It’s here.

As of yesterday, I am no longer approaching 60. It has arrived. Time continues to move at a greater pace every year and these first 60 have flown by. My first blog post was on January 24, 2023. Sixty-five weeks later, I am here.

In my very first blog, I talked a lot about my Father and how, as men, we can do better. Every blog since has been my intention to share some thoughts on that subject. I pray that I have inspired some change and created some hope. I strongly believe that the men of the world have a responsibility to protect the ones we love, teach our children through demonstration, and show kindness and compassion to our friends and neighbors.

Mom & Dad

In my very first blog, I wrote:

My father’s life influences every minor and major decision I make. My first thought is always to think about how my dad would have handled the situation or what decision he would have made. He will always be my measuring stick.

I hope that my wife, children, and friends are positively influenced by my presence in their lives. I hope that I reflect the qualities that I learned from my father and that I practice them daily. That is how I can change the world.

We all spend a lot of time complaining about the state of the world, but we do little to change it. Changing the world is not something we can do. But, we can change OUR world. We can change how we treat people. We can change how we take care of ourselves. We can change our outlook on things. We can change OUR world. In doing so, we change the lives of the people we care about and we make the world a little bit better. Change happens slowly through people with intent and patience.

Uncle Tom & Wayne

I have been so blessed throughout my life by the presence of people that have loved me, influenced me, changed me, and invested in me. I have talked about many of these folks in past blogs. I respect and cherish these relationships and I hope they all know how much they have meant to me and still mean to me.

It is our responsibility to pay these gifts forward and be there for others. Be a mentor. Share your knowledge. Give a hand up to someone.

I am looking forward to the next decade. I believe it will be the best one yet. I am anxious to watch our children continue to grow, raise families, and continue to build their lives. I look forward to welcoming and loving more grandchildren. We have many places we want to go and many new things we want to experience. We have friends we want to enjoy.

In closing, I want to thank my wife for inspiring me to create this blog. It has been a positive journey for me and hopefully for you. After today, I will continue to write but not be committed to every week. As things present themselves, I will share them through this blog and let you know via Facebook.

In my blog on March 17, 2024, I wrote the following and it is even more true today.

Unconditional love is an amazing thing. Knowing that someone genuinely accepts you for who you are and has your back, no matter what, is the best gift you can ever be given. It is comforting and empowering. It makes you want to be better. It allows you to take chances, to try new things, to really be yourself. It helps you be the best version of yourself.

Sadly, I think most people probably never get this gift in their life. It is rare, for sure. I have been so blessed to have been given this amazing gift twice. The hole in my heart that opened up when my Dad passed has been filled by my amazing wife. A feat that I did not think was possible. Her gentle manner, uncommon wisdom, and natural grace has filled me with an appreciation for the beauty of life and the gift of each and every day. I am a blessed and happy man.

Thanks so much to everyone that has read this blog. I have truly been humbled by all of the positive comments and feedback. Your support and encouragement has not been taken lightly.

Find joy in the world and live a life of gratitude. It can change your world.