Personal note from Dan

Dear friends.  Due to time constraints, I will no longer be adding to this blog.  Eventually, it will be deactivated.  Thank you for your willingness to read and learn about how to have a healthier and brighter outlook on life.  My other blog, Inspirations for the Troubled Soul, will continue and this is where my concentration will be.  There are simply not enough hours in the day for me to maintain two blogs.  

Please feel free to go back and read from the archives of this blog and I pray they are an encouragement to you.  Also, I would love for you to become a follower of Inspirations for the Troubled Soul.  See the link to the right to go to the blog.

Thanks for your support and understanding. The journey continues.

It's going to be a great day!

Blessings,

Dan

The Cost of a Brighter Outlook

In the end, it's not the years in your life that count.  It's the life in your years.  –Abraham Lincoln

I recently heard about a web site that offers information and advice on how to get out of debt and live debt free.  I thought that sounded great, so I looked at the site, anxious to gather some much-needed insight into managing my finances better and becoming debt free.  I quickly found out that you must join the sight and commit to a monthly fee on your credit card.  This struck me as singularly odd, and funny.  So, let me make sure I understand this; in order to learn how to get out of debt I must first get a little more in debt – starting with the web site.   Oh well, I passed.  I decided to keep practicing sound money management, use good judgment about spending, and try to live within my means.

Being a healthier, happier person with a brighter outlook requires a serious commitment, yet I firmly believe we do not have to go in debt to accomplish it.  I am convinced anyone can, through faith in God and serious determination, rise up and take hold of a better life.  Another truth of which I am certain is this; sitting around waiting for it to happen guarantees it will not.  

I have wonderful conversations with people who speak of their hopes, dreams, and ambitions, yet for one reason or another, they do not seek to achieve them.  Yes, I know it is a challenge, but it is possible to accomplish reasonable goals. 

• Have you dreamed of writing a book?  So, what is stopping you from trying?  Sit down today and begin writing.

• Do you desire to get in better physical condition?  Map out a plan to make this happen.  If you have concerns about your health, then first consult your family doctor and get advice on what sort of exercise plan you can do. 

•  Do you wish to be a brighter, happier, more positive person?  Resolve today to smile more often, speak less, listen more, and do not allow yourself to become upset over trivial issues which in the grand scheme of life have little bearing.  

Now is the time and today is the day.  Become the brighter and happier person you wish to be.  You can do it with God’s help.  Do not delay.  Get going, get busy, and get moving.  A brighter day is within your grasp.  With renewed energy comes renewed confidence and motivation. 

God bless you.

Rising up and Moving Forward

Time is a jet plane; it moves too fast.  –Bob Dylan

Where does the time go?  I think we actually know the answer to this question.  Time passes by, it moves ahead, and we grow older.  These unstoppable truths happen whether we like it or desire it or not.  Perhaps you are feeling down, discontented, and unhappy.  There is hope, my friend.  I have an idea of how you feel, for I have battled similar forces in my own life.  The good news is that through prayer, faith, and the power of God I was able to rise up out of it and discover anew how to enjoy life and live it to the fullest.  As I told a brother pastor who was going through a dark time in his life, “if I can do it, so can you.”

Having said this, I urge you to cease from looking backward and start looking ahead.  We cannot change the past, but we can learn from our mistakes.  We can resolve not to go back to the unproductive and dark places we once were.  Perhaps you are simply unhappy with your overall life and you feel trapped and hopeless.  As I said earlier, there is hope. 

Maybe you cannot change your circumstances of a dead-end job, a mean boss, bad weather, or a rebellious child.  However, you can change you.  Resolve to make the best of your situation by being the best and most productive person you can be.  Begin now by writing down some items you would like to change about yourself.  List areas of your life that need improvement, and then formulate a plan to implement the changes.  Your list might look something like this:

-Begin an exercise routine.

-Be a more positive person.

-Be more patient with my spouse and family.

-Learn to relax and not take life so seriously.

Okay, so what now?  Formulate a plan for putting each of the items on your list into practice.  Your circumstances, no matter how difficult they might seem, will improve if you begin to improve yourself.  Start now, today.  Resolve to stop surviving and start living life to the fullest. 

A brighter day is coming.  Believe it and take hold of it today, for it is within your grasp.

Don’t Allow the Changing Seasons to Bring you Down

Delicious autumn!  My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.  ~George Eliot

I am glad you are back and you probably thought I had given up on this blog.  I assure you this is not the case.  The problem stems from a schedule overloaded with responsibilities.  There’s no complaining here, because I am grateful for the opportunities I have through my ministry and community involvement.  I have also taken on a part-time job to supplement my income (more about that another time).  So, there are a number of lessons here about time management, being involved, and getting out there and celebrating life among the living.  Locking ourselves away from the world and lying in a bed of self-pity is a recipe for disaster.  Life is too short; get out and live it to the fullest.   

