Life 2.0

The Richest Man

In a week where the worst and best of human behavior was on full display once again, it was the death of a friend, that I served with in the United States Coast Guard, that helped me keep my perspective, in spite of the chaos. In many ways, he was the richest man I ever knew.

Godspeed Lt. Munsey. Semper Paratus. 

Music by John Berry.

By The Numbers

As I watched Kabul taken back by the Taliban, and hundreds of people hanging on a C130 aircraft for their very lives, my thoughts turn to the cost of this conflict over the past 20 years, the ripple effect on those who fought and their families. I am all about finding sense in the senseless, but this time, not sure that's possible. 

What One Man Can Do

In my down time between hosting and producing "The Bridge" international radio show/podcast, I've taken to watching documentaries. I came across "Bobby Kennedy For President" on Netflix, and after spending 4 hours in 1968, I am more convinced than ever before, that if we don't learn from our history, we are doomed to repeat it. If we always do, what we've always done, we'll always get what we've always got. 

The Space to Create

On July 20th, 1969 I was a ten-year-old boy, standing in awe of the moon landing. In 2009-40 years later-I was onstage for my TEDXNASA talk, standing in awe of the 5,000 people in the audience that are part of the space program and today, 52 years after that historic day, I watched a billionaire go into space for 11 minutes, and return to earth. My thoughts on all of that, and how there is a beginning, middle and end to everything, even for billionaires.

Father's Day 2021

My banker dad's alter ego was Dracula, and he always wanted to be an architect. Yea-that's him dressed up as "The Prince of Darkness" for Halloween circa 1975.

 

My maternal grandfather Carl, was a muscle-bound Swede, who came to America at 19 with nothing in his pockets and built a life, and my paternal grandfather Big John, was a 6'3 hard charging, plain speaking "jack of all trades" German.

 

Over time-all of their stuff rolled down hill and took up residence in me, to a greater or lesser degree.

 

I learned some valuable lessons from these three men, all of them long gone, but their presence in my life remains alive to this day.

Mr. Motivation

This episode is in response to a former subscriber who cancelled last week because of the Deacon Jones episode. So, I thought I would clarify my concept of motivation, which to me is more than being a "quote thrower" and defend my long held position that finding sense in the senseless is often a difficult process. Especially when we have elected officials that suggest perhaps the best way to counteract climate change is by altering the orbit of the moon and when skipping due diligence in favor of attempting to make a statement, backfires in Georgia. Chris Farley's "Mr. Motivation" skit on SNL is a perfect example of finding the obvious buried in the absurd.

Living On The Edge

I was out early this morning watering the veggies, and decided to take a long drink of ice cold water, directly from the garden hose.

 

According to experts, I might be putting myself at risk by doing so.

 

I call bull$hit...

 

It got me thinking about other things that we did "back in the day" like riding bikes without helmets, leaving the house in the morning, and being gone all day, until the universal signal of the street lights coming on called us home. What it was like to flood the playground and swim around in muddy, nasty water, without a care in the world.

Lest We Forget

Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades. Unofficially, it marks the beginning of the summer season, and retailers have piggybacked on the three day weekend for decades, giving deep discounts on everything from mattresses to tires to appliances. But, for Gold Star families, there is nothing "Happy" about Memorial Day. In this podcast, I share with you the lives of Nick Daniels, Ryan Jopek, Don Sansone, Kurt Duncan and Nate Bruckenthal, who gave their last full measure for their country.

Thanks Deacon Jones

It's not often that I feel like a 12 year-old kid, but today a box arrived that contained treasure beyond measure to me, and while I have almost nothing in common with the late, Hall of Famer Deacon Jones, the greatest defensive end in the history of the NFL, his presence and legacy was an important reminder to keep the kid in me alive, more than I do.

Pumping Spiritual Iron

Last week I was in the gym, which isn't anything new-but-what is new, is that I pushed more weight than I had in a few years, which had me thinking about the kinesiology concept of S.A.I.D. or Specific Adaptation to Imposed Demands and "muscle memory."

 

I've been marinating on these concepts for three days, and once again the reminder comes that SAID isn't just limited to working out, and the physical body-but also applies to the mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of our lives.

 

That pic is of "The Iron Swede" aka my maternal grandfather-Karl Gustave Bengston-when was 20 years old in 1925.