Top 10 List for turning 35...

So I turned 35 a couple of days ago. I've been very excited about this one! I've never been one that cared about age or dreaded getting older - and this year was no exception. I love being in my 30's and I really like how you learn more about who you really are - and what qualities make up your authentic self. One thing I have definitely learned over the past few years is the power of a grateful spirit. So I decided to look back at the last year and find the top 10 things I am grateful for that happened from age 34 - 35 :) Here they are in no particular order -

1. My family - I can't even begin to write out how thankful I am for my family! God blessed me beyond words with a family that loves, supports, and encourages each other. We are also not afraid to tell each other like it is, to have the weirdest conversations, and to always laugh when we are together. They have really been there for me over the past year. Most people know how much I love being an uncle to Martha Ann and I can't wait for little David Wylie to get here in about a month!
2. My friends - Over the past year, I have really learned a lot about true friendships and what really defines a genuine friend. I love my friends and how they accept me for who I am - flaws and all. Most of them are like family to me and I have definitely have my share of crazy friends!
3. My salvation - I truly believe that I have grown in my faith and views over the past year to really become more of my authentic self. God has done a lot in my life over the past year and has really provided and for that, I am grateful.
4. My new house - In December of last year, I purchased my first home. I love my new house and the neighborhood that it's in so much! I get happy every time I drive into "the village." Some people call the neighborhood a little piece of "utopia" and I would agree with that :)
5. My education - Last December I graduated with my MBA. It was great to complete this goal in my life - especially for someone who took forever just to finish college haha!
6. Losing my job - I actually see this as something to be thankful for. It changed the direction of my year, gave me more time to spend with friends and family, and opened up new opportunities for me.
7. The Journey - Writing this book about my dad is really one of the proudest accomplishments of my life. I am thankful for how his life continues to inspire others to live their best lives. I am also looking forward to how it will be used in the future. I have always had a goal to write a book and to write about my dad makes it even more meaningful.
8. Moments of struggle - I definitely had some hard moments over the past year, and some of that was financially. Even when I wasn't sure how I would get everything paid, it was always provided for and I'm glad how struggles make you more appreciative for what you have.
9. My new job - I love the story of getting this new job and I love all of the positive changes it has brought to my life. Getting to travel, meeting new people, making good money, and better opportunities that it has opened up.
10. Life - I begin every day with the same prayer - Thank you God for today, and for the gift of today. This past year has had many ups and a few downs, but it has really been a great year and I am a firm believer that LIFE IS SO GOOD!!!

It's really been a great year - one that I definitely could not have predicted! I have a deep appreciation for life and I am looking forward to what all is in store for year 35!! I do believe that the best is yet to come!

A promise fulfilled...

To better understand this blog, you might want to read the one prior to this entitled "Remembering a Promise."

I have been looking for a job for the past eight months and this past month has been somewhat stressful because nothing seemed to be working out, money was getting very low, and I had let myself question why instead of continuing to believe.

There was one job in particular that I really wanted, the interview went great, I was for sure that I had the job - and then the phone call didn't come. The job would be a sales consultant with a photogrpahy company and everything about the job sounded great! I was very disappointed, but after a day or so, I just returned to believing that the answer would come. I was reminded at church to wait expectantly - and that's what I did. I knew that God had an answer for me and I just needed to continue to wait - and continue to believe.

I also need to mention a dream that my sister, Christy, had. The night before I was supposed to find out about the sales consultant job, Christy dreamed that I did not get the job and that we were all so frustrated about it. She woke up almost in a panic because she knew how much I wanted this job. She then went back to sleep and the dream continued and this time, I got a job and we were all so excited!! Of course she didn't tell me about this dream until a few days later because in the moment, I probably would have slapped her or something haha!! After she told me about it, I said - the first part of your dream definitely came true, so let's hope the second part does as well!

Well, on Monday of this week - I got a phone call. It was the photography company and they had new openings and wanted to offer me the exact job that I had wanted all along!! When I hung up the phone, I ran around the house jumping up and down and immediately called my family to tell them the great news! It was also very cool to tell Christy that her dream had come true! My family is the best and they were just as excited as I was that I got the job! (They are also the ones that had to deal with my "not so good moments too" so that might have been part of their excitement haha!)

