Who Set Your Rhythm?

Who Helped to Set Your Rhythm?

Have you ever stopped to think about who helped shape the rhythm of your life?

For me, it started early.

My mom and dad used to say I was whistling before I could talk. Music was always in the air in our family—harmonies, hymns, laughter, and the kind of warmth that stays with you long after the song ends.

But the real gift I was raised with wasn’t just music.

It was rhythm—how to live.

The People Who Set the Beat

My mom—"Patsy"—was right at five feet tall, but she carried herself as if she were seven feet tall. When she was studying to become the first female postmaster in our little town of Fisher, Minnesota, she would pause and say:

“I Am, I Can, I WILL!”

She didn’t just repeat those words. She modeled them.

She taught me something powerful at a young age: even when you can’t control the events around you, you can still control your attitude.

That lesson has stayed with me through every season of life.

Gratitude Changes the Tune

One of my mom’s greatest gifts was gratitude.

She had a way of turning something ordinary into something sacred. She might take a sip of water on a hot August day and say, “This is the best bottle of water I’ve ever had at a South Dakota rest area with my son.”

That was her rhythm.

And it shaped mine.

Here’s what I know: gratitude is a reset button. When we intentionally thank God—and the people who bless our lives—our hearts and minds begin to notice the good that was there all along.

Gratitude doesn’t erase hardship.

But it does help us regain our footing.

It helps us get back on beat.

A Simple Challenge for This Week

Here’s a practice you can start today:

Write down three things you’re thankful for each day.

Then the next morning, read them again before your day gets rolling.

It’s simple.

But simple habits, practiced consistently, can change the rhythm of your life.

If You’re Near Detroit Lakes on May 14…

I’d love to personally invite you to a special event I’m hosting on May 14 in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.

I’ll be sharing my message, “Finding Your Beat, the Rhythm of Life,” along with music, stories, and encouragement designed to help people reconnect with what matters most and move forward with greater gratitude, purpose, and hope.

I know many of you who read this newsletter are from all around the world, so this may not be right in your backyard. But if you happen to be in the area—or know someone who is—I’d be honored to have you join us.

It’s going to be a meaningful evening, and I’d love to see you there.

Event details are below.

Tim

Welcome to the Finding Your Beat Newsletter

Welcome to my newsletter archive. This is where I’ll share stories, encouragement, and practical tools to help you find your rhythm in life and work.

My goal is simple: help you stay grounded, grateful, and moving forward — even when life gets noisy.

Finding Your Beat: The Choice to Dance

I’ve been thinking about something I’ve noticed for years while playing music at various locations in Arizona and Minnesota.

I’ve played at a community called Greenfield Village in Mesa for about 15 years, and here’s what still makes me smile every time…

The first song starts… and they’re dancing.

Not “maybe after a couple of songs.”
Not “once you play something faster.”
Not “when you get to the one song that finally gives them permission.”

They’re dancing right away—and they don’t stop.

Meanwhile, in plenty of other places I play, I’ll often hear:
“Can you play something we can dance to?”

And I always think:
I’m playing the same songs.
Same guitar. Same voice. Same set list.
So why the difference?

I think the answer has less to do with music… and more to do with mindset.

In Mesa, people seem to arrive already decided:

“We’re dancing tonight.”

They don’t need the perfect tempo, the perfect genre, or the perfect moment.
They just participate.

And that got me thinking about life…

Life plays a lot of “songs” we didn’t request.

Some are upbeat and easy.
Some are slow and heavy.
Some feel like that awkward track you’d normally skip.

But here’s the question I’ve been sitting with:

Are we waiting for the perfect song… or choosing to dance anyway?

Because so much of “finding our rhythm” comes down to the choices we make:

• Do I show up—or sit out?

• Do I engage—or just observe?

• Do I look for what’s good—or fixate on what’s wrong?

Now, I want to be really clear:
There are times when the healthiest thing you can do is change the environment—leave a toxic situation, step away from a relationship that’s harming you, or move on from a job that’s crushing your spirit.

But many of life’s situations aren’t “escape now” situations… they’re choice situations.

And sometimes the most powerful choice we can make is simply this:

I’m going to participate. I’m going to be present. I’m going to dance—right where I am.

A simple challenge for this month

Here are three “dance moves” you can try—no rhythm required:

1) Choose one thing you’ll fully show up for this week.
A conversation. A workout. A meeting. A family dinner. A quiet morning.

2) Catch yourself asking, “When will this get better?” and replace it with:
“What’s one thing I can do today to bring good energy into this?”

3) Don’t wait for motivation. Start with movement.
Even a small action changes your internal soundtrack.

Final thought

The beat of life is going to keep playing.
The question isn’t whether the music will be perfect.

The question is:
Will we dance?

Until next time—keep finding your beat,

Tim

P.S. If you know someone who’s been sitting life out lately, forward this to them and simply say: “Dance anyway.” That might be the nudge they need.

One World, Many Voices - One Human Beat

January has a way of resetting our perspective—especially when we step outside our normal routine and see the world a little wider than our usual zip code.

I’m writing this from my trip to Australia, and I’ve been struck by something that feels both obvious and easy to forget:

Diversity is beautiful… and connection is real

I’m meeting people from all over the world—different accents, different customs, different languages.

And then I’ll see children laughing, playing, and speaking in their native language… and it hits me:
The language of laughter is universal.

On one of our bus rides to the airport, a young Korean girl—maybe five years old—sang a playful, beautiful song in Korean for most of the ride. I didn’t understand a single word. But I understood the moment.

Because joy doesn’t require translation.

Underneath it all, most people want the same things

Adults on vacation (or “holiday,” as many call it here) aren’t chasing complicated goals.

