Reminder to Buy / Happenings In The Outhouse 29-Sept-2023

My annual gym membership came to an end for another year a few weeks ago.  I received no reminder, no head's up that "hey, do you want to renew?"

Nothing.

This would've been a great opportunity to reach out and let me know about any new deals or even a simple reminder that my membership was coming to a close.

How does this apply to your art, to your creations?

You need to remind people that you're still creating, still working on your craft.  Whenever you have something new, tell people.

Sports, Baseball Cards, And Other Unfamiliar Things / Happenings In The Outhouse 27-Jan-2023

Most, if not all, who know me, know that I am not a sports fan.

So why in the world did I start writing a book about baseball (and baseball cards) is truly beyond me.  But that's the way creativity works, I guess.

My current work-in-progress is a Middle Grade novel, inspired by my oldest daughter when we were out tossing a softball around many years ago.  The title struck me right away (I will share this at a later time), and I've had it on the backburner for a long, long time.

When I started it last summer, I didn't quite know the exact direction the story would go.  Well, truth be told, I never know the exact direction any story I've written goes right from the beginning.  Stories unfold as they're written, like opening a Christmas gift you have no clue as to what it is.

I knew the story was going to be about baseball and softball, the latter I'm slightly familiar with as I used to play on a youth softball league in my younger days.  Most of the kids in the town I grew up in played on this league, boys and girls.  But it soon delved into unfamiliar territory when baseball cards came into the story and, soon, baseball and sports in general.

I've done enough research to not completely botch it, but I know there will be details others may point out.  I don't care if I botch it, but I do care to write it with just enough authenticity that it appears I know what I'm talking about.

If you run into unfamiliar things, embrace it and learn.  Not that I'm going to turn into a sports fan or even an expert in baseball card collecting, because I'm not.  But learning new things has been quite fun.  Who knows where it will all lead?

Make Change A Habit / Happenings In The Outhouse 18-March-2022

Life is full of changes.

When my late wife got her cancer diagnosis in April 2011, it turned our world upside-down.  Life was an endless series of doctors appointments, trips to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester (a 382 mile trip, one way), and the extra financial burden on top of it.  And then it was juggling events with three young kids.  Upon her return home in December 2011, what we could do seemed limited.

In March 2020, a virus took the world by storm, changing the way business was done.  My employer implemented a work-from-home model, something completely unheard of from them until that point.  Now, two years later, my employer is having the working from home folks return to the office on a hybrid model basis, part at home and part in the office.  Changes.  Many changes and unknowns.  A number of people were not happy about it, but, when you examine it closely, it depends largely on how you handle change.

In June 2020, I joined the local gym.  I had wanted to join for quite some time, but I could not afford it in terms of time and money prior to that point.  Now, I go there 5-6 times a week on average, and I love it.  It's a way of me getting out of the house and doing something to physically improve my health.

Most times, I am alone and can plan my workouts ahead of time.  But when I have something in mind, let's say I had a weights day previously and planned on a strict cardio day on the treadmill, and all of a sudden there are people in the gym and all of the treadmills are taken, what do I do?  I change my plans.

I have made change a habit.  Yes, my first reaction on change is a slight WTF moment, but it quickly subsides.

I urge you to make change a habit.  If you do the same thing all the time, you don't grow as a person.  Change is what makes us better.

Finding Support / Happenings In The Outhouse 04-Feb-2022

Who has your back?

You have been working on something for a long time--or there is something you have been putting off and now is the time to get it started.

It doesn't matter what it is.  A project for the home.  A side business.  Getting in shape.  Furthering your education.  Moving forward in your grief.  And the list goes on . . .

Whatever it is, you may find yourself asking who has your back?  Who is supporting you?

First, let me tell you that you should be supporting you.  You should be the one to put the full weight of your decision into whatever it is that is driving you.  Letting others in, especially at an early stage, may be disastrous.

But this depends on who it is that you are letting in.

Find one who will be both honest and positive.  They should be an encouragement to you.  If something is completely unrealistic--like, if I wanted to be the next great NFL quarterback, when I've never played football and I could care less about the sport--the feedback should be something you should take to heart.  But if you have been in the business world for a few decades and want to advance your career by going for an MBA, that is more realistic.

