Mike Nygren writes essays about ordinary things that somehow reveal extraordinary truths, often in spite of his best efforts. After fifty years of teaching and coaching teens and adults, he has collected enough stories, stumbles, and life lessons to fill several filing cabinets, though he maintains most of them happened by accident.
He often introduces himself by saying he has perfected the art of laughing at himself, a line that disarms audiences and occasionally concerns them. His work blends candor with good-natured stubbornness, lingering on small moments that swell into reflections on leadership, purpose, and the way opportunities often arrive disguised as interruptions.
Mike regularly applauds the people who have tolerated his risk-taking adventures in leadership, discipleship, and missions. Whether he’s drawing lessons from animals, balloons, mountaintops, or multicultural misadventures, his essays invite readers into what truly matters, offering a wry smile at the chaos that often carries us there.
Purchase from Amazon: Ten Balloons. Ten Essays - One Intentional Life
Ten Balloons: A Life of Intention, One Balloon at a Time
This book isn’t about checking boxes—it’s about discovering who you’re meant to be in every area of your life.
Ten Balloons invites readers ages 15 to senior citizens to explore ten essential arenas—Career, Education, Adventure, Finances, Friends, Family, Hobbies, Mental Health, Physical Well-being, and Spiritual Life. Each short, thought-provoking essay helps you reflect, reset, and rise with intention—designed to be read in 10–15 minutes.
You won’t find advice here. You’ll find challenges—real, personal, and practical prompts that help you write your own mission statement for each balloon. With included worksheets and journaling ideas, you’ll be guided to define your values, clarify your goals, and shape a life that reflects your true purpose.
Great for individual growth or group discussion, Ten Balloons is a quick read that makes a lasting impact. Whether used as a daily journaling prompt or a conversation starter between mentors and mentees, coaches and players, teachers and student leaders—this is a tool for building a fulfilling life from the inside out.
Your best life doesn’t begin someday. It begins with intention—today.