Tag Archives: #growth

Spirituality

The Cool Kids

Do you remember when you were in school and there was a group of kids who were popular? You know, the cool kids. High school days end, but we still have our identity whether we were considered cool or not.

As we age we learn what is really important and what’s not. By now we have a select group of friends. Having the right people around us is vital for healthy relationships. We need people who will be honest with us, telling us what we need to hear, not what just sounds good at the time. This can create conflict in relationships. We must find the humility in ourselves to know that what we are being told is true whether we like it or not. When we do this, we grow. And solid friendships can withstand conflict.

Our identity is who we are, not what we do. The lines can get blurred over time. Attaching our identities to our careers can cause people to lose themselves. One day they wake up and realize they don’t know themselves anymore. If this is you and you’re reading this, it’s not too late!

Take some time to get back in touch with yourself. Remember the dreams of your youth. Use your talents to benefit others. When you are have become who God created you to be, then you are one of the cool kids…

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Spirituality, Uncategorized

May 2025

Since 1949, the month of May has been designated as “Mental Health Awareness Month.” It’s wonderful that we have a month dedicated to mental health, but it’s something we need to focus on daily.

The single, largest mental health diagnosis in the United States is General Anxiety Disorder. While we can look around us and see how stressed the world is, let’s not forget those who suffer in silence. People feel isolated and alone. Yet, we are living in the most electronically connected world that’s ever existed.

People need human connection. Even the CDC recognizes this. From their website:

KEY POINTS

  • Staying connected to others creates feelings of belonging and being loved, cared for, and valued.
  • Social connections are important to our mental and physical health.
  • Being connected to others helps protect against serious illness and disease.
  • People with stronger social bonds are more likely to live longer, healthier lives.

If someone crosses your mind, I encourage you to take a moment and reach out to them. Check on your friends and acquaintances you haven’t heard from in a while. They benefit, but so do you!

And if you are reading this and feeling an overwhelming sense of anxiety and dread, please call someone. You don’t have to go through life alone…

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Spirituality

Repurposed

Old, vacant buildings can be renovated and repurposed for a new business. In the Midwest, especially, there are hundreds of former factories sitting vacant due to jobs going overseas. That’s a lot of unused real estate!

Maybe it’s time to change your life, a sort-of personal repurposing. The life you have been experiencing hasn’t really fulfilled you. You want more. It’s possible if you’re willing to turn the reins over to God and stop trying to do everything yourself.

You were created for a great purpose. There’s nothing random about you being here during this phase of history. Ask God to lead you where He wants you to be. If you’re willing to follow God, then get ready to be uncomfortable.

Growth requires change. Change isn’t negative if it gets you to where you are supposed to go…

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Spirituality

Take the Hard Path

In order to grow, you must get uncomfortable. When you decide it’s your time, no longer will you take the easy way through. You will face every challenge that comes at you with a drive and determination you have awakened inside of you.

To accomplish all God has planned for you, you must have grit. Don’t misunderstand, God isn’t making your life harder. He allows your invisible enemy to place hurdles and obstacles in your way. But guess what? God will help you through everything. Just trust and believe.

Push yourself to do the things you don’t want to do. And don’t quit. Don’t even slow down! You will get everything accomplished if you keep going…

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Spirituality, Uncategorized

100 Days

Beginning January 1st, I eliminated alcohol for 100 days. April 10th, yesterday, was day 100. What a relief!

The benefits of eliminating alcohol for 3 months are many. Too many to list here. But by staying sober it allowed me to consider my relationship with alcohol. It’s not always healthy.

I like the taste of Crown Royal. I really do. Yet I found myself drinking on days I didn’t need to. That was getting me nowhere. I figured out that I was drinking on days I felt lonely. But booze isn’t a good replacement for people. Human connection is solid whether you are at Happy Hour or just speaking on the phone.

I will celebrate tonight with a cocktail. But I have resolved to not drink when I’m feeling lonely. Feelings pass, and the truth is, I enjoy solitude. So I guess I have grown over the last 100 days.

You can do anything for 100 days. Anything. Never doubt yourself…

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Spirituality

Passively Aggressive

Are you making things happen in your life, or is your life merely happening while you’re in it? There’s a lot to experience out there.

Some people have made political commentary the focus of their lives. They get so focused criticizing everything that they miss out on life. One guy I know forgot his son’s birthday because he let his hatred of the current administration overwhelm him. Such a loss. Sad, actually.

Get out of your comfort zone. Go to an art museum, a library, a new restaurant, or a traveling exhibit. If you don’t know anything about art, you can learn. And your brain will benefit because you will be opening new, exciting neural pathways.

Remember to take some time to be quiet as well. We need both activity and quiet.

Don’t let life pass you by. One day it will all be over. Make things happen…

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Spirituality, Uncategorized

Enough

Have you had enough? Enough negativity. Enough self-delusion. Enough unfulfilled expectations. Enough of people who aren’t good for you.

Good! When you are fed up with all the bullshit, you are ready to make a change. Growth is very hard. It becomes easier when you have a reason to grow. Then you are working towards something, a better version of you.

On the opposite side, you can never have enough joy, enough peace, enough contentment and enough love for yourself.

Accept nothing less. And keep people away who refuse to live up to your expectations…

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Spirituality

Clairvoyant

A clairvoyant is someone who claims to be able to predict future events. While there have been some people who have been successful at this, occasionally, their long term track record is suspect.

Charlatans have taken advantage of people ever since the beginning of time as we know it. I’m not talking about the prophets. They never missed the mark. I mean the palm readers and the people who hold seances. These types are using people.

If you want to know your future, here’s some bad news. You won’t. Think back ten years ago. Did your life change in ways you couldn’t have predicted? Of course it did. If our future was revealed to us by a supernatural force, we wouldn’t understand it.

God holds our futures in His hands. Let’s leave it to Him who already has everything figured out. God doesn’t need our help, nor does He share His plans with the clairvoyants…

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Spirituality, Uncategorized

What Are You Waiting For?

Patience is something I work on. It seems like I’m not alone because much of the world appears to be impatient.

There are passions in your life that you might be waiting to fulfill. You have a purpose and you know there’s more to life than what you are experiencing. What is stopping you? Your thoughts are preventing you from taking action.

There is always a reason to wait until tomorrow. Yet, we don’t know how many tomorrows we have left. They aren’t unlimited.

Change your thinking. Visualize. Just begin. God will direct your steps. You don’t have to have everything figured out ahead of time. This is the nexus where faith replaces fear.

Get started! What are you waiting for?

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Spirituality

Spring 2025

The season of Spring begins next week. In Texas, we have already seen signs of new beginnings such as flowers blooming. Spring comes early in Texas because of our moderate climate and short winter. Come for a visit but please don’t move here. We are full!

Every year people take on the task of Spring cleaning. It’s a good time to get rid of clutter, wash windows and clean out your garage. It feels great when you do that.

This year, why not do a cleaning of a part of your life you might not be pleased with? If you have a habit of watching too much television, turn it off and read a book. Sedentary lifestyle? Go for a walk. Junk food in your pantry? Replace it with fresh fruit, organic if you can find it and it’s affordable.

We spend our efforts cleaning the outside. Let’s be different and clean the inside as well. The results take a little longer to see, but you will see them…

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