No one has a life of complete ups or eternal downs. We are imperfect people living in an imperfect world. We all experience good and bad times. It makes you fasten your seat belts—Life is a roller coaster!
Optimists tend to overlook the lows and focus on the highlights. Pessimists tend to focus on the low times in their life. When I’m on a roller coaster, I focus on getting through it without nausea or injury. That’s the stage of life I’m in these days!
Opportunities come in unique packages. Sometimes it’s evident and exciting. Other times, they are disguised as problems. It shows that we should always be on the lookout for unique journeys.
I had the chance to interview a pastor with a unique road to becoming a church leader. Here is a link to the article:
A quote from The Millionaire Mind, by Thomas Stanley, answered my question, “Why is humility good business?” The author interviewed an entrepreneur that owns and runs an auto junkyard. He asked the owner what made him successful.
The owner replied that at first, he got a lot of pushback from his family. he said his mother asked him, “Anyone can own a junkyard. Why did you go to college—not to own junk!”
Yet, this owner was a deca-millionaire. The author noted that many people overlook opportunities because social status and concern about appearances keep many from noticing opportunities. That led to Thomas Stanley’s quote:
Do you feel like giving up? Did you think you had some traction, only to discover you were on ice and sliding downhill? In those times, it can be tempting to give up, throw in the towel and sulk in a corner. It may feel hopeless. But it’s not over until you say it’s so!
Yogi Berra was famous for his yogiisms. Even the BBC noted while some of his sayings were silly, this one has become quite helpful:
“It ain’t over till it’s over.”
Yogi Berra
In 1955, Earl Nightingale recorded a spoken word album that became a bestseller called The Strangest Secret. He asked and answered the question, “What is the strangest secret in the world?”
I heard parts of the recording many years ago. In August 2022, Dan Miller on the 48 Days podcast issued a challenge to listen to the recording for thirty days. I decided to take the challenge. It couldn’t have come at a better time for me!
Here is a link to the original recording:
This last month has turned out to be one of change for my wife and me. She has been offered an amazing opportunity. As a result, we will be moving soon and starting a new chapter in our lives.
The challenge also involved writing how the recording affected me. The following is my response to The Strangest Secret Challenge. I took the challenge. My answers are below.