The Space Between The Waves

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.
 

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.

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

Meanwhile, down in Key West, a painted concrete buoy marks what’s known as the southernmost point in the continental United States, placed there back in 1983. Before that, it was just a simple wooden sign…nothing fancy…just a quiet marker that read, “The Southernmost Point, of Southernmost City, Key West Fla.”
These days, while repairs are being done to the seawall, there’s even a temporary duplicate buoy set up nearby at the end of Duval Street.
If you’ve ever been to Key West, chances are you’ve stood in that line…waiting your turn to snap a photo…proof that you made it. Ninety miles to Cuba, closer to another country than you are to Miami…that alone makes it feel a little different.
One day, I stood across the street just watching it all unfold. Tourists coming and going, some full of energy, some moving a little slower thanks to the night before. All kinds of people…different backgrounds, different stories…yet for a brief moment, they all shared something simple and genuine.
Because here’s the interesting part…that buoy comes with one small condition. If you want your picture taken, someone else has to take it for you. So the person behind you steps up, snaps your photo, hands your phone back…then you return the favor. One by one, all day long…a quiet exchange of trust between strangers.
It’s a small thing, easy to overlook…but it says a lot.
Kindness shows up like that more often than we think…in simple, everyday moments. You just have to be willing to notice it.
You can choose to focus on what’s wrong…or you can do what those words embedded in the sidewalk say: “One Human Family.”
Remember, see the good. See what’s right. And don’t miss the chance to appreciate those small, meaningful moments.
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.
 

Meanwhile, somewhere between that first cup of coffee and the sound of the world starting to wake up, there’s a moment…a quiet one…where you get to decide how this week is going to go.
I’ve learned to enjoy my mornings a little slower than I once did—taking time to appreciate the silence after an adventure-filled dream. That space, that pause…there’s something important in it. No matter how your day begins, a little reflection can go a long way.
A lot of people spend their time waiting for the “right time,” the perfect conditions, or some kind of sign that it’s okay to move forward. But the truth is, most of the time, nothing changes until you decide to take that first step.
You don’t have to have it all figured out. You don’t need the whole picture. Sometimes it’s enough to simply begin, trusting that you’ll adjust as you go.
For some, that constant motion feels overwhelming…for others, it’s just another day. Either way, progress is still progress, no matter the pace.
So here we are…a brand new week, sitting right in front of you. No matter what last week looked like, this one’s yours to shape. Make the call you’ve been putting off. Start the thing you’ve been thinking about. Take one step in a new direction.
Remember, just because you can’t see the whole journey yet doesn’t mean you’re not already on your way…just keep moving.
Have a wonderful day, see you on the radio.
Follow along on Tiki Bar Publishing, The Space Between The Waves Podcast, and Tiki Man Radio for more good vibes.

Meanwhile, it was another busy day at Flounder’s. The season had finally arrived, and summer dreams were lining up along the sugar-white sands of the Florida coast.
Around the corner, the little gift shop was unpacking boxes, t-shirts, sunglasses, hats, shot glasses, all waiting for someone to carry a piece of that beach life back home.
That’s where Melissa found herself. She had come here after what she called her “defining moments” had played themselves out…as they often do. Chapters closed, plans changed, and life didn’t quite look the way she thought it would.
She was smart, she knew that. But there was this quiet frustration that followed her…like the world didn’t always see her the way she saw herself. And for a while, that bothered her more than she cared to admit.
But something about that place…the rhythm of the water, the simplicity of it all…started to shift things.
Because at some point, it’s not about how others define you. It’s about what you do next.
We all make mistakes. We all hit those moments where things don’t go the way we planned. But what separates us isn’t the fall, it’s what we learn from it, and whether we decide to move forward or stay stuck looking back.
The truth is, the adventure isn’t over…not even close. And one day, you’ll look back at who you are right now the same way you look back at who you used to be, just another version of you, still figuring it out, still growing.
Remember, let the past be the lesson, not the anchor. Believe in yourself a little more today than you did yesterday. Because being happy? That choice is still yours.
Have a great day, see you on the radio.
Follow along on Tiki Bar Publishing, The Space Between The Waves Podcast, and Tiki Man Radio for more good vibes.

Meanwhile, there’s an old saying that gets passed around from time to time, but not everyone is ready to hear it…you’ll never become who you want to be if you keep blaming everyone else for who you are right now.
It’s a tough one. Because taking responsibility isn’t easy. It means looking in the mirror and being honest about the choices we’ve made, the paths we’ve taken, and the habits we’ve held onto a little too long. And truth be told, a lot of people never quite get there.
I remember sitting at a bar one afternoon, listening to a guy talk about all the things that went wrong in his life. Job, relationships, missed chances…every bit of it was someone else’s fault. And maybe some of it was. Life isn’t always fair like that.
But at some point, you could feel it…that quiet moment where the story could’ve changed. Where he could’ve said, “Yeah, but here’s what I could’ve done differently.” And it never came.
That’s the turning point some never see like a missed turn, they just keep driving in the wrong direction.
Because the moment you stop pointing outward and start looking inward, things begin to shift. Not overnight, not perfectly…but steadily. You start making different choices. You take control of what you can. And little by little, your direction changes.
It doesn’t mean you carry blame for everything. It just means you take ownership of what’s yours. And that kind of honesty? That’s where real growth begins.
Remember, don’t be afraid to check in with yourself. Not with judgment…just with awareness. Because recognizing where you can do better isn’t a weakness…it’s the first step toward becoming who you’re meant to be.
Have a great day, see you on the radio.
Follow along on Tiki Bar Publishing, The Space Between The Waves Podcast, and Tiki Man Radio for more good vibes.

