The Space Between The Waves

She grew up on a tiny island with her grandmother, who opened a little café and named it one evening while watching the sunset over a glass of red wine with friends… “Something with class,” she said. Now her granddaughter carries on the smiles.When the door opens, it’s announced by the soft jingle of a bell above it, a simple sound that somehow makes the whole place feel like home, followed by her warm, familiar “Good Morning.”Inside, conversations drift like the tide, and dreams are spoken out loud as the surfboards lean quietly toward the rising sun.As we get older, we really do need less and less. A lifetime of collecting things slowly turns into a lifetime of letting go. Those drawers, shoeboxes, and forgotten containers full of memories begin to lose their meaning over time… little treasures once held close, now just things left behind. Treasure lost, treasure gained, I suppose.And those defining moments we all have… they shape us, slowly sculpting who we are becoming, one choice at a time.If you find yourself making that list, good versus bad, should I or shouldn’t I, chances are, you already know the answer. Sometimes we’re just trying to talk ourselves out of it… or push it off for another day.Some say dreams are nothing more than thoughts being filed away in some far corner of the mind.But dreaming big is a good thing… as long as you follow through.Because the sculpting of your life comes from you. Shape it, mold it, turn it into the life you want to live… and maybe throw those lists away once in a while.Remember, one day, you’ll look up and realize, you’re not just watching the surfboards reach for the sun… you’re right there with them.Have a fantastic day, see you on the radio.Follow along on Tiki Bar Publishing, Tiki Man Radio, and The Space Between The Waves Podcast for more good vibes.

One of my favorite things to do is drift down to the beach early in the morning and take a long walk along the shoreline.You know the routine… finding that perfect little spot where you’ll set up camp for the day. The smell of suntan lotion already floating in the breeze, the sound of the waves rolling in and slowly creeping their way up the sugar-white sand.There’s an old saying that you never know what the tide might bring in, and that saying probably came from mornings just like that. When the beach is quiet and revealing itself after the night, sometimes you’ll see someone slowly walking along with a metal detector, hoping to uncover a little treasure the tide may have left behind.And in a way, life works the same way.Finding your life’s real treasure isn’t always about what you discover out in the world. Most of the time it’s about what you uncover within yourself, your purpose, your passions, and the things that truly matter.Every victory and every setback teaches you something. Both are part of the tide that shapes who you become.Just like the ocean that washes the shore clean every day, life has a way of washing away the things that no longer belong, reminding you to look inward instead of outward.Remember, life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them… embrace them. Let reality be reality and let things flow forward the way they’re meant to.Who knows… today might just bring in a little treasure of its own.Have a fantastic day, see you on the radio.Follow along on Tiki Bar Publishing, Tiki Man Radio, and The Space Between The Waves Podcast for more good vibes.

Spring has sprung once again, another season quietly changing places on the calendar, and somehow the passages of time seem to show up in mysterious ways. One minute you're going about your routine and the next thing you know you stop and think… wait a minute, has it been a year… or five… or even ten? Funny how that happens.Sometimes it sneaks up on you when you're cleaning out a spare room, digging through a drawer, or opening an old box in the garage that hasn’t seen daylight in years. Suddenly you're holding a photograph, a ticket stub, or some little souvenir that meant the world at one time.To anyone else it might just look like clutter. But to you it was a moment… a story… a chapter of life.And while those memories never truly disappear, they slowly find their place on the shelves of time. That’s part of living. But every once in a while, just like spring cleaning the house, it’s also good to do a little mental cleaning too.Letting go of the things that no longer belong in today's chapter.It’s funny how the mind works. Sometimes those old moments sneak back in through a dream in the middle of the night or a random thought during the day, and that’s when it really hits you… yes, it has been that long.But that’s okay.Remember, spring cleaning isn’t just about getting rid of things. It’s about making space… for new memories, new chapters, and whatever adventure may be waiting around the corner. Out with the old, as they say.And sometimes letting go turns out to be one of the best things you ever did.Have a fantastic day, see you on the radio.Follow along on Tiki Bar Publishing, Tiki Man Radio and The Space Between The Waves Podcast for more good vibes.

