Close Your Eyes and Look Around

There is so much noise in my world…not just audible noise…but visual.

  • TV shows, movies, and websites.
  • Magazines, books, and newspapers.
  • Photographs and videos.
  • Toys, school work, and discarded clothes.
  • Paperwork, proposals, bills, and junk mail.
  • Billboards, TV ads, banner ads, magazine ads, bus shelter ads, and ads all over t-shirts.

We’re barraged by hundreds, if not thousands, of marketing messages on a daily basis. On top of that, we’re immersed in a visual culture where constant stimulation is the norm. All of that eye candy has a way of occupying our brains and preventing us from “seeing” things that may be even more important.

What if you closed your eyes for a few minutes?

What if you allowed all the visuals to fade away? What if you gave your mind’s eye a chance to explore the recesses of your brain? You’d be surprised what comes up…

  • The faces of people that you need to reconcile with.
  • The opportunities you’ve overlooked to help other people
  • The image of yourself living courageously.
  • The next step for your life that’s seemed hazy and starts to clear up.

Have you tried it?
Have you tried closing your eyes?
Go ahead and close them…and look around.
I bet you’ll see something that you’ve been searching for.

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Move Stuff Around

When I was a kid, I loved to re-arrange my room. I’d pull out a piece of paper, and I would start plotting out the most strategic location for each piece of furniture.

  • What position should my bed be in? Near the door? In the corner? Under the window?
  • Should my stereo be next to my bed or under the window?
  • And, most importantly, where should I put my baseball collection?

I re-arranged my bedroom every couple of months for years! It was probably an adolescent sickness, but I absolutely loved it. I loved the creativity and the strategery. (That is a word, right?)

Then, I grew up.
I got married.
We decorated.
And, everything pretty much sat there.
Nothing moved.

Something changed when I moved back in with my family a couple of years ago. I re-decorated parts of our home, and I start taking photos and displaying them in matted frames and a creative hanging system. And, I started moving stuff around every few weeks.

Recently, I’ve found myself…

  • Buying an old set of lockers and placing them in our living room as a functional decoration.
  • Digging out a mid-century modern coffee table out of the trash in LA and using it.
  • Using an old stereo credenza to place our flat screen TV on in our living room.
  • Growing plants in a couple of glass terrariums.
  • Buying new accent pillows for the couch.
  • Displaying a number of my vintage cameras.
  • Placing tall religious candles along our front walk way and unmarked tall candles around our home.
  • Picking up interesting objects at a local home store and thrift stores and moving them around in different arrangements throughout our home.

Each time I place or move an object, it’s a moment of creativity. I’m enjoying the transformation of the moment, and I’m training myself to enjoy “change.” Rather than getting accustomed to the same ole thing, I’m enjoying the fluidity of our living space.

Not only do I want that for our home, but I want that for my life.

I want to hold things loosely and allow fluidity in my life. Things come and go. Experiences are here one moment and gone the next. People are here one day and not here soon after. Because of this reality of life, I don’t want to take anything for granted. When I allow things to fade into the background and just sit there, it’s like they become invisible. That’s why I like to move stuff around.

“Moving stuff around” means that I’m not seeing the world or people in the same way. I look at things from a different angle and think about things in a different way. What would it look like to move some stuff around in your life?

  • What about re-arranging your schedule?
  • How about re-arranging your priorities and calling someone that you haven’t talked to in a long time?
  • Maybe you could re-arrange your home or move things around in your office at work.
  • Perhaps you should re-arrange your desk and embrace a new organizational system.
  • How about if you re-arranged when or where you exercised?
  • Maybe you could re-arrange your mind and pick a new restaurant that you’ve never been to before.
  • What if you re-arranged your closet and purchased a different style of clothing just to mix it up?

I don’t know what it would look like for you to move stuff around, but I bet you’ll feel a little off balance which will make you see things and experience life from a new perspective.

Move something around today…re-arrange life.

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Monday Motivation #3 – “Call Two People This Week”

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Two Years Ago, I Left My Life…

Two years ago today, I left my life behind. I was sick and tired of my marriage and ministry. I was completely burned out on overworking and chasing success in the name of ministry, and I was disconnected from my family. I felt all alone, and I wanted a partner in life.

Instead of climbing my way out of the long, 15-year rut that I found myself in, I chose to implode my life. I didn’t want to do the hard work of investing in a great marriage. I wanted to start over with someone else. After following the “rules” by doing what was right, strategic, and practical most of my entire life, I didn’t care what anyone else thought.

