Hard to Break Patterns of Behavior
“Bad habits are like chains that are too light to feel until they are too heavy to carry.” – Warren Buffet
At a recent ministry meeting, I was chatting with a few guys during a break, and here are some of the thoughts that were shared …
“I know there are people who think I got it all together. After all, I go to mass nearly every Sunday, and I volunteer for several ministries. The fact is, though, that I have to stay connected with God to keep me away from the bad stuff.”
“It wasn’t until I was ready to show vulnerability that my life started to have hope. For so many years, I had this invincibility feeling, but I will tell you something, my friends … that cancer diagnosis last year sure put things in perspective.”
My share: “After our men’s bible study [That Man Is You] on Saturday mornings, I make the drive to Cordi-Marian Sisters Resurrection Cemetery to visit our son. There are times I stand there by his graveside, and I can’t believe this happened to me. Yeah … I know he is resting now and free from pain, but there are so many of us who live with the pain now that he has left us.
“I’m just glad that my wife gave me a second chance. Wait … probably more than just two chances! I sometimes wonder why I acted so stupid and selfish. I stayed out late with the guys … drinking … drinking … and I just took my wife and family for granted. I am far better now … but I will tell you that it’s hard to break these patterns of behavior.”
Lead with Honesty
There was a time in my life when I was reserved about what I shared with others. I took the “social media” perspective; that is, I only talked about the good stuff happening to me.
Sure … there is nothing wrong with sharing what is going well, but I think it’s important for me to also talk about where I struggle.
When I keep difficult stuff to myself, I am the only one carrying the burden. But, when I share it with my friends in Christ, they can help lessen the pain I feel.
About a year ago, I tearfully shared with a group of people the painful experience of losing our son Eric. Afterwards, one friend came to me and said …
“Jimmie … today, I got to know the real you.”
This comment from a friend often comes to me, and it reminds me that it’s far better to lead with honesty.
What’s next …
Here’s a quick update on my knee replacement post-surgery … I am doing very well after 11 weeks. My level of pain is near zero, and I am back to doing pretty much normal stuff. I am still working on exercises to improve knee flexion, and I am approaching 130 degrees!
Our daughter Kaitlin recently delivered a two-day Hospitality Management class to international students who will be placed at Disney parks here in the States. She works for the San Diego Marriott Marquis as a Senior Event Manager, and we are very proud of her.
I am heading to Tokyo to spend a week with our son Aaron, who is on a study abroad semester. He completed his studies at St. Mary’s University a semester early, so this was a great opportunity for him to experience the Japanese culture. I am packing a couple of white corn meal packets called “Pan,” as he really misses his mom’s Venezuelan arepas!
See you next week, my friends!
Inspiring Quotes
“The secret of change is to focus all your energy not on fighting the old but on building the new.” – Socrates
“Whatever you want to do, if you want to be great at it, you have to love it and be able to make sacrifices for it.” – Dr. Maya Angelou
Homework Inquiry
During the next week, here’s your homework inquiry: What does positive change look like to you?
I use this opportunity to share with you a unique story and a couple inspiring quotes. Oh ... as a professor at heart, you guessed it, I have a homework inquiry for you. This is a powerful question that might just trigger you to take action on something that really matters in your life. If you feel the Catalyst Newsletter brings benefit to you.