If there was some behavior that made us feel good, gave us a sense of purpose, and helped us deal with life issues such as depression, anxiety, and addiction, you would think we would do it. And if it also benefited others and was something God has clearly asked us
I just retired after being with one company—IBM—since 1980. For many of those years, I wrestled with alcohol issues until it became unavoidably clear a decade ago that I was an alcoholic. (Which, in the recovery world, means I still am one.) In fact, several members of my family battled
I’ve always read a lot, partly because there is plenty of useful material out there worth reading. The problem is, most of it remains largely unused by the vast majority of people. Therefore, my goal as a writer is not to reinvent the wheel or come up with the
I’ve seen this coming for a couple of years now. In fact, I’ve enjoyed a running joke with God, something like: “You’re not going to make this easy, are you?” Spiritually speaking, financial security is an idol for me, as is my insatiable desire to control my circumstances. My wife
When I was first thinking about writing a book, I had a friend—an author—who tried to convince me not to do it: “It’s really hard, it takes a lot of time, nobody will read it, etc., etc., etc.” Those discussions were disappointing, but after several conversations he made his advice
If you live in the South, you likely know of Jeff Foxworthy and his “You might be a redneck” comedy routine. That was the inspiration for the jokes below that my wife and I enjoyed making up on a walk last week. You see, we’re “friends” of the Foxworthys.
Listen to the 11-minute podcast version Watch a 1-minute introductory video Preventing addiction is one of the most important and promising life improvement initiatives in the world today, enough so I felt compelled to start STEPS Ministries to help champion the cause. Based on the tragic impact addiction continues to
In 8 weeks, I will come to the end of something I have been doing for 38 years. I will leave the company I have worked at for nearly two-thirds of my life and start a nonprofit that builds off the current STEPS ministry, which includes this blog article you
It’s a tragic fact that people we all know—friends, coworkers, employees, spouses, kids—will suffer from addiction at some point during their lives. Unless they do something about it first. But, sadly, about 90% of those who are in danger don’t get help for their problem. If they do, it’s
Things are not going so well right now. Recently, my son suffered a setback, my wife had trials, I faced disappointment, and our family’s finances took some shots. Even though I am trying to do what God wants, circumstances are not what we had hoped, and it’s tough with so
How do we go about choosing what’s important? Something is important when it has worth, value, or meaning. It may be of huge significance, but simple things can also be important, such as an act of kindness, time with loved ones, or a prayer. Each day, we choose what to
If your car is spinning out of control, there are driving techniques to help you avoid a crash. But wouldn’t it be better to prevent the skid from happening in the first place? A good way to protect against accidents is to ensure your vehicle is inspected, repaired, and maintained
You’re cruising along, oblivious to the danger ahead. Suddenly, you’re spinning out of control, and the lives of you and those with you hang in the balance. What are you going to do? Every day, this deadly scenario plays out on roads and highways, but also in the lives
You’ve seen enough TED Talks to know there are things you can do to live more effectively. If fact, you may utilize some of those approaches now, at least the ones aimed at getting more done faster. You’re doing things to get ahead. And help you win. And with all
These days, life seems so complicated. Challenging, often overwhelming, sometimes paralyzing. More than ever before, modern times are besieged by clutter. A debilitating torrent of information and endless options and choices make it easy to lose sight of those things that are most critical. It doesn’t have to be that
In elementary school, we are taught things like reading, writing, and arithmetic. Later, we move on to subjects such as geography, biology, and literature. And in college, we study areas that are meant to get us ready for the world after school. Learning how to learn is good, and some
For a few moments, pretend you are the CEO of a company, and the following people work for you: Dan is an alcoholic but doesn’t know it. He drinks every night after work, at social events, and to relax. He doesn’t think his drinking affects his high-powered job as V.P. of Sales.
There are millions of people who feel they are hopelessly trapped in self-destructive habits. Those locked in negative behavior patterns are often in denial about their problems, or they don’t know how to escape them. In effect, they need to re-learn how to live a normal life. But, by doing
Your son did it when he got hurt playing football. So did your niece when she had her wisdom teeth removed. In fact, you did it when you injured your ankle last year. They, and you, took one of the most dangerous and addictive drugs in the world. The names
St. Peter’s Square was packed with hundreds of thousands of people, all there for one reason. My wife and I waited expectantly, and soon a murmur began to spread through the crowd. Then, there he was! Pope John Paul II emerged onto the balcony and waved at the people assembled below.