Speaking of living life to the fullest, no doubt you have noticed the coming of fall and the changes accompanying the season.  There is a cool freshness in the air, the leaves are beginning to fall, the days are getting shorter, and the nights are getting longer.  Right behind this wonderful season is winter – not such a bad time of the year if you confront it properly.  Now, I will save this for another blog, but one of my greatest joys is taking my dog for a walk on a cold brisk night with the newly fallen snow crunching under my boots.  Indeed, this lets me know I am fully alive.  I have a feeling our new puppy, Leon, is going to love winter.  Leon is a Golden Retriever / Great Pyrenees mix and his zest for life is already begun to be demonstrated on many levels.   

Be careful not to allow the change in season to bring you down.  One of our greatest natural resources for self-therapy, sunshine, is going to be in short supply.  Therefore, consider these tips for better coping with the changing seasons: 

• Get out of the house every day and take advantage of any sunshine available.  If nothing else open the curtains and sit in the sunlight shining through the window. 

• Begin and maintain a disciplined exercise routine.  I have been pounding on this throughout numerous blog posts, yet it cannot be overstated.  Diet and exercise are directly related to our overall mood and outlook.

• Even on cold days bundle up and take a brisk walk. 

• If you can work it into your schedule (and you probably can) get involved in some sort of volunteer work.  Your local hospital is a great place to start.

• Resolve to be a nicer, gentler, and more optimistic person.  Encourage those around you with a warm smile and a helping hand. 

If you are down in a pit of depression there is hope for a brighter day.  This blessed time is within reach and absolutely possible.  Take the first step, right now, toward recovery.  You will be happy again.

Choosing to be Happy

Joy has nothing to do with material things, or with man's outward circumstance...A man living in the lap of luxury can be wretched, and a man in the depths of poverty can overflow with joy. -William Barclay 

People have long pondered the question of whether or not we can choose to be happy.  My response to this is we can indeed make a daily choice to be happy, upbeat, and optimistic.  Sadly, countless people become so centered on their circumstances they tell themselves happiness will never be theirs.  As a result they stay mired in a sea of hopelessness.  One reason people remain in a state of unhappiness is that making the daily choice to be happy and positive requires tremendous energy.  This must become a daily practice akin to exercise or studying for a college degree.  The happiness we desire will not come about all by itself.  Rather, we must rise up and pursue it with firm determination. 

I have been a dog lover since I was a little boy, and something I love about dogs is their willingness to play, romp, or go for a walk at any opportunity.  My dog, Ada, a three year old Golden Retriever / Lab mix, is always ready to go outside for a walk, and when I speak the words, “Ada, do you want to go for a walk?” she becomes nearly hysterical in her efforts to go.  So great is her enthusiasm I dare not utter those words unless I mean it and am ready to go – right at that moment.  In fact, if for some reason I should want to take Ada for a walk in the middle of the night I have no doubt she would be ready and would plunge into her walk with great zeal and unbounded joy. 

As I have observed this behavior I have thought many times how nice it would be if we could tackle life with such limitless passion.  My friends, why do we think we have to be doing something spectacular to be happy?  Happiness and joyful experiences are all around and are there for the taking.  A walk in the park, watching a sunset or sunrise, sitting quietly and watching the birds come and go from the feeder you placed outside, or enjoying a quiet moment with one of your kids or an old friend can all be sources of tremendous joy. 

Happiness is here and now and meant to be grasped.  Don’t make the mistake of waiting until everything in life is just right before you’ll be happy.  Resolve to have peace and happiness right here and right now.  With God’s help you can have peace in your heart and true happiness.  Resolve to seek it and never give up – on life or on yourself. 

God has a plan for your life, and you are a unique individual of tremendous worth and potential. 

The Importance of Keeping a Good Attitude

Great effort springs naturally from great attitude. -Pat Riley 

This time of year I see people all over the region who are planting gardens.  Not only are people planting their vegetable gardens, but they are also planting flowers.  A good and healthy garden requires tending, cultivating, water, and care.  Keeping the garden growing requires discipline and hard work.  The same can be said of attitude.  A good attitude requires tremendous effort.  It will not happen all by itself.  Like a healthy garden, a positive attitude must be cultivated, worked at, developed, and watered with good daily habits.   

Attitude affects our overall outlook on life, which in turn affects how we relate those around us.  We can drive people away or we can develop fulfilling and lasting relationships.  We can accomplish worthwhile goals or we can eek our way through life.  All of this is determined by our attitude.  Often when I find myself having a bad day or I am in a sour mood I stop and take inventory of my attitude.  What exactly will being a terrible mood accomplish?  The answer, of course, is nothing.  What exactly will I make better by being surly, hateful, and hard to deal with?  The answer, of course, is nothing.  Indeed, the problems I face will only be worse if I am ruled by a bad attitude.   

A bad attitude is akin to worry; it accomplishes nothing positive and adds nothing good to our lives.  In fact, the reverse is true.  Worry and a bad attitude cause us more trouble.  We must come to the place where we realize maintaining a positive attitude empowers us to keep going during those times when life gets hard.   