For those who know me really well - this job is not anything I thought I would ever be doing. But I really like everything about it. It is 100% travel which I love and I will be working with different groups of people every day which I really like, too. The pay is great and it's really going to help me out in so many different ways.

I have to say that when I went back and read my earlier post, I cried - because I was reminded of a few things. 1. That God always knows the plan for our lives and it is one to prosper and not harm us; and to give us a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11) 2. When you have a need, BELIEVE in the answer and it will come. We don't have to understand HOW or WHEN, but just keep holding on to the end result - it will happen! (Wait expectantly) 3. Sometimes the questions in our life end up making us much stronger and increase our faith. It really is all a part of the journey.

I lost my job in January, but even the day that it happened, I truly believed that it was actually a good thing and that better things were coming. Now, eight months later, it is very exciting to see it come true and it just encourages and motivates me to keep dreaming bigger!

Remembering a promise...

In January of this year, I lost my job. Not exactly the best way to start off the year, but even in the midst of something bad, I had an overwhelming confidence that my life would be better off because of it. The timing of it was good because I knew that financially I would be ok to make it until something new came my way. Of course, this new "free life" is fun when you don't have to report to work everyday and you can spend more time with family, friends, and doing what you want to do.
I have been able to work part-time and am very thankful for the various ways that I have been able to earn money to pay bills and stuff. However, the last couple of months have been a little more strict and I have really been searching for a new job and trying to figure out what my new chapter would be.
There was one job in particular that I interviewed for and really wanted, but after waiting for that phone call, it never came. It was disapointing to say the least and for a second, I let myself go into "panic mode" and pictured myself living out on the street! Of course, I was being a little over-dramatic (which I tend to do from time to time) and knew that would never happen - but those who know me, know that sometimes the best thing to do is just let me be, and I will get throught it everytime. In other words, just stay away from me haha!
I say all that to say this: I consider myself to be one that believes in the power of prayer, the laws of attraction, and the strong belief that life is full of possibilities and is ours for the taking. However, I let myself stray for just a little while and the opposite of all those things proved to be true as well. This morning at church was when I really got my mind and soul back on track. One person got up to speak and said that we needed to remember that answers don't always come when we want them to, but when we are put in the position to wait, we must wait expectantly. Maybe patience is not one of my greatest virtues, and today I was reminded to believe - believe in the truth that God's plan for my life is greater. I was also reminded to be grateful - be grateful for the numerous good things in my life right now. And finally, to wait - instead of chasing after too many posibilities, stay focused on what I know my life is meant for and wait for that to come.
Most of this was summed up in a song that we sang at church: I believe You're my Healer, I believe You are all I need. I believe You're my Portion, I believe You're more than enough for me. Nothing is impossible for You. You hold my world in Your hands.
My lesson learned is an encouragement to anyone who reads this. When life is not exactly where you want it, and when the answers arene't coming as fast as you would like them to - wait. And when you wait, expect that the answer will come and stay focused on that end result. It's all a part of the journey.

Being inspired...

"When you surrender, and stop resisting, and stop trying to change that which you cannot change... But be in the moment, be fully open to the blessings that you have already received, and those that are yet to come to you... And stand in that space of gratitude and honor, and claim that for yourself... And look at where you are, and how far you have come... And what you've gotten, and what you've accomplished, and who you are... When you can claim that, and see that... The literal vibration of your life will change. The vibration of your life will change." Oprah (7/13/10)

So everyone knows I'm a big Oprah fan and watch her show everyday. Well, it's summer and so her shows have been reruns except for yesterday's show. It was a new episode and actually a follow-up to a show she did earlier in the year. Most of it was geared toward women and weight issues and so I wasn't fully paying attention since I am a male and don't struggle too much with weight. However, in the last 5 minutes of the show, the above quote is what Oprah said. I sat there and listened and when she ended, the whole audience wanted to stand up because it was such a powerful statement. I actually did stand up in my living room (haha) because it was EXACTLY what I needed to hear and be reminded of in my own life. I immediately wrote it down and have read it over and over!

I have blogged about this before but a grateful spirit is one of the most powerful things that we can have. In my earlier post I talked about focusing too much on what I don't have instead of what I do have. Yesterday and today I have really focused on all the good things that God has blessed me with in my 34 years of living - and WOW I am so blessed and have a great life!! Family, friends, salvation, health, home, experiences, dreams and goals - the list goes on and on. I challenge everyone to start making a list of all the things in your life that you are grateful for - It will definitely change your outlook on life and the bad things won't seem near as bad.