I chose freedom.
I chose intimacy.
I chose passion.

Within 40 days, this new path led to destruction. I found myself more alone than ever…wanting to end my life. I checked myself into a hospital for three days, and I battled suicide for another two weeks after I got out. That is…until I apologized to my wife on May 3rd. From that day forward, I’ve never wanted to kill myself. Instead, I set the trajectory of my heart toward the woman I originally covenanted to be with, and I’ve been working on an intimate partnership with her. After 6 months out of my family’s home, I moved back in August.

Ironically, my therapist pointed out that he fully supported what I did. I was searching for freedom, intimacy, passion, and an enjoyable life. What he couldn’t support was HOW I went about trying to get it. Although my life hit rock bottom, I ultimately ended up finding what I really wanted.

Since that day two years ago…

  • I’ve taken significant steps in allowing Transformation in my life through therapy, a brain scan, and medication.
  • I’ve received incredible amounts of grace and forgiveness from my wife, kids, family, and friends.
  • I’ve reoriented my life around my wife and family instead of work and success.
  • I’ve deconstructed my faith to be more centered on Jesus and less on building a large church that is focused on a fancy Sunday event.
  • I’ve re-focused my gifts on helping corporations develop effective marketing.
  • I’ve enjoyed reconnecting with my passion for photography.
  • I’ve started sharing my passion for a rich, meaningful life through my writing and video podcasts.
  • I’ve written the journey of my destruction and redemption in a memoir that will be published this year.
  • I’ve outlined a book on making a comeback that I plan to write this year, and Laura and I are set to write another book on recovering from an affair.
  • I’ve started developing great friendships with several guys that I truly love and care about.
  • Laura and I have started a faith community with a few others, and we’re thoroughly enjoying it.
  • Laura and I helped start a children’s home in southern India for 30 orphans.
  • I’ve quit striving toward success or building something; instead, I’ve just been “enjoying” every day and letting God unfold what’s next.
  • I’ve embraced my strengths and weaknesses, and I worry less and less about what others think of me.
  • I’ve grieved the loss of the church that I birthed, loved, and gave everything for.
  • I’ve mourned the disconnection, brokenness, and loss of so many relationships.
  • I’m trusting God to provide all that we’ll need in this new season of life.

I deeply appreciate those who have supported me on this journey, and I have compassion for those who haven’t been able to (and many who still can’t). I’m thankful that God is gracious and merciful, because I continue to need it each and every day. If I could take away the pain that I’ve cause people, I’d do it in a heartbeat…but I can’t. All I can do is make amends daily by following Jesus, loving my family, and serving others with the gifts I’ve been given.

Trust me when I tell you…it may seem harder to STAY and work through the issues than to simply LEAVE and just start over. It isn’t worth it. If you’re thinking about leaving your life and you need someone to talk to, we’re here for you. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

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I Get To vs. I Got To

This morning, I was dreading the next big project on my plate. I’ve spent the last few days clearing away everything except a looming proposal that I’ve been dragging my feet on. It’s an incredible opportunity to work with a great company, but the intricacy of the details combined with a complicated pricing structure has prevented me from wanting to complete it.

As I was on my way to drop the kids off at school, I tweeted, “Gotta work through a HUGE project proposal today…stay focused!”

Immediately after the update successfully posted from my phone, I felt a tremendous weight on my shoulders. “I gotta work on this.” Not exactly proper grammar, but you get the point. This procrastinated “requirement” was weighing me down so much that I didn’t even want to get started. With the heaviness pulling down my mood, I started to rethink what I was telling myself.

Here’s the story I was believing…

  • This proposal is going to take forever.
  • It’s going to be painful.
  • I’m not going to know how to price this out.
  • This is going to be more work than it’s worth.

Craziness – sheer and utter craziness.I recognized the Voice of Nonsense quite well. I hear it often. So, I re-framed the entire situation in a matter of moment.

I don’t “got to” do this proposal…I “get to” work on this project!

It is a complete privilege to be asked by this company to put together an extensive proposal with the assumption that they are going to use 8TRACKstudios to complete the work. In fact, it is project that will ultimately impact thousands of lives.

I started telling myself a new story…

  • I can put this proposal together TODAY.
  • It’s more painful procrastinating than it is to actually do it.
  • I’ll be able to figure out a fair price based on the work that will be needed.
  • I am helping to change the world by working on this project.

