The world has become increasingly full of people with grievances. People complain about politicians, their neighbors, or the lack of forth in their Latte. These grievances have been amplified through social media. Sure, there are actual injustices in this world and room for righteous anger. But when your life becomes one long list of grievances, all you get is grief! That was not the case with Carlo Acutis.
Inspiring people to disregard the petty slights and injustices of the world to focus and amplify moments of joy. They overcome adversity to show the way to a better life. They use the tools that so often sow discord to show us a better way. One such person was Carlo Acutis, who will be canonized as a Saint on September 7, 2025.
Carlos Acutis is the first millennial Catholic Saint. He passed from this earthly realm on 12 October 2006, from leukemia at the age of 17. He recognized the emerging power of the internet and social media and chose to utilize it to proclaim the goodness and glory of God. One of Carlo’s sayings was “we are all likely to fall short because as soon as someone says something we don’t like, we instantly grow angry”. However, unlike many of us (including myself), he did not utilize his social media skills to amplify his grievances. Instead, he used his skill to develop a media site that showcases the power of Eucharistic miracles to transform his life and that of others. His website and media presentation are now displayed on five continents and have been shown in over a thousand parishes and more than a hundred universities. Instead of influencing others to buy the latest gadget or gift, he influences others to a better life and to God.
His real life mirrored his virtual life. Although his family was wealthy, he did not spend the money on the latest game. Instead, he would use his allowance to buy food and sleeping bags for people experiencing homelessness. Instead of endless scrolling and posting for likes, he spent his time striving to bring others to what truly matters – being kind and loving God.
His final acts are the most important for our time. He did not post about his suffering as he was dying. He instead said, “There are a lot of people suffering a lot more than me. “ He was always focused on what is above and beyond, instead of what is here and before. He offered his suffering and kept a joyful face till the end.
A few weeks back, in the last edition of the Change Well newsletter and podcast (located at this link), I discussed my intent to focus on training for the Senior Fitness Test. The Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department developed the program that I just started doing. It is called Fitness Reaching Older Gen’s (FROG) and focuses on flexibility, which is critical to everyone, especially older ones like me with creaky joints. But first, a few stories about how I realized I needed to focus on this program.
Entering my senior year has been an eye-opening experience regarding fitness. In my middle years, I focused on endurance, strength, and cycling. Increasingly, however, I’ve realized that flexibility and mobility are just as—if not more—essential for maintaining independence and longevity.
That realization didn’t come quickly. At 55, I was in complete denial of aging. In what I thought was a hilarious act of rebellion, I staged a ritualistic burning of my AARP card application on YouTube. Unfortunately, the part I cut from the video was even funnier—and almost fatal. The card caught fire rapidly, and when I rushed for water to douse the flames, the pan I grabbed had oil residue. Suddenly, I wasn’t just rejecting aging; I was nearly burning the house! Not great for my health, nor the well-being of those around me. (Although, let’s be honest, that video would have gone viral.)
The Importance of Senior Fitness
Aging doesn’t have to mean losing function or freedom. Staying active well into our later years can reduce the risk of falls, improve balance, and enhance our overall quality of life. However, I have found that I can no longer do the half marathons of my youth. Instead, I need to focus on flexibility and mobility.
Stretching and mobility exercises are key to keeping joints healthy and preventing stiffness. Even though I do not like stretching, I have found that I need it. I have a gimpy knee and want to stop being the little, lame middle-aged man this spring. Here is a poem (with all due respect to e.e Cummings) I wrote a few Springs ago while running on Town Lake. Here is the link to the original blog post.
In Just-
Spring , when the stiff
middle-aged man
shambles far and wee!
And the ground-beneath
is puddle-painful
From too much running too soon,
As the hobbled, Senior man
limps slow—ly far and wee!
Staying Functional with the Senior Fitness Test
So how will I avoid being the lame little senior man this year? I am starting this Saturday, March 1st, by taking the Senior Fitness test to gauge my fitness. The Senior Fitness Test (also called the Fullerton Functional Test) is designed to gauge physical function in older adults and includes:
Chair Stand Test: Measures lower-body strength and endurance.
8-Foot Up-and-Go Test: Measures agility and balance.
The link to the test and expected scores can be found at The Senior Fitness Test. I will need to improve on the Chair Stand Test, chair sit-and-reach test, and the back scratch test. I will let you know next week how much I need to improve.
