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Thanksgiving

Let’s be honest, when we first think of Thanksgiving, most of us immediately go to that holiday in November that involves food. Not just any food, great food. Turkey, potatoes, cranberry sauce, stuffing, green beans and the list goes on.

We look forward to this day of feasting with our families and loved ones. It is a great time to catch up with others you may have not seen in a while. We also take this day to give thanks to others, to show our appreciation and gratitude for all we have.

The more I think about this, the more I realize for me, that Thanksgiving is not just meant to be one day a year. For me, Thanksgiving is a constant state of giving thanks to others for all they do. It is showing our appreciation and gratitude for all that we have and are able to do each and every day.

There are so many things to be thankful for on a daily basis. Far to many to list. The simple act of stopping for a moment and recognizing something throughout your day to be thankful for is what true Thanksgiving is all about.

So, as you go through this day, make sure to create that mental list of items you are thankful for. But, don’t let that stop as the clock hits 12:00 AM. Make sure to continue this each and every day. You could be thankful for a friend that helped you out with a project. You could be thankful for that co-worker that brought in donuts. It could be someone at the store that gave you a smile when all you could feel is anxiety or sadness at that moment and it gave you a little light.

The more we focus on giving thanks for all these things, the less we dwell on the negative and the chaos that goes on around us.

I hope everyone has a great and blessed Thanksgiving!

Until next time…

Featured

A new beginning…

Well, today I am beginning something new.  I have started this blog to begin writing.  I am definitely new at blogging.  I have wrote from time to time in the past in a journal.  I have had feelings of wanting to write more the last couple of months or so.

My hopes for this blog is that I will be able to share life experiences, positive encouragement and maybe even some advice at times.  Now, if you were to ask me at any given time if I thought I were one to give advice or impart wisdom on anyone, I would immediately say No!

If I sit and think about that question more, I do feel that myself as well as many others could share some sort of knowledge or wisdom that is going through a similar situation or circumstance.

I am by no means a seasoned writer or blogger.  But, this is something that I am looking forward to starting.  I look forward to many comments, constructive criticism and hopefully imparting some encouragement or wisdom.

So, with all that said, this is a new beginning for me.  Somewhat out of my comfort zone.

Without trials and failures, there is no success.

Until next time…

What does it mean to Conquer Life?

A Powerful Guide to Overcoming, Growing, and Rising Higher

When you hear the phrase “Conquer Life,” what comes to mind? For each of us, it carries a slightly different meaning — and that’s exactly what makes the journey so personal and powerful. But before we dive deeper, let’s look at what it truly means to conquer something.

The True Meaning of “Conquer”

According to Merriam-Webster, to conquer means to:

  • Gain mastery over or win by overcoming obstacles or opposition
  • Be victorious

Life is full of challenges — big and small. From daily stress to major life transitions, we all face obstacles in our careers, families, relationships, and personal goals. But here’s the truth most of us forget:

We were born to overcome.
We were born to grow.
We were born to conquer.

Not one of us was meant to remain the same, stay stuck, or let our past define our future.

The Battle Begins in the Mind

Whether or not we “conquer life” often comes down to a single decision:
Do we believe in our ability to overcome — or not?

We make that decision based on:

  • How we see ourselves
  • What we believe we’re capable of
  • Our past mistakes and failures
  • The stories we replay in our minds

Too often, we assume that because we have failed before, we don’t have what it takes to succeed now. But failure isn’t final — and it’s not proof you’re incapable. It’s evidence you’re trying, learning, and growing.

We All Go Through Seasons

Some people struggle for a moment, others for years, and many of us experience multiple seasons of hardship.
I’ve experienced seasons where I tried something new, failed, accepted defeat, and returned to the familiar. I’ve made mistakes, chosen comfort over growth, and avoided risks because I feared making another bad decision.

But that’s the reality of being human.

Life rises and falls.
We grow, we retreat, we try again.
And every season shapes who we become.

Growth Only Happens Outside the Comfort Zone

There’s a common analogy:
Put a shark in a 10-inch tank, and it will only grow 10 inches.
Put it in the ocean, and it may grow ten times larger.

Humans are the same.