Stop and take assessment of your attitude today?  Are you pushing people away who might otherwise have helped?  Or are you blessing and encouraging those around you with your vitality and zest for life?  Ultimately, you have the power to decide.  I am a Christian and a pastor, therefore my slant is on seeking God through prayer and meditation on the Bible.  This has worked wonders in my life as God has empowered me to faith, which in turn has helped me to be a brighter and more positive person.  No matter your faith or beliefs, consider giving prayer a try.   

Life is right before us, and it’s intended for us to live.  Rise up today and seek a better attitude.  You family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors will love you for it, and you will be a happier person.  About those good habits; try these: 

• Exercise daily.

• Stop making negative statements.

• Start eating healthy foods.

• Read a good book instead of watching TV.

• Plan your schedule each day and stick with it – keep a routine.

• Set attainable goals for yourself.

• Smile and say hello to strangers.

• Seek to lend a helping hand whenever possible.

 Get a good attitude and keep it – today! 

Never Give up; Life is Worth Living

In recent years I have had time to reflect on my own struggle with depression.  From 2000 to 2006 I fought a private and horrific battle with this illness.  Simple tasks such as getting out of bed in the morning, shaving, taking a shower, getting dressed, and facing the day seemed most of the time like way too much trouble.  Pursuits which once gave me tremendous joy and fulfillment began to feel hollow and unrewarding.  By the grace of God I did not give up.  I persevered through a number of dark and terrible days, I sought God’s help, and around the spring of 2006 I began to climb out of that awful pit. 

Having been able, with God’s help, to climb out of the pit of despair and depression, I now try to encourage others at every opportunity who are in a similar condition.  If I could offer just one piece of advice to someone struggling with depression it would be this; do not give up.  Life is going to get better and your situation will improve if you will hang in there and not surrender to the dark forces warring against you.  Life is indeed worth living.  The dark days you may be facing will get brighter and you will overcome.  Believe it, seek God’s help, and it will be so.   

I am grateful for a trend in society which is bringing the blues, sorrow, and depression out of the closet and into the open where they can be properly dealt with.  For decades people suffered in silence fearing that if anyone learned of their struggle they would be shunned.  Even today people are afraid of letting anyone know of their battle with depression for fear of what others will think.  Many of my colleagues in ministry who battle depression are fearful of letting it be known because they view such an admission as a ministerial career killer.

Whoever you are and whatever your station in life there is hope.  God loves you, cares for you, and there is a brighter day coming.  If you are struggling with the blues, sorrow, or depression talk to someone right away; a trusted friend, pastor, therapist, or your family doctor.  Resolve that you will rise up and take back control of your life.  Do not suffer in silence any longer.  Help is available.  In closing, let me share with you my ten reasons why life is worth living:

1. Life will get better; give it more time.  You will be amazed at how things will have improved in a year from now.
2. You are an individual of immeasurable worth and potential.  Never forget that.
3. You are not here by accident.  You were created by God for a divine purpose.
4. You are stronger than you think you are.
5. There are people who love you and need you in their lives.
6. The world is a better place with you in it.
7. You may feel terrible, yet you can be happy again.
8. God is perfectly willing to help you; just ask and He will be there for you.
9. You possess gifts and talents from which others may benefit.
10. Joy is coming if you will seek it and wait for it.

  Keep going and never give up.  Life is going to get better.  

Don’t Just Stand There; Get Moving

Exercise and temperance can preserve something of our early strength even in old age.  -Cicero (106 BC-43 BC) Roman orator and statesman 

In the midst of all the bad trends and unhealthy eating habits I observe there are a number of bright spots.  For example, I am finding many people who are getting serious about taking back control of their health.  They are throwing away their cigarettes, giving up soft drinks, cutting back on sweets and junk food, and developing exercise routines.  All of these will make not just a difference, but a profound difference.  Two weeks into an exercise program and you will feel like a new person with a fresh and exciting outlook – one which you have probably never before experienced.  Yes, it will be difficult, yet anything worth having is going to require serious effort.  Give exercise a try, for the rewards are well worth it. 

Unfortunately, our society is fostering lifestyles of inactivity.  Everyone needs a little down time, yet countless people think of their down time as sitting in front of a computer or staring at the TV.  This isn’t down time folks; this is more often than not a waste of time.  We are better off to seek to limit the amount of time we spend in front of the TV and computer and instead seek a more active and productive lifestyle.  Turn off the TV and open a book.  Walk away from the computer and go for a brisk walk in the park.  How about a little yard work?  Plant a garden or grow some flowers.  Anything we can do which gets us out of the house and engaging in physical exercise is a step in the right direction. 

I just had a conversation with someone and she was telling me about an exercise program in which she has become involved.  Four or five times a week she goes to the gym and engages in an exercise routine.  As I have stated before, you can exercise at home, however if going to a gym works for you, and then by all means pursue this.  This person was telling me how she exercises with a friend and they encourage each other and hold one another accountable.  Again, this is a great strategy for getting in shape. 