Sometimes we could all use a small vacation of our own… one where you quietly disappear from the road and the changes that seem to roll in on cue every single day.There are many lazy beach towns like Laguna Beach. I’ve spent more than a few quiet days there in silence, just listening to the rhythm of the Gulf and letting the noise fade away.With a short walk in the early morning light, you can find yourself at Thomas Donut & Snack Shop, a famous little “secret” spot that only the ones in the know truly understand. You have to get there early while the fresh ones last. There’s something about standing there with warm dough in your hand and salt air on your face that makes the world slow down a notch.When you allow yourself to get lost for a few days, you often find your way back… back to you. And pretty soon, the things that had your mind on overload don’t seem quite as heavy. They’re still there, but they’re clearer, more manageable, less tangled.Sometimes we all get a little drained and need a recharge. That’s why the first rule of electronics is simple: restart, refresh.Refreshing your mind, body, and spirit is essential for sustained growth. It means letting go of stale ideas, resting when you’re weary, and welcoming new perspectives that spark creativity again. A refresh is your opportunity to reframe your purpose and reengage with what truly matters.Remember, you can’t change who you are, but you can change what you allow to live in your head. You can refresh what you’re thinking about. You can open the windows, let the fresh air in, and clear the room upstairs.Have a fantastic day… see you on the radio.Follow along on Tiki Bar Publishing, Tiki Man Radio, and The Space Between The Waves Podcast for more good vibes.

The old man sat in the corner booth of the Sea Side Coffee Shop, sipping black coffee in the standing-room-only little café. One by one the line grew shorter, everyone grabbing their cup of sunshine to go, while he stayed put… writing something on a napkin.
It was a long trip home to The Tiki Bar that morning. I was in a hurry to go, but not in a hurry to get going. Some days are just like that.
I’ve always thought the world shifted a little sideways when men quit wearing hats. I noticed his was resting beside him on the seat.
Being last in line, he glanced up and said, “Dolores will bring you coffee if you’d like to have a seat.”
I thanked him and sat down across from him.
He kept writing as she brought over a small pot of coffee and an extra cup. The place had quieted down, and the ticking clock on the wall suddenly seemed louder than before.
“I’m 84 years old today,” he said without looking up. “Writing a note to my grandson. He graduates college this week.”
We talked about life. About travel. About the way time moves faster than you expect it to. The kind of conversation that only happens when neither person is in a rush.
He folded the napkin carefully, stood up, put on his hat, and handed it to me instead.
“Safe travels,” he said.
I watched him walk outside and disappear down the sidewalk before I unfolded it.
The advice read:
You’ll learn, as you get older, that rules are often suggestions. Be bold enough to live life on your terms, and never apologize for it. Go against the grain. Refuse to conform. Take the road less traveled instead of the well-worn path. Laugh at adversity. Leap when your heart says leap. March to the beat of your own drummer. And stubbornly refuse to fit in.
Signed,
“The Old Man.”
I asked Dolores if she knew him. “Never seen him before,” she said.
Funny thing about life, sometimes the message isn’t for who you think it is.
There are signs everywhere pointing the way. You just have to slow down long enough to notice them.
Remember, living on your own terms is a gift. Use it wisely.
Have a wonderful day… see you on the radio.
Follow along on Tiki Bar Publishing and Tiki Man Radio for more good vibes.

There’s no doubt you’ve looked at someone before and thought, “Man, they’re just lucky.” Some people seem to catch all the breaks. Right place, right time. Everything just falls into place.
But here’s the biggest illusion, thinking successful people are simply lucky.
Luck has a funny way of showing up for people who are already in motion.
The explorer who decides to sail won’t find treasure every day. In fact, he’ll probably find a whole lot of empty water and useless terrain first. But he’s far more likely to stumble across a beautiful island than the person who never leaves the dock.
The same is true in life. The one who shows up. The one who tries again. The one who makes the call, starts the project, takes the risk, that’s the person who seems “lucky.”
Not because luck favors them… but because they increased their chances of finding it.
Sitting still feels safe. Taking action feels uncertain. But movement creates opportunity.
So if you want a little more “luck” in your life, raise your sails. Make the move. You can’t discover new shores if you never leave the harbor.
Remember, luck tends to find those already in motion, time to make some moves.
Have a wonderful day… see you on the radio.
Follow along on Tiki Bar Publishing and Tiki Man Radio for more good vibes.

