“The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7 NIV).
It is easy to get caught up in physical attributes, jobs, or college degrees. None of those things matter as much as having character, integrity, and simply being a good person.
Focus on your heart first, and everything else will follow. Focus on others’ hearts before getting caught up in materialistic things or their outward appearance.
If you’re reading this, congratulations, you’ve made it to 2024. That alone is a blessing. I hope you have goals you’d like to achieve this year.
I see today and the beginning of this year as the “before” picture. A “before” picture is a photograph taken prior to a specific event or transformation, serving as a visual reference for comparing changes or progress.
Whether you embark on a fitness journey or pursue something else this year, I hope the end of this year looks significantly different from the beginning. For the better, of course.
So, take that “before” picture of your life (or body) right now, whether it’s literal or metaphorical, and go out and do all the things to make that “after” picture look completely different. Happy New Year and congratulations in advance.
The motto for 2023 was “Make 2023 look like 5 years,” and that’s exactly how it felt.
Many monumental events happened to me this year, like turning 30, starting this blog, and becoming a father.
I accomplished a lot, learned a lot, and grew a lot. Many things were done that made 2023 look like 5 years, but there’s still much I didn’t do. So the goal is to make 2024 look like 10 years. I hope you set out to do the same thing. Let’s get it.
Ignorance is not bliss; what you don’t know can hurt you.
Just because you don’t check the nutrition facts on the food you eat doesn’t mean that food isn’t affecting you.
Just because you don’t know the consequences of certain actions doesn’t mean you are excluded from those consequences.
Knowledge isn’t power until it is applied, so learn as much as you can. Be conscious of the things you should know and the areas where you may need to learn more, then apply it. It’s honestly one of the best things you can do for yourself and a sure way to set yourself up for success.
I recently purchased a cool new toy for my daughter that lights up and makes a lot of noise. However, when it was delivered, I realized that the batteries were not included. Without the batteries, the toy was pretty useless. Thankfully, we had some extra batteries on hand that I used for the toy.
In life, we often come across gifts, great ideas, goals, or even relationships that have great potential but require batteries – which represent energy and effort. These gifts, ideas, goals, etc. have the potential to bring us success and happiness, but they may never materialize if we don’t invest the necessary energy and effort into them. Without that energy and effort, they are just as useless as the toy without batteries.
So, it’s important not to just have the idea or goal, but also to put in the effort and see it through. That’s where you’ll find fulfillment, happiness, and truly discover your capabilities.
I have a few New Year’s resolutions for 2024, as well as some new habits I’d like to start.
To increase my chances of accomplishing these resolutions and establishing these habits, I should start right away. At the very least, I should begin mentally preparing myself and equipping myself with the necessary items and ideas to achieve what I’ve set out to do.
I can’t simply wait until January 1st and expect things to magically change. That’s akin to quitting a habit or addiction cold turkey, which is possible but challenging. It’s much easier to gradually ease off.
Therefore, I will gradually initiate my New Year’s resolutions and new habits now so that when January 1st arrives, I’ll be fully prepared to hit the ground running without any issues.
One of my favorite quotes is, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”
This quote reminds me that I can achieve just about anything if I consistently work at it. I don’t get caught up in the moment; I simply consistently do what needs to be done, knowing that the results will eventually come.
I know that if I speak to my daughter in Spanish every day and introduce her to other Spanish-speaking activities daily, one day she’ll speak and understand Spanish herself.
I also understand that there are bad things that we may repeatedly do. We must be aware of those things as well. If you drink alcohol every day, you may be an alcoholic. If you yell at others or something every day, you may have anger issues, etc.
So, whatever it is you want to be in life, do something daily that will lead you to become what you want. Also, if there are negative things that you do daily, stop doing them immediately, and you’ll also see results.
Christmas is one of my favorite holidays, if not my absolute favorite, because it has taught me so much.
It has taught me that Jesus is the reason for the season. His life story has taught me valuable lessons and guided me through many challenges in life.
This holiday has also taught me the importance of family and loved ones, and how precious our time with them is.
Additionally, it has shown me that one of my love languages is gift-giving, and how expressing appreciation through presents can truly convey our feelings. Furthermore, it has taught me to stay present and appreciate the day for what it truly is.
Choosing happiness is often within our control, and Christmas makes it easier to make that choice. Merry Christmas to all those reading this blog post. I wish you a day filled with love and joy, and I hope you remember that Jesus is the reason for the season. Much love to you all.
Never feel guilty for knowing your worth and not settling for anything less than that.
Knowing your worth and not settling for anything less can result in the loss of relationships or opportunities, but it’s worth it because it’s empowering. It brings confidence and strength.
Some people don’t want you to know your full worth because they know you might realize that they shouldn’t be around or that they shouldn’t treat you the way they do.
And knowing your worth is just good for self-esteem. When outside circumstances aren’t going your way, it’s easy to get down on yourself and think maybe you’re the problem. That may not be the case at all.
A lot of things are just out of your control. That’s when knowing your true worth comes in handy.
You should take everything personally. It’s just a matter of how you take things personally.
There’s the type that takes everything personally, as in they tend to interpret or perceive things as personal attacks or criticisms, even when they may not be intended that way. Then there are those who take things personally with the intention of reflecting on what’s being said and using it as an opportunity for personal growth. It indicates a high level of self-awareness and a willingness to learn from feedback. We should all aim to be the latter.
Regardless of the situation, you should take things personally and strive to improve. That’s what makes great athletes great. They don’t mind coaching; they are trying to improve. The less skilled athletes might get defensive or feel attacked.
The same can be true for relationships, jobs, or even school. Don’t be too quick to take things personally in a negative way and get defensive or attack others because you feel attacked.
Have that natural desire to reflect and improve. That’s where growth, success, and happiness lie.
FLY, BLACK BOY 