Dog Lessons for Human Lives: The Power of Routine

Five years ago, we got my daughter Charis a dog — a Bernedoodle named Legend. Now, here’s the thing: I wasn’t exactly thrilled about having a dog loose in the house. I didn’t grow up like that. My childhood was filled with chameleons, turtles, rabbits, and hamsters… but not a dog roaming indoors.

Still, Charis came along later in my life, and when she wanted a little brother or sister, the best we could do was get her a furry one. But if I was going to have this dog in my life, he was going to need to be trained — and I had a plan.

There’s a narrow strip of grass between my driveway and my neighbor’s, divided by a row of trees. For the first year, every single time Legend "went" outside, he stayed on a leash in that strip. Seventy feet up and down, ten feet wide — and never past the tree line. He fought me. He pulled. He resisted. But for a year, that’s the only place he "went" (btw, I cut the grass weekly... no build-up).

Then something happened. After twelve months of that consistent routine, I could simply open the door and let him out — no leash, no chase, no worry. He’d run straight to that spot, do his business, and come right back.

The same thing happened with his crate at night. At first, I had to drag him in there. But after enough repetition, it became his safe place. And just last week, something struck me. One night, I fell asleep on the couch, Charis and Kim fell asleep in another room, and no one put Legend to bed.

Around midnight, I woke up, went to check on him, and found him sitting in his crate — door open — waiting. He’d put himself to bed because, after years of repetition, that’s just who he is now.

And that’s the point.That’s Another Perspective.

At first, new habits feel like rules, restrictions, or even punishment. We resist them. We push back. We try to avoid them. But when we stick with them, something changes — not just our actions, but our identity. What once felt forced becomes natural. What once felt uncomfortable becomes the thing that brings us peace.

Sometimes in life, we have to train ourselves the way I trained Legend — with consistency, boundaries, and a clear goal in mind. We might kick and scream in the beginning, but one day, without even thinking about it, we’ll find ourselves exactly where we’re meant to be… and glad we’re there.

That’s the power of choosing the right habits. That’s the freedom of a better perspective. And that’s the heart of Another Perspective.

#AnotherPerspective #LifeLessons #ChangeYourHabits #Motivation #SelfGrowth #MindsetShift #PeaceWithin #DailyHabits

Eyes Wide Open: Why I Still Walk the Path—With or Without Certainty

I didn’t arrive at this place by accident. I didn’t inherit my faith blindly. And I certainly didn’t cling to religion out of fear.

No—what I have today is something different. Something earned.

I’m a Christian minister. That much is true. But not in the way many people assume when they hear that phrase. I didn’t choose this path because I needed a club to belong to.

I chose it after a very personal, undeniable early-morning encounter with the Divine—one of those moments where you know, in your bones, that something beyond you exists. From that day, I gravitated toward the religion I was raised in. It was familiar. It had language for what I felt. It had structure to grow in.

But here’s the key—I’ve been walking with my eyes wide open ever since.

What does that mean?

It means I’ve outgrown the idea that one group has it all right. I’ve outgrown the need to control others with my convictions. I’ve outgrown the smallness of a God who only loves those who “get it right.”

Because here's the truth: if I have two sons (and I do), and one knows me well while the other doesn’t know me at all… they are both still my sons. My love, my concern, my care—it’s for both. Even if one of them walks away or doubts me or curses my name—I’m still his father.

That’s how I see God.

Not a religious mascot. Not a tribal deity. Not some cosmic gatekeeper.But a Divine Parent—concerned for all humanity, even those who don’t believe, even those who’ve never heard the name.

And so yes, I’m a Christian. But I’ve evolved.

I believe there is a Divine Presence. I truly do. But I won’t pretend to know the full nature of that presence—how could I? I’m the creation, not the Creator. I can feel it. I can walk with it. I can wrestle with it. But I can’t claim to define it fully. And frankly, neither can anyone else.

So if there is a God—then my walk is one of alignment, of openness, of service.And if somehow there isn't—then this path still matters. Because it’s about recognizing that we all have our issues. And the last thing I want to be is someone who condemns another person’s struggle while ignoring my own.

We all need help. We all need grace. And we all need each other.

