A Keen Perspective

As I read Brent Gleeson's book " Embrace the Suck: The Navy Seal Way To An Extraordinary Life ," I was confronted with some tough questions: What do I value most in life? What is my ultimate purpose? My why? What is my plan for fulfilling that purpose? Click the book to reach my Amazon Affiliate Link, where I earn a small commission, at no added cost to you. At first, I thought, "Uh, good questions... um... _crickets_." But as I reflected on my life, which has taken some dramatic turns recently, I started to gain some clarity. What do I value most? Easy peasy: my relationship with God, my boys (aka my giant teen sons - yes, they're now taller than me!), my friends, and my church family. Those are my people, and I'd move mountains for them. What's my ultimate purpose? Loving God and loving others in a way that brings hope to the world. Yep, that's our church motto, and I'm sticking to it! Now, my why... Ah, my why used to be simple: my boys. T...

This post contains affiliate links. By clicking any of the links,  if you make a purchase, I earn a small commission. Today, I watched the movie " Enough " starring Jennifer Lopez, and it struck a chord deep within me. The film's themes of resilience, self-reliance, and empowerment resonated strongly, reminding me of another favorite, " Where the Crawdads Sing " by Delia Owens. Both stories feature strong female protagonists who have faced trauma and adversity, and their journeys toward healing and triumph are a testament to the human spirit's capacity for growth and transformation. As Evy Poumpouras notes in her book " Becoming Bulletproof ," "Research shows that watching a movie can set complex processes in your brain to work toward shifting your psychological mindset. This is what allows us to get swept up in a movie, to internalize the struggles of a protagonist we relate to and rejoice in their victories." This is precisely what happ...