The Space Between The Waves Podcast The Forgotten Plan A

The Space Between The Waves Podcast The Forgotten Plan A

Meanwhile, he was pulling a wagon loaded down with fishing poles of all colors, lures, a tackle box, and a cooler iced down with cold beer, headed out for another day on Pier 25. I followed behind him sipping on morning coffee, taking just another minute to soak it all in before I hit the road again. Standing there watching the waves slowly roll in, with the morning sun beginning to warm the air, he looked over and said, “You don’t look much like you dressed for fishing today.” “Not today,” I said, “but one day maybe I’ll join you.” He smiled a little and said, “I used to be you… always on the go, always headed somewhere I had to be. That was about 25 years ago. Now, I pretty much call this old pier home most days.” “Must be nice,” I said, “to retire and finally enjoy your time.” After a few quiet minutes passed, he looked out toward the water and said, “I think people spend so much time focusing on their Plan B that they stop giving everything they have to Plan A.” It’s true… sometimes you can get so caught up preparing for what could happen that you slowly forget what you originally set out to do in the first place. Now don’t get me wrong, I believe in backup plans. I rarely buy just one of anything myself, because eventually you’ll probably need another one. Those are convenient Plan B’s. But when it comes to your life, your dreams, and the road you’re traveling… never lose sight of the original plan you set for yourself. Remember, plans may change, roads may twist, and storms may come through, but always remember where you started and why you started in the first place. And for the record… I still highly recommend buying two of everything. One day you just might need it. Have a wonderful day… see you on the radio. Follow along with Tiki Bar Publishing, The Space Between The Waves Podcast, and Tiki Man Radio for more good vibes.

The Space Between The Waves Podcast I Could've moments

Meanwhile, I was sitting at The Old Beach Bar on Front Beach Rd in Panama City one day, watching the tourists go by. Flip-flops slapping the pavement… sunburns already setting in… arms full of beach chairs, coolers, and more plans than the day could ever hold. You could tell the first-timers from the ones who had been there before. The first-timers were in a hurry. Trying to do everything, see everything, capture everything… like if they didn’t, they might miss something. The others… they moved slower. They knew the tide would come in whether they rushed or not. They knew the sunset didn’t show up any earlier just because you stared at the horizon all day. They knew some of the best moments weren’t planned at all… they just happened somewhere between doing nothing and paying attention. I sat there for a while, watching it all play out… the rush, the pause, the laughter, the little frustrations. Most people don’t miss out because they don’t have enough time… They miss out because they never really settle into the moment they’re in. Always thinking about the next stop. The next plan. The next thing that’s supposed to be better than right now. But life doesn’t work that way. Some of the best conversations happen when you weren’t planning to talk. Some of the best memories come from the days you didn’t try so hard to make one. And some of the best parts of life… show up when you finally slow down enough to notice them. Remember, unless you're somewhere you don't want to be, enjoy the moment you are in before it turns into a wish I could've moment. Have a fantastic day… see you on the radio. Follow along with Tiki Bar Publishing, The Space Between the Waves podcast, and Tiki Man Radio for more good vibes.

The Space Between The Waves Podcast It wasn't a bike anymore

Meanwhile, just across the street from the road I grew up on, down a long gravel dirt road, there was a junkyard. At the very end, you’d find piles of old wrecked cars… parts and pieces scattered everywhere… tires, wheels of all kinds… and off to the side, a big heap of broken bicycle parts. The old man who ran the place was always covered in grease, wearing the same worn-out coveralls that smelled like oil and hard work. I’d dig through that pile and start building something in my mind… An old frame that still had some life in it… a couple of wheels that fit… handlebars that weren’t too bent… and I’d drag it all off to the side. Then I’d go find him, usually somewhere in the back, cutting something apart with a blowtorch, and ask, “How much for these?” He never really gave me a price. He’d just tell me to go do something around the shop. Sweeping floors that would never be clean… moving piles from one place to another… doing whatever needed to be done. So I did it. And when I was done, those parts were mine. I’d take them home and spend hours sanding, painting, piecing it all together… getting the gears just right… buying new tubes with money from mowing yards… making sure the chain had just enough links to roll smooth. And I don’t think I’ve ever gotten more satisfaction than riding something that was once broken… forgotten… and left behind. Because it wasn’t just a bike anymore. It was something I saw value in… something I put time into… something I believed could be more than what it was. Not everything starts out shiny and new. Some of the best things in life are built from pieces that others overlooked. So if you feel a little worn down… a little pieced together… like you’ve been through a few things… Good. That just means you’ve got a story… and maybe even something stronger than you realize. Remember… it’s not where you started or what you were handed. It’s what you’re willing to build with it. Have a fantastic Friday… see you on the radio. Follow along with Tiki Bar Publishing, The Space Between the Waves podcast, and Tiki Man Radio for more good vibes.