I wish I had learned earlier that it was okay to be different. We don’t all need to fit into the same mold. Quite frankly, imagine how boring that world would be if we did.
There was a time when blending in felt safer. Safer to agree. Safer to not stand out. Safer to dim your light just enough so nobody noticed you were shining a little differently.
But here’s what I’ve come to understand, the very things that make you feel “different” are usually the things that make you valuable. Your perspective. Your quirks. Your dreams that don’t make sense to anyone else yet.
You have your own set of characteristics, skills, stories, and goals that no one else on this planet carries quite like you do. That’s not by accident.
Embrace them. Don’t apologize for them. Don’t shrink them to make someone else comfortable.
Spend time discovering what lights you up. Lean into the talents you may have ignored. Try something new just because it brings you joy, not because it earns approval.
Remember, the world doesn’t need another copy. It needs the original version of you.
Have a wonderful day… see you on the radio.
Follow along on Tiki Bar Publishing and Tiki Man Radio for more good vibes.

There was a time when she felt like she always needed to be in a relationship, moving from one to the next, dragging the baggage of the last mistake right into the new one.
“Those poor guys never had a chance,” she laughed.
We were sitting at the World-Famous Wreck Bar in Fort Lauderdale, watching the mermaid show through the large portholes that look into the hotel’s pool from behind the bar, the whole place resembling the inside of a shipwrecked Spanish galleon. A must see if you’ve never been.
She went on to say the best advice she ever received was this: Be in a relationship with yourself first.
Know what you want, and what you don’t want. Stop being a people pleaser and start embracing your own values.
“I don’t look for the next mistake anymore,” she said. “I don’t make mistakes. I make choices. And most importantly, I’ve learned to be me… and I’m okay with all of it.”
Words to live by, as a mermaid swam slowly past the glass.
Truth is, we’d all be lucky to learn that lesson sooner rather than later. Being comfortable with yourself and your own space can take time, but it is time well spent.
Remember, the relationship you have with yourself sets the tone for every other one in your life.
Have a wonderful day… see you on the radio.
Follow along on Tiki Bar Publishing and Tiki Man Radio for more good vibes.

We’ve all stood at the crossroads of life before, those defining moments where you chose something harder over something easier, stepped out in faith instead of comfort, or learned a lesson the long way around.
Looking back now, those moments don’t feel random. They feel like bookmarks in the book called “You.” Markers in time where something shifted. Where you grew. Where you realized you were capable of more than you thought.
Funny thing about crossroads, when you’re standing in the middle of them, it feels heavy. Uncertain. Sometimes even lonely. But once you move forward, you begin to see that the choice itself was shaping you more than the outcome ever could.
Mistakes? Those aren’t chapters you tear out. They’re highlighted passages. Proof that you were living, trying, stretching.
Some days can feel like a decision day, and this is when you trust the growth that’s already behind you. You’ve already made it this far. Keep turning the page.
Remember, the story is still being written and pay no attention to the dust in the rearview mirror that just means your moving forward.
Have a wonderful day… see you on the radio.
Follow along on Tiki Bar Publishing and Tiki Man Radio for more good vibes.

Sometimes overcoming obstacles can feel like an endless stretch of roadblocks, one after another, testing your patience and your resolve. Other times, it’s nothing more than a little debris in the road, something you simply steer around without much thought. The difference isn’t always in the size of the problem… it’s in your approach to it.
You have to be willing to adjust the sails when the wind shifts. Sticking to a plan is admirable, but refusing to pivot when it’s clearly not working can keep you stuck longer than necessary. I’ve seen people light up with excitement over a new idea, full of passion and certainty, only to hit the first bump and fold like an old grocery bag, as if the journey was supposed to be smooth from the start.
The ones who eventually succeed aren’t the ones who avoid challenges. They’re the ones who stay committed to the ultimate objective. They stay anchored to their “why.” That deeper reason, the purpose behind the goal, is what keeps you steady when things get uncomfortable.
When you forget the “why,” you drift. And when you drift long enough, you don’t just face obstacles… you become one.
Ownership is power. If you take responsibility for where you are, you also keep the power to change it. Persistence keeps you moving forward. Adaptability keeps you from breaking in the process. Don’t overreact to the small stuff, and don’t let fear of mistakes freeze you in place. Growth has always required a little courage.
Remember, never forget the “why” you started and adjust when needed. Stay steady and keep going.
Have a wonderful day… see you on the radio.
Follow along on Tiki Bar Publishing and Tiki Man Radio for more good vibes.