This past week was both a celebration and time of reflection. A bittersweet for sure.

It reminded me of the two different people I've had the experience of being. 

Here's what I mean.

Do you ever look at pictures of yourself and think back to how you were feeling?

I do. So powerful- right?

Once just a kid who played a little volleyball in Chicago, Kevin Barnett made the BOLD move to California at the age of 18 with no home, no job, no connections, and no plans ...well, no plans except to play professional volleyball.  

Now, the 2 time Olympian is the voice of the AVP -...

None of us are going to brag about allowing self-pity to invade our lives, but for some reason, from time to time, we find ourselves right in the middle of a pity party we are throwing for ourselves?  Why do I do that???

Basically - it's the same reason I give into any...

It turns out the mountain is one heck of a teacher...

Renee:  It's not just that I CAN do hard things, I WANT to do hard things

Gary:  I have to take a challenge as big as this and break it into small pieces.  Then as I go from one small piece to the next, I...

Have you ever said “yes” to doing something when you didn’t know exactly what it would require from you?

That’s exactly what saying yes to climbing my first fourteener was like when I said “yes, I’d love to do that… SOMEDAY.” When those words came...

It has been said that 93% of communication is non verbal and 53% of that is body language.  The funny thing about communication is that our tone and our body language not only communicate to those around us, but to ourselves as well.

The same is true for my self-talk ...it turns out it's...

When I was in high school, I didn't have a curfew - I had to have a PLAN.  I was allowed to experience life, I was allowed to have fun, I was allowed to take risks ...but my parents had to know my plan. 

As youth ministers they had heard the same song too many times following a...

You're at the head of the class and you notice 3 students near the back fighting to hold back smiles.  They're not breaking any rules ...but they are clearly attempting to hide something.  Your mind starts spinning.  Is my zipper down, is there food on my face? 

...Or...

I've played in a lot of sporting events both home and away.  I've felt the difference between support and heckling.  As a 5-9 inch volleyball player, the wasn't one away game I played where I didn't hear some variation of, "Hey number 7, the NCAA agreed to a new rule this year,...

What if one of your worst nightmares became an actual event in your life story?  Imagine that you hear about a fire within 50 miles of your house - you're a positive person, so you decide to keep a cool head and be responsible.  You make the choice to evacuate ...just to be...

Have you ever played sports with an injury?  It's a vulnerable spot to be in.  There are very real limitations to how you'll be able to perform, so you're faced with a choice:

Compete, or don't compete ...or compete, but blame your shortcomings on your injury. 

Now the...

 "Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned."  

Why would I want to take responsibility when the OTHER person is in the wrong?  Basically there are three reasons that get...