I. Love. Coffee. If you know me at all, you know my love for coffee. You also know I can be a bit of a “coffee snob.” Hey, I know who I am! lol! It’s such a wonderful beverage. Iced, cold brew, latte’s, cappuccino, Frappuccino. How do you Ike yours? Black, decaf, cream? You name…
— Read on movingthroughlifewithjeff.blog/2024/02/03/coffee-connections-2/

I. Love. Coffee.

If you know me at all, you know my love for coffee. You also know I can be a bit of a “coffee snob.” Hey, I know who I am! lol! It’s such a wonderful beverage. Iced, cold brew, latte’s, cappuccino, Frappuccino. How do you Ike yours? Black, decaf, cream? You name it and almost anything can create the latest and greatest coffee drink. However, did you ever stop to consider that all of these wonderful concoctions start with the same basic ingredient: the coffee bean.

I think coffee is the great connector in a world that is increasingly craving “human” connection. Make no mistake, we are all connected…to our phones, iPads, laptops, etc. let me ask you a question: how many people do you know that you really don’t KNOW? Why?

Here’s a challenge for you: connect with coffee. Step out of your comfort zone and ask a friend that you haven’t seen in a while to meet you for a cup ‘o joe. Invite someone you work with, someone you “know” at church to meet you for a coffee. You just might be surprised at how willing they are to accept your invitation. People, in my opinion, are craving personal relationship, especially since COVID and the lock down. Being confined to our homes. Working from home. Being a hybrid worker(that really wasn’t even a thing until a couple of years ago.

So, there you have it. Go grab your favorite version of my favorable beverage. Have it with an old friend. Have it with a new friend…and enjoy!

Be well,

Jeff

I. Love. Coffee.

If you know me at all, you know my love for coffee. You also know I can be a bit of a “coffee snob.” Hey, I know who I am! lol! It’s such a wonderful beverage. Iced, cold brew, latte’s, cappuccino, Frappuccino. How do you Ike yours? Black, decaf, cream? You name it and almost anything can create the latest and greatest coffee drink. However, did you ever stop to consider that all of these wonderful concoctions start with the same basic ingredient: the coffee bean.

I think coffee is the great connector in a world that is increasingly craving “human” connection. Make no mistake, we are all connected…to our phones, iPads, laptops, etc. let me ask you a question: how many people do you know that you really don’t KNOW? Why?

Here’s a challenge for you: connect with coffee. Step out of your comfort zone and ask a friend that you haven’t seen in a while to meet you for a cup ‘o joe. Invite someone you work with, someone you “know” at church to meet you for a coffee. You just might be surprised at how willing they are to accept your invitation. People, in my opinion, are craving personal relationship, especially since COVID and the lock down. Being confined to our homes. Working from home. Being a hybrid worker(that really wasn’t even a thing until a couple of years ago.

So, there you have it. Go grab your favorite version of my favorable beverage. Have it with an old friend. Have it with a new friend…and enjoy!

Be well,

Jeff

When I decided to do this blog, I said it would be real, raw, revealing and ….random. Well, welcome to ‘random thoughts with Jeff!”.

36 years. I can’t believe it. This is my 36th year in the insurance and financial services business. I think my deceased father, Nick, would be proud of me. He wasn’t sure I’d last. Not 100% sure why he felt that way. My feeling is that he was an extremely hard worker and he saw a lot of insurance agents playing A LOT of golf back then. ‘Ya know, not working very hard. Well, again, here I am. I’ve lasted 35 years and it has been a blessing. I’ve met so many kind, wonderful people. My motto has always been “see the people, serve the people.” It has served me well(no pun intended). I am slowing down. I’ll be 60 this summer. I’d like to work til the end of 2026. I’ll be roughly 62 1/2. That’ll be over 38 years. that’s enough! lol!

Where is everyone going?! Earlier this week I was in the Charlotte airport. I was on a business trip to see clients/friends in Rock Hill, SC. The airport was PACKED! As I sat there Wednesday afternoon, passing the time away on a 2 hour delay, it struck me: where are all of these people going? And why are they ALL in such a hurry to get there? 

