I will return.

Below are lyrics to a song I don’t remember writing. I was going through my iCloud this evening and there they were. I never put music to this, but I just may have to now.

I have posted this as I wrote them in 2013. It is interesting to see where I was coming from then versus now.

Nothing Comes Easy

Verse 1

They came at me with everything they had

I didn’t know if I was equal to the task

Yes, the fight has left me scarred

But that is what happens when you are living in a war

Nothing comes easy

And now a fire burns in me

Doesn’t matter how long it takes to be free

Nothing else is going to stand in my way

My moment has come, today is the day

Nothing comes easy

Chorus

Nothing comes easy, it wouldn’t be good if it did

Nothing comes easy, that’s the price we pay to live

Nothing comes easy, it wouldn’t be good if it did

Nothing comes easy, nothing comes easy.

Verse 2

This time is different than before

Don’t just want to fight a battle, I’m here to win the war

I have learned some things along the way

The way you want things isn’t the way that they will stay

Nothing comes easy.

Nothing comes easy.

Chorus

Nothing comes easy, it wouldn’t be good if it did

Nothing comes easy, that’s the price we pay to live

Nothing comes easy, it wouldn’t be good if it did

Nothing comes easy, nothing comes easy.

See you on Day 7.

It always happens. You set out on something new and something pops up, ready to derail you. I am not feeling well today, but I am sticking to my plan…as much as I am able.

What happens when you face adversity? Keep going. You don’t have to stop the goal just because something gets in your way. Keep going. It may take you a bit to get back into step. That is ok. Keep going.

That is what I choose today. I will keep going…and get to feeling better because this is no fun.

See you on day 6. Next topic – Songwriting Because I Want To

I remember when the doors opened. There she was in a white dress. Her dad was by her side. I felt the breath catch in my throat. My eyes immediately started to sweat. She was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.

She was smiling from ear to ear as she surveyed the room. I don’t have a clue what the rest of the room was doing. My eyes were focused solely on her. I remember I sang a song and we said our vows, but the rest was a bit of a blur. Her beauty took my break away.

That day was more than 25 years ago. I can remember it as clearly as it was today. It is etched forever in my memory. It was our beginning as husband and wife. It was the start of a new family. It was the start of the future that I now sit in.

What one word comes to mind when reflecting over all the years that have gone by? Thankful. It is the only way to be. I have been blessed beyond measure all of these years. My best friend is my bride. She is my partner. She is my wife. She is the most amazing mother. She is the most amazing friend. I am so thankful for her.

If you haven’t noticed by now, I am a marriage enthusiast. I love being married. I love spending my life with this wonderful woman. I love who we are. I love that we have come so far together in 25 years. I can’t wait to see where we go in the days and years ahead.

Is there something or someone in your life that changes things for the better? Who are they? What did they do?

For me, I am so thankful that I had the presence of mind at 19 years old to ask this beautiful lady to be my wife. She said yes on the 6th of September 1998 and I have never once taken that for granted.

To my bride: I am so thankful for you.

I remember seeing the headline. It struck me as funny and inspiring all at the same time. What was the headline? “Man Loses Hundreds of Pounds Walking to Walmart.” I did a double take and gladly read the story.

A man named Pat received a bad prognosis from his doctor. If he didn’t change, he would soon be dead. Overweight and out of shape, he devised a radical plan. He got rid of all the food in his house. If he wanted to eat a meal, he had to walk to his nearest Walmart which was a mile away. Over the course of 2 years he lost 200 pounds with this strategy.

I remember thinking, can walking really cause this kind of change? The answer is a resounding yes. Pat was able to change his life by walking several miles a day and altering the way he was eating. He eventually traded the walk to Walmart for walking on the treadmill and lifting weights. Over the course of several years he dropped 330 pounds and vastly improved the quality of his life.

Pat had to start where he was. When the doctor gave him the bad news, he had a choice to make. Would he continue down the path he was on? Or, would he devise a plan and take control of his life back? It started with a single decision. It started with a single step. And then a step after that.

I have reframed my own health journey in this way. I would love to hit the easy button and immediately be in shape. However, I choose to live in reality and know that is not the way this works. The journey to be healthy and in shape is one that consists of many steps. Every day I have to choose to take the next step.

What is my next step? Tracking calories, lifting weights 3 times per week and walking daily. As I develop consistency in these things, I believe I will see progress. As I see progress, I will reevaluate like Pat did, and take the next step and then the one after that.

What are your health goals? What steps are you taking to achieve them?

See you on Day 4. Next topic: Thankful is the way to be.