John Harrell's Blog, page 64

Connectivity

Since the internet became a common tool, our world is more closely connected than ever. Yet, people feel more alone now than ever before, too.

The isolation of the pandemic was never a good idea. We need to be in community with other people. Zoom and FaceTime don’t suffice.

If you haven’t heard from friends in a while, take a moment to reach out to them. Yes, they could call you, but they might not be in the right mental state to do it.

Be the bigger person. Make the call…

Scared

What scares you? I’m not talking about physical dangers like air turbulence or being stranded. I’m asking what scares you emotionally.

A majority of people fear change. Yet, change is inevitable, so embrace it, don’t fear it. Loss of loved ones is another thing people fear. Whenever a young person’s life ends suddenly, all of us who are parents are reminded that it could happen to us. But the probability is extremely low. Don’t focus on it.

Face your fears, otherwise they will control you. We fear what we can’t control, but the only thing we have control over is our attitude. Look to the future with unbridled optimism and hope. That attitude will keep you free from anxiety about life. You will see the future through a different lens. Stay hopeful…

Winning

To win is to be victorious. And everyone loves a winner, right?

Yet, if you are reading this in a safe, comfortable environment, you have food to eat, you are healthy and you have people who care about you, you have won. So many people live in poverty, they may not know when they will eat their next meal and they might be alone.

Keep your perspective clear. What you already have is what some people are hoping and praying for…

Intentional

To be intentional means to be purposeful. You do what you do on purpose.

All of us are intentional in some ways. I’m intentional about going to work today, getting some exercise and doing some writing. God willing, those things will happen. If my plans go awry, I won’t panic. I will adapt.

The most intentional person who ever lived was Jesus Christ. He knew who he was, and he knew why he was here. Jesus had things to distract him. He had people trying to kill him. He never wavered. Jesus just kept going until his purpose was fulfilled.

Be intentional with your time. Otherwise you’ll simply drift through life, accepting whatever comes your way. Get laser-focused and stay that way…

Ironic, Isn’t It?

Every day is National “Something” Day, and January 2nd in National Buffet Day. Seriously. On the very first day most people have vowed to regain their health by beginning an exercise program, we have a day honoring food gluttony.

Personally I’m not a big fan of buffets. I’m not sure why. Las Vegas Casinos advertise them as a means to get people into their casino rather than another. The casinos aren’t doing the consumers any favors. They understand that the gamblers will lose way more money than it costs to practically give away food.

On the other hand, I do believe in exercise. Anything we can do to improve our health and our lives gets a big yes from me. Don’t get me wrong, I love to eat. I’m a believer in eating real food to feed your body. You need to eat when exercising or you won’t get the results you want.

My encouragement to you is to put the fork away and take care of yourself instead. Your future self will thank you for it…

Thoughts

2024 has arrived! It’s my wish that you enter the new year with a renewed sense of optimism and hope. No matter what you may be facing in life, your best days lie ahead of you.

Have faith…

Change Your Mind

The way we think will determine the outcomes in our lives. Do you want to make a change in your life? Then start by changing your thoughts.

Read great books. Feed your mind with the stories of people in history who made a difference. Read the writings of the Apostle Paul. Ask for help to change and believe God will help you. He will.

Finally, get rid of every distraction that isn’t enriching your life. It’s time for change…

Ripped Off

There has been a robbery! Not to worry, though, because the robber didn’t get your money or possessions. The robber is life, and life has stolen your identity.

When we started out in life, we were going to show the world a thing or two. Nothing could stop us. We couldn’t even be slowed down! Then life hit us. Hard. Setbacks, frustrations and hurts threw us to the ground. We get up, only to get knocked down again. And again. And again.

Start 2024 with a renewed sense of who you are. Life will continue to kick your ass. It’s time you kicked back. It’s impossible to stop a person who refuses to give up…

Compared to What???

Some people love to compare, don’t they? Yet comparison robs us of so much good. Let’s look a little closer at this.

Contentment goes away when we compare, and gratitude goes along for the ride. The truth is, we have so much to be grateful for. If you have a few dollars in your pocket you are better off than over 99% of the world. If you are alive and reading this, you have eyesight and a working mind. Equipped with assets like those you can conquer anything. You just need to use them, put them to work.

You can get everything you want in this life. Stop comparing yourself to others and get going. You don’t know how far you can go, but just know that you can accomplish your greatest dreams if you’re willing to put in the work…

What Happened?

Children are completely innocent when they are born. Yet some grow up to become murderers and terrorists. Why?

Somewhere along the way they learned evil. Some people have been so disgusting that they teach evil deeds under the veil of religion. One of the most evil things you can do is to mislead a child.

We must continue to show light to the world. Lead by example. Stand up for what’s good and right. There will always be evil in the world, but our light cannot be diminished…