Guess what? I came right home, and I got to work. I pulled out my notes on the project, and I started to make phone calls. I sourced the creative elements, and I got contractors lined up. I didn’t finish the proposal today, but it’s 75% done, and it wasn’t painful at all. In fact, I’m more energized about the project than ever.

What if you started telling yourself a “get to” story?

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I’m a BIG Loser…

As I sit here watching The Biggest Loser, I’m realizing that it can actually be a good thing to be a “loser.” Ironically, I’ve always wanted to be a winner. Whether it was finishing a test first in class or becoming a Little League all-star, I always tried to be at the front of the pack. Frankly, I’ve never really been at the very front…I usually landed somewhere one or two people back from the front. This always kept me striving to be better and better…whatever I was part of.

These days, I’ve been losing more things than anything else.

  • I’ve lost all the stress from leading a traditional church.
  • I’ve lost the need to please so many people.
  • I’ve lost a need for the adrenaline of success.
  • I’ve lost friendships that turned out to be relationships of convenience.
  • I’ve lost a workaholism that was killing my family.
  • I’ve lost a sedentary lifestyle.
  • I’ve lost a spirituality that centered around church activities.
  • I’ve lost a roommate and gained an intimate partnership with my wife.

I’m a BIG LOSER! Of course, I’ve replaced many of these losses with things that are more healthy and genuine.

How about you? What do you need to lose? What would it take to lose it?

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I Need Forgiveness…How About You?

As we journey through this life, it is easy to experience the bumps and bruises that come along with all relationships. Some of us have been wounded by our parents. We were made fun of by classmates and friends as we grew up. Maybe you were betrayed by a girlfriend or boyfriend. Perhaps a friend turned their back on you. The reality is that all of us have felt the pain of disconnected or broken relationships at some point or another.

Although it may be tempting to compare the painful experiences one person has encountered versus another, each person’s heartache is unique and not exactly like another. Each one of us carries the scars of hurtful words and difficult interactions. Some of these experiences were the result of intentional infliction, but more often than not, they come from misunderstandings, unmet expectations, and an inability to communicate freely.

The Need for Forgiveness
Over the past two years, I’ve had the opportunity to ask for forgiveness and extend it on numerous occasions. I disappointed many people through my actions, and I hurt my family tremendously. In the process, many people seemingly couldn’t handle my choices or my return to my family. There has been an unbelievable need for forgiveness any way you look at it.

My guess is that you need forgiveness as much as I do. Maybe you didn’t implode your life like I did, but you probably have done lots of other stuff…whether people know about it or not. And, you’ve probably had plenty of painful experiences with other people…just like I have. The bottom line is that WE ALL NEED FORGIVENESS.

What Is Forgiveness?
Forgiveness is typically defined as the process of releasing resentment, indignation, or anger as a result of a perceived offense, difference, or mistake…ultimately ceasing to demand punishment or restitution.

If you are not a person of faith, the best reason to forgive others is the fact that resentment and bitterness slowly kills you. They take a heavy toll on your psychological, relational, and physical well-being.

If you are a follower of Jesus, the apostle Paul calls us to forgive for one particular reason…

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” [Colossians 3:12-14 - NIV]

Because Jesus forgave you, you are called to forgive others. Because of my need for grace and forgiveness, how can I justifiably hold back forgiveness? In fact, I probably do the same thing they’ve done to me. If they’ve gossiped about me, the truth is that I gossip about others, too. If they’ve betrayed my trust, the truth is that I have betrayed the trust of others in the past as well.

Are you getting the point?
The question really is, “How do I go about forgiving someone who has annoyed or hurt me?”

