Author: David Willis

Hydrated

~ David Willis ~ Leave a comment

I have a confession to make. I don’t enjoy drinking water. I drink it, but I prefer it strained through coffee beans. I try my best to get at least 100 ounces of (non-coffee bean) water a day. In my struggle to motivate myself to stay hydrated, I did some searching to find the benefits (which I know are plenty). Here’s what I discovered:

  1. Performing your best: Water is crucial for maintaining our physical performance. It helps regulate body temperature, lubricate joints, and deliver nutrients to our cells. When we engage in physical activities, we lose water through sweat, and if we don’t replenish it, dehydration can occur. This leads to fatigue, muscle cramps, and reduced endurance. By staying hydrated, we optimize our physical performance and improve our ability to exercise efficiently.
  2. Thinking clearly and having energy: Did you know that even mild dehydration can affect our cognitive abilities? Research shows that dehydration can impair short-term memory, focus, and overall brain function. Since the brain is mostly composed of water, staying hydrated ensures proper blood flow and oxygen supply, which supports optimal brain function. So, next time you’re struggling to concentrate, reach for a glass of water instead of a cup of coffee.
  3. Water and the gut: Water is crucial for maintaining a healthy digestive system. It helps break down food, facilitates nutrient absorption, and prevents constipation. Insufficient hydration can lead to digestive issues like indigestion and acid reflux. By drinking enough water, we support our digestive processes and keep our gastrointestinal system functioning smoothly.
  4. Want to lose weight?: If you’re trying to shed a few pounds or maintain a healthy weight, staying hydrated can be your secret weapon. Often, we mistake thirst for hunger and end up consuming unnecessary calories. By drinking water regularly, we keep our stomachs full, avoid unnecessary snacking, and enhance our metabolism. Also, replacing sugary beverages with water can significantly reduce calorie intake and help with weight management.
  5. Getting rid of toxins: Water is the primary means by which our body eliminates waste and toxins. It flushes out waste products through urine and sweat, keeping our kidneys and liver functioning optimally. Proper hydration helps prevent urinary tract infections and kidney stones, and it also promotes healthy skin by keeping it hydrated and aiding in the removal of toxins that can cause acne and other skin issues.

Another confession… I don’t really hate water. I know it’s good for me, and staying hydrated is important. Water is not only crucial for maintaining our physical well-being, but it also plays a significant role in our cognitive functions and overall health. By making a conscious effort to drink enough water every day, we can enhance our physical performance, support our brain function, maintain a healthy weight, aid digestion, and promote detoxification. So, whether you like it or not…drink it.

Yeah, that’s an HR violation.

~ David Willis ~ Leave a comment

What jobs have you had?

Have you ever had a job that you didn’t enjoy? I mean, one that you really didn’t like at all? What comes to your mind? Can you picture it clearly? Well, I can. It was a doozy.

Let me set the stage… My first two jobs after college were at churches. I either led the music or looked after the youth. Eventually, I realized that line of work wasn’t for me, but they were somewhat enjoyable jobs.

My horror story job came not after that. It was early 2003 when I stopped working at the church. It had been obvious for a while that it was time to leave, so I took a leap and quit without any plans or fallback options. It was time to find a new job.

I started sending out resumes and applying for jobs. However, for some reason, my sociology degree didn’t seem attractive to prospective employers. I ended up working at a Thomas Kinkade art gallery for a little while, which wasn’t really my style. After that, I worked at Pizza Hut. It wasn’t exactly a step up in the world, but at least I got to enjoy free pizza.

After those two “wonderful” experiences, I stumbled upon one of the worst working environments I have ever encountered. I got a job spraying yards for a company in Oklahoma City. There were early signs that it wouldn’t be a good job, and boy, was I proven right.

Let me break this down into three sections, with the third section being the reason for the title of this post.

  1. Not long after starting work there, I found out that employee retention was poor. Being young and a bit naive, I initially thought it might have been the employees’ problem and that I would do better than they did. However, I soon discovered that the management of the company was unfit to handle their roles. They frequently used guilt to make employees stay late and do more work than they should have.
  2. At that point in my life, I was juggling two jobs. I worked for the grass company during the day and delivered pizzas at night. I remember one instance when my work truck broke down along the side of the highway. I knew I would be late for my evening job, but I thought that if someone could come and pick me up, I might still make it in time. When I called the company, they had me describe the issue. They told me there was no one they could send to fix the truck and that they would guide me through fixing it. The “solution” involved taking one of the shoestrings out of my shoes and using it to bind part of the throttle to the engine. Redneck for sure. To be truthful, I wasn’t upset about having to work on the truck on the side of the road; I was upset because my day job showed no consideration for anything I had planned outside of their activities. On a side note, I was pretty pleased that I managed to get the truck running with my shoestring.
  3. The worst part about working there was what was tolerated within the workspace. The guy who trained me was a full-blown pornography addict. It was all he could talk about. I spent my training time riding in a truck with a guy who tried to engage me in the most uncomfortable discussions I’ve ever had in my life. He loved using descriptive language. He even went so far as to pat me on the rear end in front of one of the managers. I looked him straight in the face, right in front of the management, and told him that if he touched me again, I would break his face. I think he finally got the message. The managers never said a word.

Why am I telling these stories this evening? It’s good to remember. It’s good to remember where we come from and what we’ve gone through. It serves as a reminder of how far I’ve come and how much I have to be thankful for.