They’re seeking:

• relaxation

• peace

• love

• laughter

• fun

• and that feeling of being fully alive again

Different cultures. Same human needs.

A rhythm we all share

In my keynote, I talk about finding your beat—because when life gets loud, fast, and heavy, we can drift off-rhythm without noticing.

Travel has a way of showing me that rhythm isn’t just personal—it’s shared.

When people feel safe, rested, and connected, you can almost hear it:

• in laughter

• in music

• in kindness between strangers

• in the simple act of giving someone space and grace

It’s harmony—human harmony.

Recharging isn’t “ignoring the world”

Let me say this clearly, because I think some people struggle with it (I do sometimes, too):

Taking time to rest, travel, laugh, and enjoy life is not burying our heads in the sand.

It’s refueling.

It’s recharging our batteries so we can come back stronger—more patient, more grounded, more useful—to the people who need us.

A worn-out heart can still care, but it can’t carry as much.

A January invitation for you

As you start 2026, here are three simple prompts you can try this week:

1. Notice diversity with curiosity instead of judgment.
   Ask: “What can I learn here?”

2. Listen for the universal language.
   Look for laughter. Kindness. Music. Shared humanity.

3. Choose one way to recharge on purpose.
   Not to escape life—so you can return to it with more rhythm.

And if you want a simple action step:

Be the person who makes others feel safe to be themselves.
That’s where diversity turns into harmony.

Stay in rhythm,

Tim
“Finding Your Beat, the Rhythm of Life”
www.offdutychief.com

P.S. If someone you know is running low right now, forward this to them. A little perspective—and permission to recharge—can go a long way.

2025 Year-End Note

Before the calendar flips to 2026, I want to offer you something simple: a moment to breathe, reflect, and recognize what you made it through this year.

For many people I get to meet—especially those in high-stress roles—2025 wasn’t just “busy.” It was heavy. It was responsibility. It was showing up when you were tired. It was caring for others while trying not to run on empty.

So, first things first:

You did more than you think you did

If no one has told you lately—thank you for how you showed up.

You may not feel like you “crushed it.” You may feel like you simply survived. But survival counts. Keeping your character counts. Choosing to come back the next day counts.

And that leads into the one practice that can quietly change the way you enter a new year:

Gratitude isn’t denial—it’s direction

Gratitude doesn’t pretend things were perfect. It just refuses to let the hard parts be the only parts.

Here’s a quick year-end exercise you can do in two minutes:

Write down 3 things from 2025 that were good and true.

• A person who stood by you

• A moment that reminded you what matters

• A win (even a small one) you rarely give yourself credit for

No speeches. No pressure. Just clarity.

The “Norman” idea to carry into 2026

In my book, Find Your Beat: Walk in the Rhythm of Life, there’s a story I call “Be the Norman.” It’s about those people who show up at just the right time—sometimes quietly, sometimes unexpectedly—and help you find your footing again.

As you head into 2026, here are two questions that matter:

1) Who was a “Norman” for you in 2025?
Someone who helped you, encouraged you, believed in you, or steadied you.

2) Who might need you to be “Norman” in 2026?
Not with a grand gesture—just with presence, kindness, and follow-through.

If you want to do something meaningful before the year ends, do this:

Send one message today:
“Hey—I just want you to know I’m grateful for you. You mattered to me this year.”

That’s it. That message has more power than we think.

A cleaner way to step into 2026

If you’re setting goals, here’s a better starting point than “do more”:

Keep

What helped you stay in rhythm this year?
(A habit, a relationship, a routine, a faith practice, a walk, a boundary, a morning coffee in silence—anything.)

Drop

What pulled you off-beat?
(Too much noise, too much scrolling, too many yeses, too little rest—your “static.”)

Choose

What’s one deliberate choice you’ll make early in 2026?
Not a resolution. A decision.

One small challenge (because small is sustainable)

As you enter 2026, try this for one week:

• Start each day with one gratitude

• End each day with one name (someone you encouraged, checked on, or appreciated)

That’s how rhythm returns—one beat at a time.

Thankful 2024

Originally published 11/11/2024

As November unfolds, it gently reminds us to pause, reflect, and express gratitude for the people and experiences that enrich our lives. In this season of Thanksgiving, I invite you to join me in celebrating the simple yet profound joys that often go unnoticed: the health that fuels our days, the work that provides us purpose, and the family and friends who fill our lives with love and laughter. Each element shapes our unique rhythm and reminds us that life’s greatest treasures are often within reach.

I am deeply grateful for the veterans and first responders who selflessly serve our communities and nation. Their courage, commitment, and resilience are beacons of strength, and their sacrifice blesses us. This month especially, let’s honor these individuals, past and present, who have given so much of themselves to protect and serve. I am filled with gratitude for each of you who support these heroes.

This year, I am especially thankful for everyone on this mailing list and for the clients who have given me the opportunity to share my message, "Finding Your Beat, the Rhythm of Life." Each presentation has been an opportunity to connect, share, and celebrate positivity, optimism, and resilience together. To those of you who have been part of this journey, thank you for your trust, your enthusiasm, and your openness to embracing the rhythm of life with me. Your energy and support fuel my passion to keep inspiring others.

As a small token of my gratitude, I’d like to offer you free shipping on my book, “Find Your Beat: Walk in the Rhythm of Life,” if you’re inspired to dive deeper into the stories and insights I share on stage. Use promo code FindYourBeatFREEship at checkout from this website: Kirk House Publishers when you place your order. May this book remind you of the gratitude and positivity we can cultivate every day. Thank you for being part of my journey.

You Are, You Can, You WILL!

Tim