I Need A Do Over

Mulligan – noun – (in informal golf) an extra stroke allowed after a poor shot, not counted on the scorecard.  (Google Dictionary)

Have you ever wanted to start over?

Have you ever made a mistake and wanted to erase that mistake?

Have you ever gotten out of the habit of doing something good and wanted to get back on the right track?

I feel this way about blogging.  I’ve been writing here on my blog for over eleven years, and I have fallen out of my blogging grove over the past several months.

Yesterday, my wife told me she missed my blog posts, and I’ve had a few people check in with me to make sure I was okay after they hadn’t heard from me for a while.  (Thanks for checking in on me!)

I don’t want to erase everything I’ve written in the past, but I sometimes wish I could start over with the same energy and time commitment to writing.  Some of this is in my control, but I also recognize that many things have changed for me over the past eleven years – especially over the past two years since I took on more responsibility at work.

And so I come back to my blog and to you, my readers, asking for a “Do Over.”

I want to get back on the right track, and I’m hoping you’ll join me on the journey.

See you tomorrow!

Do you need a Do Over?

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!  2 Corinthians 5:17

For ideas on how to get a fresh start, click here.

4 Lessons From My Recent Failure

“Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.”
Henry Ford

This month I failed.

At the end of July, I signed up for Ellory Wells’ 31 Day Writing Challenge with the intent of writing a new blog post every day during the month of August.  I started on the right foot with several new blog posts.  Then the wheels fell off my ride of best intentions during the second week of August, and I’ve struggled to regain momentum since then.  When it comes to the Writing Challenge, I am a failure.

Now, I could give you ten or twenty excuses as to why I failed.  Do those excuses really matter?  The facts are I did not even come close to writing every day in August.  As I look back on August and on my weak efforts during the challenge, I’ve learned a lot.

Here is what I’ve learned as a result of my failure.

4 Lessons From My Recent Failure

1. Intentions do not automatically translate into success.  I have great intentions when it comes to a lot of things in my life.  Unfortunately, I fall short in many of these areas of intention.
2. Our actual actions indicate the reality of our priorities.  My words in late July indicated that I wanted to make writing blog posts a priority; however, my writing output shows I may have let other things have a greater place in my priority pyramid.  My family went on vacation to the Jersey Shore during the second week of August, and this trip was a priority for me.  My job has required a lot of attention this month, and this was an important and necessary area of focus for me in August.  Finally, I noticed that my fitness and overall health had slipped a little bit over the past few months.  In the second half of August, I took steps to make my fitness and nutrition more of a priority.
3. Accountability is essential to achieving the results we desire.  I’m independent and self-motivated, but I need people in my life who will give me an encouraging word or a swift kick in the butt from time to time.  I rely heavily on my wife, the guys in my small group, a few of my co-workers, and the people in my mastermind groups.  They remind me to stay on track.  They encourage me when I’m feeling discouraged.  And they won’t let me wander off course for very long.
4. It’s never too late to start over.  When we experience failure in our lives, we have a couple of choices.  We can let our failure define us.  Or we can use our failures to motivate us.  I’m making the second choice.

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
Winston Churchill

How have you responded to failure in your life?  What lessons have you learned from your failures?  Share your thoughts in the comments below.

I’m Still Here – 10 Years Later

I’m still here.

I realize it’s been a while (almost a month) since my last post.  I’m not ignoring you.  I’ve just had a lot going on in my life.

Drinking from a Fire Hose

I’ve officially been in my new job for one month as the Branch Solutions Operations Manager.  Have you ever tried to drink water from a fire hose?  Me neither.  But I get the impression that it’s like being in a new job like this.  Every day is non-stop.  By Thursday, I’m exhausted.  And by Friday, I’m definitely ready for the weekend.  Despite these feelings of exhaustion, I am loving what I get to do on a daily basis.  My department finished June with a record month.  I’m so thankful for my team!

Dynamic Marriage

A couple of weekends ago, Leanne and I attended facilitator training for Dynamic Marriage.  We will be facilitating our first class in the fall at Christ’s Church of the Valley.  The weekend did so much to reaffirm our marriage and to confirm our calling to help other couples strengthen their marriages.  The 9-week class we will be leading is based on Willard Harley’s book, His Needs, Her Needs:  Building an Affair-Proof Marriage.  If you have a great marriage, a good marriage, or a just okay marriage, this class is for you!