I am a firm believer in the laws of attraction and it makes so much sense that if we continually focus on the negative aspects of our life - it's only going to attract more negativity. However, when we focus on the GOOD things and we are GRATEFUL - then that is only going to bring about MORE good things. It's all about our relationship to the Source - Our source being God and how our relationship with Him is what makes our life truly meaningful.

I'm not hear to promote Oprah (everyone has their opinion) but rather to promote gratefulness. I want my life to be used to make a positive difference in other people's lives and that is what my focus is as I pursue future goals in my life. What Oprah said yesterday was definitely used in my life as a motivation, challenge, and encouragement. I hope that these words do the same for anyone who reads this.

BE GRATEFUL!!!

Practicing what I preach

As many of you know, I am all about pursuing your dreams and living life to the fullest. I do believe in the power of positive thinking, believing when you pray, and the laws of attraction. However, sometimes life does not happen as easy as we would like for it to, and it's during those minor moments of frustration that I am challenged to really live out what I believe. Things in my life are good and I do not have any major reason to complain - however, my life is not exactly where I would like for it to be right now and that causes frustration on my part. What I have been reminded of is that pursuing our goals and dreams requires work and at times persistance and that even during the slower times I must keep my energy focused on the end result. If I let myself get down or focus all of my attention on what is not happening - then I'm simply going to get more of that. I have also been reminded that focusing each day on all the things I do have to be grateful for, helps keep my priorities aligned and my mind focused on the right things. It's a test that we go through some times in life. And I have spent much of the last few months encouraging others to live out their lives more fully and to pursue their dreams, so it only makes sense that I would be challenged in my own life. So during this minor moment of frustration, I will hold to the promise that life is so good, that I am abundantly blessed in my life, and that God's plans for us are "to prosper us and give us a hope and a future."

The Journey

So I'm really excited to say that the book I wrote about my dad called The Journey is now available! It has been a long time in the making and it means a lot to see it in its completed form. Although I know that Dad was not the kind of man who wanted attention, I truly believe that his story is worth telling. The book was originally written for my family as a gift last Christmas. Then I had some friends read it and their comments motivated me to pursue getting the book out to the public. I worked with an editor and really saw all the time and work that it takes to get a book to completion.
I have already heard from people how my dad's story encourages them to live life to the fullest. That is such a testiment to his life. As stated in the book, his life could be looked at as ordinary, but to those who knew him, saw that he lived an extraordinary life. I am honored to do my part in encouraging others to do the same.
Writing a book has always been a goal of mine and to write about dad makes it such a meaningful way to accomplish this goal. I also hope that the book will challenge everyone who reads it to make the most of their journey and to be reminded that life is so good and that we should each strive to make the most of every day we are given.

I am selling the book independently right now and if you would like a copy, just send an email to: thejourneybook@gmail.com

It's been awhile...

I realized that it's been awhile since I've blogged. A lot has gone on and now is a good time to write. A couple of weeks ago, Nashville experienced major floods. It's been called a "once in a hundred years" flood. Although the area I live in was ok, there were thousands of people that were left with nothing. I have to admit that because I did not personally know someone directly affected it was a couple of days before I realized how much of an impact this had on the city. I have been able to volunteer some with the relief efforts and it is heart-breaking to hear some of their stories. This will definitely take long term efforts to rebuild but it has been amazing to see how the people of Nashville have joined together to help each other out. It is a strong reminder that life can change in a moment. However, through the bad it is still encouraging to know that so many people will come out of this stronger and grateful for what we do have.

Yesterday was 6 years ago that my dad passed away. Although time has allowed us to heal some and continue with our lives, May 12th is always a very hard day for me. This day always comes with mixed emotions. I am able to be thankful for what my dad means to me and how his life will always have a profound influence on my own, but that day also brings about a lot of sadness because of how much I miss him and wish that this was not our reality. I think about all the things that go on in our lives and how I would love for him to be a part of each moment. Dwelling on the whys are not healthy, but I believe even when our days are sad, it is part of the process and the tears are a reflection of the love we have for that person. I was reminded yesterday that May 12th means a lot of things to a lot of people, and for me it is a day that changed my life and even through the tears, I can find strength in the prayers and encouragement of others.