After getting my initial score, I will set up a weekly routine based on the Southwest Nebraska Public Health FROG manual exercises at the FROG Manual link. In two weeks, I will post my routine on my blog websites.
How I Finally Embraced My Age (Thanks, Boots!)
In addition to my FROG training, I intend to switch up my fitness routine this year by doing more Step Aerobics by Paul Eugene. I accidentally ran across his engaging and fun fitness, low-impact exercises. My dog, Boots, was howling at thunder like it was the apocalypse at 3 AM on a stormy night. I finally calmed him down, but I could not get back to sleep. So, I did what any rational person would do at 3 AM: I did aerobics with Paul Eugene.
Wait, what? That doesn’t sound logical. Well, I wasn’t about to compose an entire album of dog lullabies. Since I was up anyway, and it was a weigh-in day for WW, I figured I might as well move. But I wasn’t ready for high-intensity training, so I did something I swore I’d never do—I watched a senior fitness video by Paul on YouTube (check out his channel at this link).
And you know what? It was amazing! I had avoided senior-based workouts, thinking they’d be boring or ineffective. But Paul Eugene’s videos were energizing, fun, and at the right level for a great workout.
How to Improve Flexibility and Stay Active
Maintaining flexibility doesn’t require a drastic lifestyle change. A few small, consistent habits can make a big difference:
Daily Stretching: Incorporate simple stretches for the hamstrings, shoulders, and back. This recent blog post discussed the importance of stretching and sleeping.
Low-impact aerobics: These low-impact exercises improve flexibility, balance, and mental clarity.
Strength Training with a Focus on Range of Motion: Lifting weights through a full range of motion keeps joints mobile.
Hydration and Nutrition: Staying hydrated and eating anti-inflammatory foods can help maintain joint health.
Final Thoughts
If you’re in your 50s, 60s, or beyond, don’t be like the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz. Loosen your joints by stretching, and keep the muscles lubricated by drinking plenty of water. And if you ever find yourself up at 3 AM with a panicked dog? Well, you know what to do.
Last Sunday was the feast of the Epiphany, the typical ending of the Christmas season. In this context, the Epiphany is defined as the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles represented by the Maji (the Three Kings). I wonder what the Maji felt as they returned to their homeland and got further and further away from the Christ child and the Star of Bethlehem. Did they feel sorrow and sadness, or did the knowledge of the epiphany spur them to greater spiritual heights?
We Live Life Between Epiphanies
Epiphany has a second definition in the secular sense. It means a sudden revelation or insight. For example, you can imagine Thomas Edison saying, “I had an epiphany after inventing the first light bulb,” or Alexander Graham Bell’s excitement when he first heard the voice over the telephone. It is easy to be motivated while you’re having an epiphany or leading up to a new insight. But most of our lives happen in between epiphanies. What you do in between inspirations leads to a meaningful life.
Today’s blog is all about what we do in between epiphanies. How do we discern and discover our next great insight? What are the steps that we follow to reach that next epiphany? How do we remain hopeful and motivated in between the high points? Most importantly, how do we prepare for the final epiphany that occurs only in our passing? You can read related blogs here and here.
Searching for Your Next Epiphany
The wise men did not go blindly in search of the prophesized King. Instead, they read the charts to find the Star of Bethlehem, their North Star that led to the Epiphany. Similarly, ship captains look for the North Star to orient them North correctly.
Finding your next North Star is equally vital as you navigate life’s trials. The best way to determine where to go next is by reflecting on your last peak experience. What about your previous highlight made you fulfilled and on the right track? How do you build on that insight to raise yourself to a higher level?
Here is an example. In 2015, I had a clear North Star. I had to lose weight and get healthy to support my family and team. I reached my goal of losing 150 pounds, which was both exhilarating and worrisome. After achieving the goal, I could have had a letdown after the initial high.
Instead, I decided to build on what I had learned and pay it forward to others. Also, I understood that although I had improved my body, my soul still needed work. So, I made a goal to apply the lessons I learned in meeting my health targets to improve my soul. I established targets for prayer and ways to display kindness to others.
Once you have determined your North Star, you need to envision it. Develop a Vision Board, a series of pictures and text describing where you are going next, and keep it where you can see it daily.
