Tips for Teens

Think of all the influential people you know either now or in history. People like Oprah Winfrey, Abraham Lincoln, Mother Theresa, Jesus, etc. are (or were) people that had a undeniable way of putting others before themselves. They are making (or made) an impact on this world by providing selfless acts of service to the human race. In short, they changed lives on a large scale because they put others first and for that, they were given a platform. They also built lasting rela

What does it mean to be a gentleman? A gentleman is a man that treats others in a proper and polite way (borrowed from m-w.com) but being a gentleman now requires much more effort than what was required a few years ago. Why? I think it's because there are fewer gentleman as role-models which means the younger guys are kinda left trying to figure it out on their own. Look around and you'll see many men that are becoming less and less concerned about others but more and more co

Continuing with bearing fruit, next up is kindness. It's sad that society has made a guy like me feel less of a man because he is considerate, puts others first, or is kind. Many consider a guy like this weak, a pushover, or a doormat because he may not use coarse or profane language, brute force, or have a tough demeanor. This was the biggest struggle of my life growing up as a teen. I knew I wasn't the typical guy. I was sensitive, considerate, empathized with others, and I

Peace is the next fruit I want to discuss. Growing up in the 80s, there was a was pretty popular commercial that featured a bubble bath soap (Calgon). The commercial featured a stressed out woman dealing with a barking dog, crying kids, traffic, a yelling boss, etc. The woman said these four simple words: "Calgon, take me away" and, magically, she was swept away to a luxurious bubble bath with soft music playing in the background. Immediately, her stress was gone! As you can

The first fruit we will take a look at in the Bear Fruit series is love. Valentine's day is one of the nation's most commercial holidays. Chocolates, roses, and stuffed animals fly off the shelf faster than lighting. The sad reality is many people don't really understand what true love is. They confuse it with lust and you should know there's a big difference between the two. But before you can show love, let's start by defining it. Merriam Webster's dictionary says love is a

My granddad was a farmer and while that was the thing to do back in the day, I hated when Saturdays rolled around. My mom would wake us up early in the morning (while the other kids stayed home watching cartoons) so that we could go with my granddad to pick peas. I remember riding in his old Ford Grand Torino. It was so old, the floor board had rusted through and I could see the highway below my feet as we rode along County Road 139 (a 2-lane, country highway in Wildwood, Flo

Before you start yelling at me, hear me out. No, I'm not saying that as a servant, you have to be a slave but check this out: think about the last time you visited a business, a theme park, or restaurant. My guess is that the establishment tried to make you feel very special. Why? It's because their aim is to have great customer service and to have you come back again. They want you to tell others about how good of an experience you had. Many big businesses know that the majo

Right now, the nation is sad over the news of the recent school shooting in Newtown, CT. Everyone is trying to figure out why. What could have made a person take the lives of so many innocent children? The world may never know but now there are a lot of people on a quest to find a solution fast. Stronger gun laws, arming teachers with guns, locking up the schools, etc. are some of the things being discussed. What I think is probably an overly simplified fix but I'm sure it pl

I consider it a privilege to be a part of a group of young men called the Leadership Academy. The purpose of this group is to develop future leaders. One of the most important sayings of this group is the Warrior Creed by Robert L. Humphrey. It goes like this: "Wherever I go, everyone is a little bit safer because I am there. Wherever I am, anyone in need has a friend. Whenever I return home, everyone is happy I am there." As a man, you're called to be a protector. What d

Think about your good friends, not just any friend but your GOOD friends. Why do you consider them good friends? Because they make you feel good? They agree with everything you say? You talk and they listen? You can share your thoughts and not be judged by them? You can confide in them? They let you borrow money? They encourage you? They make you laugh? Well, it should be because they bring you life! They should have this positive energy that makes you feel encouraged, joyful