest granddaughter’s 16th birthday. Yes, I’m that old. She was born when I was 12. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Like most her age, she’s struggling to plan her path in life. What I wouldn’t give to be that age and have all those choices again. Okay, I’d probably end up right where I am, but hopefully with a smaller waistline. Hey, a man can dream!

Watching her navigate this phase of life, the things that stand out most are her creativity, sense of adventure, acceptance of others, and ability to find amusement in the simplest things. All those things will carry her far in this life. She just needs to know that. Of all the assets we can impart to our kids (and one another), none is more important than self-confidence.

Okay, my oldest grandson sometimes takes that to an extreme. It’s hard to control my facial expressions when he’s talking about buying a $150,000 sports car and can’t even afford a bicycle. But I have to remind myself, that’s his dream, not mine. Besides, there may be a reason he wants a car I couldn’t possibly fit into. I wouldn’t want to ride with me. Not with this attitude.

I try as hard as I can to be supportive, and to remind myself that they don’t have to live my life – my job is to help them live their own. Do I think my grandson will own a “Lambo” in the next twenty years? Not for a second. But I don’t have to share that sentiment. His bank will handle that all on their own. Right after they stop charging him overdraft fees.

But you know, I made some of the same mistakes when I was his age. Or five years ago, take your pick. I’m sure my dad would have advised me against spending six figures on a motorhome at this age, but I didn’t ask. We made our own decision based on our own goals in life. I’m such a rebel. Next thing you know, I’ll be tying my own shoes.

I’ve accomplished a lot in life, and I’m happy to be where I am. This is all I want for my kids and their kids. And I did it because my parents gave me the most wonderful gift of all. They believed in me and, as a consequence, I believed in myself. I never heard the words, “You can’t.” The worst Mom ever said was, “Go ahead – I dare you!” But that’s for another day.

Everybody, from the youngest child to the oldest senior, needs to believe in themselves. It’s as important as oxygen. And we are the ones who can inspire that confidence in them. If a simple smile can make a homeless person feel important, imagine what we can do with a few words of encouragement to those we love most. Friends, we could literally change the world.

That’s all for now. Have an awesome day and an even better weekend!

It’s Your Year – Make it Count!

January 1, 2024January 1, 2024 by Dave Glardon, posted in Motivational Humor

Good morning, and happy New Year! I hope wherever you are, your day is off to a blessed start.

I know, I don’t usually write posts on holidays. But, being relegated to my own little corner in my own little chair (at the kitchen table) because of Covid, I find myself with all this creative energy and the need to do something constructive with it. I just hope this continues throughout 2024. The creative energy, not the Covid. All I can say is thank God for modern medicine. I’m much better.

I used to tell everyone my only New Year’s resolution was never to make another New Year’s resolution. It seemed to be the only one I could actually keep for 12 months. Over the years, I’ve resolved to get healthy (does surviving a stroke count?), write a book (don’t rush out to the store just yet), build my business (okay, laugh), and lose weight. That last one is the biggest joke of all.

I still want to do all those things, but I’ve learned you can’t just make a wish and expect those things to happen. Believe me, I’ve rubbed the finish off enough lamps over the years to realize there’s no genie waiting inside to magically grant my wishes. The only way for any of this to happen is for me to get up a little earlier each day and make it happen. So far all I’ve done is eat an earlier breakfast.

But you know, it all starts with a mindset. We can’t simply want to succeed; we have to focus on the reasons we want to succeed. Change for the sake of change is doomed to fail. I have a few bosses who could stand to learn that one. But change, based on a clear understanding of what was wrong in the first place, at least stands a chance. I’m not buying bigger pants. How’s that for motivation?

The other thing to keep in mind is that you can’t torment yourself to the achievement of a goal. You have to lighten up. That’s why I try so hard (and not always so successfully) to inject a little humor in what would be an otherwise boring message. It’s impossible to be miserable when you laugh. Okay, abdominal stitches aside. A comedy club is not the place to be right after hernia surgery.