  • Admit that you are hurt, disappointed, or angry.
    The first step toward forgiving someone is to admit that there is a problem. You must come to grips with the fact that your expectations of them have gone unmet in some way. What were your expectations? How would you have liked to have been treated? Think about it – don’t tell them – just think about it for yourself.
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  • Recall a time when you needed forgiveness.
    When have you done something similar in your past. It won’t be exactly the same or to the same person, but it will be similar. Would you like to be forgiven by God and by others for that behavior? My guess is that you would like to experience grace. Here’s the truth – God has forgiven you. All you have to do is receive it. And, this may be a good opportunity to forgive yourself.
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  • Express your forgiveness toward the person you’re disconnected from.
    “I forgive __________ for…” It may not be appropriate to articulate your forgiveness to the other person if they don’t know that they’ve even hurt you. But, if there has been obvious trauma to the relationship, there’s nothing more powerful than apologizing for your part and extending forgiveness as well. The soul feels refreshed and renewed.
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  • Trust that the feelings of forgiveness will follow.
    If you wait to forgive someone until you “feel” like it, you could be waiting for quite some time. You may want to exercise your forgiveness muscle by choosing not to hold the other person responsible any longer and trust that the feelings will follow in the future.
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  • Process how the disconnection and brokenness occurred in the first place.
    Oftentimes, a relational disconnection can be a simple misunderstanding or lack of communication. Talk about it! Seek to understand! Ask the other person, “What did I do that hurt you?” Be honest and courageous enough to share how you felt through the interactions, but discipline yourself to refrain from accusing or attacking the other person. “I statements” where you share from your perspective are best.

Sometimes, forgiveness requires us to “choose” to forgive multiple times before the feelings of pain start to diminish. Depending on the depth of the wound, the forgiveness process may take weeks, months, and even years.

As I think about those who have hurt me over the past two years, I’m reminded…

  • I have gossiped and slandered others.
  • I have written harsh emails and blog posts.
  • I have not reached out when my friends were hurting and down.
  • I have turned my back on others who have sinned in a public way.
  • I have expressed my pain in ways that were hurtful toward others.

I want to be forgiven for these things. Thank you God for forgiving me, and I want to forgive myself. I guess if I need forgiveness and grace, I want to extend the same thing to those who have hurt me.

Do you need to forgive someone?
If so, what would your first step be today?

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Monday Motivation #2 – “Put In Your Very Best”

Every Monday, I post a short, video podcast with a practical, motivational idea that you can implement in your life that week. Subscribe by placing this URL (http://feeds.feedburner.com/davidtrotter) in your RSS reader such as Google Reader or Bloglines.

If you’re interested in checking out the book I talk about, click here: Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?

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How to Deal with Disappointment

Every night around the dinner table, our family takes time to share a “high” (something good) and a “low” (something not so good). Usually the “low” centers around some sort of disappointment within the day. It seems like my kids experience disappointment 200 times within a 24 hour period – from having a friend choose not to play with them at recess to not getting the flavor of ice cream they want after dinner. Oftentimes, the disappointment seems out of proportion to the situation at hand, but that’s usually because I’m not the one dying to have mint chip ice cream.

Have you had any disappointments recently?

Have you worked hard for a promotion only to be passed over by someone who seems to lack your level of experience? Have you given your heart to someone only to have them disregard your feelings? Have you believed in someone only to watch them perform or act in a way that doesn’t meet up to your hopes for them?

It’s a sinking feeling, isn’t it? The moment you realize that a situation or relationship or even your life isn’t turning out the way you had hoped…it’s disheartening.

By definition, disappointment is the feeling of sadness or displeasure that comes with unmet expectations.

The only way to avoid disappointment is to not have expectations or hopes or dreams. If we somehow could seal off our emotions from the ups and downs of everyday life, then I guess disappointment wouldn’t exist. First of all, that’s not even possible, and secondly, I’m not sure anyone would actually choose that. The question is…how can we deal with disappointment in a healthy way?

  • First of all, recognize and embrace that you are disappointed.
    There are times when we just jump to feelings of anger, because things haven’t turned out the way we expected. Below that anger is a feeling of sadness, hurt, and anger. The first step is to actually say, “I am disappointed.” Being willing to say it starts to free up our hearts and moves us away from resentment and bitterness.
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  • Be honest about your expectations.
    There is a reason why you are disappointed, and it’s because your expectations weren’t met. Perhaps it would be helpful to say, “I was expecting _______________, but it didn’t happen. I would have rather experienced _________________.” Oftentimes, we aren’t even conscience of our own expectations upon life or those who are in our lives. By bringing our expectations to the forefront of our minds, we’re admitting that things went differently than we were expecting.
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  • Find compassion in the midst of disappointment.
    If there is a person or group who has disappointed you, there is an opportunity for you to develop compassion for them. Perhaps, they have behaved in ways that even they would like to change. Maybe, they are going through something in life that is difficult or troublesome for them. Or possibly, they’ve experienced some challenges in their life that are preventing them from responding in ways that are loving or life-giving. At the same time, it’s always helpful to look within and discover ways in which we have disappointed others in the past. In the same way that you want to be forgiven when you disappoint others, you now have the opportunity to extend grace to someone in your own life.
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  • Re-evaluate your expectations.
    Since you experienced disappointment, were your expectations unreasonable? Do you need to re-orient them about life or a particular person? Or maybe your expectations are completely reasonable but this person isn’t able to meet them? That’s an opportunity to re-evaluate your level of relationship with them. If you want to keep those expectations in your relationships (or life as a whole), maybe it’s just unrealistic to have that expectation on that particular person. Maybe they can’t handle what you’re putting on them, and you’ll need to shift how you see the relationship.
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  • Celebrate the good stuff.
    Last week, I talked about celebrating the good stuff, and that’s what we need to do when we’ve experienced disappointment. We grieve the loss, recognize our expectations, extend grace, and celebrate the great things about the relationship and about life in general. It doesn’t mean that you avoid dealing with the pain of the moment, but you’re also focusing your heart on the great things that have been brought into your life.