It may be difficult to find the right one to support you.  But, if you trust in God, the support will be found for you.

But as a first step, give yourself grace, be positive, and be your number one supporter first.

Nobody Cares, Work Harder / Happenings In The Outhouse

There is a sign on the wall of the gym where I work out.

When it comes to working on your craft, no one really does care what you do and how you do it.  This may seem harsh, but it's true.  Even those closest to you, those who see you day in and day out, they may not understand the meaning behind what you do and how.  If they truly loved you, they would care.  It is okay to communicate with them, but I would limit it to them.

If they understand.

I see way too many artists who put themselves up on a pedestal, trying to be clever in what they do, and the echo chamber of those they surround themselves with are doing nothing but boosting their ego.

So the bottom line is this: no one cares what you do and how you do it.  Just work at your craft, put it out there, and work on the next project.

Nothing more.

Nothing less.

Routines And Impulsivity / Happenings In The Outhouse 22-Oct-2021

Everyone has routines, whether they believe it or not.  Some have more than others.  Even if you seem to do little each day, that's still a routine of accomplishing little.

Being impulsive is acting against those routines.

So imagine the lazy bum who sits around all day, watching TV, accomplishing very little.  One day that bum decides to change it up and read a book.

Okay, maybe this is a little extreme, but you get the idea.

If you are a routine-minded person, how well do you take to change?

Adding a sense of impulsivity can make life a bit more interesting.  Or maybe a lot, depending on what it is.  It is easy to get into a rut, to do the same things over and over again.  Try it.  Be impulsive.  Go for a drive.  Someplace you hadn't planned on going.

Go to a restaurant you've never been to.

Go to a movie you would never go to.

Do something to get yourself out of a rut.  You may not even realize you're in a rut.

My life pretty much turned for the better about 2-3 months ago, depending on where you point.  This person pointed out my routines, which she admired, but at the same time I had to break myself out of.  And that's a good thing.

Life is about change.

Change can be good.

First steps / Happenings In The Outhouse 17-Sept-2021

A 1000-mile journey begins with the first mile.

A 4-year journey of completing your college degree begins with the first class/semester.

Whatever you're doing, starting can be the most difficult hurdle to overcome.  Taking the first steps is essential to starting your journey, no matter what it is.

If you have a huge task, the best thing you can do is just start.  Baby steps if you have to.  I know first hand that writing a novel is a daunting task.  But as each page, paragraph, and sentence is written, the closer I am to completing it.

Start today.

Start small if you have to.

What you may find is that once you start, continuing the journey and completing it is easier than you think.

Pay attention to what you are neglecting / Happenings In The Outhouse 30-July-2021

Focusing your energy on one thing is good.

But if it means neglecting essential aspects of your life, the results can be harmful.  Even fatal.

When my late wife's health was failing, it was easy to just focus on her.  I mean, come on, she was worth it!  But if I neglected my own health, mentally and physically, the harmful effects wouldn't do the rest of my family or I any good.

It isn't selfish to put some of your essential needs ahead of someone else's.  Even Jesus, who gave all that He could for the people, including His life, went off alone quite often to reflect, pray, and rest.

A few weeks ago, I came to the hard decision to shift some of my energy from writing to cleaning up my yard--don't worry, I still write in the mornings.  I had meant to keep up with the yard work, and years of utter neglect showed, but it was the hard determination to just go ahead and do it that jarred it loose.  I gathered the tools I needed, bought ones that I did not own, and dedicated time each and every night to the task at hand.  It's not done, but it looks a heck of a lot better than before.

You see, through all the years of focusing my time and energy on my late wife, caring and loving her, these aspects of the family suffered.  This included my health.  Last June I joined a gym.  I needed to improve my health.  Weight loss was a must.

Exercise quickly became a daily habit.

Because I wanted to improve.

Because I wanted to serve others in a better capacity.

And to love?  Possibly the same kind of love I showed my sweet, precious angel, who let go of my hand on January 16, 2020, at 10:15am and grabbed the mighty hand of Jesus as He took her into Heaven?

I . . . I think so.

Am I ready?

That, my friend, I don't know.

But I'm willing to try.

Want something, make it a habit / Happenings In The Outhouse 23-July-2021

On June 15, 2020, I joined the local gym.  I desperately needed to get in shape, to lose weight, and with pandemic restrictions finally lifting then, I decided it was finally time.

