About

Once upon a time, I wrote about cats. My site, The Reluctant Cat Owner’s Journal, started as a tongue‑in‑cheek chronicle of life with indoor felines and somehow grew into a surprisingly well‑read blog. Readers from around the world tuned in, my work was translated into Finnish, and in 2016 the National Society of Newspaper Columnists gave me an Honorable Mention in the “Under 100,000 Monthly Unique Visitors” category. One judge stated, “Write cat columns and they will come.” And they did.

That project opened doors. I contributed to sites like …So Then Stories, Humor Outcasts, and Scary Mommy. The latter included my piece How to Talk to Your Kids About Gay People that racked up more than 25,000 views and hundreds of comments ranging from supportive, hostile, and everything in between. Let’s just say not everyone appreciates childless, gay men demanding respect. Their loss.

But life changes. The cat blog closed, and I moved on. I still wonder what it could have been if I hadn’t let it go, but as Judge Judy says: “Shoulda. Woulda. Coulda.”

What came next was more personal, more urgent. In January 2021, I stood in my parents’ living room and watched my father take his last breath. He died from complications of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, kidney failure, and high blood pressure, conditions that might have been managed if he’d taken his health seriously. That moment changed me. I realized that health isn’t something you can put off until tomorrow because tomorrow doesn’t always come.

So I committed to a different path. I scheduled regular checkups. I built a home gym so I couldn’t use “the drive” as an excuse. I started moving more, eating better, and treating health as non‑negotiable. My doctor reminded me, “You can’t prevent genetics, but you can delay it.” That became my mantra.

This blog is my way of sharing that journey. I’m not here to sell miracle supplements or convince you that you need to train like a Navy SEAL. I’m here to cut through the noise and remind people (especially those of us over 50) that health & fitness doesn't have to be complicated. 

Move your body. 

Eat real food. 

Respect your age and your limits. 

And don’t let perfectionism stop you from trying.

I still love to write, and I still love to tell stories. Only now, the stories are about resilience, aging, and the messy, imperfect pursuit of wellness. Whether it was making readers laugh about cats or sparking conversations about gay culture, my past writings proved that words can connect, challenge, and inspire. This blog continues that tradition, but with a sharper focus: helping people live longer and healthier lives without drowning in influencer nonsense or gimmicks.

So welcome. Read, laugh, roll your eyes, nod in agreement, or argue with me. I don’t mind the latter as long as your mature about it. 

Just don’t sit still too long.

You can also read me at Focus Midsouth or browse my Instagram.