So, as I mentioned earlier, I’ve got a little less than 3 years to go until I retire. But then what? Where will I “go?” What will life have in store for me? What is God’s will for my life, going forward? I have no idea. Oh, I guess I have some idea. If you know me well, you know I am a planner. I’ve got plans! However, I am daily praying and asking God that HIS will be done in my life. That He reveal where He wants me to be. I think, as a believer, that is what I am called to do. His will for my life. How about you? Where are you going?

The late comedian George Carlin once said, “why, when a two planes9could be cars, I guess) nearly collide, they call it a “near miss?’ It’s a “near hit” gang!” Too funny, but true! It IS a near HIT! Have you had any near hits lately? I love to listen to podcasts. Recently, I listened to one and the person being interviewed said that when visiting a family member, that family member would always tell her guests, when they were leaving, “watch out for deer!”. I know. It’s a ‘WV thing.” But true! Watch our for deer, or else you may have a near hit!

Be well my friends. Tell someone you live them. Give someone a hug. Practice kindness. You’ll be well rewarded.

Love,

Jeff

Do you remember a time in your life when all systems were a “go”? Perhaps a time when everything just clicked. Life was good. You were happy. Really happy. How did your body feel? Heavy, like you were carrying around a 100lb weight or, light? Really light?

Let me share my own personal story in hopes that it helps you. 2022 was probably the toughest year of my business career. Personally, we had just asked our youngest daughter to leave. My health was not in a good place. My right knee was bone-on-bone. Pain? You bet! Our business was doing well, but I felt as if I was shouldering the majority of the load. I was the face of the business and the overwhelming majority of the workload was left to me.

My stress levels at that time were quite high. Poor sleep. Weight gain. Mood swings. Feelings of depression. My light was just a flicker…and my body was definitely not light either. Life wasn’t fun.

We made the decision to sell our home and move to Columbus. This was done for a variety of reasons, the number one reason being for Noah’s well-being. As an adult with autism, services in WV are practically non-existent. Columbus, on the other hand, is akin to Disney World. Truth: it gave me a fresh start(yes, it can also be looked at as an escape). We quickly adapted to our new city and got involved in a new church. I am so thankful God paved the way for us to start attending(we’re now members) of Northwest Presbyterian Church. We love NPC and are growing in our faith.

As 2022 came to an end, I began to notice that my light was beginning to shine, even if just a little bit. My body was improving, having had total knee replacement. 2023 saw that light, and that load, improve. Lots of prayer, crying, reading, journaling and self-care brought me back. Not all the way back-we are all a work in progress-but definitely in a much better place. I had my 1st book published in 2023. I started exercising again, for the first time in 3 years. I sold my half of our business(I still work with my insurance and investment clients). Life is better.

How about you? Has your light grown dim over the past few years? Do you feel as if you’re carrying a large load on your back? My hope for you is that you’ll seek Christ’s love and grace. Pray. Talk to him. Talk with a close friend. Practice self-care. Put Jesus first and yourself second. Then, when you begin to get that light back, do something for someone else. Lift up someone else who’s hurting. You’ll be surprised how good you’ll feel.

Lastly, I fully realize that there are many people out there who are going through very serious trials. Please know you are not alone. Please don’t try and “gut it out”. Ask for help. Let others pray for you. Let that light shine!

Be well,

Jeff

I am a fraud. I’ve been faking it.

You know: ‘fake it ‘til you make it!” Now that I have your attention, I’m not really a fraud or, faking it at all. I just CHOOSE to put on a happy face. Smile

As many of you, who have read my book, know, I’ve had quite the run these past 4 years. Failing health, 2 major operations(back surgery and knee replacement surgery), multiple tests, rheumatoid arthritis, you name it, I seemed to have it. We had to exhibit tough love with our daughter. I sold part of my business, sooner than anticipated. Moved to Ohio. You get the picture.