As an older man, I now know what I am willing and what I am not willing to accept in the workplace. The stories I told you predate the modern era of HR policy. I know the workplace environment should be much better than what I have described. I’m thankful for that as well.

If you find yourself in a place where you’re uncomfortable, you’re not alone. Know that you have skills and abilities, and there are options out there if you’re willing to be persistent and look around. I am proof that even with an undergraduate degree and a field I had no desire to work in, you can find things you love to do and do them well.

There is plenty to be thankful for

~ David Willis ~ Leave a comment

There is a part of my life that I don’t talk about much. I am not afraid of it. If it comes up in conversation, I am willing to share my story. It just has to be handled the right way. What is it you ask? I am a cancer survivor. I have now been cancer free for 5 years.

In many situations information like this can suck the air out of a room. It has been almost 19 years since the first time I was diagnosed. I was 26 years old and it hit me out of the blue. Yes, it literally felt like it hit me. I am a testicular cancer survivor. Yeah, that is another reason that I don’t talk about it much. One, cancer. Two, in that part of my body. After 20 chemotherapy treatments, I was cancer free and I quickly returned to living my life. I went for my checkups and after 5 years the doctor told me I was clear and to have a good life.

The last sentence of the paragraph above is at odds with the first sentence of the same paragraph. Do you see it? Yep, 2004 was the first time I was diagnosed. I took the doctor’s advice and I started living again. Before I knew it, 14 years had gone by. I was diagnosed the second time in January of 2018. Only this time, it was much worse. In 2004 they caught the cancer very early. In 2018 it took a lot longer to find and was much further along when they did.

I again found myself in chemotherapy. This time I had to stay in the hospital a week at a time. I could barely eat. I dropped over 30 pounds during treatments. When my treatments were finished I looked like an old man. With chemotherapy complete, I then had to have surgery to have the lymph nodes in the area affected by the cancer removed. When that was complete I then started radiation therapy as a precaution.

It was a very hard time. Sometimes it has been hard to talk about. However, I am very willing to share about this part of my life if need be. While it is a tough subject, I am who I am today because of it. I appreciate my life. I am so incredibly grateful. I do my best to take advantage and live my life to the full. I am filled with gratitude. Let me share a few reasons why.

  1. God’s love. It is who He is and I am grateful.
  2. I believe the only reason I am here is because God brought me through. He answered my prayers and the prayers of the many that prayed for me. My diagnosis was severe. My oncologist told me (after all of my tests returned to normal) that he hadn’t been sure that the treatments would work they way that they did. What does that tell me? The doctor’s did their part. God took care of it all.
  3. I have the best partner in this life that I could ever ask for. My wife is my best friend and my favorite person on this earth. She cared for me with such amazing love during my darkest times, and all the other times too. I am so grateful for her. I am thankful that she is my bride. There is not enough room on a page to describe how happy she makes me.
  4. I have the best son that I could ever ask for. I am so proud of my boy. He was born after my first bout with cancer. We didn’t know if we’d be able to have kids because of the chemotherapy. When he came along he filled our hearts and our lives with such joy. He still does to this day. He makes me laugh daily. I am so thankful for him.

I could go on and on. I am thankful for my life. I am thankful for my health. I am thankful to be where I am doing the things that I do. Life is a beautiful gift we have been given. God has put us here for a reason. I am doing my best to find and fulfill mine. I want my heart to overflow with gratitude every day and I want others to be inspired by it.

There is plenty to be thankful for.

Encourage and Uplift

~ David Willis ~ Leave a comment


I love to encourage people. It’s part of who I am and what I love to do. I actively seek out opportunities every day to be an encouragement and bring a smile to someone’s face. I do it for both myself and others. Allow me to elaborate.

There are two ways to approach life. You can choose to be negative and constantly criticize the things you see around you, or you can choose to see the good in people. You can choose to recognize their potential and uplift them instead of tearing them down. I personally choose the latter.

The world we live in is filled with seriousness. Horrendous and horrific things happen every day. If we listen to the news or the pessimistic voices, it may seem like everything is getting worse and will continue to do so. However, I wholeheartedly reject this notion.

As a Christian, I believe it is my responsibility to share God’s love and the hope that I have found. Because of Jesus, we have hope and a future. It is challenging to be loving and hopeful while predicting doom at the same time.

Jesus said that he came so that we may have abundant life. Did you catch that? He came to give us life. It is our enemy who seeks to steal life away. Therefore, I strive to be more like Jesus. I want my words to bring life to people and uplift them.

Is there someone that you can encourage today? Even a small word can do more than we know.

What sets you apart?

~ David Willis ~ Leave a comment

Which aspects do you think makes a person unique?

There are so many ways to be unique. Some are cool. Some are strange. Some are illegal. But let’s not focus on those right now. In my opinion the following three things are part of the equation.

1. Authenticity. It took me a little while, but I finally came to a place where I would rather be me. I don’t need to compare myself to others. Me is good. God made me. He has a plan for me. I will be me and follow the plan.

2. Compassion. My life is not just about me. It is about taking care of those around me. My family. My friends. People that God puts in my path. I always want to look in the mirror and see a man who can have compassion on others.

3. Sense of humor. I love to laugh. I try to do it as often as possible. Laughter is medicine. If I don’t laugh often I can get too bogged down with life. That is why I seek out opportunities to laugh with my wife. See my post from a few days ago.

These are his three of the things that make me unique. The list is long and could keep going. The point is the list is me. This is who I am and aspire to be. Me. And I want to make God smile. So me, following God’s plan.