When we stay in our comfort zones, our growth is limited. But when we step out — even a little — everything expands:

  • Our confidence
  • Our opportunities
  • Our resilience
  • Our skills
  • Our belief in ourselves

Stepping out allows us to fail and keep going anyway.
Every attempt makes us stronger, wiser, and more prepared to rise above the challenges we once feared.

So What Does It Mean to Truly Conquer Life?

For me, Conquering Life means:

  • Never giving up
  • Trying to do a little better than yesterday
  • Allowing myself to fail without quitting
  • Choosing the right mindset, even when the day isn’t perfect
  • Focusing on gratitude for every small step

You don’t have to “win” every day to “conquer” the day.
You conquer the day through mindset, resilience, and belief in your growth.

And eventually…

You rise above every challenge.
You overcome every obstacle.
You Conquer Life — your way.

Conquering Life Looks Different for Everyone

Your version of “victory” might not look like someone else’s, and that’s okay. For some people, conquering life may look like:

  • Building a high-profile corporate career
  • Achieving financial freedom
  • Growing a social media brand to 100k+ followers
  • Raising a family at home
  • Starting a business
  • Healing from past wounds
  • Becoming mentally stronger

There is no wrong version of success.
If you wake up each day committed to showing up, growing, and not giving up — you are already conquering life.

A Powerful Exercise to See Your Progress

Take a few minutes and write down:

1. The challenges you’re facing right now

What feels heavy? What obstacles stand in your way?

2. The goals you’re striving for

What dream are you moving toward?

3. Everything you’ve accomplished so far

Even the smallest step counts.
Maybe that list is long — maybe it’s short. Both are perfectly okay.

What matters is awareness.
When you write things down, you shift your focus to progress instead of pressure.
You start seeing how far you’ve already come.

Go and Conquer Life

Your journey won’t be perfect — and it doesn’t have to be.
Keep showing up.
Keep growing.
Keep rising.

You were made to Conquer Life.

Until next time…

For more inspiration, follow @conquerlife on Instagram and Conquer Life on Pinterest.

The Power of Gratitude

Thankfulness for the Small Things Changes Everything

In a world that constantly pushes us toward the next goal, next milestone, next version of success, it’s easy to overlook the quiet victories happening right in front of us. Yet gratitude—true, intentional gratitude—rarely begins with the big, life-changing moments. It grows from recognizing the small things we’ve often trained ourselves to ignore.

And when we learn to appreciate those small things, our entire outlook shifts. Gratitude becomes more than a feeling; it becomes a practice, a way of seeing, a way of living.

The Small Things Aren’t Small at All

We often wait for something “big” to be thankful for: a new job, a major breakthrough, a dream achieved. But the truth is, the foundation of a grateful life is built on the everyday moments:

  • A warm cup of coffee in the morning
  • A quiet moment before the day begins
  • A conversation that made you smile
  • A breath of fresh air that calmed your mind
  • A challenge you overcame without even realizing it

These small pieces of life aren’t insignificant—they’re evidence of growth, resilience, love, and provision. When we slow down and notice them, we realize we have more blessings than we ever acknowledged.

Gratitude turns ordinary moments into reminders of how supported we are, how capable we’ve become, and how much beauty still exists—even on difficult days.

Looking Back Shows Us Just How Far We’ve Come

In the middle of a tough season, it can feel like nothing is changing. We get caught in what’s missing, what’s stressful, or what hasn’t worked out yet. But that’s when gratitude becomes the most powerful.

Sometimes the only way to recognize what we have is to look backward.

When we reflect on:

  • Who we used to be
  • The challenges we’ve already overcome
  • The prayers that were once unanswered and now fulfilled
  • The habits we’ve improved
  • The strength we’ve built through experiences we didn’t want

—we see a different picture. A clearer one. One that reminds us we’re not stuck, we’re growing.

Life rarely changes in giant leaps. It shifts in small steps… steps we don’t notice until we pause long enough to realize how far those steps have carried us.

Looking back helps us appreciate the present, even if it doesn’t look exactly how we imagined. Gratitude fills in the gaps between where we are and where we’re going.