The question is, what are you waiting for?  The time is now and today is the day.  Start off easy; try doing basic calisthenics for 20-30 minutes a day.  From there you can vary your routine and add to it.  As with any new exercise regimen, be sure to check with your doctor first.   

It’s your life, my friend, and you must be the one to make positive changes and seek a brighter outlook.  No one else can accomplish this for you. Get going and get busy.  Brighter days are coming. 

Routine, Routine, Routine

Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop.  ~Ovid 

Many years ago when Andrea and I were looking to purchase our first house a realtor gave us the old familiar advice about what makes a house valuable: location, location, location.  In recent years I have learned a similar idea in regards to properly managing depression, sorrow, and the blues: routine, routine, routine.  Consider how wildly out of control many peoples’  lives are these days.  Countless people fail to observe any sort of spiritual reflection or mediation, they don’t eat right, they rarely get enough rest, they hardly ever exercise, and they have no healthy outlet for stress.  Gathering our daily lives into a workable schedule and staying with a daily routine works wonders with managing negative moods and emotions.   

Many people are not functioning anywhere near their full potential.  One day I was out driving my car and I heard a loud noise from the engine.  Suddenly the car would barely run no matter how much I stepped on the gas.  The engine also sounded like it was about to blow.  Fortunately, I was close to home and managed to make it to the house, thus saving an expensive towing bill.  A quick examination of the engine showed I had blown a sparkplug, a problem easily remedied.  This illustrates my point; the car was only going on three cylinders rather than four.  As a result it would barely function. 

Exercise, diet, spiritual reflection, and healthy stress relievers are crucial to our living in our full potential.  Otherwise we are like an engine which simply doesn’t want to work properly.  We often try to do so many tasks at once that we fail to do any of them successfully.  I have found in my own life I am better off when I streamline my schedule to what I do best rather than trying to do too much.  As I stated earlier, this explains why the blog you are reading has been trimmed to every week or so.  This allows me to devote more time to my other blog, Inspirations for the Troubled Soul, which is updated daily (And which I hope you will become a daily reader!).   

We have more information coming at us these days than even before.  A daily routine helps to sort out what is most important and we learn to sift through it all in productive and positive ways.  Rather than becoming overwhelmed we learn where our priorities lie.  Stop right now and take a hard look at your life and answer these questions: 

-Am I getting enough exercise?

-Do I maintain healthy eating habits?

-Do I have a hobby or creative outlet for stress?

-Do I take time to daily pray and meditate? 

If you answered no to most of those questions then it’s time to make changes.  My friend, it can be done.  Take back control of your life.  No one can accomplish this but you.  With God’s help it can be done. 

What is Your Battle Cry?

Self-pity is easily the most destructive of the nonpharmaceutical narcotics; it is addictive, gives momentary pleasure and separates the victim from reality.  –John W. Gardner  

I love reading about the Civil War, and I consider here the July, 1861 Battle of Bull Run.  Seeking to bring a quick end to the war, President Lincoln sent 35,000 troops who had been bivouacked around Washington 35 miles south to attack the Confederates who were defending the crucial railroad junction of Manassas, Virginia.  The Union troops, many of them new and inadequately trained, were exhausted by the time they reached their destination.  On Sunday morning, July 21, the Union attacked the Confederate position and nearly won the day.  However, the Confederates, emboldened by reinforcements, surged forward and used for the first time what would come to be known as the Rebel Yell.  The Union line melted away, and the retreat carried the demoralized Union army all the way back to Washington. 

This war cry would go down in history as one associated with the desire for victory.  Do you have a battle cry these days?  Do you think in terms of “With God’s help I will succeed?” or do you more often give up and lie down in defeat?  Many people have the antithesis of a war cry and it goes like this: “Woe is me!”  This pitiful cry is often followed with self-fulfilling prophecies of, “I can’t do it!  Life is so unfair!  I’ll never be happy!  I hate my life!”  Utter these words often enough and those around you will surely see it.  Furthermore, they will begin to avoid you if possible. 

Consider a few hard questions: do you complain often?  Do you get satisfaction over negative attention?  Do you enjoy telling someone off because “being right is always what’s most important?”  Do you throw a fit in public, if say, your food at a restaurant isn’t cooked perfectly (I’d be careful about eating the pasta primavera you just sent back three times; the cook probably spit in it)?  If these traits fit you, then hear me carefully: people don’t enjoy being around you.  In fact, they are only tolerating you, perhaps out of obligation or a desire to help.  Keep on and you will eventually push away these good intentioned people. 

No one likes a bully, no one appreciates being talked down to, and believe me when I say virtually no one enjoys hearing you moan and complain about how miserable and unfair your life has become.  Now is the time and today is the day to make changes.  Not happy with your life?  Change it for the better.  Are you out of shape, overweight, and short of breath?  Take action today.  Go on a diet, start exercising, and throw away your cigarettes – cold turkey while vowing never to touch them again. 

