22 Things I learned in 2022

Now that 2022 is done with, it is time to reflect on just a few of the things that I learned throughout the year. Rather than do 22 separate blog posts about them, I thought I’d give you all 22 in one shot. So here we go!!!

1. My family is at the top of my priority list.
2. God is way bigger than Church.
3. I’d rather fail at something I love than succeed at something I can tolerate.
4. Dogs are great at emotional support.
5. Establishing healthy rhythms in my life is the key to success, not the outcome.
6. A good taco changes my day.
7. Dreams get difficult when you do something about them. If you aren’t willing to work hard, your dreams will always stay in the ethereal.
8. Stand-up comedians serve a very important function in our world as truth tellers and health care professionals. Laughter is good medicine after all.
9. After 24 years of marriage, my wife continues to impress me.
10. 50 is the magical age in which my body begins to work against me.
11. 50 is also the magical age in which I begin to be comfortable in my own skin and care a little bit less about what people think.
12. Jesus loves me despite my flaws and maybe even because of them.
13. Rest is an essential part of being a happy and well adjusted human being. Make time for it.
14. It is amazing how little it takes to get off the hamster wheel of helplessness. Go for a walk. Pet your dog. Get a good night’s sleep. Read a few pages from a book. Then get back in the game!
15. Love is one of the most important things in my life if not THE most important thing.
16. The adage “failure is not an option” is total garbage. If you aren’t failing, you aren’t learning. If you aren’t learning, you aren’t growing. Failure is a necessary part of our development as human beings. (Maybe we should just start calling failure “practice”.)
17. There are a lot of people out there looking for ways to help if they only had the opportunity.
18. (Slightly related to 17.) If you need help, have the courage to ask for it. You will be surprised at the results.
19. I am capable of way more than what I think I’m capable of.
20. When you are doing something of significance, you’ll encounter hardship and criticism. Expect it!!!
21. There is never enough time. Utilize the amount you have to the best of your ability.
22. People will always surprise me with the good things they do and their capacity to love sacrificially.