But as a standup comedian, I usually ended my show by reminding my audience of the importance of laughter. I once did a tour with gout in both feet so bad I was nearly crippled. But from the start of my shows until the end, there was no pain – just exhilaration. Sure, the pain came back later, usually with a vengeance. “I’ll teach you to ignore me!” Oh well. It was worth it.

The point is, no matter what your goals for the coming year, face them with a sense of humor. Get rid of that contorted face and stop telling everyone how hard you’re working and what you’re giving up. Nobody wants to hear it, and it’s not doing you any favors, either. Just focus on the reason and enjoy the journey. Who knows? You might even make a few new friends along the way.

I have some dear friends whose health challenges this past year make mine look like a walk in the park. Some of them have no idea what the future may bring, but they’re still out there making the most of each day, because they can. So can you. No matter what 2023 threw your way, you made it this far. So, put a smile on your face, a song in your heart, and get on with life. You ain’t dead yet.

That’s all for now, friends. May 2024 bring you all peace, prosperity, health, and happiness. Have an awesome day!

P.S. Those of you who have been with me over the years know how much I love hearing from you. I don’t write these posts for me – it’s all for you. Your feedback helps keep me inspired and on track. And if you know anybody who could use a little more positivity in their life, please share this link and invite them to come along. Together, we can make this thing rock!

Opportunity Knocks, But it Won’t Kick the Door Down

December 29, 2023December 29, 2023 by Dave Glardon, posted in Uncategorized

Good morning, folks! I hope your day is off to a great start.

Mine could be better, but that’s how it goes. The guy who NEVER gets sick woke up yesterday with an intense upper respiratory infection and, by the end of the day, testing confirmed Covid. I’ve had it twice before, but this one is absolutely the worst. No, I didn’t get the new vaccine yet. I was planning on it, but you know what they say about good intentions.

I’m not going to dwell on this. If it’s the worst thing that happens this year (you know, over the next two days), I’ve got it made. The only reason I mention it is to remind you all that vaccines are available, and this is a WHOLE lot worse than a sore arm. Not trying to tell anyone what to do, but I hope you’ll all give it some consideration.

We’ve talked a lot these past two weeks about not crawling into a grave before it’s time. Mostly, we talked about physical limitations and how we build them up in our mind. It’s hard to enjoy an active life when you hurt, and even harder when you convince yourself it’s worse than it is. Take it from someone who avoided energetic activities twenty years before he had a heart attack.

Another limitation has nothing to do with our physical condition, or our perception of it. In my business, I ask people all the time to dream a bit – make a list of things they’d like to do if money were no object. It’s amazing how quickly we all start to pare that list back, based entirely on our current financial resources. It’s almost impossible to see past the roadblocks right in front of us.

And when you press the matter further, they can all come up with a dozen reasons they’ll never have the money to do half the things they want. Born into a poor family, dead-end job, too many bills, no money to invest – the list goes on and on. And no matter how hard you try, some people just can’t accept the fact that every one of those challenges can be overcome with one thing – more money.

Yeah, I know. If earning more money would fix their problems, wouldn’t they be doing it? You’d think. But five years later, they’re still sitting there whining about their lot in life and how opportunity never knocks. Well, get a clue, knucklehead! It does knock, probably more than we think. But opportunity is not like a bill collector. If you don’t open the door, it moves on.

Take a few moments to think of all the times in your life you had the opportunity to increase your income. That may have been as simple as learning a new skill at work, applying for a new job, moving to a city with better opportunities, whatever. Do not … and I can’t stress this enough … do not try robbing banks. On the other hand, you don’t need a lot of money in jail. I’m just saying.

The point is we’ve all been faced with opportunities that we may have quickly dismissed or didn’t recognize in the first place. Most times, it’s just a mental block. “What would my friends say?” Are they paying your bills? “I don’t know anybody.” That’s a lie. You know me. “If it was that good, everybody would be doing it.” If you believe that, read these past few paragraphs again.

The new year is upon us, and resolutions are a traditional way to take our mind off the cold weather and mounting holiday bills. If you want to lose weight, you can. If you want to exercise, do it. And if you want to be able to afford those things you couldn’t until now, fix it. Will another year of doing the same thing magically turn things in your favor? Something to think about.

