This Saturday we will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Columbine massacre. From this unthinkable tragedy came an organization dedicated to creating safer, better connected schools: Rachel’s Challenge. Named for Rachel Joy Scott, the first child killed that day, Rachel’s story has started over 30 million chain reactions of kindness and compassion worldwide since her untimely death.
Catch my interview with Darrell Scott, Rachel’s father, and learn about this remarkable girl and how her story is saving the lives of our young people and reducing/eliminating bullying. #columbine #bullyingprevention #kindness #compassionsion
Tag Archives: #challenges
Useful Metaphors
Some things are said so often we can start to believe they are real. I call them “useful metaphors”
“Separation of church and state” is one of those metaphors. Nowhere in any of our founding documents will you find those words written. Yet, there are people who would swear in court that they are there. They are not.
“Follow your heart” is another one. It sounds nice, and it even has a spiritual ring to it. The Bible tells us that we should guard our hearts. The heart is deceitful. We should pursue our dreams, which might be a better way of saying follow your heart.
A true useful metaphor isn’t really a metaphor at all. That one says, “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is…”
Stay mindful…
A Line in the Sand
It’s an election year in the United States. That means much of the adult population will become pundits, pollsters and experts in 2024. It’s as predictable as the sun rising in the East and setting in the West.
For some reason, our society has become politicized to the point where we draw lines in the sand. This truly baffles me. Voting is one of our greatest privileges, and we are free to vote for whoever we choose. I have been called unprintable names by people on the left who don’t even know me. I have been called names by people on the right because I went to hear Bill Clinton speak. Then I had the audacity to vote for a friend of mine who was running for president of the Travis County Democratic Party. Friendship transcends politics. At least it does to me.
Government is not the answer to our problems. The government has tremendous resources, but they are the most inefficient purveyors of those resources. If you want to move mountains, put those resources in the hands of the faith and philanthropic communities. They will move Heaven and Earth while wasting very little. It would be awe-inspiring!
If you want to draw a line in the sand, make it count. Draw a line for goodness over evil, for law and order, and for equal justice for everyone. Those count!
Processed
You hear a lot about how bad processed foods are for us, and they are. Our bodies aren’t meant to handle unnatural elements.
In today’s post, I want to talk about processing our emotions. Our brains can handle a lot, yet sometimes the mind gets wired in an unhealthy manner. But there’s good news! What was done can be undone, if we are willing to do the work.
Stuffing down our emotions like anger can destroy us. Righteous anger is okay, but it must be channeled correctly. Use it as fuel to right some of the wrongs in our world. Then anger comes out in the right way.
If you have been hurt by another person, I’m truly sorry. People do horrible things to others and damage the innocent. But I encourage you to process your emotions in a healthy way. You might need the guidance of a psychotherapist to work through it. But you can get through it and live fully.
Start today. In fact, start now…
Different On Purpose
The same way of doing things might work for a while, but to grow you must evolve. Situations change, as do people. Don’t fall into the limiting trap that says “we’ve always done it this way.”
Be on the lookout for new opportunities. Think and be different on purpose. Look at every situation through multiple lenses. Then be open to taking a chance to be different.
Life itself is full of risks. Nothing great ever happened by playing it safe…
Dopamine
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is present in all of us. Dopamine is involved in a lot of what we feel during the day. Motivation, our attention span, and pleasure are some of the areas dopamine effects.
Dopamine can manifest some negative effects, too. Addiction to drugs, alcohol, online games, anything really addictive are related to dopamine production.
We can increase our dopamine levels naturally by exercising, getting good sleep and meditating. If you don’t like to meditate, try your hand at writing because writing hits the same center in the brain that meditation does.
Understanding how our bodies work is key to improving our health, and overall our lives. I encourage you to take time to learn about how dopamine plays a part in your life, and then put what you learned to work…
Needs
We have wants and we have needs. They are different.
Someone might want a bigger house, but do they really need it is a legitimate question. It’s the same thing with food. I might want to go out to dinner every night rather than cooking for myself, but I don’t need to incur the extra expense. It costs a lot to go out to eat!
When you are about to buy something on an impulse, wait 24 hours before purchasing it. Do you still get as excited about it as you did the day before? If not, then let it pass.
When you find contentment in your life, you’ll clearly see the difference between wants and needs…
Telling the Truth
People like to exaggerate stories, don’t they? Whether it’s a story about catching a fish or surviving the Texas freeze known as the “snowpocalypse,” simply sharing the facts isn’t good enough. And truth be told, we love hearing the great stories!
In the culture of today, people like to speak “their truth.” There is only one truth, whether it’s yours or not. No matter how bright we are, the truth cannot be reinvented or even altered.
We aren’t always truthful with ourselves. This is known as rationalization. We lie to ourselves so the truth won’t do harm to us. Yet, deep down we know the truth.
The best part of telling the truth is, we never have to remember what we said to anyone. Through consistency, we gain the reputation of being honest. And by staying true to honesty we build trust with others…
Story Time
Our stories connect us. People find themselves in stories of inspiration, and even in stories of despair. We relate to others in a way that is undefinable.
My own life story is not pretty. I grew up in a tension-filled, violent home. I walked on eggshells, afraid of setting my father off. Being in a constant state of “fight or flight” is not a good way to wire the brain. Fortunately, we can rewire our brains and heal from past trauma. It takes work, but there’s hope in the process.
I’m grateful for my life story. I have found that it resonates with inmates in prisons. Many of them come from screwed up families, and my story gives them hope for a better future.
Take a moment to consider how you want to be remembered. I want my epitaph to read, “He Cared.” Live your life in a way that will fulfill your desire of how you want to be remembered.
Do it now…
Late
I’m late today. It’s been a crazy busy day with unavoidable twists and turns. But it has been a great week.
I will post earlier tomorrow. Today’s mishap was unavoidable…
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