Finding Gratitude When Life Doesn’t Look Perfect

Gratitude doesn’t require perfection—it thrives in honesty.

Some days are heavy. Some seasons feel confusing. Some moments stretch us beyond what’s comfortable. But even in those times, gratitude remains a compass that points us back to what is still good, still steady, still worth holding onto.

Being thankful doesn’t mean ignoring the hard things. It means recognizing the good things alongside them.

Even when:

  • things aren’t working out yet,
  • doors are still closed,
  • the future feels uncertain,

there are still reasons to be grateful—small moments that remind us we’re supported and still moving forward.

Gratitude doesn’t deny reality. It uplifts us through it.

Gratitude Expands Your Life

When you appreciate the small things, you start seeing blessings everywhere.
When you reflect on how far you’ve come, confidence replaces doubt.
When you trust that even the imperfect seasons have purpose, hope grows deeper roots.

Gratitude doesn’t change your life overnight—
but it changes how you experience your life today.

It changes your mindset.
It changes your energy.
It changes your ability to find joy.

Most of all, it changes you.

Until next time…..

The Power of Slow Growth

When I think about growth, the first images that come to my mind are often rapid transformations—technology startups going viral, fitness journeys boasting before-and-after photos, or social media accounts racking up followers overnight. But real, sustainable growth almost never happens overnight. Sometimes, growth looks like the patient labor of a farmer tending to crops in the field, season after season.

The Farmer’s Lesson: Growth Takes Time

Consider the story of a farmer planting corn. They wake before dawn, their hands digging into the rich soil as they sow each seed with care and hope. In the days that follow, there’s little visible change. The field remains quiet, the seeds hidden and still. To an impatient eye, it might seem as if nothing is happening at all.

Roots Before Shoots

Beneath the soil, however, transformation is underway. The seeds are sprouting tiny roots, drawing nutrients and water from the soil. This invisible growth is critical—without strong roots, the plant above the surface cannot thrive. The farmer understands this and waits patiently, knowing that what they can’t yet see is just as important as what they will eventually harvest.

Weathering Setbacks

Growth is rarely linear. Storms may flatten young stalks. Droughts can stunt development. Pests might threaten the harvest. Still, the farmer persists—they water, they weed, they tend with faith and resilience. Each setback is met not with defeat, but with renewed commitment. The farmer’s quiet perseverance is a reminder that progress sometimes means simply holding on when the conditions aren’t perfect.

The Harvest: Celebrating Slow Success

After months of tending, the first green shoots finally appear, reaching skyward. Over the summer, the corn matures, changing day by day, until the field is a waving sea of gold. The harvest is proof of growth—not just for the crop, but for the farmer, whose patience, skill, and endurance have brought their dreams to fruition.

Applying the Farmer’s Wisdom to Our Lives

True growth—whether in our careers, relationships, or personal development—is often slow, sometimes almost imperceptible. Like the farmer, we must nurture our goals with care, weather setbacks with courage, and trust that the roots we put down today will support the shoots we hope to see tomorrow.

So next time you feel discouraged by slow progress, remember the farmer and their crop. Growth may be slow, but it is still growth. Celebrate every step and have faith in the harvest that’s yet to come.

Why Your Mindset Controls Your Life

There’s a moment in everyone’s journey when they realize something powerful:
life isn’t just happening to you — you’re shaping it with every thought you choose.

Your mindset is the lens through which you see the world.
Change the lens, and the world changes with it.

In this article, you’ll learn why mindset is the most important factor in creating a better life, how it affects your emotions and actions, and the simple shifts you can make starting today.

⭐ 1. Your Mindset Determines What You Believe Is Possible

Before anything becomes real in your life, it begins as a belief.

  • If you believe something is too hard → you won’t try.
  • If you believe you’re not good enough → you’ll hold yourself back.
  • If you believe you can learn anything → you’ll grow faster than most people ever will.

Your beliefs are like invisible instructions you give your mind.
Change the belief, and you change the result.

⭐ 2. Your Mindset Shapes Your Reactions

Two people can face the same situation and experience two completely different realities.

Someone with a fixed mindset says:
“This is too hard. This always happens to me.”

