Lesson 23: Keys to Success - Get Up

     Another lovely Barry-ism for this week's Key to Success: Get Up. Or rather, fall down seven times, get up eight. AKA - keep going.

     Some days are so freaking tough Trav. Getting out of bed is a struggle, and it truly seems impossible to make it through the day. With these new hours at the station, I get up around 11pm, work until 8am, and then come home and sleep until it's time to go to the gym. Essentially, I'm somewhat nocturnal. Sleep is a priority for me now - if I can nap, I nap, no matter the hour. And the longer I can stay in bed the better.
     But I've got to get up and keep going. It's like my dad says, if you fall down, get up again. Because the day you gave up could have been the day things got better.

"But the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me."

2 Timothy 4:17

     Every day you stand up and keep going is a day God stands with you and makes you stronger. Every day that you keep trying is a day closer to better days. I will get up every day knowing that God and you are helping me. Even if I would rather sleep in a little longer.

     Love, Bubba

Lesson 22: Keys to Success - Love Hard

     With Valentine's Day this weekend, it's no surprise that my post this week is about love. I may be young, but I had a great example for how a relationship should be from watching you and mom. You treated her like a queen and were always faithful. You made her laugh and you always gave her your entire heart. You exemplified one of the Keys to Success I was given at graduation - Love Hard.

"Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart."

Proverbs 3:3

     To me, to love hard means to love with your entire heart. If you truly love someone, you give them everything. You shouldn't love someone with half a heart. Because when you love someone with everything you have, you open your life to even more love than you could imagine. And if you're lucky, you have a love like Travis and D'Lyn.

     Love, Bubba

Lesson 21: Keys to Success - Travel

     My Fabulous Aunt Jessica is a traveling woman. She's been all over the United States and a few places over seas. She's seen parts of the world that I wish I had, especially since I've never been outside of the United States. And her Key to Success was, no surprise, travel.

"And He said to them: Go into the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation."

Mark 16:15

     When we travel, we see things completely different from what we're used to. Different people, different cultures, different foods and monuments - the world is a beautiful and diverse place. Traveling only makes you more of a well-rounded and understanding person.

     One of my goals is to start traveling more. Big Dude, you weren't a world traveler, but I know you'd support this Key to Success.

     Love, Bubba

Lesson 20: Keys to Success - Forgive Fast

     Trav, you were pretty good at forgiveness. I can't remember you speaking ill of a single person. Even the people that you didn't necessarily have to get along with or had good reason to hate, you didn't. Because you were a good person, and you forgave fast.
     "Forgive fast" is a Key to Success that I have yet master. I wish that I was as good at it as you were, but I'm not. I'm young, and I hold grudges. Instead of forgiving and removing that hatred from my heart, I harbor it. And that's wrong.

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit in me."

Psalms 51:10

     One of the many things I'm trying in my journey of adulthood is to forgive like you did. Because a clean happy heart is better than a dark angry one.

     Love, Bubba

Lesson 19: Keys to Success - Kick Some Ass

     I would say sorry for the language, but we all know you don't care, Big Dude. This gem of advice comes from a 15-year-old that unfortunately picked up my affinity for curse words, but it's one of my favorites. Kick some ass.
     This piece of advice is easy to understand. When my lovely teenage cousin would go to her cheer practices and competitions, I would usually be there to drop her off. Every time she'd get out of the car or walk into the practice room, I'd forgo the "good lucks" and instead say "kick some ass".
     And it stuck. Now, instead of wishing
good fortune on each other, we say KSA. So naturally when I saw this piece of advice on one of my "Keys to Success", I knew I had to share.
     Whether it's a competition, sporting event, big interview, meeting your significant other's parents, or simply living life, don't forget - kick some ass. After all, that's what you did Trav.
     Love, Bubba

Lesson 18: Keys To Success - Turn the Page

     Big Dude, you know my dad is a wise man. Quiet about his wisdom, but wise nonetheless. His key to success was: Turn the Page.
     Quite simply, turn the page means to keep going. No, this isn't advice to keep moving when things get hard - it's advice to keep moving when things get good. Let me explain.
     My dad is always pushing better - be better, do better, find better. When he says "Turn the Page", he means find a better chapter. Don't settle on your current page. See what's next. Try to outdo yourself. Don't just decide that what you've achieved is enough. Achieve MORE.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

     God has a plan. Just turn the page.

     Love, Bubba

Lesson 17: Keys To Success - Smile

     When I graduated in December, my family threw me a fantastic graduation lunch. Friends and family came out and celebrated my biggest accomplishment yet. Even you were there in spirit.
     My Aunt Elizabeth decorated the lunch, and one of the coolest things she did was ask everyone who attended to contribute a "Key To Success". They were then asked to hang the keys on a tree, and when the lunch was over I got to take them home.
     When I finally got to sit in the car on the drive home and read them, I was floored. The keys contained wisdom that I know I'll remember for years to come, especially since I hung them all in my room so that I would see them every day. And now, I'm sharing them here.
     My next few posts will be some of the keys my family so graciously shared with me. And the first and possibly simplest is: Smile.

"The smile on my face doesn't mean my life is perfect. It means I appreciate what I have and what God has blessed me with."

     Life will be hard. Hell, it's hard right now. But there is always something to smile about. And sometimes, even if your smile is fake, it'll turn into a real smile. Maybe your smile will even make someone else smile. Especially if they have a Travis Suggs smile. Those were contagious.

     Love, Bubba