You can be a more happy and well-rounded person.  Take up a new battle cry: “With God’s help, I will change for the better!”

The Blessings and Dangers of a Full Plate

Most of us know the feeling of having too much to do and more than we feel we can finish.  The term for this condition is having a “full plate.” In fact, I was recently asked to be a part of a local organization, which if I didn’t have so much else going on right now I would have accepted.  However, I explained how at the moment my plate is indeed full.  Consider having a full plate is a blessing, yet also dangerous.  The blessings come as a result of being a part of something larger than ourselves from which we gain tremendous satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment.  There is also the aspect of camaraderie and forming new friendships as we serve alongside those with whom we labor and share similar points of view. 

The dangers of the full plate are we become overwhelmed and spread so thin we end up engaging in great amounts of work while accomplishing little.  Anytime this occurs a cutting back on our schedules may be in order.  Many people, myself included, don’t like telling people no.  When asked to be involved in something, such as a civic group or charitable organization, we feel obligated to say yes even when we know we don’t have the time.  If we aren’t careful we up becoming discouraged and wishing we hadn’t committed ourselves in the first place.  We then miss out on the blessings which being involved are supposed to bring.   

I know in my own life I have become more involved and have a fuller schedule than ever before.  The blog you are reading right now had to be trimmed back to once a week, and even that has presented a challenge.  I have written another book which is being published and will hopefully be available within the next few weeks.  I also have taken on a position with our local hospital as a volunteer chaplain, which is a wonderful blessing and challenge, yet again takes time out of my week.  I also have made a commitment to myself to complete a novel I started a few years ago but never finished.  This is all on top of my normal day-to-day commitments as a pastor. 

Being involved and having a full plate can be good, but be careful; burnout and overextending ourselves can result.  Consider these strategies for time management and reaping the benefits of putting our talents to use.

• Know your limitations.  If your schedule is already full, be careful about adding more to it.  You may have to practice saying no more often. 

• Keep your calendar handy and updated.  Plan ahead and be aware of commitments which are today as well as next month. 

• Schedule time for family.  Our spouses and family relationships suffer when we don’t make time for them.  Be sure to let our loved ones know we care for them.  We accomplish this by making time for them. 

• Remember also to make time for yourself.  You deserve a break and time off once in a while.
  

It’s going to be a great day! 

Spending Too Much Time Online?

Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.  -Hellen Keller 

I read an article in Reader’s Digest which did a survey involving average Internet use among the population.  Five hours a day is the average time people spend online.  78% of people surveyed confessed they had stayed up past their bedtime due to being online.  1 in 16 children under the age of five has a Facebook page.  The number of cell phones in any home is three.  As I consider these statistics I have to say that these numbers are too high and creating problems in peoples’ lives.  These days as I counsel couples facing marital problems, an issue which comes up is one or the other person spending way too much time online.  I even hear talk these days about therapy now available for those dealing with “Facebook addiction.”   

All of this technology is hindering personal growth and keeping people from experiencing the joy of connecting with humanity face-to-face rather than through an Internet chat.  Too much time in front of a computer also causes us to miss out on the joys of being outdoors on a sunny day, pursuing a hobby, or spending time with family and friends.  Sure, Facebook is good for keeping in touch with family who live hundreds of miles away, but be careful not to neglect your spouse, children, or friends who live close by.   

Consider these strategies for connecting again with the real world rather than doing so through technology:

• Resolve to limit the amount of time spent online.  Call me off my rocker, but an hour or two a day seems perfectly reasonable.  If you find you cannot achieve this because the lure of being online is too strong, then it may be time to consult a therapist.  You may be suffering from a form of Internet addiction. 

• Hold a “Tech Free Day” with your immediate family or friends.  Choose a day and go 24 hours without using any form of technology: Computer, cell phone, or TV.  I realize I have lost many people right here as you are thinking such a feat isn’t possible.  Give it a try; you will be astounded at how you grow personally by shutting off those devices for a while. 

• Re-connect with people on a face-to-face basis.  Instead of just chatting online, arrange to meet friends once a week for lunch or just coffee.  Friendships and relationships are among our greatest resources for personal growth.
  

• Engage in good old fashioned reading – in books.  You will be amazed at how you will grow. 

Don’t let technology control you.  It should be the other way around.  It’s going to be a great day – today!  

Positive Life Changes can Happen

The sun has not caught me in bed in fifty years.  ~Thomas Jefferson

I am running behind on this blog for a number of reasons: too hectic of a schedule, too many items on the daily to-do list, and not enough hours in the day.  Last week I shared how that I had gone on a journey of completely reinventing my daily routine, and after nearly three weeks of this it’s on track to becoming a habit.  Getting up at 4:15 AM every morning has presented some challenges for a night person like me.  Please don’t think I am bragging, but I am getting the hang of this.  For most of my adult life I would get up between 6:00 and 7:00 AM, but not without hitting the snooze button a time or two.  These days I am rolling out of bed and staying up the moment the alarm goes off – at the unbelievably early hour of 4:15 AM.