What do you think? How do you deal with disappointment?

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Looking Back, Looking Forward

I turned 37 years old today, and I feel better than ever! A lot of things have changed in my life over the past couple of years, so it’s good to look back and see where I’ve come from. It’s also good to look forward to the future as well…although it is partly unknown. Both disciplines have been quite helpful for me over the course of my life.

Looking Back
Gazing into the past year or two allows us to gain perspective on life. Oftentimes, we want to make such huge leaps of progress that we get frustrated about the minute day to day steps we’re taking. When we look back over a longer period of time, we’re able to see the great growth we’ve experienced. On the other hand, some of us haven’t been growing much at all…instead we’ve been creeping off-track. It usually isn’t a sudden veering off course. It’s a slow slide into the ditch of life. Looking back allows us to see when we’re fading a bit.

As I look back over the past two years, I can see changes in my…

  • Vocation – I left full-time ministry – although I had planned to continue for the rest of my life. Now, I help businesses develop effective marketing strategies, and I create resources (writing & speaking) to help people live meaningful lives. I don’t plan to ever been in full-time ministry again, but I feel more “called” than ever to make a positive impact in this world in the ways that Jesus did.
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  • Family – I left my wife and kids – although I committed to be with them for the rest of my life. Having not nurtured my marriage or family for years, I made some horrible decisions. Thankfully, by God’s grace, my wife gave me another chance, and we are enjoying our marriage and family more than ever. It’s been a lot of work, and it’s all been worth it.
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  • Friends – I went from having more people than I could possibly keep up with to having three guys and a therapist willing to walk with me. Without them, I wouldn’t have made it. Now, I have a few people who I’m walking with daily through life, and I appreciate them so much. I feel like I’m freed up to be a friend rather than feeling the need to develop relationships for the purpose of building an organization.
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  • Fun & Enjoyment – I barely “enjoyed” life over the past 16 years, because I was so driven to succeed at whatever I put my mind to. I’m done with that. Although I love experiencing success, I’ve re-defined it in many ways. Enjoyment is a huge part of what I want to experience with my family and friends. In fact, I AM experiencing it in small and big ways every day. 
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  • Faith – As a pastor, I felt like a professional Christian. Although I worked hard to maintain an authentic way of life, I wasn’t at peace. I was worried about pleasing so many people…especially the “complainers” that are present within every church. Two years ago, I started de-constructing my faith by asking, “What do I really believe? And, what does it mean to live that out?” I sense that my faith is more authentic than ever, and I love following Jesus alongside some wonderful people in transition.
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  • Feelings – Before I got a brain scan, I didn’t realize how anxious I felt about so much of my life. I was in a constant state of fight or flight, and thankfully Dr. Daniel Amen, Dr. Earl Henslin, and Randy Powell have helped me out with that. By taking anti-anxiety meds, I’m now able to relax, focus on people, and quit running through the massive to-do list in my head. I thought everyone felt the way I did, but I’m finding out that my brain is wired to be over-anxious. It was funneled toward over-working, and it was killing me slowly. I’ve taken responsibility for this, and I feel like a totally different person now. Ask my wife and kids…I’m the “new Daddy.”
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  • Physical Health – A couple of years ago, I lost 35 pounds on the “affair and divorce diet,” but I wouldn’t recommend that path. I did start eating differently and exercising quite a bit, but when I moved back in with my family, my regime was derailed. I gained back most of the weight, but I don’t dare step on the scale to see. I started back at the gym a couple of weeks ago, and I’m more focused on the resulting health of my brain than looking like a skinny toothpick.