Rooftop Reflections

I’ve been diligently working on my next book, Rooftop Reflections:  Missional Thoughts of an Ordinary Guy in an Extraordinary Place.  I finished the manuscript last week, and I’m working to finalize the cover with a graphic designer.  I hope to release the book this summer.  The book has already received several glowing endorsements.  Here is one of them:

“Jon’s stories from Guatemala will inspire, move, and motivate you to consider how you can expand your horizons and serve others more deeply. I loved this heartfelt book and know you’ll love it as well. If you’re not careful, it just might change your life!”

Kent Sanders, writer, musician, creative coach, and professor. Author of The Artist’s Suitcase (kentsanders.net)

Celebrating 10 Years of Blogging

Finally, my blog, Jon Stolpe Stretched, celebrated a significant milestone this week.  10 years ago this week, the blog started.  The blog experience has STRETCHED me in more ways than I can imagine.  I’ve learned a lot of incredible things through my blog, and I’ve met some unbelievable people.  10 years is a start.  I look forward to the years ahead as I continue to share life’s STRETCH marks and as I hopefully STRETCH you.  Thanks for joining me on this journey.

Keep Stretching!

Jon

Looking Back: Top Ten Posts 2016

“I always knew looking back on my tears would bring me laughter, but I never knew looking back on my laughter would make me cry.”

– Cat Stevens

2016 is nearly over.  At this time of the year, I like to look back on the past, plan for the future, and enjoy the present.  Here’s a look back at the top posts on Jon Stolpe Stretched in 2016:

1. 5 Lessons I Learned By Studying The Life of Joshua
2. 5 Ways To Represent Well
3. Ice Breaker – Giving Thanks at Thanksgiving
4. 13 Delegation Quotes
5. 3 Ways To Respond When Someone Is Unkind To You
6. Ice Breaker – Superhero
7. Ice Breaker – Star Wars
8. Ice Breaker – Strengths
9. How to Respond to the 2016 Election Results
10. 7 Essentials For Overcoming Weariness

What was your favorite STRETCHED post from this past year?  What STRETCHED you the most in 2016?  Share your thoughts in the comments.

2000th Blog Post

It’s when ordinary people rise above the expectations and seize the opportunity that milestones truly are reached.

Mike Huckabee

When the Israelites crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land, they marked the occasion by setting up twelve stones as a reminder of the journey they had endured and as a reminder of their heritage.

Today, I write this post as a way of setting up a pile of stones to remind me of my journey and to mark a significant milestone on this journey.

I’m a numbers guy.  I count things and people and other crazy things all the time.  I even count blog posts.

Today, I’ve reached a milestone – my 2,000th blog post.

When I started blogging over nine years ago, I didn’t have plans or of intentions of reaching this target.  I simply planned to write one day at a time, and this remains my plan.

And yet, I think it’s important to stop to celebrate, reflect, and recognize this milestone in my own writing “career.”

When I graduated from high school, I specifically pursued a career in engineering to get me away from writing.  I did okay in high school English class, but it was a lot of work.  Math and science always came easier for me.  When I arrived at Grove City College, I soon learned that my high school English was necessary and important to help me survive and thrive in the collegiate environment.

When I graduated from college and pursued an engineering job, I figured my writing was finally behind me.  I was wrong.  I used my writing skills on a daily basis to write letters, memos, and emails to customers, clients, and coworkers.  I wrote technical documents on a regular basis to describe my engineering documents.

I couldn’t get away from writing.

And then, my friend introduced me to the blogging world.  And something changed.

I developed a new-found love for writing.  I enjoy the discipline of writing on a regular basis.  I appreciate the effort required to articulate the “stretchy” thoughts running around in my head.  And I like the process of putting something together for others to read.

Writing has provided an amazing opportunity for me to tap into the creative side of my brain.  And it has pushed me to new heights and helped to forge new friendships.

2,000 blog posts is a milestone, but it’s just a start.

I have more to say.  I have more to write.

Here’s to the next 2,000 blog posts.

Thanks for reading.  Thanks for commenting.  And thanks for being part of the Stretched Community.

How do you suggest I celebrate my 2,000th blog post?  Share your ideas in the comments.