I am excited about about my next blog because it will talk about a project I have been working on that correlates with my dad's life and a dream I have had for awhile! Life is good.

A phenomenal life...

I went hiking today. I haven't done that in a long time and I didn't even realize there was this great place to hike only twenty minutes from my house! I love it because getting out in nature for me is a way to renew myself and a place to clear my head from all the distracting thoughts of life. This was true today as well. I am reading The Secret for the second time and one of the quotes in the book says, Life can be absolutely phenomenal, and it should be, and it will be. I have always strived for a full life and to pursue all that life has to offer. This year, I feel that with much more passion than before. I do believe in the laws of attraction and that what we put out into the world will come back to us. It makes sense that if we dwell on the negative or if we believe that we can't succeed, then that is what will happen. So why can't we dream big and believe that the impossible... is possible? A phenomenal life can be defined differently for everyone. I have accomplished a lot in 34 years and have what I believe is a very full, rich life. However, I am not satisfied, and there are much bigger things on my life's "to do list" that I want to work hard at seeing become a reality. I will save that for a different blog, but today I was reminded that to see it happen, I need to fully believe that it will happen. Having been unemployed now for two months, it is easy to become somewhat complacent, but today I was reminded that this is all part of the plan (that I probably "attracted" my unemployement). I know that when one door closes, another one opens and I have the chance now to really focus in on what life is about and what my reason is for being here. It's exciting and life is so good and I continue to give thanks for all the good things in my life. I want the phenomenal life not only for myself but for everyone else as well! All we have to do is believe. I am really glad I took that hike today.

My night did not go exactly as planned...

Everyone knows that in our journey, there are bumps in the road. Sometimes these things occur because of something we cannot control and sometimes these things occur because of our own stupidity. It seems like in my life, these things most often occur for that second reason. The most recent example being last night. I was ready to sit down and watch my Thursday night shows and decided that I would order take-out from Chili's. I get very excited about good food and good TV so this was going to be a great night! Well, my night did not go exactly as planned. I called and ordered my food and the guy said it would be ready in 15 minutes. Keep in mind, I was looking forward to my loaded nachos and side salad (they have a really good side salad at Chili's)! I got in my car and realized I was almost out of gas so I stopped at the Kroger gas station, happy as I could be because of the fun night I was having.

I need to give one piece of background information before I proceed. A little while back, my driver's side door broke. It won't open from the outside for whatever reason. So I have to open one of the other doors and open my door from the inside. No worries really because I can do it really fast now and will get it fixed one of these days.

Anyway, I pulled into the gas station, got out and just as I'm scanning my Kroger card, the wind slams my door shut! I immediately knew what had happened. I couldn't open my door and I saw my keys were still in the ignition. I tried every other door and they were all locked! I then saw my phone sitting in the car! I immediately went into that "panic, what am I going to do, Kevin you are so stupid, why God" mode! Well, it was a busy night at the Kroger gas station and cars were everywhere. Just as I was about to say something out loud, I heard a lady yelling at someone. She was furious because according to her, some guy had pulled into her spot after she had been waiting for way too long! Everyone seemed a little tense and frustrated so I decided not to say anything about what I had done just yet. I proceeded to fill my tank up and again, checked every door just to make sure, but it was hopeless. And then it hit me... I wouldn't be getting those loaded nachos or side salad anytime soon!

I went into Kroger to try and call a locksmith. At first no one could find a phone book, so I decided to use a payphone to call my wonderful and always helpful sister, Christy, and see if she would go online and find a locksmith and help her poor brother out. It rang and rang and no answer. I knew she wouldn't know the number calling and that meant she wouldn't answer the phone. (So, yes Christy.. that was me calling you!) The nice lady at the customer service desk found a phone book and I picked an ad in the yellow pages that sounded good and the locksmith said he would be there in about 30 minutes. Kroger was too far away from the gas station so I knew I needed to wait outside and keep watch for the locksmith.

Since I thought I was just running to Chili's and back I had simply thrown on some black running pants and a black hooded sweatshirt and thought nothing of it. However, as I was walking through Kroger I noticed myself in the mirror and saw that I looked more like a potential serial killer than just a nice guy. This was confirmed when I followed a mother and her child out of the store and the mother kept looking back at me like she was about to spray me down with pepper spray or something!

