Life Changing Music

Life can be extremely hard.  At times it feels that the challenges of life are experienced alone.  It seems as if no one cares and no one could understand the position you have been in. 

There have been a few highlighted times like this in my life, when all seems lost, when I've been at the end of my rope.  What hope has there been for me, where is the direction I've been needing?  Many times my support has been in the form of a song. 

Interview with a World Champion: Part I

Over the past few months I've had the opportunity to get to know someone who has had his share of struggles.  A man who has fought tooth and nail for the things he has wanted.  A man who has showcased to the world his passion, drive and desires.  The man I am talking about is the current and defending WBC and WBO light welterweight boxing champion of the world, and ranked as the #7 pound for pound fighter in the world, Timothy Bradley Jr.

What I wanted to know was how does that translate into his personal life.  Does the championship mindset come into play outside of the ring.  Below is part 1 of our interview:

Identity Recovery: Lost friendships

Graduating from high school is a harsh reality.  For those 13 years (including kindergarten), your brain is trained to believe that you will always have over 30 close friends.  Summer breaks tend to cool that assumption but once fall shows its face, you go back to your friend culture.

When I was in high school I had a few really close friends and a ton of good friends.  Once I graduated, I felt shell shocked.  If you attended a local college, you were fortunate enough to continue that friendship further.  However, if you moved away from home for college you came to the hard reality that you had to start over.  Sure...you would have your best friend still to talk to on the phone or by email.  But one thing you noted is that having to start over making friends is tough work.

A Nation of Quitters

"We are defined by what we do, not by what we don't do." 

This has been a motto I have tried to live by for the past year.  Too many times people focus on what they have not accomplished so far in life (marriage, kids, career, house), instead of what good they have done with this gift called life. 

Recently, my life has not reflected this motto in one aspect of my life.  This has been a big challenge as of late that has frustrated me.  What is it you may ask?......writers block.  Between being busier at work (which is a good thing), coaching tee-ball, leading a men's group, raising three boys, contemplating buying a house...I have let life get the best of my writing.

Constructive Criticism

Two years ago if you would have come to me and told me you have constructive criticism for me, the first thought in my head would be to grab my shield and sword and get ready for an epic battle.


My wife was the best at this.  Since marriage is tough and something you constantly have to work through, she would be the one to approach me with a relational update.  It was predictable.  Usually we would be sitting down for dinner talking and all of a sudden she gets quiet.  After a couple years I picked up on these ques knowing that the floodgates were about to burst open.  Credit to her, she never used the words "constructive criticism," but that was what she was trying to do.  She was trying to change me!  Or so I thought.