Nine Years Ago – A Blog Is Born

Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.

Lou Gehrig

9 years ago yesterday, I published the very first post on my blog.  In a couple of weeks, I will be pressing ‘Publish’ on my 2,000th blog post.

It all started when my friend, Frank, encouraged me and challenged me to start a blog.

When I started, I’m quite sure I didn’t know what I was getting myself into.

Blogging has been an incredible discipline in my life.  I’ve explored many areas of my thoughts on the “pages” of my blog.  I’ve stretched out loud, and I’ve challenged others to stretch on a variety of topics including:  marriage, family, parenting, faith, leadership, and missions.

Blogging has also been the springboard for my connection with people from around the world.  I’ve connected with people in Australia, Germany, England, and Canada (and many other countries).  I’ve connected with people in California, Texas, Georgia, Washington, and Hawaii.  I’ve even met people around my own community as a result of my blog.

Blogging has forced me to learn about SEO, affiliate marketing, guest posting, self-publishing, and list building.  And it’s made me realize how little I really know.

Blogging helped me realize a dream of publishing my first book.  It helped me take a leap of faith.  And it is helping me realize a goal of building 100 houses in Guatemala one house at a time.

In many respects, I feel like I’m just getting started.  I have more ideas to share.  I have more stretching to do.  And I have more to learn.

What will the next 9 years bring?  I sometimes wonder.  I’m hoping to write and publish more books.  I’m hoping to find a way to couple my love for writing and stretching others to support my love for building houses in Guatemala for widows.  I’m hoping to start a mastermind group for dads and husbands as a result of my blog.  I’m hoping to build a legacy for my family, my friends, and my followers.  And I’m hoping to keep stretching.

How does somebody blog for 9 years?  I sometimes get this question.  It starts with one idea – one blog post – at a time.  It starts with a willingness to be transparent and vulnerable and an understanding that everyone won’t like what you have to say.  It starts with an acceptance of imperfection.  And it starts with a decision to repeat it all again the next day or the next post.

I’m so glad I started down this journey 9 years ago, and I can’t wait to post again tomorrow!

When you’re in the day-to-day grind, it just seems like it’s another step along the way. But I find joy in the actual process, the journey, the work. It’s not the end. It’s not the end event.

Cal Ripken, Jr.

What were you doing 9 years ago?  If you started a blog today, what would you say?  Share your thoughts in the comments.

I’m Not Ignoring You

Every moment in our lives is a miracle we should enjoy instead of ignoring.

Yoko Ono

I’m not ignoring you.  I promise.

I’ve just been doing my best to pay attention to my wife this week.  We were in Vermont for the past week celebrating our 20th Anniversary (a few weeks early).

It was a great week, and I did my best to unplug as much as possible and to practice the discipline of being present.

I’ll have some new posts this week.

Hope you are doing well!

What was one of your highlights from this past week?  Share your highlight in the comments.

May 2016 Top Posts

Top Posts for May 2016:

1. 5 Lessons I Learned By Studying The Life of Joshua
2. 5 Ways To Represent Well
3. Celebrating Parenting Milestones
4. Ice Breaker – Star Wars
5. Know Yourself – How To Get Started In Discovering The Real You
6. 13 Delegation Quotes
7. Never… Ever… Give Up Hope
8. 3 Ways To Respond When Someone Is Unkind To You
9. Guatemala – Clothing
10. Ice Breaker – Bucket List

If you are a blogger, share your top post in the comments.

Which STRETCHED post was your favorite this month?  And why?

Let’s Get It Started – Time To Stretch

Well, this is the start of it all… Time to get my stretch on.

I’ve been contemplating doing the blog thing for some time.  You might be wondering where the “Stretched” thing comes from.  For starters, when I was in high school at Rancocas Valley Regional High School, I was short – 5’6″ to start my junior year.  Since then, I’ve grown to almost 6’6″.  Many of my friends started calling me Stretch.

On a more recent basis, I often feel “stretched” by all the things going on around me – career, marriage, parenting, church, running, reading, friendships, extended family, relationship with God, etc. (in no particular order).  My hope is that this blog will provide an opportunity to express some of my “stretch marks” and to possibly hear your thoughts as well.

So here we go….

Until the next posting….