About Mike Steigerwald

Spirit

I am. That is  all this mind can comprehend. Everything else are experiences that this mind uses this body to perceive. I believe that I (by which my language means spirit / consciousness / awareness) am/was/will be … permanent, infinite. I believe I existed before this body did. So, I believe I am consciousness … or part of it.

I believe I am a spiritual offspring or, if you will, a cell that reproduced. My current concept of God^[1] is a spiritual stem cell from which all other cells have reproduced.

So, I wonder if all spiritual beings are the result of a spiritual 'big bang' that God began. Perhaps, just as this body contains a combination of my ancestors' DNA, my spiritual substance has also evolved since that big bang. Concepts like, "We are all part of one body." might refer to a spiritual entity. It could be that we spiritual beings are 'thoughts' of God, or God's memories. So, I also believe I am love. I am compassion. I am joy.

Mind

Beliefs

Human limitations make it difficult for this mind to conceive what boundaries exist between the spirit and the mind. I currently believe the spirit is, at minimum, what this mind began with. I believe this mind is now what has grown in this brain since then. I believe that I, as spirit, influence this mind. In other words, the spirit prompts choices. (I wonder if that is what we mean by 'inner dialog.')  To simplify the rest of this section, I'll use the word 'I' to refer to this mind.

My current beliefs are influenced by my Catholic upbringing and the wisdom of the recovery community. At the heart of it all is a belief that some power, greater than myself, which I call God, did create the universe this mind perceives. I also believe in science. In fact, I see science and 'faith' as complementary. For me, the scriptural "Let there be light." is analogous to the big bang. I see faith and science as different concepts that humanity uses to explain a creative force. My understanding of God is less about a mythical, distant image of "three guys in the sky" and more about a profoundly relatable and nurturing presence — as described in The Shack. I believe God created consciousness and the world that my five senses perceive.

My chosen faith leads to simple (not easy), practical beliefs that (I hope) guide my day-to-day choices. I believe in forgiveness, truth, kindness, and gratitude. (In fact, I believe gratitude begets a sense of abundance.) The commitment to forgiveness is made easier (still difficult, but easier) by the belief that God forgives completely and patiently, setting an example for us all.

I do believe Jesus of Nazareth lived, and probably said and did, most of what is written in the gospels. I believe he was born of Mary. I doubt she was a virgin, but I don't think it matters. I do believe Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. I doubt he rose from the dead, but I really don't care whether he did or not. I believe in all (as far as I know) of his teachings. His two commandments stand out. I also believe he forgave even those who crucified him. I aspire to such forgiveness.

I believe Jesus was able to do all this because of his infinite faith. He didn't just believe in eternal life. He had 100% certainty of it. I like to think I would be completely free from selfishness, fear, anger and dishonesty if I had such faith.

Similarly, I do believe the prophet Muhammad lived and probably said and did most of what is written in the Quran. I also don't care. I believe in all (as far as I know) of his teachings.

I also believe Siddhartha Gautama lived and probably said and did most of what is attributed to him. I also don't care. I believe in all (as far as I know) of his teachings.

I am less confident Moses lived and wrote the Torah. I still don't care. I believe in most, but not all, of those teachings. My list goes on …

I believe all humans are created equal, that they are endowed by the creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

I believe progress is inevitable. I see humanity evolving toward our creator, but maybe not in a straight line. I wonder if my mental journey is one of correction: my mind may have begun 'pure,' become polluted by human-ness (sin?), and is now trying to correct its course. Perhaps this entire incarnation is simply an increment, a single step, toward aligning myself more fully with God, a necessary part of the mind's need to grow.

I believe forgiveness is key to humanity's salvation. I do not believe punishment has ever been an effective deterrent to violence. I do not believe punishment is an effective technique of persuasion. In fact, I do not believe in persuasion at all (although I do seem to use that skill frequently). I believe education is more effective.

I believe in giving everyone the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. To quote Gandhi, "Even if you are a minority of one, the truth is still the truth."  I believe in trusting fully informed people to (eventually) carry out God's will, whether they know it by that 'name' or not.

Principles

I am inspired by examples of courage. I aspire to the bravery demonstrated by historical figures like Jesus of Nazareth, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Nelson Mandela. Their lives stand as powerful reminders that speaking the truth, no matter the consequences, is a big part of my calling.

Thanks in large part to my upbringing, I see this fearless^[2] ideal most clearly in the life and values of Jesus. His "Be Not Afraid" admonition is important, but challenging. He consistently spoke the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. He loved with limitless generosity, beyond material giving.