Someone with a growth mindset says:
“This is challenging… but I can learn from it.”

The situation doesn’t define you — your response does.

And your responses are shaped by the story you tell yourself.

⭐ 3. Your Mindset Directs Your Focus

Where your focus goes, your energy flows.

If you focus on:

  • problems → you’ll feel stuck
  • fears → you’ll feel small
  • what could go wrong → you’ll stay frozen

But when you focus on:

  • solutions
  • possibilities
  • lessons
  • growth

…your whole reality shifts.

What you look for, you will find. Always.

⭐ 4. Your Mindset Influences Your Daily Habits

Your habits are built on the identity you believe you have.

If you think:
“I’m inconsistent,” you’ll act inconsistently.
“I’m not disciplined,” you won’t even attempt discipline.
“I’m trying my best to improve,” your habits will align with growth.

Mindset fuels discipline, not the other way around.

Change the identity → change the habits → change the life.

⭐ 5. Your Mindset Impacts Your Emotional Health

Your thoughts influence how you feel.

If you constantly think:

  • “I’m behind.”
  • “Nothing ever works for me.”
  • “People don’t support me.”

Your emotions will sink.

But thoughts like:

  • “I’m learning.”
  • “I’m doing enough.”
  • “Good things are coming.”

…create peace, confidence, and hope.

A powerful mindset doesn’t ignore emotions — it helps you understand and manage them.

⭐ 6. Your Mindset Determines How You Handle Failure

People with a negative mindset see failure as:
❌ proof they’re not good enough
❌ a sign to give up
❌ a personal flaw

People with a strong mindset see failure as:
✔ feedback
✔ redirection
✔ growth
✔ experience

Failures become stepping stones instead of roadblocks.

⭐ 7. Your Mindset Shapes the Quality of Your Life

When your mindset expands, everything else expands with it.

You begin to:

  • take risks
  • believe in better outcomes
  • choose healthier relationships
  • set boundaries
  • pursue new goals
  • push past fear
  • trust yourself more

A stronger mindset means a stronger life.

⭐ How to Strengthen Your Mindset Starting Today

Here are simple, daily shifts you can make:

1. Replace self-criticism with self-awareness

Instead of “I’m terrible at this,” try
→ “This is new, and I’m learning.”

2. Ask better questions

Swap “Why is this happening to me?” with
→ “What is this trying to teach me?”

3. Consume inspiring content

Protect your mental diet. Feed your mind with positivity, wisdom, and growth.

4. Practice gratitude every morning

It trains your mind to see the good instead of the gaps.

5. Surround yourself with growth-minded people

Your environment upgrades your mindset — or destroys it.

🌟 Final Thought

Your mindset is the control center of your life.
Every choice, every habit, every belief, every direction… they all begin in your mind.

Change your thoughts, and you truly can change your entire life.

Remember:
You become what you repeatedly tell yourself. So tell yourself something powerful.

Never give up!

No matter how many times we are knocked down in life, what makes us is how we rise after the fall. Those times of getting knocked down or stumbling are merely lessons being learned. They are strength building times mentally, physically, and spiritually.

So, just because you may have failed or fallen short on a goal, that doesn’t mean that it is no longer obtainable. It just means that you may need to regroup, review or simply keep trying.

Whatever the case, NEVER GIVE UP! Your dreams, your goals, your passions are always worth the effort.

Until next time…

Take the leap

Let me preface this by saying, my wife and I don’t typically plan in too much detail the things that we might do on any given day or weekend.  We are usually a spur of the moment couple.  We may take off and drive with no known destination and end up two or three states away.  This holds true to just about anything we do.

With that said, there are many things in our lives that could or should require more planning, more discussion, more details lined out, etc.  Depending on the event or task, we may tend to procrastinate.  That may be due to uncertainty, fear of the unknown or many other reasons.

Sometimes when we make plans, whether it is a day out or a major vacation, Those plans can be changed at a moments notice.  Or when we plan, we are expecting something specific for our experience.  This can lead to disappointment when those expectations are not met for some reason or another.

Our lives are meant to be lived.  We are meant to be a joyful people, experiencing life at its fullest.

