If you can say that you have lived your life without regrets, I will say that you have not lived very long or that you are not very self-aware. We all have done or said things that we later regret.

One thing is for sure; if we do not set expectations for our relationships, we will not meet them. If we allow our relationships to just happen, we will most likely become the victim of an unhealthy or toxic relationship. However, if we intentionally create a vision and adjust as needed, we can build strong, meaningful relationships with those in our lives.

So let me get this straight, over 900 billion dollars will be spent this holiday season so that we can increase our stress and decrease our physical and mental health. What is wrong with this picture What if we did something different this year? What if we took charge of our stress instead of letting it control us?

As we give thanks for our forefathers who risked their lives and families to begin a new adventure that we now call our home, it is important to recognize the significance of gratitude. This is about more than a shallow nod to turkey and dressing with friends and family. This holiday is about what truly defines us.

We get to choose how we treat others. We get to choose how we approach each day, hour, and moment of our lives. While I am aware that the journey of life is hard, it is also full of opportunities.

A tribute to military service members and their families, highlighting the inspiring commitment of young people like Tatum who choose to serve and protect our nation.

Learn how to engage and check in with others with others in a way that resonates with their individual personality style.

Take a listen to the latest episode of our Crossing the Line podcast, where we talk about how to practice everyday reconciliation in our lives and relationships.

Larry and his daughter Ren engage in a conversation about navigating political differences within the family by prioritizing relationships and understanding over divisive opinions.

In this recent episode of Crossing The Line we discuss how to deal with the storms in our lives and in our relationships.

Improving relationships takes intentional effort, and it starts with prioritizing others over our own pride and ego, creating deeper connections in a self-centered world.

Reducing screen time and being present can improve communication and strengthen relationships, ending the epidemic of cell phone obsession.

Learn how to focus on effective feedback and constructive criticism in order to preserve positive communication in relationships.

Learn how to replace assumptions with curiosity by asking questions.

Choose words that encourage respect and understanding to foster collaboration during difficult conversations.

Learn how being open about your insecurities and practicing self-awareness can lead to deeper, more meaningful relationships with others.

Someone was telling me about a device used for sleep issues. It's designed to help prevent mouth breathing at night by keeping the mouth closed. As they were telling me about this device and the improved sleep they’d been getting since they started using it, I thought about the fact that keeping our mouths closed is not only important for getting better-quality sleep, but for building better-quality relationships as well. 

We were in Kentucky exploring part of the famous Bourbon Trail. As we toured different facilities, I was amazed at the different yet very similar stories I was hearing about bourbon, families, farmers, struggles and the recent boom. We were at one small distillery that offered a unique experience.  I noticed that one of the team members, Evan, was especially skilled at his craft. This is where the fun started for me. I walked up to Evan and began a conversation. I eventually asked his expert opinion on the barrels that we were observing. He was hesitant at first to give me his opinion, not wanting to sway me in one direction. Eventually, as I kept asking questions, he revealed his wisdom to me.

It was the first day of school for her twin, nine-year-old girls and their mom wanted to celebrate. After school, she took the girls to an elaborate ice cream shop that offered all kinds of special ice cream combinations, toppings and flavors. She wanted to give her twins a special experience, so she told them, “You can have whatever you want”. After looking over the entire menu of ice cream offerings, they both decided on a simple waffle cone with one scoop of plain chocolate ice cream on it. As hard as she tried to get them to order something more “special,” they stuck with their choice. Later she said, “I had in my mind this wonderful experience of the girls ordering these huge ice cream extravaganzas, but at the end of the day, all they wanted was a simple cone.”

The drama, the controversy, the intrigue…. we have seen all of these in the Paris 2024 Olympics. It has been amazing for me to watch the incredible athletes who have prepared and worked with such discipline to have this opportunity. Just as amazing to me have been the support groups that I have witnessed with these athletes.

To watch the families who have been with them on their long journey celebrate or comfort their loved ones in competition is a reminder of the importance of relationships. None of the Olympians made it to Paris by themselves. They all had friends, family, coaches and teammates who encouraged, challenged and supported them. Many of the athletes recognized and thanked those who supported and helped them accomplish this dream.