Jesus saw every person as intrinsically worthy and equal. His actions exemplified boundless compassion. Jesus would look people directly in the eyes, truly seeing and recognizing their struggles, and offering not just hope, but tangible help—physical, emotional, and spiritual. Jesus was not transactional. He was not motivated by what people could offer in return. His love was genuine and unconditional, even extending to those who crucified Him. This spirit of seeing and loving the marginalized, captured in the promise, "I am with you always," reminds me that this transformative spirit is an accessible part of my being.

I see the concept of a shared humanity and fearless advocacy in the principles of other moral giants. Gandhi championed truth (Satyagraha), non-violence, morality, and simplicity, centered on fundamental respect for all beings. Similarly, the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. is built on the pillars of education, equality, selflessness, and unwavering hope. These values — including the quiet, profound belief in good voiced by Anne Frank — influence my commitment to social progress.

When translating these inspirations into daily practice, I hope those values guide my choices. I value justice and strive to cultivate open-mindedness. While I sometimes struggle to maintain awareness of my own biases, I believe growth requires a commitment to continuous learning and dialogue. This mindset leads to the most important decision in my every interaction: the deliberate choice of love. This commitment to giving freely is naturally accompanied by gratitude for the blessings in my life and a profound sense of service — not as an obligation, but as the expression of love for the community.

Finally, a distinctive part of my moral thinking involves how I view privacy. I don't place much value on my own privacy. I want to prioritize interconnectedness: we are all fundamentally and deeply linked — not just socially, but spiritually. If we are all connected, then the idea of trying to hide or protect anything about myself is counter-productive. The universe already knows. What is the point of erecting walls between people, when we are already part of the same whole? This worldview isn't about giving up secrets. It’s about acknowledging that my existence is transparent and reinforcing the need to live authentically and openly. It means recognizing that my personal happiness and well-being are intertwined with the well-being of everyone else.(I'm not there yet, but I hope I'm progressing.) I cannot thrive if the world around me is suffering. This fuels my desire for dialogue, justice, and selflessness. It’s all one system.

Personality

In summary, I have been known to call myself "the self-anointed smartest kid in class." According to 16personalities, my personality type is INTJ-T, also known as Turbulent Architect. Architects believe that, through willpower and intelligence, we can achieve even the most challenging of goals.

I still derive much of my self-esteem from achievements. I am confident in my ability to master any topic, whether that’s coding or classical music. It's only a question of how long it will take.

I actually have rather low self-esteem. In my youth, I thought that my value was measured by the grades I got in school or the scores of competitions. I now place less value (I hope)  in competition and comparison.

My self-esteem is built on accomplishment, driving a near-constant obsession to be doing or achieving something. It could be considered an addiction to multi-tasking. On the other hand, this drive produces my favorite asset: reliability. A friend I greatly admire once noted, I am "the most reliable guy" he knows.

Contrary to my values, I am actually judgmental about human nature. (I'm judgmental about everything. My first instinct is to analyze and evaluate most experiences.)  I tend to assume other people are less competent and less persistent. I mentally label anyone who disagrees with me as ignorant. I'm grateful I don't do so out loud any longer, but I wish I didn't do it at all. 

I am impatient. When I forget that my expectations are usually too high, I get frustrated. For example, I have a love/hate relationship with the learning curve. I get frustrated when I can't learn immediately. Once I learn, though, I am flooded with dopamine. I haven't always been teachable, but I hope I am now.

Despite my impatience, my decision making is usually deliberate. I contemplate the strengths and weaknesses of each option. I usually think that, with enough ingenuity and insight, I can find the best solution.

Arrogance can blind me to useful input from others – especially anyone I've labelled as 'not as smart as me.' This can deprive me of human connection, which I do value, when I remember my values.

I can also be harsh, trying to prove others wrong. I subconsciously practice arguments that, rationally, wouldn't forward my values. (I'd rather remember that winning is no longer one of my values.)

I do enjoy teamwork and interaction, but I tend to prefer lone-wolf tasks. By working alone or in small groups, I can make the most of my intelligence. I still sometimes jump to the conclusion that if I want something done right, I'd better do it myself.

I try to trust everyone, until they give me reason not to, but it's hard to regain my trust. I struggle to “forgive and forget.” I still tend to hold grudges. Forgetting is even more challenging. I wish I could choose what to forget and what to remember. (I'm curious how memories are stored.)

I used to be fixed and rigid. I used to see it as a weakness to change my mind. Now, I understand I was afraid of change, of not having the answer, of not being in charge, of admitting my previous position was incorrect. So, I am becoming less fixed and rigid.

I am a people-pleaser. I usually say what I think others want to hear. I try to keep others from getting angry, feeling afraid, going away, or disliking me.

Though fundamentally introverted  (51%-49%) and reluctant to initiate conversations, once engaged, I find it hard to stop talking. I'm learning to actively listen, as opposed to shutting up until it's my turn to talk.