I waited outside and it was freezing cold! I put my hood up over my head, (which now screamed... this guy will mug you!) but I didn't care. I kept walking back and forth between Kroger and the gas station and finally saw a car pull up next to mine. I ran towards the gas station and the locksmith could tell I was so glad to see him! Of course, he had it unlocked in about 5 minutes and I told him he was my hero. It had been almost an hour since I left my house and I was so cold that all I wanted to do at this point was get home and get warm so I ended up not getting my food from Chili's; instead, I went with Burger King.

Life doesn't always go as planned, but today I laughed about what happened, how I looked, and how incredibly cold I was. It's all part of the journey! I think I might try again tonight for Chili's :)

Gratitude

One of the greatest things we can do in life is to live with gratitude. In the book, The Secret, it talks about the power of being grateful in life and how those two words... thank you... can ultimately change our lives for the better. It seems that there are always reasons to find complaints in life and if we aren't careful, we will give so much attention to the negative aspects that it will begin to consume our life. I do believe that what you put out into the world will come back to you. There is so much in life to be thankful for. There are family and friends, jobs and careers, our health, moments in life, and even that chocolate cake I got at Publix the other day that is delicious! When we focus on what is good and give thanks for that, it changes your perspective and it allows you to find even more in life to be grateful for. At the beginning of this year I started a Gratitude Journal. The goal is every night to write down 5 things I am thankful for about that day. Some days are easier than others, but as I continue doing it (and no, I don't get to it every night, but almost every night) it reminds me of how great life really is. Yes, there are hard times and there are bad things that happen in life that have to be dealt with but with this journal, I'm not giving too much energy to the bad, instead I am focused on the good. We are 6 weeks into the new year and there have already been challenges in my life, but when I look at what I am grateful for... it far outweighs the bad. I know that journaling is not for everyone, but I do encourage you to begin to say thank you throughout your day... whether it be to a family member, a friend, a situtation, or to God... I do guarantee that it will help us all in living extraordinary lives!

Living life in the now....

So, on facebook the other day I put this as my post. Life is about living in the now... not sitting around waiting for things to happen. I truly, truly believe this. At the beginning of this year, I set out to make 2010 the year for some great things! Last year was a great year.. I got my Master's Degree, bought my first house, and completed a book about my Dad's life. I'm so proud of those accomplishments, and with each one of them came a lot of hard work and stressful times. Believe me, there were some times I was ready to pull my hair out!! I knew that this year, I wanted to focus more on enjoying life, doing things I haven't done before, and pursuing even greater passions and desires. We are now one month into the new year and I am experiencing life in greater ways. Two weeks ago, I lost my job. Not exactly up there on our "favorite moments in life" but oddly enough, I have seen this as a blessing. I know that things happen for a reason, and I really believe that it was time for me to leave that environment and move on to something else. People have questioned why I'm not freaking out or mad about the situation, but something inside me has really given me a peace about that experience ever since it happened. I would say that being unemployed counts as my "doing something I've never done before" for this month! :)

With this time off, I have been able to spend more time with family and friends. I'm sure I will blog about this another time, but I cannot begin to convey how blessed I feel with my family and the friends in my life. They are treasures in my life and over the last couple of weeks, I have been able to really make the most of my time with them and to be grateful for those moments. This counts as my "enjoying life" for this month.

I do not know exactly what this year holds, but to me, that is very exciting! One thing I am sure of... this year will be the year for big things and to experience the good life even more so than I have already. No matter what we are going through.. just remember, life is really good. We can choose what we will focus on, and there's so much good in life!! Even in the hard times of life, and I have experienced those as well, there is a way to come out stronger and with more understanding about life. I know that the reality of every day life comes with ups and downs and I know that these blogs will mirror that so be ready for whatever is going on in my head haha! But just as an encouragement... don't sit around waiting for life to come to you.. enjoy living in the present and make life happen!!

It's snowing here today and I love it! I hope everyone has a great day and I'll see you soon for another blog!!

My first blog...

So I am very new to this, but excited about starting a blog! I tend to enjoy expressing myself through writing and I thought I would give this a try. I am a little nervous about it because I know that blogging will make me vulnerable, but I hope to be very honest and open with my thoughts and in turn, find it a healthy way to express what goes on in this head of mine. So whether anyone reads this or not, I'm going to use it as a way of "putting it out there." It's a trial run and will see how long it lasts. Here's to blogging :)