My wife and I have just recently made a major move to another state with very little planning.  This is pretty typical of us, as mentioned at the start of this blog.  But, we felt that the time to do this was now.  So, we took the leap of faith and moved to our new location.

My point is, not everything in life is best planned out.  There are things we would like to do, but do not because of some reason.  One of the worst things we can do in our lives is not go after our dreams.  If we sit back and wonder, we will never know how it would have worked out.  It doesn’t matter if you succeed or fail, it only matters that you took the leap and tried.  If it doesn’t work out, you learn from it and keep moving forward.

There are so many amazing things in this life to see and to explore.  Don’t let anything stop you from chasing a dream.

Is there something you have been putting off that you are passionate about doing, something you want to see, something you want to try?  Take the leap and go for it.  Maybe it will take a small amount of planning, but don’t plan yourself right out of doing whatever it is that you want to do.

Always keep your head up, your eyes facing forward and keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Remember, don’t keep looking back, unless you are looking to see how far you have come!

Until next time…

Life’s Lessons

We all go through life leaning things on a daily basis.  Some of those things are new skills, school lessons and just everyday items.  But, there are those things throughout our lives that make a big impact on us for one reason or another.  Things that maybe we have heard others talk about or maybe have seen played out in someone else’s life but, we ourselves have not fully believed, learned or experienced those things to allow them to impact us in such a way that they become a lesson for us.

Some of the lessons I have learned, some long ago, some more recent, I will list below.

True love is possible.  The kind of love between two people that surpasses all understanding.  The kind of love that creates a bond stronger than chain.  The kind of love that creates more than just a relationship, marriage or union between two people.  It creates a friendship and complete support system for each another.  True love is not just in the fairy tales.  It is REAL!

Common Sense.  This is one that I have realized long ago but, more so on a daily basis.  Common sense in general has been killed off by our society.  All you have to do is read or watch any source of media outlet and you will see what I am talking about.  It seems more and more prevalent that people have lost that thought process or totally choose not to use it and are just out to create drama, get something for themselves or make news headlines for some selfish reason.

Worrying.  We all worry about something everyday.  That is natural.  The thing about worrying is, that if you allow it to consume you,  it can cause other issues.  It can even bring us into a state of depression.  Think about it for a second, what does worrying actually do for the situation?  It does not bring a resolution.  It does not cause the very thing you are worrying about to go away.  It does not make it easier to deal with.  It is simply an emotional state that can cause us to constantly ask why, how or what if in our minds.  I say all this lightly because I struggle with this one as well.  There are ways to deal with this.  We can take a step back, re-evaluate the concern and then focus on the parts that we can physically have an impact on and the other, we have faith that it will work out as it should.  We can seek out help from family or friends.

There will always be something that we can worry about.  Just don’t allow it to consume you.

Patience. We have all heard Patience is a virtue.  I actually wrote a blog on this subject last year (https://wordpress.com/post/risingabove.blog/70). This is another that I have to really focus on daily.  Being patient is difficult, but not impossible.  In reality though, there is little that we can do about the things that we have little patience for.  It really is about US.  A couple of things that test my patience is the going to the grocery store and sitting in traffic.  I cannot control either of those situations.  If I want to get groceries, I either decide to wait patiently in line or I go to another store where I might face the same scenario.  As for traffic, all I can do is wait.  I can’t push others aside so I can get through.  So, it really is about how we deal with the situation.  We can choose to be patient in those times or we choose not too.

Remaining calm.  This one does not need a whole lot said about it.  Remaining calm in the face of confrontation is far better than the opposite.  Reacting harshly will usually have an even more negative impact on the situation, while reacting in a calm, well mannered way will douse the fire.  Whether we find ourselves in these situations at home, work or out in public, the way that we react or respond to situations impacts all those around us.  Think about this the next time you experience a situation where how you react, will determine the way the outcome will go.

 

These are just a few of the things I wanted to mention.  There are many more and I could go on and on with more lessons I have learned.  I hope that this may bring insight to others and maybe even have you jotting down those lessons in your life that have had an impact on you. Whether it be at a young age or older.  It is never too late to learn something new or gain a new perspective.

Until next time…

It’s about time!

