Letting Go – A Lesson for the Ages –

A new friend wrote the following on his Facebook status update –

God says we are forgiven!
... To the DEGREE we forgive others.
... Wow, think about that.
... Who is so CRAZY as to not let it go?

I think this should be the theme verse of my life – God teaching me to let go of so many things because he has let go of so many things for us to be truly forgiven.

I think that I have for many years struggled with letting things go. This is a challenge that has been something I have been pondering about for the last several days. It is also part of my happiness project as a Living Truth that will lead to wisdom: 4. Do not take things so seriously. Do not take yourself so seriously. I think that in working toward the completion of this fourth Living Truth that I will soon learn to let things go.

If we truly live in the freedom of Christ, won’t we naturally just let all those things go? I think that may be a good thought to end on.

In regards to my Happiness Project, I do not think my eight goals are something I should spend only 21 days on, I think they are something I should do every day. That is why I am going to give updates routinely. On Monday, I was 6 for 8 – I did not floss or write. Today, I was five minutes late this morning. So we are continuing to try and perfect the little things that will therefore change the large things.

8 for 8 - 12th Day Bomb Shell of A Success!

If you keep pushing, you will eventually get there! 8 for 8 today on The Happiness Project goals – let’s leave it at that! ALL4One, Cartee

11th Day...mixed feelings today.

Today I just was not feeling it. Do you ever have one of those days where you look up and just say, “What are You doing?” “What am I doing?”

Those types of feelings have surrounded my existence and my enjoyment for that matter. I have found some contentment in this little experiment of mine.

I think that I am learning that you need to fulfilled in what you are doing. If you do not feel fulfilled, then you might walk around with a heavy heart and an empty stomach as I do.

Today was not a bad day for the happiness project. I have been struggling with the eating factor – I do love my sweets! And I was late again this morning. Tomorrow I will be eight for eight and proud to report as such when I type in this blog entry again Wednesday night.

5th Day - A Mulligan!

So on the fifth day, I slept 12 hours…..so that day does not really count.

So now that makes today the real fifth day, and with a mulligan here I have accomplished all eight goals except being on time to work again…..like five minutes late. The reasons for this 21 day challenge are to improve in these eight areas. Seven out of eight is not perfect, but it is progress, and by my 30^th birthday, these goals are going to be habit because I spent a year of my life pursuing a Happiness Project to glorify God!

This year I have really learned a lot about leadership, those who stink and those who rock! I have observed that in my own opinion the leaders who stink are those who ignore their followers. I also have lost respect for leaders who waffle day to day, meaning those who act differently based on stress, anxiety, or their mood – LAME! We are we are. So fake does not fly by with me. I understand that we have good and bad days, but I think it speaks well of a leader to maintain tranquility – maintaining composure. We should lead effectively in the same manner despite the storms that surround us.

It is funny how leaders around me are teaching me what I do not want to be like and what I do based on their good or sometimes bad examples…..funny how that works! Those who are miserable with their lives tend to make the worst leaders. You have to find contentment somewhere in-between the routine day to day progress. I will not check email, make phone calls, and perform monotonous data entries for the rest of my life…..

I can’t, and I won’t. I believe God made each and every one of us to do more than we settle for. If my own father will attest to anything, it is the fact that I will not settle. I want the best God has in store for me, or I do not want it at all. I think you know what I mean.

A New Inspiration – You Typically Get the Furthest When You Work the Hardest

I really do not follow golf all that much because quite frankly I think it is really boring to watch on television, but today I was touched by a player who finished runner up in the PGA Championship – Jason Dufner. The announcers today mentioned that Dufner practices perhaps harder than any other player on the tour, very much similar to his mentor Vijay Singh. Together they swing and swing and swing. Dufner was the last player to leave at the club the last night of the tournament because he was practicing. While I do believe one can sometimes practice too much in the midst of a major tournament, one can never work too hard in the game of life! I do not honestly believe Dufner is one of the best players on the tour, but he works the hardest among many of the players out there! I have found that in my life this has often been true for me with my own ambitions, goals, and dreams. I am not the best at what I do. I just work harder than the average person to achieve what I seek to accomplish, hence I am writing this blog entry so late into the night. While I am a night owl, it demonstrates that I take both this 21 Day Happiness Project challenge and my writing very seriously, putting in the hours to become better at what I do. Those who have natural abilities never tend to have to work that hard. I almost feel sorry for them because they never truly learn the meaning of hard work and therefore the gratification when goals are established and accomplished.

I cannot predict what will happen in the future with my writing, my photography, or my place in ministry. I can just say that like Dufner I am going work my tail off to get there. I am going to my best. I will work harder than 90% of the general population to finish in that upper 10%. I will not become a notorious anybody because I just have the natural talent to do so. I will become someone who moves God’s Kingdom forward because I will not quit working hard until I did so.

I have done well with the seven areas of improvement today, but I am going to add an eighth: be on time. This mainly refers to work. Sometimes I am five or ten minutes late which some may not consider a big deal, but I just think it is a bad habit I care to improve.

So we naturally have the following eight:

1.) Floss every day.

2.) Read God's Word, two chapters, like Booker T. Washington once did.

3.) Pray for the blessings of others, expanding my territory (Prayer of Jabez).

4.) Write every day, hence the blog entries.

5.) Eat healthy with an occasional sweet – today I had fat free yogurt.

6.) Memorize Scripture.

7.) Enjoy listening to music – really listen, relax, and enjoy it.

8.) Be on time.

I hope that Mr. Dufner would be proud here. I was certainly proud of his performance as a fellow Auburn Tiger – War Eagle to the fellow Auburn graduate! Congratulations on today’s amazing performance.

2nd and 3rd days of the 21 Day Challenge

I think every now and then we need a break from everything. Well, Friday and Saturday, I took a break from all my new goals. I slept several hours and just tried to relax as we capped a new enrollment and semester where I work. I was more disciplined for my fourth day.