The Tiki Bar

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06/02/2026

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.

06/01/2026

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.

05/29/2026

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.

05/28/2026

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.

05/27/2026

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.

05/26/2026

Meanwhile, it’s easy to say rainbows and butterflies are everywhere and if you just trust yourself, everything will work out just fine. But we all know… that’s not always true. In fact, there are more frustrating days than easy ones.

Life is complex, and expecting everything to always work out can make those inevitable tough days feel even heavier.

It’s exhausting to pretend everything is perfect when it’s not. Acknowledging frustration, anger, or sadness is actually healthier than covering it up with forced optimism. You don’t have to be positive all the time… sometimes just getting through a hard day is a win.

With that said, it’s not a good idea to live in the negative either. You’ve got to be careful driving through the mud… or you’ll get stuck in it.

It’s about finding that middle ground… traction. You recognize the mud is there so you can navigate it, but you keep your eyes on where you want the wheels to go.

If you spend all your energy fighting the rain, you forget to drive. But if you ignore the mud completely, you’ll end up needing a tow truck.

Accept that you’re human and bound to make mistakes. Forgive yourself first, then make peace with those you may have wronged. Don’t worry about what you can’t control, focus on what you can. And above all, take ownership of your direction.

Remember… don’t get stuck in the mud. The power to guide your life is in your hands. Make the choice today to steer in a direction that inspires you, empowers you, and excites 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.

05/24/2026

On this day in 2023, American-born singer and longtime R&B icon Tina Turner died at age 83; her signature song, “What's Love Got to Do with It,” was from her blockbuster album Private Dancer in 1984
American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, who was hailed as the Shakespeare of his generation, was born on this day in 1941, in Duluth, Minnesota.
The first line of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad opened with the maiden voyage of Peter Cooper's locomotive Tom Thumb, on this day in 1830.
Midnight Cowboy was released in theatres on this day in 1969, and the drama, which starred Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman, went on to become the only X-***ed film to win the Academy Award for best picture.
American baseball player Babe Ruth hit the 714th and last home run of his career, on this day in 1935; he retired later that year.

05/22/2026

Meanwhile, if you’ve ever been to one of The Tiki Bar New Year’s Eve parties, then you already know about the “F” Bucket.

It’s something I came up with a long time ago for anyone looking to let go of something…or finally make a change. The idea is simple. You write down whatever it is that’s been weighing on you…a habit, a thought, a situation…fold it up, toss it in the bucket with a dollar, and walk away from it.

That dollar? That’s your buy-in. Your way of saying, “I’m serious about this.”

And here’s where it gets real.

The next time that same problem shows up, you don’t entertain it. You don’t negotiate with it. You simply hold up your hand and say, “I’m sorry…that’s already in the ‘F’ Bucket,” and you move on.

It sounds simple…maybe even a little funny…but it’s powerful if you actually follow through.

The thing is, I’ve never really called it a New Year’s resolution. It’s not about waiting for some perfect moment on the calendar. It’s about dealing with something right here…right now.

Because if you think about it, you don’t need New Year’s Eve to decide you’ve had enough. You don’t need a countdown or a celebration to make a change. You can put something in that “F” Bucket anytime you choose.

We just don’t always give ourselves permission to do it.

So maybe today’s the day you do.

Remember, stop giving your energy to things you can’t control. And as always…go where you’re celebrated, not tolerated.

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.

05/21/2026

Meanwhile, Winston Churchill once said, “If you’re going through hell…keep going.”
It’s a simple thought, but a powerful one. Because when life gets heavy…when things feel uncertain or even overwhelming…standing still only keeps you there. Forward, no matter how slow, is still progress.

Over the years, I’ve had a lot of characters come and go in my life. Some stayed for a season…others were just brief moments, like a passing stranger along this long, strange trip we’re all on. But I’ve come to believe that people show up for a reason. Maybe they help guide you forward…or maybe they simply help you understand exactly where you are.

We need people…even if just for a moment.

If you’ve ever stood by the ocean at night, you’ve probably seen it…those distant ship lights blinking far out on the water. They move slowly…bobbing back and forth…until, eventually, they fade out of sight.
Some ships are just passing through your horizon…never meant to dock…just meant to remind you there’s something beyond where you’re standing.

And maybe that’s the point.

Not everyone is meant to stay. Some are there to teach you, some to challenge you, and some just to pass by and remind you to keep moving forward.

Remember, no matter how tough the waters feel right now…keep going. Your shoreline is out there, even if you can’t quite see it yet.

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.

05/20/2026

Meanwhile, there are times in life when you feel a little worn down…maybe even off course. Sometimes it comes from choices you wish you could take back, and other times it’s simply life showing up in ways you never saw coming.

You think you’ve made all the right moves…then suddenly things shift. A company you believed in closes its doors. A relationship you counted on changes direction. Life brings new beginnings like children, and also moments of hardship like sickness and loss. So much of it reminds you just how little control we really have.

It’s been said, “Choices are the hinges of destiny.” And in many ways, life plays out like a game of chess. Every move matters…every decision carries weight. Those choices become the hardware that determines whether the door ahead opens wide…or stays closed a little longer.

The thing about chess is, there’s no “undo” button. Once you let go of the piece, the move is final. You can’t go back and change it…but you can always decide what your next move will be.

Some people play one move at a time…others play the long game. The difference often comes down to shifting your focus from “What feels good right now?” to “Where will this lead me later on?”

No matter what you’re facing right now, or how heavy it may feel…chances are, it will pass. It just doesn’t always feel that way in the moment.

Remember, don’t let fear or doubt make your decisions for you. Choose what moves you forward…what strengthens you…and trust that you’ll find your way through.

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

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Harrison, TN
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