Latest Posts

Ingredients for Good Relationships

Relationships. How do you define them? What does a good relationship look like? Why do we tolerate bad relationships? I don’t have the answers to any of these questions. However, I do have several years of real life experience. And this experience forms the basis of the OPINIONS that I share on this blog.

Years ago when I was taking classes at the local college, I went to the cafeteria to grab lunch. As I passed through, a group of six women were sitting at a nearby table. I heard faint whispers and comments followed by intentional laughter when I went by. This happened again as I passed the ladies upon leaving the cafeteria. I paused, thought for a second, and decided to approach the table. As I did I saw the awkward stares and uncomfortable smiles greeting me. I said he hello, introduced myself, then asked why they were “making fun” of me. They got a good laugh out of that. When they settled down, one of the women shared that they were talking about men and our inability to sustain relationships. Upon hearing this I invited myself to a seat and joined the conversation. Here is what I was taught and feel fortunate to have learned.

According to the six “professors” relationships have five components. That’s it. Five. They are very simple and we men must learn them if we want to have successful, progressive, meaningful and LASTING relationships. Here they are: spiritual, sexual, financial, physical and emotional. I will discuss each component in my next post. Stay tuned………

“The Value of Friendship”

True friendship. How do you measure it? How do you recognize it? I may not have the definitive answer, but my friends have taught me the very value of the word. How? By allowing me to be my best and demanding that I be my best. My friends have never ever asked me to compromise my values. All of my best qualities are better because of my friendships. I hope that I have been as good a friend to them as they have been to me.

Real Life

“Are You Ready……. to Win?”

Winning.  The all-important destination for many aspects of life.  We all want to win in our professional lives, whether ascending to a position of power or reaching a level of financial achievement.  We want to win in sports competitions.  We want to “win” at building relationships.  We all WANT to win, but are we READY to win?  Do we really have what it takes?

For me personally, I have to admit that at certain situations in my life I haven’t always applied a winning formula.  This was made clear to me when a few years ago I had the fortunate experience of hearing a coach share his particular perspective on the subject:

“To WIN you have to be COMPETITIVE”

“To COMPETE you have to be CONFIDENT”

“CONFIDENCE takes PREPARATION”

“PREPARATION requires WORK”

“To WORK you have to be WILLING”

“If you are WILLING then you must be READY”

“Now, who is READY to WIN?”, he asked.  I use this philosophy as often as I can where it is applicable. It has provided invaluable focus and clarity in many of my life challenges.

Thanks coach.

 

“Live EVERY Year of Your Life”

As a young teenager I hung with the “older crowd”. Many of my friends (guys and girls) were several years my senior. As a senior in high school I decided to graduate early and skip the graduation ceremony much to the displeasure of my family. My father, undoubtedly sensing a prime opportunity to give a “life lesson”, shared the following perspective.

“Son, don’t be in a hurry to grow up. What are you rushing for? You need to enjoy your life at every stage. Listen, when you are eighteen the days and nights last forever. You measure time by the years. You know everybody’s name and face and everybody knows you. Most of the people you know are still around. When you turn twenty-five you count time by the day. Days and nights actually come to an end. You’ve forgotten some people and some have forgotten you. Some are no longer around. At age thirty-five you count time by the hour. The days and nights seem to disappear before they start. You’ve forgotten many names and faces and the they’ve forgotten you. You realize that dying is as much a part of life as life itself. By age forty-five neither days nor nights last long enough. There is no longer enough time to count so you live by the minute. People that you knew personally have passed on. Listen to me while you have the time. Don’t rush your life. Don’t wish to be older. As we all run towards the next dollar, the next day, the next “thing”, we realize that we ran away from the things that were the most important to us. Enjoy EVERY year of your life son.”

Thanks Dad