Hey everyone, Now that Labor Day has passed It’s time to get back to blogging. As some of you know, I took the last two months off. To recuperate from surgery and finish my next book. This is my attempt at a life update. First, my hernia surgery was a complete success with no complications. Second, I didn’t finish writing my book, but I think it’s about 75% complete. Stay tuned for further updates. Life is full of opportunities for growth and transformation. Sometimes, all it takes is a willingness to step out of your comfort zone and make small changes.
“As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” James 2:26 NIV
The first change I made was admitting I needed help I know I’m a small-time content creator. That’s perfectly fine with me. I want to do some good and deliver a positive message. There are so many distractions and responsibilities that seek our attention that I am truly amazed when someone takes a few minutes out of their day to read my blogs, listen to one of my podcasts, or buy my books. As you can imagine, this takes a lot of time and energy. This is my part-time job, essentially. My other part-time job is my official advocacy duties, where I serve on various committees on both the state and national level. Despite what you may believe, I do not get paid for any of it. This is a labor of love. Honestly, It can be a little overwhelming for me There is one blog per week and two podcasts a month at a minimum.
I promised myself when I started this journey a few years ago that I would never do it for the money. I hate asking for money. So, after much deliberation and prayer, I decided to employ “the value method.” If you, as a consumer, find value in my work, then please leave me a tip. Now at the top of each blog and podcast You can find a link to my CashApp and PayPal. You can also support the podcast directly. Think of it as a musician on the street If you like my tune, leave some change in the hat. No one is under any obligation, and the content will always be available.
If you follow my social media accounts, I post on them five out of seven days a week. quick little videos of positive reinforcement. Some days, this was more exhausting than producing a podcast. This was the only way I knew To promote my work. So I decided to get off the social media hamster wheel. From August 1st to September 1st, I deleted my social media account. Facebook,Twitter,Instagram, and Snapchat To be transparent, I did keep my LinkedIn, but I hardly ever used it before, and I didn’t really use it in that month anyway.
I have it for my advocacy connections. For the first three or four days, Every time I Went to grab my phone, I felt a little bit weird. We, as a society, have become addicted to social media. After that, I really didn’t think of it at all. I finished a few audiobooks. I wrote three times as much in my book. That was my main goal. It was easier to be more present. I had conversations with people both in person and via text. Without Facebook, you have to find out what the person has been doing. Social media is an important part of our lives. Sometimes you do want to see pictures of your friend’s birthday party or someone’s major life event. However, 90% of it is miscellaneous and forgettable information anyway. The only reason I went back to those accounts was because I hoped one of my videos would make a difference in someone’s day.
The last change I made was more of a personal one. I’m always complaining that I’ll never find someone special in my life. So, I decided to take a chance and do something I promised myself I would never do. Get on dating apps. It’s been about 2 weeks, and I haven’t had any real connections or conversations with anyone, but I figured. Faith without action is dead, so I have to keep putting myself out there. I took the first step and let God do the rest.
Whether it’s taking a break from old habits, trying something new, or seizing new opportunities, each step can lead to personal growth, self-discovery, and positive outcomes. So, don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and embrace change—it might just be the key to a more fulfilling and enriched life. I hope this wasn’t too boring of a first entry after a long summer off, but I wanted to keep you guys informed. Thanks for reading, and I will see you guys next Wednesday. Remember, podcast episodes come out on the first and 15th of every month.
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