Following Your New North Star
Identifying your purpose and next peak is step one. Now, you need to make a plan to reach it. Think of all the planning the wise men had to do to get to Bethlehem. They had to secure Camels, provisions, and equipment for the long journey. They also had to adjust to the sandstorms that knocked them off their path.
You need to practice similar intentionality, planning, and adjustment. Establish interim SMART goals to guide you on your journey. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. Do not wander lost in the desert of irrelevance buffeted by the sands of discontent. Instead, like the wise men, they plan to reach the Epiphany at the appointed time. And do not get knocked off-track by the occasional sandstorm.
Living the Mountain Top Moment
When you reach a high point, relish it. Live in the moment and learn from it to carry on during the low periods.
Again, take the example of the Three Kings. They took the time to pay homage to Jesus and presented gifts of honor and thankfulness. They also used their experience to change their lives. The Bible records that they returned to their land by a different path, avoiding Herod. Also, the Epiphany and its memory sustained them on their long journey home.
It also changed their direction in life. After the Nativity visit, the three kings lived a virtuous life. Legend has it that they were instructed and baptized by St. Thomas the Apostle in his travels to the East.
The Magi’s experience after the Epiphany has important lessons for us as we savor a high point and then return to everyday life. First, celebrate your achievement and take time before moving on to the next thing. Second, distill the lessons learned from your peak and use them as fuel for the road. Lastly, when you hit a roadblock to your next destination, recall your Epiphany to provide hope and faith.
The Last Epiphany
As we travel our earthly road, one thing should guide our direction while we live between Epiphanies—the last revelation. The life we have lived and the kindnesses we have shown will be measured when we see God face to face. This final road may be long and hard for our bodies, but our souls can strengthen until we reach the everlasting Epiphany.
Today is the birthday of JRR Tolkien, one of the significant influences on my life. I wrote a blog a few years back, but I have learned much more since then about this great author, father, Catholic, and teacher. I am reading The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien and recently finished Tolkien’s Faith, bringing new insights about my favorite author.
I saw the movie Tolkien a few years back and highly recommend it to everyone! The film documented the fundamental moments of Tolkien’s formation behind his masterpieces The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion. As I relived his early life through early adulthood, I thought about how much Tolkien and his works were instrumental in my own growth. Here are the eight key moments when Tolkien’s works formed and changed me.
My First Book Purchase – LOTR by JRR Tolkien.
The first book I bought with my own money (you can read about how I earned that money here: A Penny A Minute) was the Lord of the Rings box set. I have posted a picture of the Two Towers to show you how much value I got for the few dollars I spent.
I remember buying them like yesterday at Quakerbridge Mall and using the money I earned from my first job. Racing home, I put my name on the cover in case someone tried to take it, and devoured the books like I did the Quarter Pounder that I had bought with the remaining change.
I have now read those same books with pages falling out at least once a year. The first time I read them all in a weekend. I remember cowering in the bed as I read about the Black Riders for the first time and adding Frodo and Sam to my evening prayers.
Bonding with My Best Friend Over Tolkien
My best friend from elementary through middle school was Paul. He loved the Lord of the Rings as much as or more than me, and we discussed it endlessly. Paul also introduced me to the Lord of the Rings allusions in Led Zeppelin songs, such as Misty Mountain Hop and some Galadriel references in Stairway to Heaven.
He also had pictures from the Lord of the Rings calendars decorating his room. We parted ways in high school as our lives took different turns (The Road Goes Ever On!). But I will never forget the joy I had in discussing the latest calendar and references to LOTR by Led Zeppelin!
Love of Family
My Dad was a Steelworker, a no-nonsense Blue-Collar man. He did not care for fantasy, elves, or hobbits. In contrast, I was like Frasier to my Dad’s Marty Crane.
Throughout 1978, I looked for every news item on Ralph Bashki’s upcoming rendition of The Lord of the Rings. My dad got tickets for the opening day for the whole family because he knew how much I loved it. He also got me the LP soundtrack for Christmas.
The movie was not good, but my whole family sat through it. They sat through it and tried to cheer me up, as I was disappointed. I never felt more loved since my family showed kindness and support for something I cared about.
