My dad’s Alzheimer’s battle started in 2014 and lasted seven years, but my life changed the instant I heard the diagnosis. I was angry, sad, and shocked by the news and the realization that my dad’s bus ride in life would come to an end sooner than any of us realized.
Yet, instead of fighting it, I embraced it. When I became a caregiver for my dad, my entire perspective and purpose changed. Being there for Dad during his darkest days was the greatest burden and greatest blessing of my lifetime. It was a gut-wrenching, demanding, challenging, and emotional experience. But his courage inspired me, and more importantly, I was getting to know him—and myself—better than at any point in my life.
I published Ten Days With Dad: Finding Purpose, Passion, & Peace During the Darkest Days of Alzheimer’s on March 13, 2022, the day I turned fifty. The following year, I published The Greatest Burden The Greatest Blessing: Caregiving Stories of Hope, Humility, and Love with Alan Rubel and Michael Tenaglia. I've found my purpose in writing and will continue to write and speak about my life after-Alzheimer's (AA), and about caregiving--something which very well could kill you--but is also one of life’s greatest blessings.
More than 15,000 personal development books are published yearly, and most are geared toward older adults. The self-improvement industry is worth nearly $25 billion and, surprise, is almost entirely consumed by adults. This is despite the reality that most of them will never make significant changes to their lives unless they experience a tragedy or life-altering event.
I know because I was one of them.
It’s never too late—or early—to pursue your passions
Whether that change is related to your health, mindset, relationships, or career—we don’t have to wait for a life-altering event to change the narrative of our life’s story. None of us are obligated to be the person we were forty years ago, fourteen years ago, four years ago, or four weeks ago.
My father’s Alzheimer’s was anything but a blessing, but caring for him was. With a new perspective on life, I took up meditation, started exercising again, wrote (a lot), and let go of past regrets, grudges, and excuses for my shortcomings. I was able to appreciate and understand how fragile life is and finally accept that we all have demons, flaws, and limitations.
However, none of them need to define who we are or who we want to be.
If you're asking yourself, where I have I read this before, don't worry, you're not losing it. Last week I launched MARK. Set. Go... a weekly newsletter, and my very first post was an almost exact replica of this blog post.
So why a weekly newsletter?
A lot is going on in my brain. I continue to promote both books and have a new one in the works. I blog at caregivingguys.com and am constantly tweaking and improving the site. I post regularly on social media, am a co-host for the Be Au Sm podcast with Josh Peach, write, read, and research daily, have an audiobook in production for Ten Days With Dad, and am launching this very newsletter—oh, I have a real job that consumes the majority of my day—and pays the bills.
Yeah, it’s a lot.
But it doesn’t cause stress or exhaustion. Instead, it fuels me in a big-time way. As a bonus, my day job as a brand merchandise expert has been more successful (and rewarding) since I started writing daily.
Welcome to ADHD, only without the meds.
All of this to say:
Writing is my passion—nothing makes me happier.
Writing is my purpose—helping others become the best versions of themselves, motivating people to pursue their passions and dreams, and especially, assisting young adults to have the best year of their lives, over and over and over again…well, that’s the last thought in my head before going to bed and the first thought I have when I wake.
Writing is my future—I’m a part-time writer looking to become a full-time one. Eventually. Until then, I have so much more to say, share, and give, and a weekly newsletter allows me to HHH: help, hone, and heal. Help others. Hone my writing. Heal the mind, body, and soul.
Writing inspires me—Being a published author is pretty cool, but the “coolest” part of the experience is hearing someone say that one of my books made a difference in their life. My words can have an impact. Do have an impact. Some jumpstart their own personal transformation. For others, they realize that they are not alone.
Writing inspires others—I know because some of my most anticipated reads are newsletters. I love reading books and will continue to write them until I can no longer. Yet, there’s something refreshing about a newsletter. It’s like a podcast in words, though more easily digestible and on my schedule. (I save the podcasts for driving.) I hope you agree and will subscribe to mine.
So are you ready?
MARK. Set. Go… will be delivered via email (and on the app) every Tuesday. It’s a free newsletter, but paid subscribers will receive additional content, resources, and offerings. For example, the first ten paid subscribers will receive monthly coaching calls for those interested in writing and publishing a book. Of course, it’s your time, so we can talk about any topic that is important to you.
Other benefits for paid subscribers:
Autographed (or unsigned) copies of both my books (shipped to a recipient of your choice)
Copy of my Caregiving Resources Guide (Available April 1)
Free audiobook download of Ten Days With Dad (due late 2024)
The first to know—you’ll be the first to receive news, updates, alerts, and relevant content from me, plus new benefits will be added throughout the year. I’m open to suggestions.
One fifteen-minute coaching call each month (optional—you’re not obligated to use it, so please don’t let this prevent you from subscribing).
Subscribe and say Hi
There’s no right or wrong way to build a platform—a community—of engaged, like-minded readers, people willing to listen and learn, mentor and motivate, or support a guy who hopes his words (and actions) encourage others to live in the present, pursue their passions, and get going on those life-changes—before waiting for tragedy or some life-altering event to manifest.
So, please subscribe and say hi. Tell me what resonates—or what doesn’t. I’m here to learn and grow, too. So, let’s get going, shall we?
One final note. MARK. Set. Go… isn’t just for us “older” folk. Think about it: what if a fraction of the above-mentioned 25 billion dollars of self-improvement was aimed at young adults? Imagine the impact that would have on future leaders, teachers, scientists, writers, parents, and kinder human beings—the compounding interest in their potential is staggering.