I hope my brother reads this post:

It was the early 90s. I think 1993, but it might have been early 1994. My brother was moving to a new place and my parents and I went to help. Not having spent much time around him while I was younger, I was enjoying getting to see him.

I had grown a lot over the previous two summers. By that point I was almost 6 feet tall, if not already there. I was around 175 pounds and had been lifting weights and getting stronger. Enter my brother, 10 years my senior. After a fair amount of banter, it was obvious that there would be a wrestling match of some sort that day.

He thought he had me unaware. I was putting down a piece of furniture when he pounced. We were evenly sized. He was older. He was taller. It seemed he might have the advantage. That made the victory of pinning him to the ground much sweeter. I can still remember it well nearly 30 years later.

I am going to assume that he went easy on me that day. He had been through Army Basic. He was a stout guy. Maybe I caught him off guard. Maybe I was stronger than he expected. It doesn’t matter. He doesn’t know it, but I appreciate that moment for reasons I have never expressed.

When I was younger, I didn’t get to see him much. He had moved out by the time I was 7. For the next several years I saw him once in a while. He was living life, trying to figure it all out. He made mistakes along they way, but he kept moving forward. Through hard times he kept going. Even when he felt defeated he kept going. I find that admirable. He is still going in the face of adversity today.

He helped me see my strength that day. It may not have felt like that was happened, but it meant a lot to a younger guy. He could have played dirty. He could have hurt me but he let me have my moment, even when he most likely could have bested me if needed. He was showing a strength that I only later realized. Restraint.

So, if you are reading this…I love you. I am proud to be your brother. You help make me better. I pray I do the same for you. Keep moving forward.

It’s been a new experience sharing thoughts every day in this medium. I keep hoping that it comes easier and easier. In some ways, it has. Sometimes I’m still concerned with how to share things in the right way where the whole world can read it. I am hopeful that I will find this balance.

For today, I want to share something that happened this morning. The family and I set out for the State Fair of Texas. Aside from a few years we missed from Covid, we try to make it out every year. It isn’t a cheap excursion, but generally a lot of fun.

I like to head out early. Call me old school, but getting places on time is important. The fair opened at 10 this morning and that was when I wanted to be there. We got under way and the map said we would arrive on time. Enter Dallas traffic. Nothing is ever on time in Dallas traffic. We arrived about 20 after, but we were able to park close to the gate so I figured we were doing good.

When I got out of the car, the attendant headed over and tried to charge me 30 buck to park. The sign on the fence nearby said 20. I told him I wasn’t paying more than the posted rate. He relented and I handed over the cash. We were then off to see the sights.

After a fun few hours which included that enormous pig above, we headed back to the car. Thankfully the lot was not too far from the gate. When we got back to the car, we realized our car was buried. I parked right next to the road, but the attendant blocked us in. The only way out was to hope the curb.

My darling bride went to find the parking lot attendant. It was then we found out…we had been parked by a homeless guy that morning. Half the lot was already full when the real attendant showed up. Apparently the homeless guy made a few hundred bucks and was on his merry way. No wonder he tried to charge me 30.

The lady was gracious and laughed about it with us. We hopped in the car and hopped the curb. It was a funny end to a good day at the fair. Though I don’t like what the homeless guy was doing, I admire his hustle.

I took a rest day today. I still accomplished all of my daily goals, but it was a low key/chill kind of day. I needed it more than I thought I did. It has been too long.

Rest is vital. Recuperating in a purposeful way is a must. I am not got at it. Once upon a time I was a free spirit that had no problem taking a day and doing nothing. That is not who I am anymore. Resting does not come easy.

That is why days like today are so important. And having someone that will make you take a day like today. My beautiful wife did that for me. She told me to relax and just piddle around the house. I did. I needed it.

When was the last time you unplugged? If you are anything like me, it has been too long. Don’t forget to take a rest here and there. It is very needed.

I started reading a very old book this morning. Written in 1859, what would a book have to teach me today? Isn’t information of that age out of date and out of style? In a word, no. I read a book daily that is thousands of years older. So, it stands to reason that a book from 1859 could still teach me a thing or two.

What book am I reading 160 years after it was published? Self Help by Samuel Smiles. I have tried to read it before. I must admit, the English in this book is challenging. He really knew how to speak the language and I am having to process each sentence as they come along. It is good and very informative.

Right from the start he hits on a topic that I believe is essential to the world right now. Our societies are only as strong as the character of the people that make them up. What do I mean? If we have a majority in our societies that are devoid of morality, we will have a nation that is devoid of morality. We are the sum of our parts, so it seems.

I am eager to read this book. The last time I stopped a few chapters in as the descriptions he made were from a time I could not understand. I feel that was a mistake on my part. Whether the language is old or new, there are lessons here that I need to understand. There is something vital here.

I want to share one of the nuggets I picked up from the book as a final thought:

Standing here with 25% of my goal complete, I feel satisfaction and a desire to keep going strong. The evidence of the effort is starting to show, but there is a long way to go.

I will start sharing the improvements soon. For now, my goal marches on. Keep moving forward.