I saw Hank Aaron for the first time in 1966. It was the Braves’ first season in Atlanta. I don’t remember who we played, but I do remember we lost. My cousin, who was a bit younger than my eight years, cried. I should have told him there’s no crying in baseball.

But the one thing I do remember about that day was when number 44 came to bat. There was both a hush and a buzz in the crowd. I could hear my uncles saying, here he comes, Hank’s at bat. Watching him that day was like riding a roller coaster. The anticipation as the pitcher wound up, the sudden plunge as the ball sped to and across home plate. …

Do you need to be doing this right now?

I don’t mean reading this article. Of course, you need to be doing that. Everybody should be doing that. Tell your friends.

I mean all the things you do all day, every day. Do you need to be doing that right now?

Ask yourself this often. Really put some thought into it.

In our pursuit to be productive, we love to make lists. Lists of things that need to be done so we can check them off. It feels good to check those things off. It’s fulfilling. …

How long have you been writing on Medium?

Yesterday marked my first anniversary. It almost slipped past me. Nobody sent me flowers or anything.

Maybe because the story I published wasn’t very memorable. The day was. It was the day I began a new adventure that I am still enjoying today. But it started with this piece, which was my first on the subject of photography. I got it published in Writers’ Blokke, and over the last 366 days, it has earned me a grand total of $0.42

But today, I post my 421st article on Medium and, if you, dear readers, will just help a brother out, maybe it will clear a buck or two. …

Are you writing on News Break yet?

If not, it may be too late to get in on their “early bird” special.

Sounds like I should be getting chicken fried steak and two vegetables for $7.99

But it’s actually a deal, where if you are accepted, you get a guaranteed income. Well, almost guaranteed. You would have to really screw up not to clear the bar they set.

Okay, now I have your attention.

Let me give a brief explanation to those who haven’t discovered the site yet; then I’ll get back to the mistake.

Part of the application gives them your social media handles and a place where they can see your writing, such as Medium. It’s almost certain they are looking for not only content but ‘influencers.’ They want people that will bring a lot of readers to their site. Like most sites of this type, that’s how they make money. …

What kind of day are you having?

I’m having a great day. Having my second mug of coffee after an excellent breakfast. I’ve finished practicing the guitar, and now it’s time to write the rough draft of today’s article.

And it’s only six am.

But that’s not why I’m having a great day.

I’m having a great day because first thing this morning, I decided I would have a great day. Just like I do every morning.

Because, why wouldn’t I?

Why would I wait and see what comes at me and let that drive my day? Let some random occurrence, or worse, some news item I come across ruin my day. …

How much spare time do you have in your day?

If you said none, you are like many busy people.

You would also be wrong, almost certainly.

If you find yourself struggling to get everything done during your day and wishing you have more time, do this exercise for a week.

Make a daily planner with fifteen-minute increments. You can create one easily in Excel or find one online. Fifteen minutes may seem like too small an increment but bear with me. …

But it was long ago and it was far away, oh God it seems so very far
And if life is just a highway, then the soul is just a car
And objects in the rearview mirror may appear closer than they are
Jim Steinman/Meatloaf

At the end of West Wing’s first episode, President Bartlet yelled out to Mrs. Landingham, “What’s Next?” For the 21 years since, that has become my tag line. Well, one of them anyway.

Part of this stems from my impatience. Okay, I’m done with this; what’s next. But most of it comes from my absolute refusal to look back. What’s done is done. …

So! How are those New Year’s Resolutions coming along?

I thought so. The month is a little over half over, and they’re falling like bowling pins. Why is that?

Easy. Because they are totally unreasonable. You set the bar too high. You knew you weren’t going to clear it. I’m going to quit smoking, drinking and lose 50 pounds. No, you’re not. You didn’t last year and you won’t next year.

Or you didn’t set the bar high enough, and it became irrelevant. I’m going to try and be healthier. Some vague crap like that. …