No more putting it off.

Once I joined, I made it a habit of going at the same time every single day (okay, I do take 1-2 nights off a week, at the most to give my body a rest).  I find that setting a schedule of going in at a specific time, instead of "oh, sometime today" made my habit of going to the gym much more concrete.

And what's weird is that even on my "off" days, when my designated time rolls around, I get antsy to go.

Several years ago, I woke up at 5:30am every morning to write.  I was able to crank out a few novels during those times, and it was just something I needed to do.

What do you want to do?  What are you putting off?

Make it a habit.

Good luck!

Focus on what is important / Happenings In The Outhouse 02-Oct-2020

It's easy to get distracted.

Especially in today's time where more and more are vying for out attention.  All of our social media channels thrive on people staying on their platform longer and longer.  The 24/7 news media companies are offering up the latest BREAKING NEWS.

But I believe this has always been the case.  We want to stay busy, work longer hours, constantly feeling needed by those around us.

Step back for a moment and ask yourself, "What's important?"

Health?  Family?  God?  Hobby?  Something else?

When I updated my quarterly "Top Five" for the next quarter, I reviewed last quarter's.  I had more than five things.  And I barely accomplished any.  So I kept it simple for the last quarter.  Just five.  Five goals.  Are they attainable?  Yes.  Will they be easy?  Depends on how you look at it.  I broke the goals down into smaller chunks of five total, so I should be able to do at least three, if not four.

Another item for consideration is cutting down on the amount of podcasts I listen to.  Yes, again.  My list seems to grow and grow, and although I get through them all in a given week, I still wonder if I can cut them down more.

Look back in the archive of this blog and search "podcast fast" and you can see I've done this before.

It's okay to quit something.  Nine years ago, I resigned my part-time job as a licensed peace officer.  Sure, the extra cash was nice, but other areas in my life suffered.  Do I regret it?  Nope.  If you need to quit something, do it.

Remember to focus on what's important in your life.  God gave you a purpose.  Fulfill that destiny He gave you.

Closing out 2013 / Thinking ahead to 2014

I had 18 distinct goals for 2013.  As of this sitting, I have completed 10 of them.  Not bad.  I'm very happy with where I'm at.  In reviewing some of my goals, a few I did not even continue to pursue--namely a novel I had written years ago and was going to edit for publication this year, however its writing needed A LOT of work, so I decided to put it on hold for now.

How is your list of goals for 2013 coming along?  Please feel free to add your comments below.

On to 2014, I have brainstormed quite a list I'd like to accomplish.  Now, in the upcoming weeks, I'll refine it and tack it up so I can see it.

One goal I didn't even come close to hitting is my exercise goal--actually, it's a weight goal I wanted to hit.  In speaking with my wife and sister-in-law recently, I have decided to join the local gym.  But not yet.  There's a small financial matter to settle first as my wife continues treatments down at the Mayo clinic quite often.

But that is a goal I will be pursuing in 2014.

The one goal I'm neglecting (and you may be too)

I look over my list of goals for 2013, and out of 20 items, I have accomplished 11.  Not bad.  But I'm not patting myself on the back just yet, because there's one goal that I seem to be neglecting.

Exercising.

Yup, the good ol' gotta-lose-weight goal.

This isn't my actual goal.  The goal is a weight I'd like to accomplish.  And I'm far from it.  In fact, I haven't really done a thing about it.  Oh, sure, earlier in the year, when we had snow outside, I'd spend 30 minutes every other day on the Gazelle watching a movie downstairs.  Somehow, that only lasted about two months when the weather started getting nicer and I was starting to make headway on some of my more urgent writing goals.

Now, as my ever-growing gut is  . . . well, ever-growing, I know I need to do something about it.

Like writing, start out exercing small.  Do some walking.  Or bike riding.  Also, start eating better.  Cut out more sugar and eat healthier.

I am no health nut nor am I an expert in weight management, but honestly it all comes down to intake.  The more sweets and fatty foods I take in, unless I exercise it'll grow into a larger gut.  Not good.

I will NOT be posting my current weight nor even my 2013 goal weight.  What I will be sharing on occasion is what I'm doing about it.

Because I still have time.