No New Year's resolutions here. At the very end of 2012 I very quietly proclaimed, "I will be restored."

Today is exactly five months and twenty-four days since I uttered this statement.

How To Inspire The Dad In Your Life To Be His Best All Year Long


Today is also almost a year ago to the day (June 22, 2012 to be exact) I was laid off from what I thought was my dream job. And don't get me wrong, layoffs happen all the time. But it was the how it happened, rather than the why it happened. I was legitimately heartbroken as I scrambled and failed for several months to get new work. My ego suffered, my lifestyle suffered (didn't have one to begin with at the time) and my marriage was accelerating toward disaster. I stopped eating, but gained weight, and then started losing weight and my appetite stayed away. I prayed and prayed but began to lose hope, --- something I've had for as long as I can remember. Then in the fall things began to look up. Work came and I began the slow climb out of debt, began to budget and began doing my best to repair home. On New Year's Eve I forgave myself for everything, especially since I was blaming myself for everything, and told God in 2013 I'd make triple what had been taken from me in 2012. I knew I wasn't blaspheming when I financially able to slip in a trip to Disney World not soon after this. And this past Wednesday, 3 days shy of June 22, 2012, I began a new gig where I was recruited --- making double what I made in 2012. In a masterstroke of bringing things full circle, I was able to assist getting a former colleague from that old "dream" job hired into the position I just left. I'm too awestruck and thankful to question it. I'm still committed to making triple by the end of the year and with freelance stuff and blog stuff I may actually hit that mark. But that's neither here nor there right now. What is true is that I've almost unknowingly doubled what was taken from me in 12 months flat. Believe me there have been hiccups and plenty of self-doubt along the way. But don't tell me I did this "out of my own hard work" - no matter how hard I worked others who work just as hard or harder and for longer still haven't seen their circumstances change. I won't take credit for the blessings, but I will accept them thankfully and know that the Most High is driving. But what I did do and continue to do is remain steadfast to these 7 principles of self-restoration:

1. Know your value - know what you add to this life, your friends, your family, your community, your job and refuse to be undervalued by those who WILL try to convince you that you aren't special.
2. Trust and use your power - when opportunity strikes, don't spend a single second doubting your ability to rise to the occasion. Stand up, speak up and use all that you have to step into what is yours. If you don't, rest assured someone else will. Don't be on the sidelines knowing you could've done better what you should've been doing in the first place.
3. Love a little more - patience, forgiveness, reassurance...speak words that bear fruit and don't tear down, refuse to stoop to lower levels when you feel yourself being pulled down, resist temptation when you know you and/or someone around you will be hurt, resist the desire to defend and fight, instead seek concessions, be the peacemaker, see the other point of view - even if it is wrong and speak truth, calmly and assertively.
4. Surround yourself with people who make you better - this may require you to seek out folks who are better than you. [UPDATE: and separate yourself from others]. I hope your ego will allow for this to happen. 
5. Talk less, listen more - this shouldn't need any explanation, but revisit "Love a little more" for a refresher.
6. Play - if you have any children in your life, watch them for pointers. Set your imagination free, find hobbies that allow your mind to soar: cooking, reading, working, traveling, chasing down that passion on the side (Note to men: if you have a family the bills MUST be paid first and the food MUST be on the table before you begin chasing dreams).
7. Write down your goals - how do you expect to succeed if you don't have a plan? You don't have to physically write them down if that's not what you do but there's no way you're going to stay on task if you don't have any. And an unorganized mind makes for a disorganized life. 
8. *The bonus point - if you count yourself as a believer, pray and praise with all your heart mind and soul. Pray when things are bad and pray when things are good. Invite God into your life and do this FIRST. And all else will follow.

This week was not easy. It began on a great note, but Thursday decided to surprise me with a punch that put a hole in my chest in that I can't believe it to the point that I don't notice I'm not breathing, way of surprising you. Something I had been wanting, working for, and hoping for, after months of investment and many prayers, was suddenly gone.

I grieved momentarily, but quickly got over it. Not because I'm special. Not because I have some sort of superior ability to withstand pain. But yes because of my faith, and yes because of the role I play at home. I don't and don't forsee myself ever having the luxury of collapsing in on myself. Too many people under my roof depend on me. Period. If not for money, then for love. If not for love, then for strength. If not for strength, then understanding.

You get what I'm saying.

I was driving on Friday and decided to share what was on my heart with all of you. I mean it and I believe it and I wouldn't have shared it were I not under the belief that it is my duty to share my mess with you guys, my loyal readers, in hopes that I may inspire you to be better men and women and NEVER come down too hard on yourself.

With that said, here is my latest video, Walk It Off.



If I can, you can. Period.

I began my blog 2 years after my daughter was born for no real reason but just to write. The more I blogged the more I became entwined with social media. And then work and career fell by the wayside. But I kept blogging while I looked. I was doubted and chided for it. I was told I was playing games with a "hobby". I began to wonder myself. But I kept on blogging. I got some awards last year for it and now 4 years later a little company which isn't little at all(actually one of the largest period) has asked me to come to work for them (after I interviewed, of course) to get involved with their global social media activities..."because of all the things I've been doing with my blog and social media." I accepted this week and from the sounds of it, they get me! Now I'll be able to put rubber to the road and learn, learn, learn, learn, learn...

To God be the Glory. As I knew and my beautiful cousin reaffirmed here's to sticking to what you believe in (faith) even if you don't know why you're doing it. I followed through on something that was planted in my heart by God and hear I am now watching the tree bear fruit. Thanks to Ken Lattimore and Joe Coryat & Hugh Zuber for being the first ones to believe I was on to something even when I didn't know it myself.

The journey continues...and so will this blog...

As I was putting my daughter to sleep last night I asked her what she was thankful for.

"My family!" she answered, almost as if I had asked a stupid question.

It's the little things...

The holidays, particularly during this era of economic uncertainty and hardship can be a source of great anxiety if not dread. But before you go too far down the rabbit hole of hopelessness ask your child (avoid teens at all costs) what he or she is thankful for. If you don't have one then they can be easily found at the homes of friends and relatives. You'll be
surprised how their simple, innocent answers can put things into perspective for you.

I want to challenge you to take this one step further. Write down everything you have. Not your needs or wants but exactly what you have. More than likely there'll be at least one thing on your list that will give you cause to be thankful.

Pass it on...



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