So, why am I doing this?  I have long wanted to know what it’s like to be a “morning person.”  The morning person, or MP, is one who delights in being awake before the sun comes up.  Such people are perfectly willing to rise and accomplish more before 8:00 in the morning than the rest of us do by noon.  So, I truly wanted to know what that feels like.  Let me say that I am getting a powerful dose of the early morning perspective on life.  Also, this is a continuation of a series of personal growth steps I have been applying to my life.  If I am going to write about being a happier, healthier, and brighter person then I must be able to see life from a perspective of pure optimism.  Rising before dawn and enjoying doing so seemed like a great place to start.

There is also a spiritual reason here which I will not elaborate on today, but I intend to do so in the near future.  My becoming an MP is part of a spiritual journey I felt led to undertake.  Already I have a different perspective on life and the problems I face.  Let me close today with a few words of encouragement for standing firm and not giving in to the trials of life:

• Stop saying “I can’t.”  When we rise up and with God’s help begin to move forward, we will be amazed at what can be accomplished.
  

• Remember that it’s never too late to adopt positive change.  The bad habits and destructive attitudes we develop did not happen overnight.  They may look insurmountable, but they can be overcome.  Be patient, move forward, and begin walking forward toward personal growth and change one step at a time. 

• You do not have to be a negative, defeated, and cynical person any longer. You can change. 

Life is meant to be lived.  Rise up and start living – today! 

Is it Possible to Become a “Morning Person?”

If you have read my blogs over time you may have noticed the jokes I occasionally make about not being a morning person.  As a Christian and a pastor I have long taken the position that there are two kinds of people in the world: Christians and non-Christians.  Within those two groupings, however, are two other sub-groups, which are morning people and night people.  Most of us fall into one or the other.  All of my life I have been in the “night person” category.  I have never liked having to get up early, I enjoy being able to sleep in from time to time, and I have joked many times about how that in a perfect world nothing would actually begin until around 9:00 or 10:00 AM.  Many of my night person contemporaries sympathize with this plight as they too understand the enjoyment of being such a person.  Late at night it’s quiet, there are few interruptions, and it’s sort of a nice escape from the hectic schedules we so often have. 

But those morning people present a good case as well.  They arise up early, before daylight, and they get done more before 7:00 or 8:00 AM than many of us will before noon.  Deep in my heart I have longed to be a morning person, but is such a transformation possible?  I took that question to heart and said “why not?” Two weeks ago I began an experiment; I completely altered my daily schedule.  Instead of going to bed around 12:00 or 1:00 at night and getting up at 7:00 AM, I began going to bed around 10:00 and getting up at 4:15 AM.  Today is day 12 of this new schedule, and you know something?  I am truly enjoying this.  I believe I am on my way to making the transition to becoming a morning person.   

Since beginning this experiment I am getting more accomplished, I am more focused, and I am rising from bed easier than ever before.  I’m still exercising, and this is taking place before sunrise, which is pretty amazing as I wondered if I could have ever accomplished that.  I have heard many times that if you do anything for three weeks it becomes a habit.  I’ll let you know in a week if that’s true for me. 

To all my night person readers; I am still in sympathy with you and you’ll always have a special place in my heart.  And to all the morning people of the world; it may be time to welcome me to your team. 

It’s going to be a great day – with an early start!

Take Back Control of Your Health – Today

Do not bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself.  –William Faulkner  

I recently read an article that was not only an eye-opener, but it put the problem of the nation’s terrible eating habits in stark perspective.  24/7 Wall Street presented an article that broke down the 10 U.S. states with the worst eating habits.  The results show a trend of reckless eating habits that are creating an alarming rise in diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and a number of other ailments which are now being related to poor diet such as dementia.  The state of Mississippi was number one on the list where according to the study the average person consumes 82 gallons of soft drinks and 113 pounds of sweet snacks per year.   

I am trying to get my mind around that staggering amount of junk food.  Imagine filling 82 gallon jugs with various soft drinks such as Coke, Pepsi, Mountain Dew, and so forth, and then consuming it all over a one-year period.  Add to that 113 pounds of Twinkies, candy bars, and other sweet snacks and you have a recipe for disaster.  Furthermore, combine this with smoking and a sedentary lifestyle and you see why our nation is in a health crisis. 

Today is the day and now is the time to take back control of your health.  Believe me when I say that with determination, commitment, and motivation, and God’s help, it can be accomplished.  If you look in the mirror and you don’t like what you see, then take charge and make changes.  You can lose weight, you can get into shape, and you can alter poor eating habits.   

-Begin immediately to make plans to regain control of your health. 

-If you need to lose weight or get more exercise then see your doctor and let him or her assist you in developing a plan. 

-Do not give up.  Keep moving forward toward better health. 

-Understand that change takes time; it is not too late to make positive changes. 

-Resolve to do whatever it takes to be a more upbeat, happy, healthy, and optimistic person.   

Keep exercising, stop smoking, begin to eat right, and get rid of your soft drinks and junk food.  Life can and will get better.  Take charge and make it happen.

