What if the true reward of training wasn’t promotion—but presence?
In this heartfelt reflection on decades of Ki-Aikido practice, Keith Thorn shares the quiet power of simply showing up. This isn’t a story of titles earned, but of lessons lived—on the mat and beyond. With honesty and humility, he writes about falling, returning, aging, and learning to bow not just with the body, but with the spirit. Read More
Through personal stories and timeless truths, Thorn reveals how martial arts becomes less about recognition and more about relationship—with self, others, and the present moment.
Whether or not the next rank ever comes, he knows now: presence was the point all along.
The Security Guard’s Aikido Journey to Mastering Ki
Inspired by the principle: “Now and then it’s good to pause in our pursuit of happiness, and just be happy.”
This book blends narrative storytelling with deep philosophical exploration of Ki-Aikido, centering on a security guard’s real-world journey of self-mastery, conflict resolution, and the true meaning of power.Read More
The protagonist (you) starts as a skilled martial artist but struggles to reconcile his training with real-world situations. Through experiences at work, personal growth, and lessons from his dojo (STLKI), he discovers that true strength isn’t about control but about presence, connection, and extending Ki.
By the end, a powerful moment—akin to the classic Aikido subway story—demonstrates how true power lies not in fighting but in harmonizing with the energy of others.
Finding Grace, Love, and Meaning in Life’s Second Act
When life changes—through loss, age, or the quiet rearranging of what matters most—we stand at a crossroads and ask: Now what?
In Making the Best of the Rest, author Keith Thorn invites you into an intimate, soul-stirring reflection on what it means to begin again when the road behind you is longer than the one ahead. From his coastal winters in Port Isabel, Texas, to memories of faith, family, and forgiveness, Keith shares stories that remind us: joy is still possible, peace is still reachable, and love—if we let it—still finds its way. Read More
With his trademark blend of honesty, humor, and hope, he writes not about perfection, but about presence; not about endings, but about choosing meaning over regret.
For anyone navigating change, grief, or the uncertain terrain of midlife and beyond, this book is a gentle companion and a heartfelt call to live intentionally—today.
Because the best of life isn’t over.
It’s just waiting for you to make the best of the rest.
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Short summary:
Making The Best of the Rest
A heartfelt journey of renewal, love, and purpose—finding peace and meaning while making the best of what remains.
A Wake-Up Call for Anyone Who Thinks They’re the Only One Paying the Price
We rarely see the full impact of our decisions while we’re making them. In the moment, we justify. We defend. We act out of emotion, fear, pride, or pain. We think we’re only hurting ourselves—or we don’t think at all. But somewhere down the line, after the dust settles, we start to notice the quieter casualties. The friend who went silent. The child who stopped trusting. The partner who stayed, but stopped hoping. This book is not about reliving shame. It’s about finally seeing what we couldn’t before—and choosing to grow from it. Read More
I’ve made more mistakes than I care to admit. Not just the obvious ones, but the subtle choices that damaged others in ways I didn’t recognize until years later. This is not a confession. It’s a confrontation with truth. If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve felt the weight of a decision that didn’t just cost you something—it cost someone else something they didn’t deserve to lose. Maybe it was their peace. Their trust. Their ability to feel safe around you. This book is for the person who’s ready to stop minimizing that pain and start owning it.
But more than that, this is a book about redemption. Not the kind that pretends it never happened—but the kind that looks pain in the face and says, “You’re not going to win.” Each chapter will invite you to reflect, to feel, and to take small but meaningful steps toward repair. You can’t rewrite the past. But you can stop the damage from continuing. You can become the person they hoped you were, and the one you were meant to be all along. That journey starts here.
What if you could finally stop punishing yourself for the life you’ve already lived?
In No Regrets, Keith Thorn invites you into a deeply personal exploration of forgiveness — not the kind you ask for, but the kind you give yourself.
From a childhood marked by pain and silence to decades of striving, fighting, and failing forward, Thorn’s story reveals that peace doesn’t come from getting everything right. It comes from finally letting grace in. Written with the same raw honesty that shaped Faith Made Real and The Unwelcome Task, this book is for anyone who’s tired of carrying old weight — anyone ready to stop running from their past and start walking with it in peace. Read More
“You don’t heal by forgetting.
You heal by forgiving the one person you’ve blamed the longest — yourself.”
Come discover the freedom that waits beyond what can’t be changed.
Faith isn’t proven in sermons. It’s proven in scars.
In Faith Made Real, Keith Thorn doesn’t write from the pulpit. He writes from the trenches—where faith was tested, broken, and rebuilt.
This isn’t a book of easy answers. It’s the story of what happens when life falls apart, criticism cuts deep, prayers go unanswered, and miracles seem impossible. And yet—grace keeps showing up. Read More
With raw honesty and quiet hope, Keith shares:
The hardest lessons faith taught him (and why they stuck).
Why you don’t have to explain God—you only have to trust Him.
How small miracles can grow big faith.
What real grace looks like in seasons of loss, doubt, and love.
If you’ve ever stumbled, doubted, or wondered whether faith can survive the weight of real life—this book is for you.
Because faith doesn’t need to be perfect to be powerful.
Join Keith and Melody on a thrilling road trip from St. Louis to the tropical warmth of Port Isabel and South Padre Island. Leaving behind the Midwest’s first frost, they embark on an 80-day adventure, navigating highways, meeting unforgettable people, and journaling their transition into life as Winter Texans.Read More
Told in a journal format, this book captures their daily experiences—sunrise departures, roadside discoveries, island sunsets, and the joy of settling into their winter retreat. From the first stretch of highway to the sandy shores of the Gulf Coast, this travelogue invites you to experience the magic, beauty, and unexpected moments that come with chasing the sun.
Filled with personal reflections, vivid storytelling, and firsthand experiences, “Escape to Port Isabel” is a must-read for wanderers, dreamers, and anyone considering a seasonal escape of their own.
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