Mark Thompson
Bio
A DIY guy in Texas just trying to get a better handle on my writing.
Stories (12)
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Tear It Down, Build It Up
The first time I sat through a home improvement pitch, I already knew the script. I wasn’t just the customer—I had been the salesperson. For years, I worked in the remodeling industry, riding shotgun on sales calls where the goal wasn’t to provide a quote or do a friendly inspection. The goal was simple: get the signature. Everything else—the rapport, the compliments on your dog, the jokes about the weather—was a setup.
By Mark Thompson8 months ago in Motivation
Ink, Doubt, and the Ugly First Draft
There are days when I sit down to write, and nothing comes. Not a word, not a phrase, not even a half-baked metaphor. The cursor blinks like it’s mocking me, reminding me that I once thought I had something to say. And maybe I do. But writer’s block doesn’t care what you know deep down. It only cares that right now, in this moment, you can’t seem to prove it.
By Mark Thompson9 months ago in Motivation
When Planning Falls Short
I’ve always thought of myself as someone who plans ahead. I check the weather before road trips, keep an emergency kit in my car, and set reminders for the little things in life. But one experience taught me that no matter how prepared we think we are, we can always overlook critical details.
By Mark Thompson12 months ago in Motivation
When the Call Comes
The call came late—one of those heart-dropping vibrations that jolts you out of the kind of deep sleep that only exhaustion can produce. On the other end of the line was my friend, their voice trembling through the phone like a child confessing they’d broken something expensive. Arrested. Could I help?
By Mark Thompsonabout a year ago in Confessions
Why I Stopped Drinking
Reflecting on my journey to sobriety has been a complex and often emotional experience, especially when I think about someone close to me who had a dramatic wake-up call. It was a typical Friday night; the kind of evening filled with laughter and drinks flowing freely. We were all together, celebrating a friend’s promotion, the atmosphere charged with excitement. But later, I found myself in a conversation with a friend who wasn’t so lucky.
By Mark Thompsonabout a year ago in Motivation
Keeping Cool Under Fire
The first time I realized the power of staying calm in the middle of chaos, I was not sitting in some peaceful meditation class or reading a self-help book. No, I was standing in the middle of a busy retail store, the clock ticking down toward closing time, while a customer in front of me was losing their temper over a return policy they swore had changed overnight. I could feel the heat rising—not from the argument, but from the pressure to diffuse it. The solution, though, wasn't about getting the words right or “winning” the argument—it was about learning to keep my cool when someone else couldn't.
By Mark Thompsonabout a year ago in Motivation
Navigating Pain and Finding Resilience
Pain has a funny way of creeping into life, often when you least expect it. It could be something small—like a toothache that gnaws at you during a busy week, or it could be monumental—like the loss of someone you love or a deep personal betrayal. But no matter the scale, pain leaves its mark, testing your resilience and shaping who you are in its wake.
By Mark Thompsonabout a year ago in Motivation
A Split Second
Life has a way of throwing curveballs at you when you least expect it. One minute, you’re on your way to work or picking up groceries, and the next, your world flips upside down—literally. That’s what happened to me the day I got into a car accident. I’d been in fender-benders before, but this was different. This time, I was hit by an uninsured driver, and the impact was more than just physical. It upended my routine, my sense of control, and, at times, my hope.
By Mark Thompsonabout a year ago in Motivation
A Road Trip, a Rental RV, and a Lesson in Letting Go
Road trips are supposed to be the ultimate family adventure. You pack up the essentials, leave behind the daily grind, and hit the open road. For us, it was more than just a vacation—it was a chance to bond, to explore, and to test out the RV life before diving in. After years of dreaming about cross-country journeys, we decided to dip our toes into the RV world by renting one. That’s where things got interesting.
By Mark Thompsonabout a year ago in Families
From Chaos to Calm
Cleaning a home—really cleaning it—gives you a sense of control that’s hard to come by in the chaos of daily life. When you’ve lived in a “handyman’s dream,” like I have, you know that control can feel elusive. Renovation projects, DIY fixes, and even the odd plumbing mystery (still not over the ancient coins we found in the pipes) teach you to live with a bit of disorder. And in some ways, you get used to it. But there’s nothing like the satisfaction of walking into a space that’s clean, organized, and truly yours.
By Mark Thompsonabout a year ago in Families
A "Handyman's Dream"
Embarking on the journey of DIY home improvement is like stepping into a world of endless possibilities—if you’re ready to roll up your sleeves and dive into a little chaos. When my partner and I bought our house, which we fondly dubbed a “handyman’s dream,” we knew we were in for an adventure. Little did we know that this adventure would come with its own set of hilarious challenges, unexpected discoveries, and a few lessons we’d never forget.
By Mark Thompsonabout a year ago in Families
Advice for Young Parents
Becoming a parent for the first time is like embarking on the most thrilling, unpredictable adventure of your life. I remember those early days vividly—those sleepless nights, the endless diaper changes, and the toddler tantrums that seemed to come out of nowhere. It often felt like I was running solely on caffeine and sheer determination. But looking back, I realize that amid the chaos, there were some guiding principles that helped me navigate this wild journey.
By Mark Thompsonabout a year ago in Families
