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