Meanwhile, there’s this place called “Kokomo.” It became a popular destination after The Beach Boys released their 1989 hit of the same name. The song made it feel like a real spot somewhere down in the Florida Keys, and over the years, a few clever business folks tried to bring it to life. Truth is…Kokomo isn’t a real place.
But in another way…it absolutely is.
Kokomo is anywhere you go to get away from it all. It’s not a dot on a map, it’s a mindset. Kind of like the word “Tiki”…you hear it, and just like that, you’re transported somewhere warm, easy, and a little more relaxed than where you were a second ago.
I’ve seen people find their “Kokomo” in all kinds of places. A quiet stretch of beach at sunrise, a corner seat at a laid-back bar, a boat drifting with nowhere to be, or even just a few minutes of stillness in the middle of a busy day. It doesn’t have to be far…it just has to be real to you.
Because the truth is, we all need that escape from time to time. Life has a way of piling on, and before you know it, you’re running on empty. Burned out, worn down, and wondering where the fun went.
Taking care of yourself can feel like an extravagance. Sometimes even a little selfish. But over time, you start to realize it’s not that at all…it’s necessary. You can’t pour anything good into the world if you’ve got nothing left in the tank.
Remember, you can find your “Kokomo.” Even if it’s just for a little while. A moment to reset, recharge, and remind yourself what it feels like to breathe again.
Have a great day, see you on the radio.
Follow along on Tiki Bar Publishing, The Space Between The Waves Podcast, and Tiki Man Radio for more good vibes.

Meanwhile, every spring at the Tiki Bar there’s this thing I call “tying up loose boards.” After a long winter, right on cue, it’s time to get everything ready for another season.
Bar stools get tightened up, refrigerators fired back to life, outside furniture cleaned and set, signs straightened, the pool checked…every little detail matters. Because when the people show up for fun in the sun, everything needs to be ready to go.
life isn’t much different.
Tying up loose ends in life is just as important. All those unfinished projects, unmade decisions, and things we keep putting off, they have a way of piling up. Not always in front of you, but in the back of your mind, quietly draining your energy.
It’s hard to feel at ease when you’re carrying all that. Hard to move forward when something is always tugging at you from behind, asking to be finished. Those loose ends…they don’t just sit there…they follow you.
Now here’s the part nobody likes to talk about, not everything in life gets tied up with a nice, neat bow. Some things don’t come with closure. Some chapters just…end. And you’re left to figure out how to make peace with it on your own, or maybe with a little help along the way.
But that doesn’t mean you stop trying to clear the rest. In fact, it makes it even more important to take care of what you can. Finish what’s within reach. Make the call. Have the conversation. Close the loop where you’re able.
Because there’s a kind of peace that comes with completion. A lightness. Like walking into a place where everything’s been set just right…ready for whatever comes next.
Remember, don’t let the loose ends of life tie you up in a knot. Clear what you can, let go of what you can’t, and make a little room for something new.
Have a great day, see you on the radio.
Follow along on Tiki Bar Publishing & The Space Between The Waves Podcast and Tiki Man Radio for more good vibes.

Meanwhile, some Mondays hit a little different… maybe you’re headed somewhere new, chasing an adventure, or just stepping into a fresh beginning.
There’s something about being above the clouds… looking down at that soft, puffy world below that makes you pause for a minute and see things a little differently.
Farmlands stretch out in perfect squares, like someone mapped it all out long before you got there. The Grand Canyon almost doesn’t look real… more like something from another planet. The oceans remind you just how much of this world is water, and those tiny islands… they look like nothing more than sandbars drifting by.
Up there, time feels slower. The steady hum of the engines keeps rhythm as you drift in and out of sleep, somewhere between where you’ve been and where you’re going.
Then slowly… the descent begins.
Cars appear like tiny ants, roads start to connect, towns come into focus, and those backyard swimming pools scattered in every shape and color, stand out like little reminders of everyday life waiting below.
Wheels down… and just like that, the ride is over. Reality rushes back in with the sound of seatbelts clicking, phones turning on, overhead bins popping open, and everyone suddenly in a hurry to move again.
But for a little while up there… everything felt simple. Clear. Right.
And maybe that’s the point.
Remember, when you find yourself on top of your world, even for just a moment, take it in. Look around. See things differently. Because the ride can be shorter than you think.
Now it’s time… time to make it happen.
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.