My Senior High School Thesis on Tolkien
I love to write and get as much joy from it as I do from reading LOTR. I feel exhilarated after writing each of my blogs, and unlike most, I love writing essays for school.
My senior thesis for High School was one of my favorites – Christ Imagery in the Lord of the Rings! I learned so much from studying this subject.
Unlike Lewis, who is allegorical in the Narnia series, Tolkien is more subtle but profound. Frodo, Aragorn, and Gandalf all represent elements of Christ. Frodo is the clearest as he carries the heavy burden to Mount Doom. Aragorn, as a disguised king, leads to a new kingdom. Gandalf is perhaps the least subtle as he arises from the dead in white after battling the Balrog.
Tolkien did not like allegory, but he understood the fundamental truth that our highest calling is to sacrifice. I still remember the exhilaration of getting an A on the paper, but more so the feeling that the LOTR revealed a more profound truth! I have learned from reading Tolkien’s Faith by Holly Ordway that Tolkien’s faith infused everything he did.
Falling for the Fellowship
I waited 23 years for the next movie version of The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring. My wife and I had four kids waiting for its arrival!
My oldest daughter Kate was old enough to stay up late to catch the movie with me on the first day. It came out the day before I had to lead an Oral presentation for the biggest deal in my career. Nevertheless, I got the only two last tickets available for the midnight showing on the first day.
My daughter and I waited anxiously in the last two seats behind a bar that partially obstructed my view. I was praying that it would not be like the earlier movie. I will not lie to you. When the Shire and Gandalf scene came on the screen, I wept tears of joy.
Peter Jackson had captured the essence of the books that defined my life: the decency of the Hobbits, the goodness of Gandalf, and the evil of the Dark Riders, which used to shake me in my bed so many years ago.
This will sound like the ultimate geek, but I count that first viewing of the Fellowship as one of the top 10 moments in my life. (By the way, it inspired me to win the most important job of my career the next day!).
Dancing in the Glade
I thought nothing would match the scene of the Shire, but a scene from the Tolkien movie did it. My favorite story from Tolkien is not LOTR but one chapter from the Silmarillion – Of “Beren and Luthien.” I love it for three reasons.
It examines the love between people of two cultures (Elves and Man). Beren and Luthien fight against all odds to defeat evil. Last and most important, it shows the never-ending love between a man and his wife.
For the uninitiated, Beren and Luthien Tinuviel represent J.R.R. Tolkien and his wife Edith. They were married for over 50 years. Edith was Tolkien’s muse and the anchor to his life. The image took my breath away as I sat beside my wife of 38+ years and thought of her in that glade. In the movie, they show Edith dancing in the woods in England, the image Tolkien explains in his poem below.
“The leaves were long, the grass was green, The hemlock-umbels tall and fair, And in the glade, a light was seen. Of stars in shadow shimmering. Tinuviel was dancing there. To the music of a pipe unseen, And the light of stars was in her hair, And in her raiment glimmering.” (Read more here – https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/luthien).
Faith Lessons from Tolkien and St John Henry Newman
I knew Tolkien was a Catholic like me, but I realized further connections after reading Tolkien’s Faith. Tolkien’s mother took JRR and his brother Hillary to England. After her husband’s passing, his mother became Catholic in the Birmingham Oratory, where St. John Henry Newman resided. More than that, Father Francis Morgan, an aide of the Saint, was JRR Tolkien’s guardian when his mother passed.
This connection deeply moved me since the prayers and writings of St. John Henry Newman have been crucial to my faith formation. I discovered his prayers on a pilgrimage when we said one of his prayers each night during our return on our bus.
Written Words of a Loving Father.
I am now reading The Letters of JRR Tolkien, which contains 500 pages of Tolkien’s letters. The letters give insight into his books, college life, relationship with Inklings, and, most importantly, family.
Professor Tolkien’s most touching and instructive letters were to his son Christopher during WW II. To keep Cristopher’s spirits up, he shared his WW I experience. He also discussed the Lord of the Rings and had Christopher edit and develop maps for the book. He also wrote letters before WW I to his wife. His final letter before his passing was to his daughter Priscilla about his arrival at a friend’s house. In all, we see how Tolkien loved and instructed his family.
Eight events that shaped a life! Thank you, J.R.R. Tolkien and the makers of this film, for making this film that explains the life of this man who shaped me and so many others!
