Laughter is the best medicine! This time-honored phrase dates back to biblical times, but it’s as applicable today as ever! Laughter is healing! It can drive stress away, relax your whole body, release endorphins, increase your heart-health and some say it may even help you live longer ! Laughter has many physical and mental benefits. Because laughter is the great equalizer ; It brings people together; It simply feels good to laugh. Studies show that people who use humor an

The upside of low self-esteem is that it takes the sting out of most insults. Discouragement can have a big effect on the way we see ourselves. But it's always important to remember your value! A bottle of Coca-Cola cost $1 at the store, $2 at the gym, $4 at the airport, $7 at a concert! Same bottle, different location, different value! The next time you feel undervalued don't question what you're worth, question where you are. You're probably asking: "But Charlie

"Talk to everybody. One person could change your life, or you might even change theirs." Being a car-crazy high school senior with very little career direction, I thought my future was to be an automobile mechanic. That all changed in one night after I went to dinner at a friend's house and talked to her boyfriend who was in Barber School at the time. He said that barbers could make $100 a week and never get their hands dirty. Bingo! . . . . . you don't have to te

A young man looking out from the train’s window shouted… "Dad, look at the trees racing by" His Dad smiled. A young couple sitting nearby, noticed the young man's childish behavior, with pity. Then, suddenly the young man exclaimed, ‘Dad, look at all the beautiful clouds. They are moving with us!’ The couple couldn’t resist and said to the old man, ‘Why don’t you take your son to a good doctor?’ The old man smiled and said, "I did ! And we are just coming from the hospit

World Book Encyclopedias, circa 1954 When I was a child, a traveling salesman knocked on the front door of our house. Nobody EVER came to our front door unless it was the Preacher or a Salesman! This Salesman was offering a set of these wonderful books: The World Book Encyclopedias! Mom and dad thought my sister and I deserved the best education they could afford and hoped these books might be helpful . So, they gave the salesman a down payment of two-dollars and he ag

Charlie the Barber, circa 1964 When I started my barbering career, I never saw myself winning any major awards -- especially after the time I snipped that guys ear during a haircut. The blood droplets from his ear and the memories of the facial expressions on those in the waiting room, have been a continuing memory and might have inspired me to reevaluate my career choice! When I transitioned to sales at The Quaker Oats Company, I never thought later in my life I would

As I get older, I find myself thinking more and more about my legacy. Studies have shown that most people cannot tell you much about their great-grandfather. What will people remember about me when I'm gone? Or . . . will I be remembered at all? I've always tried to live a life that reflects my Christian values, and I want that to be part of my legacy as well. And even though many times, "I wandered in the wilderness," God always had His hand on me!

When you look at this -- what do you see? The majority of us see a black dot. You find in life what you look for! What are you focusing on this year? Will you be focusing on the black dot in the center of the blank page which represents our challenges , negativities, disappointments and difficulties -- or will you focus on the vast white space around the dot where you find opportunities, friendships and blessings? The possibilities here are endless. Our lives are lik

A father and his two young sons were fishing in a very large lake, when suddenly a terrible storm came up and capsized their boat. They feared for their lives, struggled to upright the boat, and finally were able to climb back in it. As they rowed back to the shoreline, the man saw his wife running toward the boat. Sobbing she said, "During that terrible storm, lightning struck our house and burned it to the ground. Everything we have worked for for thirt y-years has gone

We met one another as strangers eating breakfast at the counter of our favorite country cookin' restaurant. Two elderly men and a younger fellow exchanged stories and memories of our adventures, quickly forming a friendship. We are all set in our ways, have many quirks and idiosyncrasies which usually result in everyone laughing. Talk about diversity! One of us was in 'Special Forces' and two of us weren't . One of us still uses a flip phone and drinks his warm coffee th

An elderly gentleman's wife had been in a memory care facility for over 4 years. Not a day went by that he did not go visit her, even though she never recognized him or ever knew why he came . One day after all these years, he just couldn't stand it anymore, and he got down on his knees, looked into her eyes and said, "Honey do you know who I am?" She paused, looked up at him and replied, "I don't know who you are, but I can tell that you are someone who loves me very m

Intelligence without ambition is like a bird without wings. -Salvator Dali What is your New Year's Resolution? Sometimes we all need a little inspiration to remind us to reach for the stars. Or at least try to reach the top shelf in the pantry without using a step stool. Whether your goal is to become the world's best pickleball player or to invent a self-stirring coffee mug, pursue it with the enthusiasm of a mosquito at a nudist colony. Ambition doesn't just happen. Y

What   are   your   big   plans for 2026? Take a moment to reflect on this ancient wisdom: If you want to know your past, look into your present condition. If you want to know your future, look into your present actions. YOUR PAST Don’t linger too long in the glow of past victories. Praises for our past triumphs are like feathers to a dead bird. They may have felt uplifting, but they hold no real power in our current lives. While we are products of our past, we need not be pr

We give gifts at Christmas to symbolizes the ultimate Gift God gave us in Jesus Christ, His Son! We could never even begin to match the Gift God gave us! May we all celebrate the birth of Jesus aaaaaaaaand spread the hope He brought to the worAaaald. I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday Season ! Click the link below for one of my Christmas favorites. I hope it blesses you! Jennifer Nettles "O Holy Night" Subscribe New Blogs   Previous Blogs More

A friend of mine shared this story with me: "When I dwas in elementary school, we did a Secret Santa in my class room. All the kids drew a name and then we exchanged presents the last day before Christmas break. My parents went out and bought me a nice new toy to give to the child whose name I had drawn. Mama wrapped it up and the kid that received it, loved the present. The present I received was from a boy in my class that I didn't really know. It looked like it had been

One of my inspirational heroes is Bob Goff, author of Love Does -- an excellent must-read book! According to Bob, giving is not just a moral obligation but a pathway to a more joyful, connected, and purposeful life. Not just at Christmas, but all year long! Giving at Christmas does include a certain 'magic' that normal giving may or may not include. We give gifts at Christmas to symbolizes the ultimate Gift God gave us in Jesus Christ, His Son! But how could we even beg

An old man was trying to teach his grandson about life's lessons: "A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy. "It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil – he is anger, envy, greed, arrogance, false pride, and ego. The other is love, joy, peace, hope, humility, kindness, and compassion. The same fight is going on inside of you – and inside every other person. " The grandson thought about it for a minute and then ask his grandfather "Which wo

We live in a day when everything is an acronym. FOMO  -- Fear-of-Missing-Out has become a familiar term . So. . . . . is curiosity a good thing or a bad thing? Curiosity, the desire to learn, is also known as "intellectual overexcitability". When you’re genuinely curious, you assume that other people may have information that you don’t have, or may see things that you may miss. Curiosity is a positive and beneficial trait that can improve relationships, and overall

As Thanksgiving approaches, our hearts are filled with gratitude. However, this sense of thankfulness should be an important part of our daily lives -- not just reserved for Thanksgiving. As my mentor Zig Ziglar used to say: We should all have an 'attitude of gratitude.' Thanksgiving is a condition of the heart and the more thankful you are about the things in your lives, the more things you have been thankful for! I'm so thankful for two of my greatest treasures —my w

We all go through the storms of life. We never purposely choose to go through our trials. They bring pain, confusion, and questions that we’d prefer not to face. But trials are often the pathways to God’s richest blessings .   When you are going through the next storm -- and we all will -- remember: I t takes both rain and sunshine to make a rainbow. Remember. . . God may be trying to teach you something or lead you in another direction. Look for the blessings beyond the st