ALEX | Dream Higher!

Awww... Oh gosh what do I say... what if I say it wrong and my pits start sweating... or my lucky socks are dirty that day... What do I do!?! Speaking is difficult particularly when you're speaking in front of a crowd of people you don't know well.  Being in front of friends and family is usually easier cause those close to you will give you a bit more grace.  Speaking in front of adults is hard, but teens eeeeekkk.  After 14 years in ministry I still get the shakes before speaking.  It can be totally scary at times and a total blast other times. Remember to smile and have fun!  I am going to share a few tips I picked up along the way.  I also love this article by Kurt Johnson that was published in 2016 and thought hey I should share this too. I speak not for myself but for those without voice... those who have fought for their rights... their right to live in peace, their right to be treated with dignity, their right to equality of opportunity, their right to be educated

suc·cess noun the accomplishment of an aim or purpose. "the president had some success in restoring confidence" the attainment of popularity or profit. "the success of his play" a person or thing that achieves desired aims or attains prosperity. It's true we tend to measure success by how popular one is or how much money one is or the results they deliver. Often times we look to celebrities instead of teachers as models of success. One's net worth or how much one owns or ones stats often times define how we view that individual. Think about the last time you were at a party and what is the first question one asks you... What do you do? They are evaluating you based upon what you do not who you are. Your level of intrigue is based upon what they value you at. Something we also tend to do is look the other way when one has a fault but is successful. We use the excuse but look at what they've done. Like what they have done is some reason to ex

I email, text, phone, social media all day long and yet I still find it hard to communicate when I am actually sitting next to someone... What's up with that? When you go out to eat take a look around and see how many people are one their phone instead of engaging the person next to them or across from them.  People seem to be having a tougher and tougher time engaging in conversations.  Now if your an introvert or have social anxiety imagine how much harder it might be for an individual to strike up a conversation.  We are wired to be in community with one another but it can sometimes be extremely difficult to stir up a conversation. In junior high I would not have initiated a conversation unless forced to.  I was a very shy and somewhat awkward kid.  I would have rather slipped away into the library then to engage in a conversation.  Still to this day I sometimes struggle with striking up a conversation particularly if I don't know that person that well.  If you are a y