That’s all for now. Remember, the simplest ideas can often be the most profitable. Sometimes, it really IS that easy. You just have to take a gamble and put yourself out there. Have a safe & happy New Year!

Act Your Own Age, Not Mine

December 26, 2023 by Dave Glardon, posted in Uncategorized

Good morning! I hope you enjoyed the best of whatever you celebrate this holiday season and are eagerly anticipating the start of what could very well be your best year ever. You just have to want it.

Some of you have noticed a change in my approach to these messages. Based on comments, both online and in person, I think I may be onto something. It’s really simple. No matter what life has thrown your way, the very fact that you’re able to read this proves one thing – you ain’t dead yet.

These words aren’t only for old folks who, like me, wake up every day with body aches and a foggy brain that remind us we’re not as young as we once were. Okay, I really don’t need the daily reminders. Yes, I’m old enough for Medicare. I know that. My eyes aren’t as good as they used to be, but the bathroom mirror doesn’t lie. Neither does the scale, but that’s another story.

Living in a 55+ community, I’ve come to realize that living your best life isn’t something we trade in for a senior discount card. We still party. We still dance. And we’re known to sip an adult beverage or two. It doesn’t matter. In a park where most people travel by golf cart, nobody cares if you can balance on one foot as long as you can find your own driveway. So far, I’ve only missed once.

You know what we don’t have? People sitting around, commiserating about their gout and goiters. I’ve seen people who are nearly crippled out there walking the streets with friends every morning. I’ve seen them wood carving and quilting in spite of their arthritis. And I’ve seen old men flirting with great-grandmothers. Sometimes it even works. I won’t lie – I’m taking notes.

Yet, living among all those old farts, I have to travel outside our gates into the “real” world to find people who are truly handicapped. I’m not talking about the stuff that gets you a special parking spot. Those are at least real. I’m talking about the handicaps living in a dark place in our mind that we don’t discuss with professionals who could at least slap some sense into us.

Let’s face it, some people are miserable simply because they choose to live that way. They couldn’t get invited to a funeral if they were the guest of honor. Nobody wants to be around them. Ever heard of RBF? It’s a clinical term for a face that scares the preacher, makes small children cry, and prevents unwanted sexual advances. Okay, it gets in the way of the other ones, too.

I feel bad for anybody who truly wants to enjoy a more fulfilling life and can’t. Yet, in a way, I feel even worse for those who could do better but find an excuse not to. Age has nothing to do with it. I’ve been there. It wasn’t a happy time, and I still struggle with it occasionally. We all do. The trick is to remind yourself it’s only a resting place, not a destination. Dust yourself off and move on.

That’s all for now. We’ll talk about this more in the coming weeks, but as you plan your New Year’s resolutions, here’s one we could all try – living life to its fullest. This is my wish for each of you. Have an awesome day!

Fix What You Can, Then Run Like Hell

December 22, 2023December 22, 2023 by Dave Glardon, posted in Motivational Humor

Good morning, and happy Friday! I hope you’re having a wonderful day.

Last week, we talked about making the most of our limitations to enjoy what’s left of our time on this planet. Hopefully, we’ll all be here for a long time to come, but we should still live each day as if it would be our last. That doesn’t mean live like there will be no consequences. If you do something you’ll pay for the rest of your life, you’ll probably live forever. Just ask Keith Richards.

As we age, things change. You ever wonder why old couples are so nice to one another? It’s simple. We can’t run as fast as we used to. Or duck. Observations I may have shared years ago have transformed into quiet chuckles of how funny that thought may (or may not) have been. Besides, I may want to eat a meal she’s cooked at some point. Spit is the least of my worries.

While those limitations may keep us out of trouble, they also get in the way of those fun things we wanted to do. Like skydiving. It’s something I’d like to try, but my left ankle collapses just getting out of bed. Plus, I’ve not been able to find any instructor willing to test the integrity of a parachute with me strapped to his chest. I’m pretty sure there’s a weight limit.