I have become mostly honest. (The truth is the only story I can get right twice in a row.) I usually take responsibility.

I'm humorous. I think most comedians are successful because they are intelligent, and hone their language skills. I am grateful for the language teachers I had in school.

Likes

Music

1. Meat Loaf
2. Fleetwood Mac
3. Billy Joel
4. Eagles
5. Moody Blues
6. Elton John

Comedy

1. Bill Cosby (I now know he has harmed many people. For many years, though, he made me laugh.)
2. Richard Pryor
3. Robin Williams
4. Victor Buono
5. Paula Poundstone
6. Billy Connolly
7. John Pinette
8. Louie Anderson
9. Rita Rudner
10. Sinbad
11. Sam Kinison
12. Jeff Foxworthy
13. Bill Engvall
14. Ron White

Drama

1. To Kill a Mockingbird
2. A Few Good Men
3. Justice for All
4. The Verdict

Halloween

Body

I am not this body. I use this body to interact with this physical world. The memories this brain can retrieve are limited to this human incarnation. According to records, that began on February 4, 1961 at 1:15 P.M. EST. My brain can retrieve its first recollection from about age two.

This body is biologically male. According to ancestry.com, its DNA is essentially half German, half Irish. I like to think my father's DNA descended from the Steigerwald region of Bavaria.

Brain

This brain is left-lobe dominant. It's a little OCD.  It's almost ADHD. It has trouble following a long set of verbal instructions. Perhaps the imagination keeps interrupting the flow?  It might be a little dyslexic.That might be why typing this has been such an effort.

It has mild depression and anxiety. It has alcoholism. It frequently eats compulsively.

History

Troy, NY

I am not this body, but it simplifies the rest of this section to use the word 'I' to refer to this body. According to my birth certificate, I began to possess this body on February 4, 1961 at 1:15 P.M. EST, in Troy, NY, while my father was finishing school at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Wilmington, DE

After graduation, my father took a job with DuPont in Wilmington, DE. The first home I remember is 1103 Brantin Road.

My brother, Christopher Blake Steigerwald, was born April 12, 1962.

My sister, Elizabeth Seton Steigerwald, was born May 3, 1963.

I started kindergarten at Immaculate Heart of Mary in 1966.

McKeesport, PA

In 1968, Dad took a job with Climax Molybdenum in Pittsburgh. We moved to 209 Narragansett Drive in McKeesport. We resumed our education at St. Denis in Versailles. In 1971, we transferred to Mt. Vernon Elementary. I started in the Boy Scouts. I got in one year at Elizabeth Forward Junior High before Dad was transferred to …

Ann Arbor, MI

In 1974, Dad was transferred to Ann Arbor, MI. I started at Clague Junior High.I played football and academic games. In 1977, I started at Huron High School. My favorite subjects were math and science. I continued with football and academic games. In 1978, I became an Eagle Scout. In 1979, I was honored as the Academic Games Outstanding Senior

Later in 1979, I started at the University of Michigan College of Engineering. (I chose the COE because it was the only college at Michigan that offered a 'formal' program in pre-law. At the time, I aspired to be a lawyer.) In April 1982, I earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering. In my last year, I saw a presentation on solid modelling using computers. I immediately fell in love with engineering software. That became the focus of my final year, graduate school (I earned an MSE in Applied Mechanics in 1983), and the first twenty years of my career.

In 1984, I began my software engineering career at Mechanical Dynamics, Inc., in Ann Arbor. In October, I attended the final game of the World Series.

In October, 1996, I fell in love with Linda Lenc.

Twin Cities, MN

In August 1997, we moved to Inver Grove Heights, MN. I got a job at Stratasys, creating software for 3D printers.

On June 6, 1998, we were married at St. Thomas More in Bowling Green, OH. We soon bought our first house in Maplewood, MN. We 'rescued' a 1 year old Golden Retriever named Axel.

In 2000, we moved to Woodbury, MN. I took a job making document control software for truEInnovations. truEInnovations soon went out of business, but I landed quickly at Marvin Windows and Doors, creating architectural software.

In 2004, we moved to Minneapolis. My dad died in February 2006, so I 'retired' briefly to 'execute' his estate and see to Christopher's care.

In 2008, I took a job with the State of Minnesota making software for care planning. Axel crossed the Rainbow Bridge in 2009. A few months later, we 'rescued' Valentino.

 In 2018, we moved to Roseville, MN and I took a job creating logistics software for C.H. Robinson. Valentino crossed the Rainbow Bridge in 2021. A few months later, we 'rescued' Danni. In 2023, I started my current position creating logistics software for Bay & Bay Transportation.