We all have things that we want to do on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.  These could be goals, they could be to do lists for our homes or they could be things that need done for our kids or work.    Well, we all know that these lists of things don’t always get accomplished in the timing we first desire.

The fact is that life happens.  We get distracted.  We may lose interest in something for a period of time.  Something happens in our personal lives that takes us in another direction for a while.  Whatever the reason is, it happens.

I have been struggling with continuing my writing for the past couple of months.  My mind has been all over the place.  Thoughts of new things that I want to do.  Thoughts of things not completed and whatever else my mind can get side tracked on.

Everyday will bring its own challenges.  We will face something each day that will demand our time, take our focus from one thing to another.  Before we know it, a month or more has gone by and we haven’t done the things we set out to do.

So, for me, I say “It’s about time” to get back to my to do list.   Maybe it is about time that you get back to something you have been putting off.  Something you have set aside for a time.  Something that you have lost focus on.

Take some time to ponder those things, whatever they may be.  See if they are still something you want to do or even need to do.  But, if you find that those things are still something that need done or something you still want to tackle, then I say,

“IT’S ABOUT TIME”

Hopefully this short blurb will help spur someone else into getting back to their to do list, to their list of goals or just simply a mundane task that needs to be done.

Until next time…

Different on Purpose

What a crazy world we live in today. We live in a world that is ever changing. We also live in a world that is full of hate. This hate stems from people seeing things differently. Having different opinions, different tastes, different likes, etc. The reasons for all of the hate and discontent could go on forever I believe.

We as nation will find a reason to not like something even if there is no reason for us to. Makes sense, right? (That was rhetorical) But, it is true. If there is something we are not interested in, we will find a reason to not like it. But, in reality, there is no reason for us to try and find an excuse to not like this or that when it is something we just aren’t in too. We could just simply say, not interested, not my cup of tea, not something I’m in to, etc.

Instead we search for a reason to dislike or in some instances even hate whatever it is. I believe this is because this is how our society has evolved. It seems now it is common practice and sometimes expected that if we are not interested in something or someone, we must have a reason for it other than it just isn’t something we are in to.

When society asks us if we like something, the simple answer of No, is not accepted without further explanation. Why can’t we just accept someone’s answer of NO, and leave it at that?

All of this is so true when it comes to us. People. How much hate have you seen because we are different? Because we have different color skin. Because we come from a different country?

The fact of the matter is, every single one of us on this planet was created DIFFERENT on PURPOSE! We were all created for a higher purpose. We see how so many people are treated differently because they are DIFFERENT. Whether it is because their skin is a different color or that they have lots of money or none at all. Maybe, it is because they are missing a limb or have some other handicap.

What makes someone superior to anyone else because of a difference that someone has? We were all created in the same way. Everyone is different in some way. There is one unique thing that every single person on this earth was given when conceived. Something that is not like any other person. Our fingerprint.

This shows us that we were created to be DIFFERENT ON PURPOSE! It is our unique identity. It tells us who we are.

There is always going to be things that people do not agree on. There will always be those differences in the world. But, when it comes to physical or material differences, why don’t we embrace those?

Instead of saying, I have more money than you, why not use some of that to make something better for another? Instead of saying I can’t do this because I have this handicap, how about take those challenges you have faced and share with others that may need help or inspiration?

Everyone of us has something we can offer to someone else. It doesn’t matter how big or how small that something may be. We all have a purpose. Some of us find that purpose early in life. Others a little later, and some may never find their true purpose.

Just because you are different in some way, shape or form, doesn’t mean you are not as smart as someone else. It doesn’t mean that you are not capable things others can do. It doesn’t mean that others are superior to you. It simply means you are different. That is what makes this world such and amazing place. If everyone were the same, think of how boring this place could be.

We were all created to be different. We all have a unique identification. We all have a purpose. We all have something that we can give. Look past the differences. Whether those differences are in yourself or in someone else.

If you haven’t found your purpose yet, go find it! If you have, then use it to help someone or something.

“Your only limitations are those that you have placed on yourself”

“The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out” (Proverbs 20:5)

Until next time…

Conquer Life

Rising above life's challenges

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