On this specific day, 43 years ago in November.  Becky and I had been married for almost 5 months and we both celebrated our 19th birthdays in September.  We moved into our own apartment on campus and I went back to school as a Sophomore and she started her new full-time job at a department store in town. 

This day the reality was setting in, the excitement of playing house as newlyweds was coming to an end.  When we first arrived, we had already realized I would need to get a part time job, but I actually had to take 2 part time jobs to make sure we could make our budget each month.  Make our budget each month means to pay our monthly bills, every month. The reality was, this is not any fun … Some decisions need to be made.

If I could write a letter to my younger self, keeping it short so that I would read it, what would that letter say?

Here is the …

Letter to my younger self.

Let’s do it in bullet points - better chance that I would read them all.

• I know that you are conditioned that problems are the enemy but I am telling you that as long as you have problems you will know that God isn’t through with you yet.

• Resist the temptation that the World throws at you, that being comfortable is the ultimate goal. Get uncomfortable- get out of your comfort zone . How will you ever get better if you don't get in situations that you aren’t good at or familiar with. Avoid danger because it's dangerous, avoid doing wrong things because they are wrong but don't avoid doing something just because it's uncomfortable.

• There may always be someone more talented than you, there may always be someone smarter than you, there may always be someone more good looking than you and you have no control over any of that. But, you have total control over how hard you work - always be the hardest worker.

• Wait to worry. Don’t spend your valuable time and energy worrying. 95% of the things you worry about never happen.

• Depth is important - love deeply, care deeply and commit deeply to things you care about,

• Be quick to listen and slow to speak.

• Pray for patience, work to acquire the strength and discipline of patience.

• The words you speak to yourself become what you believe. Choose your words carefully.

• Focus your attention on others.

  • In family it’s your family,

  • in life it’s someone in need,

  • in business its your customers

  Lots of people will give lip service to this. Be very intentional about it and you will realize how beneficial it is to you. You will always get more from the service that the recipient.

• Always tell the truth the first time and then you never have to remember what you said.

  Being an honest person can never be over rated.

CONCLUSION

43 years ago, I didn’t have a manual that addressed every situation that would confront me in my life. However, I did have a little bit of faith, that has grown, a loving wife, that has stuck with me for 43 years and many many people along the way that lifted me up themselves and in prayer.

No matter how old you are, sit down and think about what you would say to yourself when you first entered adulthood. It’s funny, enlightening and very embarrassing.

Expect to Win!

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