How can you write a book—or an article—when you’re not a professional in the field you’re writing about? Who are you to tell me how to deal with certain things in my life when you are struggling with them yourself? Do you have a degree in that field? I fight a daily battle writing. The…

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When Was the Last Time You Negotiated with Life

“Life, are you there?” “Yes. I’m always here.” “Right. Could we negotiate a couple of things?” “Like, what?” “Let’s start with the gym…” In a constant battle with your life? Starting with being 15 minutes behind when your day begins? You’re not alone. Read on… You can try to negotiate with Life, but Life always…

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Moms Don't Need to Be Perfect Just Awesome

Do you feel like you haven’t lived up to being a “Good Mother”? Are you anti-Mother’s Day due to the pressure of being a “Perfect Mom”? Confusing Awesome with Perfect I bet you’re an awesome mother. I bet you’re more amazing than you think you are. I bet you aren’t perfect. And I bet that’s…

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True Love is Being Married to an Everlasting Gobstopper

My wife was leaving the house yesterday morning and looked “A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.” Don’t be jealous; I’m a lucky guy. In a jumble of hormones and emotion, I blurted out, “You’re my EVERLASTING GOBSTOPPER!” She smiled and replied, “I’ve always wanted to be a gobstopper.” Weird? No. Not if you have a fine-tuned universal-man/woman-translator. Luckily she does.…

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Do You Need to Sweat and Freeze to Strengthen Your Relationship

My wife needs a blanket and I need a fan. Our bodies simply disagree on the definition of a comfortable temperature. She’s always cold (just ask her), and I’m always hot (and not like that, though I’m working on it). Evidence Exhibit – Number One Sitting on the sofa at night with our next cued…

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Are You More Important Than Your Label

Like it or not, we are all tagged with a number of labels, from work to our personal lives. Too many times, our work labels take emphasis over our personal lives and “define” us to the world—to the point of the world needing a more impressive label of the actual work we’re doing. Industrial Engineer…

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Are You Putting in the Parenting to Raise Awesome Kids

Parenting is hard. – Captain “Rusty” Obvious There’s irony in the saying, “Parenting doesn’t come with a manual.” When in actuality, there are around a gazillion different books out there on parenting. Okay, maybe not a gazillion. It may only be about a bajillion; give or take a baker’s dozen. With all the information available,…

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Choose to Be as Happy as the Happiest Couple Ever

Soulmates. Destiny. Made for each other. Once in a lifetime. Sighhhh…HOGWASH. Though I consider myself a romantic, I don’t buy into the above-listed notions. I don’t believe there is only one person out there for you. Do you have the guts to keep reading this…good! Hold on and let’s get to it… [bctt tweet=”Any two…

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grandma ellis and little roy

Another grandson was born recently, so my wife and I traveled to North Dakota to spend time with him (and his parents, too). While holding Little Roy and listening to his grunts and cooing, I couldn’t help but consider the LIFE before him. What will he become? Will he choose to follow his mother and father’s…

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Is It Worth Raising Remarkable Gentlemen

Are we losing the battle of raising gentlemen? Does the world even value these traditional traits anymore? Is There Room In Today’s World For Gentlemen? I refuse to make an excuse for these expectations, even in a climate frowning upon such gentleman basics. The threat may be a misperceived notion that I am teaching my…

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