Month: August 2025

A Call You Don’t Want to Miss…

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What would you do if a phone call from the past threatened to turn your entire life upside down?

Some phone calls you welcome with joy. Others… you spend your whole life dreading.

Tomorrow at 4:45 PM CDT, I’ll be posting a brand-new flash fiction piece that explores what happens when family ties, old debts, and mob loyalty collide.

Here’s the setup:

“The caller ID on my iPhone made me a candidate for a cardiac arrest. I’ve dreaded this phone call for fifteen years. The caller ID said it all: Tony Abruzzi.”

That’s all I’ll share for now. The rest? You’ll have to come back tomorrow to see how far one man is willing to go when his powerful uncle decides it’s time to collect on an old favor.

It’s sharp. It’s fast. And it’s a story you won’t want to miss.

Mark your calendars — tomorrow at 4:45 PM CDT.

Day Seven – 10 Top-Rated Clean Comedy Podcasts

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Laugh Guilt-Free: 10 High-Rated Clean Comedy Podcasts Worth Your Ears

Who says poop jokes are the only way to laugh? These clean comedy podcasts deliver belly laughs without dropping F-bombs.

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Top-Rated Clean Comedy Podcasts

Here’s a handpicked list of ten highly rated, clean comedy podcasts perfect for anyone who wants a good laugh without the language baggage:

1. Spitballers Comedy Podcast – Award-winning, dad‑humor trio delivering goofy showdowns and light‑hearted life advice  .

2. Laughter for All Podcast with Comedian Nazareth – Encouraging, clean comedy with guests from all walks of life  .

3. Laugh Support – Hosts ask comedians about their “Laugh Support,” offering heartfelt, clean humor  .

4. The Clean Comedy Podcast w/ JD Creviston – A guide to clean comedy craft with practical tips and witty storytelling  .

5. That Story Show – Listener‑submitted true stories spun in a warm, comedic, and always clean delivery  .

6. Clean Comedy Time – Interviews with clean stand‑up comedians—perfect for aspiring comics and fans alike  .

7. Spitballers Comedy Podcast – (Yes, truly standout—twice as delightful.) Award-winning and ripple-free in language  .

8. The Elsa Kurt Show – Sharp parody and satire via TikTok turned podcast, with a 5/5 rating  .

9. Laugh Daily Podcast – Breezy, clean chats with hosts from JStu—excellent for a daily giggle  .

10. Behind the Bar – Clean comedic takes on fantasy football and beyond—surprisingly hilarious and family‑safe  .

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Action Step: Pick one podcast from the list, queue up an episode this week, and set a regular “clean comedy break.” Bonus points if you share your favorite episode with a friend for the ripple effect of laughter!

Stop Thinking, Start Doing: Take the Leap Toward Your Dream

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Dreams don’t grow from hesitation—they grow when you take that first step, no matter how small.

Thinking about doing something? Stop thinking, do it. Take the first step. Worried it might not work out? Doing nothing might not work out. Why not take a chance on your dream even if it’s only a tiny dream. Recently, I watched a YouTube video where a young couple figured out how to get a million dollar loan so they could buy a drive-in. A drive-in? I thought drive-ins were part of history. This young couple had a dream, took a leap, and are making it work. That was a big leap. Maybe you only have to take a small leap. Take it. If it doesn’t work out, you tried. You won’t always wonder “what if.”

🌸 Points to Ponder

  • What’s one dream you’ve kept tucked away because of fear or doubt?
  • How might taking even a tiny step toward it change how you feel today?
  • What’s riskier: failing after trying, or never knowing because you stayed still?
  • Could your “what if” become your “I did it”?
  • How can the courage of others (like the couple with the drive-in) fuel your own leap?

The Happy Life ~ A Poem by Mary Webb

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The Happy Life: Finding Riches Beyond Possessions


True happiness isn’t stitched in silk or locked in treasure chests—it blooms in the ordinary wonders we often overlook.

The Happy Life

Mary Webb

No silks have I, no furs nor feathers,
But one old gown that knows all weathers;
No veils nor parasols nor lace,
But rough hands and a tanned face.
Yet the soft, crinkled leaves are mine
Where pale, mysterious veins shine,
And laced larches upon the blue,
And grey veils where the moon looks through;
The cries of birds across the lawns
In dark and teeming April dawns;
The sound of wings at the door-sill,
Where grows the wet-eyed tormentil;
The ripe berry’s witcheries-
Its perfect round that satisfies;
And the gay scent of the wood I burn,
And the slap of butter in a busy churn.

