I am currently working to complete a book on writing a letter to your grandchildren. I strongly believe this book can help your grandchildren, yourself and the world in general. I have been working on it for three years. Yes, it is taking me a long time, but then again it is my first book.

I made a brave and expensive decision to hire an editor. It was hard to ask for help, but I did it.

I submitted my first draft and waited about four weeks for the editor to send me back a marked-up copy. Ouch. Dozens and dozens of corrections and suggestions for changing so many things. I have always had a hard time with criticism and this was one of the worst. My first response was hurt and knee jerk defensiveness. It took me many days to recover enough to realize that they were not calling my baby ugly, they were trying to help me.

For about six weeks I worked on making changes. Most of the suggestions, I had to agree with. Some I had to think through and disagree with. Last week I happily completed all the changes and sent back my revised second draft back to the editor. Sending it back gave me a great sense of accomplishment and relief. It was like a weight had been lifted off me.

Now I wait for the editor to return their second round of changes. I like to think I am now a little better prepared for “edits.” They will still sting like slings and arrows, but hopefully there will be a little less bloodshed. It’s all in the way I think about it. They are not criticizing me, they are helping me. Easier said than done.

My goal is to publish this book in January of 2024. It is good that I have a completion date. Goals without dates are just dreams. My book is more than a dream. It is my sculpture buried in the block of marble. I will keep chipping away until it is done.

I lost a dear friend on Monday. I had known him for 24 years. I worked with him, but he was more than a co-worker. He was a friend. He was a brother. We could have been twins. Both of us were born in 1958, both married in 1982, both had three children. We were the same height. We were very similar in many ways. I helped him and he helped me. He made me a better person. I will forever be grateful for his guidance, wisdom and friendship.

So what do I do now?

I count my blessings.

I am grateful I had a friend that I knew always had my back. He lifted my spirit when I needed it. He pushed me to always do the best I could. He helped me understand that I could always do a little more and do a little better. He celebrated with me when I succeeded and gave me hand up when I didn’t succeed at first.

I am also grateful that I woke up this morning. There is no justice or fairness to why I am here and he is not here. It doesn’t make any sense. I can only respond with “There, but for the grace of God I go.” Let me not waste today. Let me practice what I believe. Let me help someone. Let me lift a burden. Let me make a positive difference in someone’s life.