During all of this I CHOSE to keep a smile on my face. Move forward. Yes, privately I cried. I got mad. Felt depressed. I just CHOSE no to lest those feeling fester. I CHOSE to move forward, and I CHOSE to keep a smile on my face.

You see, my point is this: as a former employee once told me, “you never know what’s in someone’s backpack.” Translation: you never know what someone else is dealing with. I remember taking Naomi, Noah and Lily with Joyce and I to feed the homeless once back in Charleston. There were some folks there that were more than a little rough looking, but i remember telling the kids to make sure to give them a smile and to wave. Reason being was that it quite possibly could’ve been years since anyone smiled at them. Gave them the simple gesture of a wave. Kindness.

So, the next time you’re in a position to do so, be kind. Wave. Smile. take a moment to have a conversation. Who knows maybe, just maybe, you’ll make that other persons backpack just a bit lighter.

Be well,

Jeff

It’s that time of year: gym memberships increase. Weight loss apps and websites see waaay more traffic. Oh, so do running shoe stores, money management websites, etc. You get the picture.

We’ve all been there. It’s the 1st of anew year. New year=new you, right? I’ve done it, oh so many times. However, I’d like to pose this question; are you resolute…or just making a wish list?

Res-o-lute: admirably purposeful, determined, and unwavering. Is that you? Ouch! Cuts to the core doesn’t it. I’m looking at the man in the mirror here. Yes, I have goals and things I’d “like” to accomplish this year, but am I resolute? Am I purposeful in my goal to lose the 25 pounds I’ve gained in the last 3 years? Is my drive and desire to do so unwavering? That’s where the magic happens. Resolute doesn’t mean being so strict that you ignore friends, family and other important relationships just so you can get in that workout. No, resolute means that you have purpose. You know your “why”.

Personal story: I’ve gained 25 pounds in the last 3 1/2 years. I’ve had major health issues to death with during that time, which lead to having 2 major surgeries. As someone who took pride in the ability to get the most out of my body I have been forced to start over, almost from scratch. The thing is though, I am resolute. I am purposeful, determined and unwavering in my pursuit to get my health back. My why? Simple. I want to get the most out of life that I possibly can, while helping others along the way. Will I get there and lose those 25 pounds? Hope so. Maybe not. My success will be in the process, the journey.

So, my encouragement to you is this: make those resolutions. Have those goals. Dream BIG. Just be RESOLUTE!

Be well,

Jeff

Fresh Start

So, another year has passed us by and we begin 2024 with a clean slate. New goals. New, or at least recycled, habits. Health, money, job, diet and exercise are the most popular. Oh, and relationships.

As many of you know, I had my 1st book published last year. It was quite a journey. I think I learned more about myself in those 22 months of “writing”(I used a ghost writer) than possibly I have in the last 22 years. Or so it seams.

I’ve had this nagging feeling that I have more to talk about. More life experiences. More joy. More heartache. More just being real. So here we are. A blog. I can’t tell you that there will be fresh info every week-probably won’t be. It will be intermittent. When ideas pop in my head

I hope you will find the stories relevant to your life. I promise to do my best to make it as lighthearted as possible. I can promise you that, like my book, it will be raw, it will be surprising and, it will be real.

I hope you’ll come along for the journey.

Be well,

Jeff

Welcome to WordPress! This is a sample post. Edit or delete it to take the first step in your blogging journey. To add more content here, click the small plus icon at the top left corner. There, you will find an existing selection of WordPress blocks and patterns, something to suit your every need for content creation. And don’t forget to check out the List View: click the icon a few spots to the right of the plus icon and you’ll get a tidy, easy-to-view list of the blocks and patterns in your post.

Welcome to WordPress! This is a sample post. Edit or delete it to take the first step in your blogging journey. To add more content here, click the small plus icon at the top left corner. There, you will find an existing selection of WordPress blocks and patterns, something to suit your every need for content creation. And don’t forget to check out the List View: click the icon a few spots to the right of the plus icon and you’ll get a tidy, easy-to-view list of the blocks and patterns in your post.