But I’ve often said that medical issues and physical limitations are valid only to the extent that we do something about them. Beyond that, they’re just an excuse. And you know how we love our excuses. Remember Redd Foxx on Sanford & Son? “It’s on account of my arth-a-ritis!” And if that didn’t work, he’d grab his chest. “It’s the big one! I’m comin’ to join ya, Elizabeth!” I’ve used both.

There are some things we just have to live with, but to the extent we can correct them, we should at least try. My wife has suffered with a self-destructive hip for ten years. It’s a hindrance, but she never wanted it to be an excuse. So, I used it as one of my own. “We can’t go dancing on account of her hip.” It’s saved me a lot of public humiliation over the years. And she doesn’t mind.

Last week, she finally bit the bullet and got a new hip. As the surgeon described the procedure later, I realized not all surgery is delicate and precise. He used instruments that were made for heavy truck maintenance. Think pry bars and air chisels. At one point I thought I heard a jackhammer, but that may have been from the dental clinic next-door.

And he didn’t mess around. He completely destroyed that old hip so there was no way she’d change her mind, and then replaced it with a bionic hip made of cobalt, titanium, and two complete sets of ball bearings, like they use for dancers and athletes. So, there goes that excuse. Guess I’ll have to enroll in dance lessons. And learn to run fast or be nice. She has the upper hand, now.

At the very least, she’ll be a lot better than she was. And the biggest challenge now me not becoming her excuse. “I’d love to go rock climbing, but Dave’s back can’t handle it.” Go ahead, sweetheart. I’ll stand here and catch you if you fall! She may have been gullible enough to marry me, but she’s not stupid. Besides, she still thinks she needs me, and I’m not about to prove her wrong.

If something is holding you back, odds are you can make it better. Nobody wants surgery, a diet, or a new exercise plan. Okay, not sane people. But don’t just settle for excuses. Fix what you can, and deal with the rest. You may not be able to move mountains, but you can walk to the edge and give ‘em a good hard kick. At least then you’ll have a real excuse to fall back on. Fix what’s broken and see what’s left. It may be less than you think. Until then, have an awesome day!

You Ain’t Dead Yet!

December 11, 2023 by Dave Glardon, posted in Uncategorized

Good morning, and happy Monday! I hope your day is off to a nice start.

To say 2023 has been a challenge is an understatement. Of course, we say that every year as if it’s something new and insightful. But it’s true. No matter how hard we try to make things better, life has a way of throwing a wrench in the spokes. And the faster you’re going, the harder the fall. It’s physics. Blame Sir Isaac Newton. He’s dead, anyway.

It’s been six months since my stroke, and two things are obvious. First, I’m not as young as I used to be. Second, I’m still kicking. I need to remind myself of that every day. Sure, my body has seen finer days. Along with my youth, I’ve said farewell to my upper-body strength, my ability to follow a conversation, and that unruffled demeanor I embodied my whole life. Okay, and my memory, too.

I never really felt my age until this year. Sure, I’ve seen the changes in the mirror. Funny, I don’t notice all that gray hair until I go to the barber. I used to wish they had clippers that just cut out the gray and leave the rest, but if they did, I’d come away looking like Vin Diesel. That would be okay if I had his physique to go with it. Let’s face it, my biceps are turning gray, too.

Another thing about getting old – every time doctors test for one thing, they find something else. I’m still not sure how a brain scan showed testosterone deficiency, but they managed to find a way. Okay, the doc calls it an enlarged aorta. In other words, my heart is ticking in more ways than one. And I’m not allowed to lift more than 30 pounds, ever. Not that I could before, but still.

Yet through it all, though, one fact remains – I’m still breathing. I still have the ability to get out of bed every morning, however slowly. I still work, though I don’t always remember what I did yesterday. And I just drove 1800 miles in two days, mostly because I kept getting lost. You’re welcome, Exxon.

So, I’m not as nimble as I used to be. Who cares? I’m still alive, and with each new day comes a new opportunity to try something different. Sure, the results will be mixed. But that adds a level of excitement. Like stepping into the bull ring and finding out how fast you can run. I already know the answer to that. I couldn’t outrun a gerbil with a five-second head start.

