Over the years my friends and I have taken comments made by each other or family members and turned them into rules/guidelines for life. We are unbelievably giant nerds but I can testify these actually work for us, and cause a great deal of laughter when we offer each other the same advice. Why create new advice instead of sitting on the age old advice that has been passed down like patience is a virtue, good things come to those who wait, the early bird gets the worm, march to the beat of your own drummer to name a few. Because we believe, just like everything else, quick advice can be improved upon, made better, and individualized to hit closer to our own hearts. 

I was at a residential rehabilitation center for teens giving my talk. The kids were respectful and engaged the entire time. One girl was beginning to come fidgety toward the end and I could tell she was itching to ask a question.  I finished my last story and her hand went up quickly.  I called on her and she asked...

Super hero powers come in all shapes and forms. If you can think of a power then I’m sure it’s been in a movie, comic book, or graphic novel. Having a super power to call your own is a thought we all can admit to having once or twice. Whether it was in a moment of frustration, juggling too many activities wishing there was two of you.  

There I was, standing in the dressing room at the Mall of America trying on suits for my wedding. It was a moment that I was nervous for at first because I’m just not one for shopping. I like to get in and out, spending as little time as possible. I knew trying on suits isn’t something that can go quickly, and picking the correct one for our wedding wasn’t something I wanted to do quickly. For our big day I wanted to look studly. 

My fiancée has informed me that when we have one of our rare disagreements she gets a little flustered with me when I say “I love you” at any point in our discussions. I chuckled because I can totally see why that would bug someone. As we continued to talk out different things to strengthen our relationships she also informed me that my go-to statement when I’m upset with someone is “I’m not happy with you.”

After a certain point I stopped appreciating math. When my math teacher started introducing letters and a lower case i and stated it was an imaginary number, I threw my hands up and thought, I’m over this. Imaginary numbers, what I’m learning doesn’t even exist.

After two weeks of not eating anything other then applesauce, soup, oatmeal, pudding, and milkshakes I was eagerly awaiting the Doctor to give me the ok to eat solid food. I did manage to drop 12 pounds in a two-week span but I was completely prepared to put 6 pounds back on this weekend. I had planned on going to lunch on Friday and heading right to Taco Bell and getting a chicken quesadilla with a soft shell taco. I might have even pushed it and had a mountain dew, a drink I gave up 3 years ago because pop is so unbelievably bad for you. 

I look into a mirror and the view staring back at me is a 31 year old man who has lost is hair, can still grow an incredible red beard with a couple of gray strands, a body that can still play basketball, work out and run with the young crowd. I also see a man who gets up at 5am to email people about my talk and work out before I head to my profession.