Labor Day Feasts, Home Improvements, and Recovery: A Week of Balance
• Phil Barth
✅ Recognized as a Top 10 Public Speaker in the World ✅ Humor-Focused Stress Management Keynotes ✅ Helping Teams Achieve Goals with Laughter, Insight & Rubber Chickens ✅ Now booking 2025! Message me for details.
This week was a mix of celebration, home improvements, and recovery, with a few unexpected surprises along the way. Here’s a look at what happened:
Labor Day Grill Out and "Dress Rehearsal"
We kicked off the week with a Labor Day grill out, which also served as a "dress rehearsal" for the upcoming October dinner celebrating my son Kenny and his soon-to-be wife Vanna’s wedding. I smoked ribs and pork loin, and the results were fantastic! If you're interested in the rub recipe, feel free to message me—it's a good one!
Our gathering included Kenny, Vanna, Joe, Tom, my wife Beth, my sister-in-law, and Beth’s parents. Alongside the smoked meats, we enjoyed spinach dip and chips, Beth’s crock pot mac and cheese, cake, and ice cream. Tom made margaritas, and although the meal wasn’t Mexican-themed, they definitely hit the spot!
Chandelier Lighting Upgrade
On Monday, Tom and I tackled a fun home project: updating the lights on our entryway chandelier. What started as a happy accident (installing a single color-changing bulb) ended with a full set of light-changing bulbs that cycle through automatic patterns for different holidays. We now have special lighting for Christmas, Fourth of July, Halloween (think Haunted Mansion vibes), and St. Patrick's Day.
Surgery and Recovery
Tuesday morning, Beth and I were at the hospital bright and early for my outpatient hernia repair surgery. Scheduling and getting through the surgery was definitely a "chicken I had to fry." I'm not a fan of surgery, anesthesia, or the recovery process, but I knew it was the right thing to do. Less than a week later, I’m happy to report that I’m glad I fried that chicken! Recovery is going well, and I’ve had some time to rest, catch up on reading, and reconnect with friends.
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This week was a great reminder of the importance of balance—balancing celebration with preparation, work with rest, and fun with recovery. Life throws us challenges, but those moments give us the chance to pause, reflect, and grow. How do you maintain balance when life gets busy? Share your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear from you!
About Phil Barth:
Phil Barth is a professional speaker known for his engaging talks on goal achievement, overcoming fear, and managing stress. His keynote presentation, Fry Your Chickens, revolves around overcoming fear, negativity, and self-doubt. He uses rubber chickens to add humor and illustrate his points, helping audiences tackle challenges with a lighthearted attitude. Phil's authentic, practical takeaways inspire audiences to manage stress and build confidence in both personal and professional contexts.
For more information or to book me for a keynote, feel free to send me a message!
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