Day #1 of 21… Living Life To The Fullest

You couldn’t get through today without thinking about the attacks. It’s amazing to think it really happened. A bunch of religious extremists flying airplanes into buildings. I hope the virgins they met in heaven are ugly and have syphilis.

So let me ask me this question: Did I live life to the fullest today? A resounding YES. I had a great morning cleaning the house, and getting ready for the day ahead. I sat in the sun for 30 minutes taking in the rays; good for my vitamin D production they say. And just fucking relaxing. Then, I fed the dogs and cats, did some laundry and got ready for my day.

My business day.

The next important question to ask is this: What did I do that was so different today?

So I made two important phone calls I was afraid to make (and has been on my to-do list for months), I called home-based business leads that I haven’t called in years and I made my quota of speaking with 5 scientists today. That is quite an accomplishment. Now, this is only one day, so the real test will come tomorrow and the next day and the next. But every journey starts with one step, and today, was the first one.

I am now pleasantly buzzed thanks to Thursday nights; anyone who read my blog the first 21 days understands the significance to this, and I feel great.

Tomorrow is Friday. A very important day in people relations. Fridays, people are happy the week is near an end, and they are open to suggestion. There are more deals made on a Friday than any other day, so this is the day to close deals, start relationships, make suggestions and pave new directions. I plan to take advantage of that, since I only have 3 of them in this 21 day flight path.

If a totally objective person was watching me today, they may have thought I got nothing done. After all, most of my time was spent doing some pretty basic things. However, what I am trying to do is execute powerful, high impact, far-reaching tasks. Each task will multiply like a ripple in a lake; each wave larger than the next.

I think most can trade time for money, but the real game is to leverage on possibilities, knowledge, talent and timing. That’s what creates opportunities and moments of sheer joy.

So off to another day, day #2. Let’s see where it goes.

And one last time… I tip my hat to those who never got to live their September 12th.

May we all enjoy that day.

Day #19 of 21

If you have been reading my posts, then you know Thursday nights my wife and I go out for a late dinner and a few beers. It started out about 15 years ago when Gail and I thought we needed to spend more time together; it became our standing date. I highly recommend it, especially if you’re raising kids and there isn’t much time to just hang out together.

Without the kids.

I was having another tough business day and had this amazing urge for a vodka martini; I could taste it. I envisioned myself bringing the glass up to my lips and inhaling the dirty aroma, and then tasting the sharp liquid. I love the taste of cold vodka; there is really nothing like it. No wonder the Russians love it.

And then I had a black cherry soda.

At Danny’s restaurant the proprietor, Mark, offered me a one-time special of free beer all night with my wings, the bastard. This time it was my turn to laugh. I can easily deflect the temptations now. It’s a nice feeling, as I come to the end of the line, to know that I have won. I beat the villain. I became the victor. I won the battle. I feel like a competitive swimmer who has the field beat and can coast into the winner’s circle.

This exercise has given me renewed confidence that I can compete with difficult challenges. Okay, everything is relative. I know there are tests in life that are orders of magnitude more difficult than not partying. But climbing a mountain starts with small steps, and sometimes, that first, rather insignificant step, is the most difficult. I think that’s part of the lesson here. If you think you can’t do something, why not accomplish something small first? For some, my little 21 day mission may be a very stiff wind, so maybe it isn’t drinking. But what about overeating, smoking cigarettes, or driving too fast? What I have found is that although 21 days isn’t a life sentence, day # 5 seems a long way from day #21, so it is a fair test.

Join me on my next 21 day challenge. Coming up. Soon. Create your own.

So many good things have come out of my mission; I can’t wait for the next one. The goals will be different, but the spirit will be the same.

So it is off to day #20… wow! I can see the shore from where I am sitting, and it looks awfully good.

One note: Ginger ale and wings go better together than club soda, in case you’re keeping score.

It’s Friday! Can’t wait.

Be safe. Be happy. Be a little crazy.

Day #12 of 21

Here is it… my 12th day. And speaking of days, I calculated this number: 14,609 days ago I still had a living dad. The next day, 40 years ago, on August 8th, 2008, he passed away.

Although I miss him to this very day, I know his passing made me so much of who I am today. Fiercely independent. Skeptical of public institutions. Leary of corporations. Compassionate. Helpful.

I wonder sometimes who I would have become had he lived to steer me in certain directions. It’s mind-boggling when one plays the what-if games.

I look at my life today and know that at my age, 53, my dad was already facing death, with a young family in place. He did not have a chance to conquer his dreams; maybe that is why I am so keen on climbing that mountain for myself.

I have been thinking about my father’s 40th anniversary for some time now. In fact, I even considered giving myself a one day dispensation and drinking a toast in his honor tomorrow night. But my daughter reminded me otherwise. I think he would encourage me to keep moving along on my 21 day mission… yes, that he would be proud of.

So I end this day with anticipation for tomorrow. I don’t know why, really. Maybe it’s because I know I’ll be very sad; or just that another year passes by without the world slowing down one little bit to take notice that a wonderful man passed that day. It’s like watching a river; a fast moving current. You see it coming from a distance and then it’s there, passing quickly. Then it disappears from view.

Today is a Thursday night… and I’m at Danny’s restaurant. Me and club soda and chicken wings. It is the 12th day in a row that I have been clean of all my alcoholic and drug vices.

I’m happy about that. And I think my father would be too.

Day #5 of 21

Today is Thursday… which starts the weekend… unofficially. So in step with that philosophy, my wife (thankfully, she is the DD; by the way, we have zero tolerance for drinking and driving… just to be clear) and I met with several other couples at a local bar to meet and have a few laughs. For many years we have followed this messiah to have a few —sometimes quite a few— beers. So it was with some trepidation that I went out for my weekly beer and wings.

There are only two times that I drink. When the day hasn’t gone too well and I’m a bit down or when things are great and everything is beautiful. Today, I feel great. Lookout.

I walked into Danny’s, a bar-restaurant where older folks hang out; all the familiar faces were there. The bartender slammed a frosty mug in front of me and my friend Tom started to pour sweet, lovely Labatt’s from the pitcher. But I held up my hand and said, ‘Tom, I’m not drinking tonight. In fact, I’m on a 21 day mission of sobriety and this is day 5.’

I spoke with conviction. He laughed. I held firm.

It’s funny how the rest of the evening was similar to all the others I have been a part of… debates on Iraq and politics… and predictions on how many games the Bills would win in 2008. But the strange thing was this. I went home and felt great. Like I was accomplishing something. How silly is that?

Although it was still a good night, the truth must be told. Hot chicken wings and Club Soda doesn’t have the same ring to it.

I made it through my first Thursday night with my friends mocking me lovingly as I drowned my sorrows in Club Soda.

So it’s off to day #6… a Friday… another party night… so we’ll see how it goes.

It’s getting easier to say no.