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🌸 Reflection

Mary Webb’s The Happy Life reminds us that the wealth of life doesn’t come from silks, jewels, or outward status. Instead, it’s found in the small, grounding details—the tanned skin shaped by honest labor, the crinkled leaves that whisper their mysteries, the ripe berries that delight the senses, and the warmth of wood and butter in daily chores. The poem reveals an unshakable truth: abundance exists not in accumulation, but in the presence of beauty, work, and connection to the natural world. It asks us to recognize that true happiness is not a matter of possession, but of perception. Gratitude transforms the simple into the extraordinary.

❓ Three Questions to Dive Deeper

  1. How does the imagery of nature in the poem challenge society’s common measures of wealth and success?
  2. What everyday “ordinary” details in your life carry the same richness Mary Webb describes?
  3. How might embracing simplicity shift your own sense of fulfillment and joy?

Light for the Journey: Go With the Flow: Life Lessons From a River

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A river never questions its path—what if we lived with the same trust in our own journey?

What makes a river so restful to people is that it doesn’t have any doubt it is sure to get where it is going, and it doesn’t want to go anywhere else. ~ Hal Boyle

🌸 Reflection

A river never hurries, never doubts, and never envies another’s course. It flows with certainty, winding where it must, carving valleys, nourishing life, and finally reaching the sea. Hal Boyle reminds us that peace comes not from constant striving or questioning, but from trusting the current of our own path. How often do we fight the flow, thrashing against the bends of life? The river shows us another way—move forward with quiet confidence, knowing each twist has meaning and each turn a destination. We do not need to know the entire map to rest easy; we only need to trust the journey. Like the river, we are always moving toward something greater than ourselves.

❓ Three Questions to Dive Deeper

  1. In what areas of your life do you resist the natural flow, and how might trusting it bring more peace?
  2. What “bends in the river” of your own journey taught you lessons you wouldn’t trade?
  3. How can you cultivate the same certainty as a river—moving forward without doubt or hesitation?

Flash Fiction Prompt: Face to Face With Darkness: A Sleepless Thriller Prompt

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What happens when the enemy you fear most isn’t out there—it’s staring back at you from inside?

First Line Grab:

I flicked on the light—and there I was, sitting in the chair, smiling back at me.

Paragraph:

At first, I thought it was a trick of exhaustion, a hallucination brewed from too much caffeine and not enough rest. But then the other me spoke. His voice was calm, almost tender, as though he’d been waiting for this moment. “You’ve hidden me long enough,” he whispered, standing, moving with the same rhythm as my own heartbeat. I backed away, but the wall caught me. His eyes glowed with something I had buried years ago—rage, temptation, freedom. Every step he took felt like a countdown, every breath like stolen time. “Tonight,” he said, “only one of us survives.” The clock ticked louder, the silence pressed in. I realized this wasn’t a nightmare I could wake from. This was a reckoning. And the question wasn’t if I would lose sleep—it was if I would live to see the morning.

❓ Three Questions to Spark Writing

  1. How does the protagonist’s “dark side” reflect truths he’s tried to hide?
  2. What setting details could heighten the claustrophobic dread of this encounter?
  3. Who ultimately wins—light, dark, or something in between?

Day Six – LOL and Be Well: How Shared Laughter Builds Bonds

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Laughter doesn’t just lift you—it lifts us. Shared humor strengthens relationships, diffuses tension, and nurtures empathy and compassion . Gelotology—the science of laughter—finds that laughing with others is a powerful social integrator, forging bonds that can help us cope more resiliently with adversity . In group laughter settings, like social gatherings or even virtual hangouts, joy becomes contagious—and healthful . When life feels heavy, sometimes all we need is a shared guffaw to remind us we’re in it together.

Action Step: Host a weekly “comedy hour” with friends or family—share a joke, meme, or funny story, and bond over belly laughs.

🔑 When “15 Minutes” Turns Into Half a Day: My Battle With a Garage Door Lock

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Amazon reviews promised “easy directions” and “15 minutes.” My garage door had other plans, my ego took a beating, and my vocabulary expanded.

