Ladies and Gentlemen, this week Shawn White road the GREATEST snowboard run in recorded history!  Watch it!

In honor of Shawn White’s courage and determination and hard work, if you want to have a Gold-Medal winning friendship I’ve got some advice. 

“Wait a minute!”  I know, this week I’m writing about Pro Bowl quality friendships, but I’m diverting the metaphor for today.

I know mixing my metaphors is a no-no, but he got a perfect score!

Locate The Trouble Spot – Try to assess what has gone wrong. Ask yourself, “How did we get into this mess?”

My Nook Color to Android Tablet Challenge has been the third time I completed the task.

My mission was to bless my dad with the same options to expand his Nook Color’s power as I was enjoying. The bonus was that I was able to offer you, mysilentscream readers, the secrets to my success.

As I finish this week I’m left with a desire to share four truths about completing a project. I’ve been blessed with many good role models, high expectations and caring support, but with that in mind I know that when I take on a challenge I still have to do the work.

Yesterday I wrote about my determination to maximize the capabilities of my new Nook Color [NC]. Commenter Angi of peepsarecool complained about the cliffhanger.  Sorry about that everyone.  As I replied, “Would it help if it’s a tale of woe, angst, fear, failure and ultimately success?  It’s like many classic novels.”  =D

Thanks for reading, and now back to our tale of woe and Nook.

Since I was unwilling and a bit timid about the possibility of turning my gift into garbage I read extensively about the ways to mod a NC by booting the Android Operating system from an SD memory card.

My wife Amy and I love to read.  In the Spring I bought Amy a Kindle book reader.  Amy didn’t need a touch screen, so the Kindle with a 6″ display with a non-glare screen and great battery life was perfect for her.  She loves it.

Amy read on her Kindle outside in the backyard all Spring, Summer and Fall while enjoying the garden without any inconvenient glare.

A couple years ago I found a great deal on an Android phone.  I thought I would like it’s touch-screen.  I liked a touch-screen even more than I thought I would.  Frankly, I’m not certain I can easily ever have a phone without a touch screen again.

Yesterday I asked you to think back to your childhood views of marriage.

Do you have the same view of marriage when you were a kid, or has it changed?
Happily ever after is what I hoped for.  Maybe you did too.
Has your view changed?  Mine has.

I watched and learned from my parents. They shared hopes, dreams, hobbies and dramas. When my best friends’ parents divorced, I was so confused.  They seemed to love one another. It’s easy to feel disillusioned when all around you is heartache and heart-break.

In this series on shame we had some fun with it, defined it, and practically explained how culturally bound and complicated shame-filled groups can become.

Q – Why Do We Still Choose Shame?

A – Shame “Solves Problems.”

If you are:
1. Are you angry? Smile.
2. Feeling afraid? Act tough.
3. Feeling hurt? Hide it.
4. Feeling like a mess? Cover it up.
5. Feeling weak? Tough it out.
6. Feeling worried? Don’t worry. Be happy.
7. Just got “caught’? Deny it.

It might seem like problem solving, but sublimating can easily become shaming.

I love listening to my old music.  I love breaking out a Bruce Springsteen concert or playing Rush’s La Villa Strangiato.

I also love learning about newer artists. 

Recently my son Josh’s girlfriend Taylor introduced me to metalcore bands I hadn’t heard.  Now I listen to Acacia Strain, Asking Alexandria, Dead By April, and Motionless in White.  I admit, they won’t make the daily list, but they will spin in my media player.

By the way, what music are you listening to that I should consider listening to too?

Deep Music

Watch Yourself

Watch yourself like you’re watching the clock when you’re really hungry for your lunch.
Watch yourself attentively like you’re waiting for an important appointment.
Watch yourself like you’re noticing a new pimple the day before an important first date.

Watch yourself because it matters what you do.

Watch your thoughts, they become words.
Watch your words, they become actions.
Watch your actions, they become habits.
Watch your habits, they become your character.
Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.  1

Recently I’ve written about the value of self-esteem insurance. I think it’s important to access our strengths first.

And, admit your weaknesses second.

Some people admit their weaknesses easily.  Sometimes it’s one of their strengths; for others it’s a weakness.

People who are or are becoming emotionally and spiritually healthy see weaknesses for what they are, challenges. 

People who are not becoming emotionally and spiritually healthy see weaknesses as problems that cause pain they want to avoid, deficits to deny, and shameful secrets to conceal.

You, on the other hand, are still reading.  Congratulations!  You want more for your life than denial and lies.

Fighting the Giant of Worry

If we’re gonna defeat the giant of worry we’ll need to focus our attention on the giant. You and I will need a system of priorities.

My first priority — well, at least I want to keep it in focus as my first priority — is my faith in God and my relationship with God.

Fight the giant of worry, hold onto God and God “will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.” 1