We only have a certain amount of time left on this planet. How we spend that time is a choice we make. I may not be able to climb a mountain, but that doesn’t mean I can’t stand at the bottom and appreciate its beauty. Or just turn a bull loose and maybe I can climb better than I think. You never know.

As long as we’re breathing, we’re not done. And everything is possible until we prove otherwise. Challenge yourself. Instead of accepting a self-imposed set of limitations, stretch those limits. Change your mindset and you can change your life. It’s easy. Just get up each morning (however slowly), stand in front of a mirror, and repeat after me … “You ain’t dead yet!”

That’s all for now, folks. Thumb your nose at whatever is standing in your way, then tell me all about it. Let’s face this beast together. Meanwhile, have an awesome day!

Work Is Important – So Are You!

September 18, 2023 by Dave Glardon, posted in Uncategorized

Good morning! I hope your day is off to a nice start.

At the start of a new week, we often take time to plan out the days ahead. What’s coming up at work, deadlines that are approaching, meetings we’ll have to attend, and so forth. We think about things around the house, especially anything outdoors, because weather may play a factor. Shopping, cleaning, laundry, repairs – it’s always something.

If you were to write down everything you plan to do during any given week, you’d quickly find out why next Monday’s list includes some of the same things because they didn’t get done this week. That’s the story of my life. Every time I tell my wife I need to do some cleaning in the basement, she just rolls her eyes. We both know it’s not gonna happen.

This past weekend, I had plans to start writing a book. The idea hit me last week and, after a couple of days excitedly churning through possible ways to approach the topic, I was ready to roll. I even set up a keyboard on the dining room table so I could work there. Well, as it turns out, keyboards are not telepathic … they only work if you sit down and use them.

I can point to any of a dozen different things that kept me from following through on my plans. Church, shopping, getting new glasses, adjusting to those new glasses, dinner with our grandson … the list goes on. But the simple truth is I just didn’t do it. I didn’t clean the basement, either. Just thought I’d put that out there before anybody asks.

Especially for those of us who work, our own goals always seem to take a backseat to everything else. The boss talks about prioritizing, but what they mean is we should prioritize the things they want done. But hey, once that’s all done, you can do anything you want. You know, in your spare time. Is it any wonder we never prioritize our own goals?

Work-life balance is a key part of our mental state. As humans, we need to be doing something productive. That’s just how we’re wired. But if the things we do are always for somebody else’s benefit, it’s easy to lose sight of why we’re doing it in the first place. Sure, we get paid. Awesome. But there has to be more to life.

Tombstones rarely mention a person’s profession or how many years they worked. Apparently, those things only matter to the coffin’s occupant. The rest of the world sees a name and two dates. But, between those two dates are the period we call life. And it’s up to us to cram as much living as possible into that time span. Not work – living.

As you look ahead to your week, don’t forget to make time for the things that matter most to you. That may be game night with the kids, a walk in the park, planting flowers, a special outing, starting a business, or writing a book. Whatever it is, if it was important enough to occupy your thoughts for more than a few moments, it’s important enough to make it happen.

That’s all for now. Have an awesome day!

It Ain’t Over Till the Fat Lady Sings

September 15, 2023September 15, 2023 by Dave Glardon, posted in Uncategorized

Good afternoon friends! I know, I know … morning was gone several hours ago. But sometimes we do these things when we can, right? I sure hope you’re having a nice day.

Things change as we get older. I guess that comes as no real surprise to anyone. Prices go up, energy goes down, and music will just never be the same again. Can I get an amen? Sure, that’s just the short list. There are also plenty of aches & pains, but thankfully there are also plenty of doctor visits to discuss them. My diagnosis is pretty much the same. I’m old.

And it doesn’t help when the doctor’s advice is to slow down. Oh sure, they want me to be active. Walking, swimming, riding my bicycle, and things like that. Funny they never mention skydiving or happy hour. But, during all this activity, I have to keep my blood pressure under control, and my days of lifting heavy weights are over. Or, so says the doctor.

Now, it’s not like I ever lifted really heavy weights anyway. Even when I went to the gym on a regular basis, I kept it within reason. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. But to tell me I can’t pick up a bag of salt or bench press a running lawnmower is hard to handle. It’s like telling me to be less of a man. Worse yet, I have to watch younger people do these things for me.