Looking Forward
Lifting our eyes to the next 365 days gives us something to shoot for. Rather than keeping our heads down and just putting our feet one step in front of another, there is something that compels us to take major strides forward. We’re looking toward growth, goals, or a greater sense of purpose. Looking forward prevents us from simply hanging out and collecting dust. We know that there are great things that have been planned for us, and we’re seeking to lay hold of them.

As I look forward toward the next year, I can envision…

  • Vocation – I’m enjoying the clients that God seems to be bringing my way, but I’m committed to NOT pushing or striving to build a big business with a bunch of employees. In fact, I’d rather work with the wonderful contractors that I partner with on a daily basis than having an office full of employees I have to manage (definitely not my strong suit at this point in my life). Although I enjoy photography, my sense is that my primary focus will be in the area of marketing. I’m also deeply committed to helping people through my writing and videos which I’m developing regularly. Last year I wrote two books and one e-book, and I am currently outlining two more books that I’ll write before my next birthday. Hopefully at least one of my books will get picked up by a publisher as well. Although I’ve been told that I need a large “platform” to be published, that’s not my goal. My goal is to inspire and motivate people to live a meaningful life with rich relationships. I look forward to seeing how that plays out in the next year.
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  • Family – I absolutely LOVE spending time with my family. I wouldn’t have said that two years ago, but God has radically transformed my heart. Before “all this” as Laura calls it, I was completely focused on work. Now, I can’t wait to hang out with Laura and the kids. We’re in the process of launching two small websites for the kids to sell products to other kids their age – all part of an effort to teach my kids entrepreneurial skills at an early age. In an effort to build some significant family memories and keep bonding in creative ways, I’d like to take at least two vacations and a long trip (2-4 weeks) to India in the next 12 months.
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  • Friends – I’ve intentionally sought to develop closer friendships with a couple of people, and I’m really enjoying it. I’m also more committed than ever to connecting as a community with the people who are part of New Wine – love every one of them!
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  • Fun & Enjoyment – I feel like I still need quite a bit of work in this area of my life. Although I’m enjoying life, I want to set aside more time to just have fun and laugh and play. I need to call my friends and say, “Wanna come out and play?” Although movies are enjoyable, I think I need to explore other avenues of re-creation that are more outdoors and more playful. I need to reflect on this one a bit more.
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  • Faith – I’ve never been a big “prayer” person. Some people just seem to want to pray all the time, but I’d rather “accomplish” something. Well, I’m not sure what happened, but I began to sense that prayer and meditation needed to be more part of our weekly Sunday gathering of New Wine. We’ve been spending more time praying for our community and one another, and I’ve been more aware than ever of the power, counsel, and comfort of the Holy Spirit within me. I feel like my faith is more authentic than ever, and I’m excited to keep growing. As I think about faith projects this year, I would like to see more people sponsor children at the New Wine Children’s Home, and I’d like our community to take on several neighborhood projects as they arise.
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  • Feelings – I’ve been learning about peace and stillness from a friend of mine this year, and she is always bugging me about just resting in God’s presence and letting Him love and heal me. She’s right…I need it. My stress level is so low these days, but I still get worked up from time to time. I’m not stressing about relationships hardly at all, and that’s a big change for me. I used to be so sick and worried about what others thought of me, and I just realize I can’t control that anymore…especially since all the craziness that I chose to unleash a couple of years ago.
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  • Physical Health – I’m back in the gym, and I’d like to slim down a little bit. More than anything, I don’t want to end up with a “middle-age man body,” and I want my brain to feel good – which is what exercise seems to accomplish.

Winter is Gone – Spring is Here!
The truth is…I have a good life. I sense God’s love. I love my family. I’m enjoying my clients, and I absolutely love working with the 8TRACKstudios team – Erin, Danae, Dave, Eric, Lee, and Bangbay rock! I feel called to make a positive impact through my motivational and inspirational writing and videos, and I trust that God will open the doors to impact lives as He sees fit. I’m going to enjoy the next year no matter what comes my way, and I’m going to trust that God has a plan no matter what. I’m not in the Winter season of life anymore…Spring is here!

How about you? Have you looked back and forward recently?

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