The Space Between The Waves Podcast Life is like a Broke Down Old Car

Meanwhile, sometimes life can feel like a broke-down old car… a constant reminder of all the things you can’t do. It won’t quite crank right, so you only take it halfway… or you push it off. The lights are dim, so you avoid the night… and the gas gauge doesn’t work, so you don’t trust it on long trips. Before long, you’re not really driving anywhere… just staying close to what feels safe. But here’s the thing, sometimes it’s not about what’s wrong with the car… it’s about how willing you are to work on it. You fix what you can and you learn its quirks. You take a few short drives… then a few longer ones. And little by little, confidence replaces hesitation. Because if you spend all your time focused on what’s broken… you’ll never go anywhere at all. We all have parts of our lives that don’t run perfectly, things that make us second guess, slow down, or play it safe. But that doesn’t mean you’re stuck. It just means there’s still some work to do… and some road left to travel. The most effective, lasting change happens when you focus on fixing yourself, your habits, your reactions, your choices. You can’t force others to heal, and trying to do so will wear you out. Respect those boundaries… and put that energy back into your own life. Remember, you don’t need a perfect ride to move forward. You just need the courage to turn the key, press the gas, and trust yourself enough to take that next mile. Because the road ahead isn’t waiting on perfection… it’s waiting on you. Have a fantastic day… see you on the radio. Follow along with Tiki Bar Publishing, The Space Between the Waves podcast, and Tiki Man Radio for more good vibes.

The Space Between The Waves Podcast The Old Squirrel

Meanwhile, I built a Tiki Bar many years ago in the shade of a hickory tree, so in the evenings it would offer a little relief from those long, hot summer days spent floating in the pool. That tree was much smaller twenty-some-odd years ago… and over time, I’ve watched it grow, just like I have. Late summer always tells its own story. You can feel fall coming—not by the calendar, but by the squirrels. The earlier they start gathering, the longer the winter tends to be. Not long ago, I was sitting at the Tiki Bar at the start of a new season. Everything was cleaned, set back in place, ready for another summer of memories… when a squirrel climbed up onto the banister right next to me. He had white whiskers, moved a little slower, and didn’t seem bothered by me at all. No rush, no fear… just sat there, taking it all in. He looked around the bar, then over at me… almost like he was saying, “Looks good… thanks for keeping this place going.” I smiled and said, “We’ve seen a lot of nuts come and go, haven’t we?” He turned his head, looking back out across that little slice of paradise… almost like he was saying, “Yeah… we sure have.” He doesn’t come around much anymore… leaving the climbing and collecting to the younger ones now. And I guess that’s how it goes. Time moves, seasons change, and before you know it, you’re not the one doing all the running anymore… you’re the one sitting back, appreciating what’s been built, what’s been weathered, and what’s still standing. So if you’re in the middle of building something… keep going. If you’re in the thick of the climb… stay with it. And if you’ve reached a point where you can sit back for a moment… take it in. Because one day, you’ll look around and realize… you didn’t just pass through life… you helped build something worth remembering. Remember… don’t rush the seasons. There’s value in the growing, the grinding, and even in the slowing down. Have a fantastic day… see you on the radio. Follow along with Tiki Bar Publishing, The Space Between the Waves podcast, and Tiki Man Radio for more good vibes.