I could cry about it, or I can do what I was going to do anyway – fight back. I may never be the nimble young stud I once was (stop laughing!) and my grandkids may have to climb into my lap on their own. Thankfully, they’re still willing to do that. Another thing about getting older – grandkids tend to outgrow their grandparents. That’s the hardest one to handle.

Equally difficult is looking back at all those missed opportunities and latent dreams. Don’t get me wrong. I’m thrilled with my life, and there’s not much I’d change if I could. But that doesn’t mean I’m ready to roll over and just take whatever life throws my way. Besides, I’m the one who abused this body all those years. I’ve earned it.

But with every new day comes new opportunities. It may be the same old opportunities or something completely new. As a comedian, I always reminded people that we don’t stop laughing when we grow old – we grow old when we stop laughing. The same is true of opportunity, and life. But the sad fact is, too many people stop living long before they die.

As long as we have air in our lungs and food in our belly, we have the ability to enjoy a more complete and vibrant life. Yes, that vibrance may fade over the years, but it never completely goes away. It’s our ability to make the most of life, and those opportunities, that determines whether we spend our days living or wasting away. You already know my choice.

Give this some thought over the weekend. Just because you missed an opportunity once doesn’t mean it’s gone forever. And the fact that you can’t run as fast as you used to, or jump as high, doesn’t mean you’re bedridden. Life is what we make of it. Make yours count!

That’s all for now. Make the most of the day and have an awesome weekend!

If You Want a New Direction, You Have to Change Your Path

September 11, 2023September 11, 2023 by Dave Glardon, posted in Uncategorized

Good morning! I hope your day is off to a nice start. Yes, it’s been a while since my last post, so I thought it was time to visit old friends.

First things first – some of you have asked about my stroke recovery, and I’m happy to say it’s going really well. The damage appears to have been minimal, affecting mainly my left-side strength, short-term memory, and my ability to regulate body temperature correctly. Otherwise, I’m the same old me.

I attribute a lot of this to the fact that I was pretty healthy before the stroke. Overweight, yes. But still healthy. I take really good plant-based vitamins every day, and I’m sure that helps. But our lifestyle when we travel is so much healthier than when we’re home. We walk, we swim, we visit friends. It all adds up.

We’ve lived in our current home for 23 years. We have some pretty awesome neighbors, but the fact remains, most of us stay hidden within our own four walls. Other than the occasional wave as we drive past somebody sitting outside and a once-a-year block picnic, we’re mostly just occupants of the same street.

And, let’s just say it – that pretty well sucks. We are all social creatures by nature (some more than others), and sitting in a closed-up house in front of the TV is not healthy, physically or emotionally. We need interaction. We need camaraderie. We need hugs. And most of all, we need adventure.

Do we live this way by choice? I guess so, since we’ve done it for so long. But if you had asked me 23 years ago if this was a choice I’d make, the answer would have been a resounding “NO!” It just sort of worked out that way. And, judging by the lack activity in the neighborhood, we’re not alone.

It’s easy to start down a path – any path. Changing that path is uncomfortable, even when we realize it leads someplace we don’t care to go. It takes effort and a fair amount of self-discipline to find a better path. And that’s true of everything, from finances and personal habits to socializing and chasing our dreams. Sometimes, the rut is just the easiest path to follow.

But, as a good friend said years ago, a rut is nothing but a grave with the ends open. It takes a conscious decision to get out of that rut. Yes, we all face challenges and obstacles to achieving the life we desire. But it can be done. We just can’t do it by following the well-worn path to the other end of the grave.

If life isn’t what you’d hoped it would be, do something about it. Set a goal and go after it. Make some new friends. Spend more time with the friends you’ve got. Learn a new skill, take a trip someplace you’ve never been, volunteer in the community. At the very least, you’ll develop new interests. And you may just find yourself on the path to where you always wanted to be.

That’s all for now, friends. Life is short, and tomorrow is never guaranteed. Get out and make the most of it. Meanwhile, have an awesome day!