Some people’s struggles are so harmful to others that they have to be removed from society for everyone's safety—and I accept that. But I don’t think anyone’s soul is beneath redemption.

And I sure don’t think religion should be used as a weapon to divide people, to control them, or to puff ourselves up in false righteousness.

Religion can be a tool. A powerful one, if it’s used to awaken us to our own capacity for love, healing, and growth. But when it’s used to separate, dominate, or destroy—then it’s just another system of ego.

That’s not what I’m here for.

So I walk this path. Not because I need to be right. But because I want to be real. Because helping each other matters. Because compassion is sacred—whether you're religious, spiritual, or neither. Because building a better world starts with the honesty to say: “I don’t have it all figured out… but I care enough to try.”

And to anyone reading this—believer, skeptic, atheist, seeker—know this:

You are not less valuable because of your doubt.

You are not excluded because of your questions. And your worth is not measured by your church attendance or theology.

You matter. And if God is anything like what I believe…Then you’ve always mattered.

#WalkWithPurpose #EyesWideOpenJourney #LiveWithConviction #AuthenticFaith #InnerPeacePath #GraceAndGrowth #RedemptiveLiving #BeTheLightYouSeek #LeadWithLove #HelpEachOtherHeal

The Confidence You’re Looking For Starts With You

Let me offer you something—if you’re open. Just a little insight from someone who’s been through the fire and kept walking.

Most of us, whether we admit it or not, wrestle with feelings of inadequacy. Some carry it like a quiet shadow. Others cover it up with loud opinions or laughter that never quite reaches the soul. But it’s there—lingering in the corners of our self-talk, in the way we size up others, or downplay ourselves.

I remember once when someone told me, “At least I admit my issues,” and it hit different. I was trying to be supportive, to offer a little grace, and what came back felt more like a jab than a confession.

And that told me something—not just about them, but about all of us. Because we all have our moments where insecurity speaks louder than reason. Where instead of facing our own reflection, we throw a little shade at someone else’s.

But here’s the truth: the person next to you isn’t your competition. They’re just another soul trying to make peace with their past and find their footing in the present.

I’ve seen it time and again. One person finds their worth through being needed—longing to be chosen, adored, validated. Another struggles when they’re around someone they perceive as “better” or “further along.”

They don’t mean harm, but subconsciously, they start chipping away instead of building up.

It’s like trying to fix the mirror by breaking it.

As for me—I used to be that guy. Always feeling like I wasn’t enough. Not smart enough. Not in shape enough. Not successful enough. But I got tired of that echo. So I started working. I started changing. And not in grand, flashy ways. I just chipped away at the version of me I didn’t want to be.

I started working out. I got educated. I showed up for my family. I earned my MBA. I bought property. I stopped destructive habits. I lived on purpose. And yes—I even became a certified scuba diver at 62. Why? Because I could. Because I realized that confidence isn’t something you’re born with. It’s something you build.

And you build it in the everyday choices—when nobody’s watching.

Confidence doesn’t come from putting others down. It comes from rising up.

And the beautiful part? Every single one of us has that power.

If I want to feel stronger, I train. If I want to live longer, I move my body. If I want to think sharper, I feed my mind. If I want to glow from the inside out, I take care of what I put into my body. None of it happens overnight. But every bit of it works.

It’s taken me decades, and I’m still evolving. Still growing. Still learning. But the biggest shift wasn’t in my muscles or my degrees—it was in my mindset.

So no shade to anybody still figuring it out. But at some point, you have to stop coping and start changing.

We all have our reasons. Our baggage. Our bruises. But we also have the ability to say: this isn’t the end of my story.

You don’t have to live in the shadows of your self-doubt. You can step into the light of your own transformation.

It starts small. It starts today. And it starts with you.

Now, if I had a church fan, I’d pass it to you. And if I had a plate to pass, I’d ask for your time, not your money. Time to believe in yourself. Time to get honest. Time to stop fighting people and start fighting for the life you actually want.

You’ve got what it takes.

Peace and power to you.

#confidence #selfworth #personalgrowth #healingjourney #changeyourlife #believeinyourself #innerpeace #consistencyiskey #youcandoit #growthmindset #overcominginsecurity #motivation #truthbomb #warmwisdom #faithandfocus