It can be a great day –  today!   

Fit at 50

On your birthday: count your candles, count your years, count your blessings.  -Unknown 

In about five months I will reach the age of 50.  What a great age; it’s such a nice, round, number.  I recall when I was a teenager that being 50 was way beyond my comprehension.  That was my dad’s age!  And now here I am.  Am I fearful of this milestone birthday?  The answer is not at all.  I welcome it as an opportunity to reflect on where I am in my life and where I am going. 

This occasion of reaching the age of 50 has given me a serious goal, which is to be in the best physical condition of my entire life.  This is absolutely possible and after 16 months of daily exercise I am almost there.  If I can accomplish this, so can you.  No matter your age or the shape you’re in right now, you too can join me in taking back control of your health.  The result will be a happier, healthier, and brighter person with a more positive outlook on life. 

So, where are you right now in terms of your health, attitude, and perspective on life?  Are you where you want to be?  If not, then positive changes are within your grasp.  Negative attitudes, poor eating habits, and a bleak outlook on life can be changed.  As I have stated many times, it’s never too late to affect positive change.  Consider these strategies for making positive changes in your life: 

• Sit down and make a list of areas of your life that need changed. These could include losing weight, being more positive, having more energy, and accomplishing certain goals.  Now go back and order your list by priority.  Develop a strategy for affecting the desired change, and take them one at a time.  Having mapped out a plan, stick with it. 

• Resolve to be happy right now.  This seems simple enough, but if that’s the case, why are so many people miserable all of the time?  One reason is that we tend to base our happiness on our present life circumstances.  We will always have problems.  Life will never be perfect or trouble free.  Make a decision to enjoy any happiness that comes your way regardless of what is going on in your life. 

• Are you a generally lethargic person?  If so, get up and start moving.  Even taking a walk every day can elevate mood and provide increased energy.  Stop sitting around; rise up and start getting the exercise you need.  It doesn’t have to be complicated, but can be as simple as walking or riding a bike. 

• Make a conscious decision to make positive statements.  No one wants to be around someone that whines and complains all of the time.  Become a more positive and optimistic person.  It can be done. 

Life is waiting.  The time has come to stop surviving and start living.  Today is the day! 

Resolving to Have a Better Attitude

Be not afraid of life. Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact.  -William James 

Everywhere I go I meet people who are discouraged, depressed, and letting their negative attitudes rule their lives.  Why is it that so many people these days are unhappy and stressed out?  Part of the reason is that today we live with more financial pressures than ever before.  Another factor is the fast paced, high pressure, and uncertain times in which we live.  All that stress can result in a lot of unhealthy emotions and eventually it comes out in negativity and cynicism.  If you are able to maintain a bright and happy outlook then consider yourself fortunate.  Countless people are just barely hanging on.   

Over the years I have tried to develop strategies for positively coping with the stress that exists in my life.  But this is an ongoing practice that must be continually evaluated and perfected. We have to want to make changes for the better before we will ever move in that direction.  Is your attitude not where you want it to be?  If so then consider these strategies for being a more positive and optimistic person: 

• Get rid of sarcasm.  I don’t know how I became such a sarcastic person, but it happened.  A number of years ago I realized that I was letting my frustrations come out in sarcastic remarks.  I truly dislike myself the most when I am complaining or being openly and bitterly sarcastic.  Resolve to stop this behavior.  When you feel the words about to fall out stop; you will immediately see the difference in your outlook.
  

• Develop the habit of putting others’ needs first.  When we begin to think about the needs of other people we stop putting so much emphasis on ourselves.  We are released from the pressure of always looking out for #1 as the world teaches and we instead begin to be concerned with others.  With this comes the wonderfully gratifying reward of knowing that we are serving our fellow man rather than only ourselves.  This carries emotional rewards that lift our spirits and improve attitude.
  

• Smile, make positive comments, and compliment people whether you feel like it or not.  This is where the old “fake it until you feel it” rule may have to be applied.  The more positive and affirming statements we make the better we feel.  We will also be rewarded by the positive responses we get from those around us. 

• Stop complaining.  Does this need further explanation?  I didn’t think so.   

Take a stand and make a decision to be a brighter and more optimistic person.  We can’t do this on our own, but with God’s help it can be done.

Have a great day!

Stay Focused During Winter

O, wind,
If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?  -Percy Bysshe Shelley 

I have to ask, how are you doing during these dark and cold days of winter?  Is your mood holding up and is your attitude positive?  Hopefully, you are holding forth with a good attitude during these dreary and bitterly cold days which we are going through right now.  This past Monday was partly sunny and even though it was cold the sunshine was wonderful.  Be sure to get out in the sun for a while even on cold days as this has a powerful effect on mood and outlook. 