Don’t believe everything you read on the Amazon reviews. I decided to buy a door knob and combination lock for an internal door in my garage. Multiple reviews raved about this product and said the directions were easy to follow and it only took 15 minutes. The keywords to me before I bought the product were easy to follow and 15 minutes. I bought the product. It arrived on time. And after lunch,, 1230, I decided I could finish this by 1245. I have to preface this with I wouldn’t call myself the handiest guy in the world. I do know the difference between a hammer and a screwdriver, but that was only after much tutoring. My ego was in charge of me and was telling me I could do this thing. After two hours of trying to get this lock to work I wanted to kick my ego in the ass. It was too late. I was too far into this and all I had was a hole in the door where the knob and lock were supposed to go. I was making progress. I had an idea of where I was going wrong. My first thought was should’ve left the old lock in. It was working OK. But, no, I’m stubborn . Being stubborn can be good and bad. Forty-five minutes later I thought I was done. I patted myself on the back. Moments later I realized I put the bolt in backwards, my door wouldn’t close. I’m happy I wasn’t recording my language. I took a few deep breaths, took the bolt out and reversed it. I felt like belonged on a cable TV program, NOT! I did it even if it took me nearly a half a day. If you need a door lock replaced, don’t call me. I charge by the hour. Lol.

Points to Ponder

  • How much do we really trust online reviews?
  • When does stubbornness help — and when does it just dig the hole deeper (literally)?
  • Why do small “simple” tasks often balloon into epic sagas?
  • What role does ego play when we attempt projects we’re not trained for?
  • Can humor be the best tool in the DIY toolbox?

The Character of a Happy Life ~ A Poem by Sir Henry Wotton

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The Wealth of Having Nothing and Yet Having All


True happiness is not found in riches or praise, but in freedom, integrity, and a soul at peace.

The Character of a Happy Life

Sir Henry Wotton

How happy is he born or taught,
  That serveth not another’s will;
  Whose armour is his honest thought,
  And simple truth his highest skill;

  Whose passions not his masters are;
  Whose soul is still prepar’d for death
  Untied unto the world with care
  Of princes’ grace or vulgar breath;

  Who envies none whom chance doth raise,
  Or vice; who never understood
  The deepest wounds are given by praise,
  By rule of state, but not of good;

  Who hath his life from rumours freed;
  Whose conscience is his strong retreat;
  Whose state can neither flatterers feed,
  Nor ruins make accusers great;

  Who God doth late and early pray,
  More of his grace than goods to send,
  And entertains the harmless day
  With a well-chosen book or friend.

  This man is free from servile bands
  Of hope to rise or fear to fall;
  Lord of himself, though not of lands;
  And having nothing, yet hath all.

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Reflection:

Sir Henry Wotton’s timeless lines remind us that the richest life may be the simplest one. The truly happy person bows to no one’s will but lives guided by honesty, humility, and an unshakable conscience. Freed from envy, immune to flattery, and uninterested in worldly praise, such a person measures success not in possessions but in peace of mind. Here, happiness is not the result of acquiring more, but of needing less. It is found in quiet mornings of prayer, in the comfort of a good book, and in the company of a trusted friend. This is a life where one is “lord of himself,” unshaken by fortune’s rise or fall. Wotton leaves us with a paradox that holds great truth: having nothing, yet possessing all.

Three Questions to Dive Deeper:

  1. What “servile bands” still hold you, and how might you release them?
  2. How would your life change if you valued inner peace over external success?
  3. In what ways can simplicity become your greatest form of wealth?

Light for the Journey: When You Don’t Need All the Answers to Take the Next Step

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 Life’s beauty lies not in certainty, but in courage, faith, and hope in the here and now.

You do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith and hope. ~ Thomas Merton

Reflection:

Thomas Merton’s words are a gentle reminder that life rarely hands us a map with every turn marked. The need to know every detail before moving forward can paralyze us, keeping us from the opportunities that live in the now. The present moment is a rich field—fertile with both possibilities and challenges. Courage is the willingness to take the next step without a guarantee. Faith is trusting that the path will open as you walk it. Hope is believing that, no matter what unfolds, something meaningful awaits. When you choose to engage fully with today, you release the burden of predicting tomorrow. In doing so, you don’t just survive uncertainty—you thrive in it, finding peace in the mystery.

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