to lose.

We are not made to lose. We never like it. It never feels good. That's okay.  

You don't need to like losing. You just need to know what game you are playing.

screwed up.

It's generally not considered a good thing. Well, it's generally considered a bad thing.

Those words can mean a lot but whatever the definition... maybe we are supposed to be?

We are good. We were created good. We should be good. And screwed up. 

define or defy.

If you're defining something, you are, by default, defying something else. 

If you're defying something, you are, by nature, defining something else. 

But it's easier to defy than define. Defy is the first, and easy, step. It says that's not my definition. 

It's more difficult to define. That takes another moment. This is how I see it and believe it. 

Define more. You still get the defiance but it's more purposeful and evolutionary rather than just bitter. 

everything and nothing.

I want everything. I want nothing. 

Neither is ideal. 

But, there are many who believe that wanting nothing is more honorable or moral than wanting everything. It's not. 

Neither asks for risk, for sacrifice, for a decision, or for an opinion. They are both lazy, easy, and apathetic. 

Want something. Go get it. Own it. Defend it. 

breathe in.

We end every Yoga with a little meditation. The other day I was focusing on exhaling fear and inhaling love. 

Exhale. Fear. Inhale. Love. 

And I couldn't help but go to some big decisions. Exhale. Fear. Inhale. Love. As I thought through those decisions... exhale... fear... inhale... love...  it was amazing how clear the decisions became. 

Once you remove fear from discernment and get that fear replaced with love, it really does bring some clarity. Not always, but often. 

Try it. 

your control.

What you control: you. That's the good news. 

What you don't control: anyone and everything besides you. That's the bad news. 

But more good news: Everything and anyone is always and only perceived and experienced by you.

Not what. How.

It's not what you're doing, it's how. 

There are a lot of people spending a lot of time trying to figure out what to do and don't know how to do it when they get there. If that's the case, what may never show up. 

There are some who are trying to figure out how to do it, no matter what it is. If that's the case, what may be everywhere. 

these two will kill your chances.

Finding a partner, a job, finishing a project, or anything else in life. 

Infinite options and perfection will kill everything.

Neither exist, but we think they do. 

So, make your options smaller, more finite, and set your bar lower than perfection... at very good... and you'll be amazed at what starts to happen.  

yoga and martinis.

I was recently at a Yoga class and the instructor said, if you're not doing Yoga a particular way, it's not Yoga. It's called Yoga and people pretend it's yoga, but it's not. There are whole studios dedicated to yoga that aren't practicing yoga. 

Just know what you're getting because yoga is this.... 

My wife was recently at a cocktail making class and the bartender said martinis are only gin or vodka and vermouth. (Maybe an olive.) But, if it's more than that, it's not a martini. There are whole martini bars that are serving things called martinis but they aren't martinis. 

Just know what you're getting because martinis are this... 

I was recently at a church...

it's catchy.

But so is the flu. 

The better question is probably does this make me more energized, inspired and excited or more tired, drained, and apathetic. 

... doesn't suck.

D.O. started a line of shirts/stickers/etc... with the line  "Spokane Doesn't Suck".  He's a great guy and I love what he's doing.   

It's true. Spokane doesn't suck...

...but if it's pretty bad and if it sure isn't awesome, well, who cares if it doesn't suck? That can't be our goal, right? 

Lots of things don't suck and I see more people thinking that not sucking is the line. 

My job doesn't suck. 
My friends don't suck. 
My art doesn't suck. 
My marriage doesn't suck. 
My life doesn't suck.

My faith doesn't suck. 

If you're shooting for not sucking... join the mediocre of the world. 

Or raise the damn bar. 

lazy.

Social media is lazy. You didn't build the platform or the audience. You are just supporting a corporation that has built the audience and platform for you, to make you feel like you did. They're making you lazy, so they make money. 

Don't buy what they are selling.

I realize it's tempting. I've given in many times. But, take the time, the energy, and the resources to build your own platform and audience. It's much more difficult and time consuming but, an audience of 3 that you have built, is worth more than an audience of 3,000 that doesn't care. 

two questions.

There are two possibilities for your relationships. 

Does it make you better? 

Is it required?  

If the answer to both of these is no, there is a third question: when are you going to end it?

read more.

If you want to change the world, read a book. 

If you haven't found a book you can't put down, keep looking. They are out there. 

If you have, find another one. 

If you need some suggestions, you can definitely start here. But, don't end there. 

If you don't think you need to read, you're right, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Netflix will entertain you forever. 

But, if you want to change the world, read a book. 

the martyr.

A martyr is someone who refuses to acknowledge something that an external force demands and is, therefore, punished for it. 

If you're going to give in to the demands of any external force, you can't blame the external force. You can only blame yourself. In the modern era, a martyr has become synonymous with someone who would actually rather blame someone else for their predicament. We call this playing the martyr. 

They blame the external force for making them do something. 

There are constant external forces. 
You're choosing to listen to some right now and disregard others. 
Why?
What are the external forces demanding from you? 
Why do they want that? 
Do you want that? 

everything is in front of you.

This is the year you stop waiting and start. 

I, for one, am already proud of you. 

clean pavement.

I have a bit of an obsession with shoveling our driveway. I love it clean. I love dry pavement.

I hate icy tire tracks that can't be removed. They drive me crazy. 

I have a friend who is the same way. My wife was recently telling one of our daughters about the friend and said "he's the same kind of weird as dad." 

"Or," I added. "The same kind of amazing." 

All funny with shoveling snow. It doesn't really matter. 

But.

It does beg the question. Is your weird someone else's amazing?

And where is that line? 

Get more weird in 2017.

It's amazing. 

resist the empire.

It's one of my favorite lines right now. Or thoughts. But it does beg two questions: 

1. What is empire? 

2. What is resistance.

Here are my answers.

1. Empire is that which promotes inequality in any way. (Empire always benefits from this.)

2. Resistance is that which promotes equality in any way. (Empire always despises this.) 

vera rubin vs george michael.

Most people have heard of George Michael. Not Vera. 

My phone alerted me on Christmas Day that George Michael passed away. Not Vera. 

George Michael sang some great songs. Vera Rubin confirmed the existence of dark matter and, in many ways, changed our fundamental understanding of the universe. 

Make up for the fact that you know more about a pop singer than one of the greatest astronomers of our time.

You can listen to "Faith" while you do, but please read about Vera Rubin right now. 

6 friends.

I was recently with a friend who told me that he used to have 500 acquaintances. Now he says he has about 6 friends.

At church.

He told me he would never go back. Not even consider it. 

The acquaintances were fine but he couldn't tell them anything of his doubts, his frustrations, and his questions about the existence of God, Hell, evil, or anything else of any theological nature. Or life. 

Now, he can say anything. 

At church. 

Find friends. Be a friend. 

If you have 6, go outside and jump up and down at the gift of real relationship.