I am glad to report that I have not wavered in my commitment to exercise outside all winter long.  As I have stated before, this isn’t for everyone, but it works for me.  Each morning I have been continuing my 20-30 minutes of calisthenics outside regardless of the weather.  After about 100 or so jumping jacks and 50 push-ups my heart rate is up, my mood is beginning to soar, and I get into a rhythm that drives me through the entire workout.  Whatever form of exercise you are doing be sure to keep it up all winter long as the health benefits are too powerful to deny. 

As we go through the months of winter, consider these continued strategies for managing and controlling the winter blues: 

• Stay committed to your exercise routine.  If you aren’t exercising regularly then now is the time to begin.  You will not regret it and you will be astounded by the results. 

• Continue to maintain a healthy diet plan.  Keep avoiding junk food, fast food, and soft drinks.  Try cutting back on soft drinks to the point that you can count on one hand how many you are drinking in a month.  Once you reach that point you will know that you are getting control of your eating habits.
  

• Stop procrastinating about what you have wanted to try.  Consider what you have wanted to try and go for it.  The possibilities might include painting, drawing, pottery, woodworking, or writing.  Any of these will provide you with a wonderful sense of accomplishment and well being.
  

• Start a journal or diary.  Writing down our thoughts is a great way to come to terms with what we are facing and how we are coping.  Go back later and re-read your entries and you will be amazed at how you’ve grown.  A word of caution, however; bear in mind that whatever you write down will most likely be read by someone else at some point.  So, be honest, but also be sensible. 

• Volunteer your time at a local charity.  Nothing beats the blues like helping others. 

Spring seems like a long way off, but let’s make the most of life while we’re waiting for it. 

Have a great day!

The Value of Human Connections

I value the friend who finds time for me on his calendar, but I cherish the friend who for me does not consult his calendar.  –Robert Brault 

I would like for you to again consider the power and importance of human connections.  If you find that you are a person easily given to depression, sadness, or the blues, one of the worst approaches you can take to your problem is to cut yourself off from other people.  Isolation is a recipe for continued sorrow and heartache.  All of us have times when we need to be alone.  This is what I call having “down time” or what has been referred to as “me time.”  There is nothing wrong with that if done at appropriate times and with the right perspective.  However, a lifestyle of isolation from other people can have detrimental effects on our overall outlook on life. 

We were made to associate with others.  Connecting with other people is part of the way we are all hardwired.  Remove that from our lives and we end up lonely, sorrowful, and bitter.  The problem is that when we feel lousy we do not want to be around other people.  Being alone may be easier, but it’s definitely not beneficial.  If you have found yourself purposely withdrawing from others let me challenge you rise up and get back in touch.  Now is the time to end any self-imposed exile.  Begin right away to re-connect with others.   

Connection with others provides us with a support system in times of trouble, encouragement in periods of sorrow, and a renewed sense of our own worth.  I have heard it said that the best way to make friends is to be a friend.  As others provide support and encouragement, be willing to provide that for others.   

It’s a big world out there with limitless possibilities.  Get up, get out, and be a part of it. 

It can and will be a great day!

Finding an Outlet for Stress

Don't you just hate it when life doesn't follow the manuals?  -Anonymous   

Yesterday I spent the day helping a friend of mine with a renovation job he is doing on a cabin he and his wife purchased.  When they are finished this is going to be a wonderful place to get away, relax, and take vacations.  As we were working he was telling me how that spending time in projects such as these is a tremendous stress reliever.  As I pondered this I had to consider all of the outlets I have built into my own life for coping with stress.  I have writing, music, exercise, and hiking.  All of these are great outlets for the stresses associated with being a pastor and with day-to-day problems.   

What about you?  What sort of outlets do you have to release the stress you face?  There is no question that you have at least some stress in your life.  Looking for a lifestyle that is stress free is utterly impractical, for such a lifestyle is non-existent.  However, finding healthy outlets for stress is not only attainable, but absolutely reasonable.  I sometimes have conversations with people who tell me that they honestly have nothing they do as a strategy for getting rid of the stresses in their lives.  Instead, they simply try to cope with their problems and go on.  Let me challenge you today to consider some strategies for managing stress.  Here are some suggestions to think about:

• Exercise daily.  This has become for me one of the all time great stress relievers.  The health benefits are numerous as is the increase in confidence and improved outlook. 

• Find a hobby.  What do you have that is all yours?  Is there a pursuit that you can practice that is uniquely yours?  The possibilities are great and should be suitable to your individual gifts and talents.  Take up woodworking, sculpting, painting, or learn to play an instrument.  Set aside time to pursue whatever hobby you choose.  The rewards will be remarkable. 

• Stay connected.  Don’t make the mistake of shutting yourself off from other people.  Stay in touch with friends, re-connect with family, or volunteer with a charitable organization, or attend church regularly.  You have much to offer.  Share those talents with others.
  

• Stop being so hard on yourself.  You are only one person, and in God’s eyes you are unique, special, and wonderful.  Don’t forget that you are loved and cared for.  While you are at it, learn not to let criticism get you down.  

Stress will always be in or lives.  Develop a plan for facing it and stick with that plan. 

It’s going to be a great day!