50

I am now 50 years old. I do not feel 50 years old, and my wife says that I do not look 50 years old. (I'm certain that she is 100% objective in her assessment)
I have lived a good life thus far. I have experienced things that a person should never have to and have come out on the other side stronger for it. I've had my heart broken, been cheated on, been to places in this world (courtesy of Uncle Sam) that most people will never see. I have married my best friend and been loved by her when I deserved nothing but disdain. I have made friends who live far away, but whom I love and miss dearly. I have changed careers multiple times, finally settling on massage therapy as my final stop.
I have loved hard, played harder, and fought harder still. I hope that I have touched some lives for the better, and maybe even picked up some wisdom along my way. There was a time, not too long ago, when I seriously doubted that I would see half a century on the Marble; but here I am in all my glory.
I feel like I've had a good life thus far, and Lord willing I'll be here another few decades or so. If I've learned anything at all it's that the love of a good woman makes all the difference in the world. Thank you Jill Barbour....

UNPLUG.....From Everything

Be quiet......
Sometimes this is the only medicine that will work for your soul and peace of mind. I have become a much bigger fan of silence as I have gotten older. It's not that I'm the grumpy old man yelling at the kids to turn down their shitty music. It's that I have come to appreciate the art and skill of relaxing my mind and to simply unplug. 
When we do this our brain can relax, our anxiety dissipates, and we can breathe.
The world can often be overwhelming and we are taught from a young age (especially if you're a boy) to suck it up and push through it. And there are certainly times when this mindset is required. But there are also times when you need to be alone, away from people, and noise, and social media, and TV and just be calm. 
The kids are screaming and being.....well, kids. The damn dog is barking at nothing through the window. Alerts are coming through on your phone as if you're some sort of shitty super hero who's needed to defend the city from the next great threat. Just. Stop. 
Removed yourself from the noise and clutter and bullshit that doesn't matter. 
This may mean that you have to establish a "quiet time" within your castle. A hard, fast rule of law that at a given time on a certain day (if not every day) the noise stops. 
People (teenagers) will be upset and that's o.k. Your brain and their brains need silence every now and then. They. Will. Survive.
I've found that if I can take a hike I feel refreshed and re-energized. Get out in the woods!

You Don't Owe ANYONE An Apology

We are all on a journey called "life".
As individuals we are (nearly) solely responsible for what this journey entails and the results of it. And because of these factors, YOU don't owe ANYONE a damn apology for how you choose to live your journey.
I work out 5-6 times per week. This requires that I go to sleep at a decent time in order to get the rest that my body needs to recover from the day's workout session. Often this means that I am attempting to go to sleep several hours before anyone else in my family does. Doesn't make anyone "right" or "wrong" it just is......
But I will not apologize for trying to be healthier and following the prescribed steps in doing so.
I often do not go out on Friday nights as I work every single Saturday of the year unless I'm on vacation. People often don't understand this choice and that's fine. They're not required to understand, but accept it.
We only have but a few years in this life and it's up to each one of us individually to figure out what makes us feel fulfilled and worth something; and do it. And when you do find it, put everything you've got into it. And don't apologize for anything that gives you that fulfillment and self-worth.
Tell 'em to mind their own business. I have never understood being nosy about things that don't directly impact my own life. It simply doesn't matter.
Find whom and what you love and pour everything you have into it. Don't look back. Don't wonder 'what if'.

2020 Here I Come

So 2020 is here....

I wanted to float this post out there to (hopefully) inspire those of you who struggle with New Year's resolutions.
Here's the tip; DON"T MAKE ANY RESOLUTIONS!!!! There's really no reason to do so. 😁
It's fun to plot out your year loosely. And it's certainly a good idea to have goals for your day, week, and month. But the act of simply floating a truckload of generalities out to the universe in the hopes of some eminent return on your desires. Make your goals attainable; reachable. Stay in your lane. If you're a 50-year-old white dude from Knoxville, odds are really good that you're not going to make the NBA.
Better to spend some time working on yourself. What areas of your life need improvement? Emotional control? Finances? Relationships? Spend your energy on yourself and you will become a direct blessing to those you love. 

Here's what I'm going to focus on this year.....

1. Emotional Control: Everyone has past shit in their lives that has made them the person that they are. We have to own our shit. I have anxiety and anger issues that, although I've gone to therapy to start to resolve these issues, I will always be in recovery mode. Learn what your triggers are and work on removing those things in your life.

2. Forgiveness/Empathy: I am not a very empathetic person by nature. It's far easier for me to show empathy when I know of someone who has been through a situation of a similar nature. And God knows I need to forgive better. I typically have a difficult time letting things go.

3. Increased Intensity at The Gym: The gym is my sanctuary and I love the way I look and feel when I leave there. I want to become more focused and work with increased intensity each and every time I'm in there. I feel like we should make the moment count and really get after it!

4. Save More $$$$: This is something that a lot of people seem to focus on in a given new year. It's certainly easier said than done. But most fail because we don't have a plan or a budget.