Tag Archives: #influence

Spirituality

Reading Rooms

In the 1700’s, public or semi-public spaces were created called Reading Rooms. They were funded by churches, philanthropic societies, and subscriptions. The desire was to increase literacy and civic awareness.

The Library typically referred to private collections at colleges and universities, as well as individual collections for those with great means. Over time, the rooms evolved into places you could “check out” or borrow books. Society didn’t have cable news or the internet, so if people wanted to know what was going on or learn about something, they had to read.

Thomas Sowell’s life was sent in a new direction when, at six years old, his friend Jimmy took him to the Harlem Public Library. Sowell developed a yearn for reading and learning. Fast forward to today, Dr. Sowell has authored over 40 books and written countless papers.

Part of society has devolved into what I call a meme culture. The internet floods your feed with things you want to believe. No one who has a job and a life has the time to vet everything that comes our way. Taking the time to read scientific, non-opinionated pieces can give you a clearer picture of what is going on in the world.

My encouragement to you is to prioritize learning. Take time to read and learn every day. And turn the internet noise off. Or, at least turn it down…

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Spirituality

Cheated

Have you ever had someone cheat you out of something? Maybe you were convinced of some great deal or some “can’t lose” opportunity. No matter the circumstances, it sucks to have someone cheat you.

Are you cheating yourself, though? You have been gifted with unique gifts that can be used to benefit others. If you are not using them, keeping them for yourself, then you are cheating yourself out of a lot of fulfillment. And you are cheating others by not sharing your talents.

Use what you have been given. Take inventory of what you are good at. Write down what you enjoy doing. Then put it into practice.

The world needs what you have to offer. Use your talents before it’s too late…

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Spirituality

Smile!

There are approximately 640 muscles in the human body that we can control. It only takes about 12 of them to smile. That’s about 1.8% of our total, so it’s a very small number. Why aren’t people smiling more?

There’s a lot of darkness in our broken world. People do some truly awful things to others. When a person has dealt with horrific trauma, it might be difficult for them to muster a smile. That’s understandable.

Yet, I believe we can almost always find something to bring a smile to our faces: A child playing with a dog or a toy. Some funny movies. Or the politicians. They say and do some colossally stupid things. You gotta laugh.

I love interacting with strangers. Perhaps it’s someone at a Starbucks or a sandwich shop. If I can bring a smile to a stranger, I believe it might make their day a little better. I love to make people laugh.

Find something to smile about every day. You can find something, even if it’s something small. Try it and watch your life improve…

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Spirituality

Attention!

I’m easily distracted. My short attention span keeps me interested in everything going on around me. From a very young age I became observant of my surroundings.

There is an exception to this. When I’m engaged in conversation, my focus is on listening, really listening to my counterpart. When we get laser-focused on who we are with, it makes the other person feel important. After all, everyone wants to be seen, heard and understood.

It’s important to pay attention to what’s happening in the world, too. Geopolitically, the planet is very interesting right now. In geopolitics, motive is key.

The world is constantly paying attention to you and how you act. Let’s be sure we give others something worth their attention…

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Spirituality

Allowances

When I was a kid a lot of my friends received an allowance every week. I didn’t. When I asked my parents about this, they told me I could ask for money anytime I needed it. “I didn’t need an allowance.” I never asked because I was afraid to.

God gives us the greatest allowance: free will. We are free to choose whatever path we want to take in life. But free will doesn’t mean we can escape the consequences of our decisions. There is cause and effect at play. Good decisions lead to good outcomes. You know the other side

Yet God gives us more. You see, everything good in our lives is a gift from God. Fresh air, sunshine, our minds, literally everything comes from God. And He gives generously to believers and nonbelievers alike.

Take nothing for granted. If you’re reading this, take a moment to thank God for another day. Then use today to make a difference in the world. Allow others to experience your kindness…

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Spirituality

Gossipy People

For the last nine years I have led a men’s group on Wednesday mornings. It’s a great group of men. About every other month we meet for Happy Hour, too.

We have only one rule for the group. What is said there stays there. It would destroy the integrity of the group if someone gossiped about someone else. I can proudly say that no one has ever broken the rules.

Gossip is not only wrong, it’s harmful. Trust is broken and that’s difficult to get back once it’s gone. Having the trust of another person is a high honor.

When people choose to engage in gossip, it’s best to just walk away. Leave the conversation to the small-minded. They will find their crowd.

Always remember, if someone is talking to you about someone else, they are talking to someone else about you. Give them something worth discussing…

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Uncategorized

Parents

When I became a father, I had no idea how to do the job. I had no skills because I had a terrible father. He was a cruel, angry, abusive man. All I knew was I didn’t want to be like him.

Fortunately, there are tons of good books available about parenting. So, I read many of them. And I sought out the advice of men I knew who had raised good children. I’m proud to say my two sons turned out well. They are good young men who have solid character. I will say their teenage years gave me a head of grey hair!

When my kids were in school, I saw parents who believed their children could do no wrong. If they got in trouble at school, it was the teachers fault. Some parents even lobbied the school to give their children better grades than they had earned. Those kids were being set up for failure later in life as they learned how the world works.

Parents are the first teachers children have. The little ones are always watching, learning their behavior from dad and mom.

If you are fortunate enough to be a parent, teach them well. And if you, like me, didn’t have good parents, you can learn…

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Spirituality

Tell Me About It!

There are some very creative people in the world. I’m constantly amazed by some of the things people come up with on TikTok, Instagram and other platforms. And they do it quickly!

There are others I avoid. Some people revel in cutting others down. By doing so, I guess they are trying to establish their moral superiority over the rest of us. No one is better than anyone else. God sees us as His children, and God loves us equally. Although, I believe I’m Gods favorite to make Him laugh! My life can resemble a walking sitcom.

Some people try to force their own brand of leadership on others. If you’re a leader, you know it and other people will recognize it. It’s not necessary to shout it from the rooftops.

Show up well in life. Give others the best version of you. Be unguarded and open in your interactions with others. You will both benefit…

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Spirituality

The Power to Change

If someone is described as being graceful, it’s believed they show elegance and grace. That is quite the compliment!

Elegant people are stylish, beautiful even. But being full of grace can mean the person shows compassion in situations where some might respond in anger. Compassion is needed now like never before.

Our world is struggling. People are worried, living beyond their means and they are spending more time disengaging than meeting life head-on. This must change.

We need God and we need each other. We must take the time to encourage others. We must be honest, and we can encourage people without sacrificing our integrity.

If you are one of the struggling people, you aren’t alone. Reach out to your friends and family. Go do something for someone who can never repay you. Act, don’t just accept life as it comes to you.

You have the power to change the world. It begins with changing yourself…

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Uncategorized

Scammers

It seems like I receive a scam attempt every day. They come from everywhere: text messages, email and phone calls. I sometimes wonder how many people fall for this stuff.

There are some very bright people behind the trickery. They put a lot of thought and energy into cheating others. What a waste. If these people would use their creativity for good rather than evil, there’s no telling how far they could go.

Be aware, and be careful. It only takes one slip up to get scammed…

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