Keeping Secrets

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By Doug Creamer

            It is that time of year for secrets. Boxes arrive and you are not allowed to open them or peek in. There are bags in the car that you cannot bring in or see what is inside. Packages are wrapped and hidden in places where the kids won’t look. I like the secrecy of the season. There is excitement everywhere. We are quickly closing in on the big day; I hope you are ready.

            It seems there is less secrecy as we get older. My wife and I help each other pick out what we really want so we don’t have to fight the returns. It works better that way, but there are still a few things that we keep hidden until Christmas day. We work hard to have fun and make the day a very special time together.

            I have to admit, I am much better at keeping secrets as an adult than I was as a child. I remember one year at Christmas my dad had decided to get my mom a TV for their bedroom. The night he went to pick it up he had all the kids with him. My older brother and sister were good at keeping secrets, but my dad knew that I wasn’t. After all, it was a TV.

            Dad had the guys load the TV in the truck. He turns to me and tells me that he is getting mom some bags of soil for her garden. My mother has always had the nicest flower gardens. I knew my mom would love getting the soil that my dad had picked out for her. He told me it was a secret and I couldn’t tell mom and spoil his big surprise.

            I think my dad was wise because I was able to keep the soil a secret, but a TV would never have made it to Christmas day! I remember when he gave it to her, asking him about the secret present he had. He had to explain to me that there was no soil and that I had done a good job keeping his secret. In the end, I still think he was right in not telling me.

            Keeping secrets can be fun, especially at Christmas. But the truth is that God did not keep the coming of His Son a secret. You can look all through the Old Testament and find many predictions about the coming Messiah. Moses and King David both told the people of His coming. Almost all of the Old Testament prophets spoke with anticipation of the coming Christ.

            God announced the birth of His Son to the shepherds. He placed a bright star in the sky over Bethlehem. Then He sent three wise men from a faraway land to seek and find Him. It was no secret that the Christ was born. But even God had to hide Jesus and keep His location secret when Herod decided he wanted to kill the Christ.  He secretly sent Him to Egypt.   

            His story and His life are no secret. The Bible tells us plainly about who He was and how He led His life. His mission was clear. We had messed up our connection with God through sin. Jesus had to come and repair our broken relationship. To repair the brokenness, He was destined to die. His blood offered the forgiveness that could save our souls.

            God knew we could not fix what was broken. So He did everything from His side to restore our relationship. Now the ball is in our court. It’s up to each of us to make a decision whether we want to accept God’s greatest gift of His Son.

            To open and receive the gift requires faith. Knowledge of Jesus is not good enough. Every demon in hell has knowledge about Jesus. When we exercise our faith and believe and trust God, salvation can enter our soul. That is the gift of Christmas, the hope of eternal life with God in heaven. It’s only good if we receive it. It’s up to us now, not God.

            So, what have you decided to do with the Christ of Christmas? I want to encourage you to open your hearts, exercise your faith, and receive the Lord Jesus as your personal savior. You can know right now your eternal destination if you will accept God’s gift to you. There is no other way except through faith in the greatest gift of all time, Jesus the Messiah. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you have done, God stands with open arms waiting to receive you. 

Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com

The Gift of Time from a Different Point of View

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By David Freeze

   The most unusual “outrage” came last week over a stationary bicycle commercial. Outrage is one of those words that I hate to hear, especially since it is so overused amid political comments recently. Retiring the word would suit me just fine.

   Here’s what happened. I saw the commercial depicting a husband who gave his wife one of the finest stationary bikes available on the market. Peloton is the brand name and that word too made all kinds of media for the next few days. One report said that the video had over 700,000 comments within a few days and the actor playing the dad was often ridiculed. After all, did people forget that he was an actor playing a role?

     The thought of a husband giving his wife an exercise bike riled the women of The View and Jenna Bush Hager told Hoda Kotb, “My husband better not ever give me a gift like that!” Another word, sexist, was often used to denigrate the commercial.

     Why not give the gift of possibly the best home stationary bike in the world, one that can quickly connect the rider to an online spin cycling class at will? The gift of exercise, not the gift to shame a seemingly normal body size mother as suggested by so many on TV. I polled a few of my exercise clients and some other long time runners and they all agreed. Include me in joining the long list of folks who would love to receive this specific Peloton bike. I have often thought of how cool it would be to have a high quality bike like this upstairs to use whenever I wanted, just as the mom in the commercial could now do. Spin classes are often filled to capacity at local gyms, usually on bikes not as high quality and realistic as this one. One other commercial for a similar bike shows a woman pushing herself hard while watching a winter snowstorm falling outside her window.

      Why does this matter so much to me? How could that gift give back many times over to the wife, husband and the rest of his family? Well past my best efforts on the sports fields and the roads of running, I am old enough now to appreciate good health. I remember my own story from years ago of wanting to get healthier with an idea of looking ahead to a long life with my loved ones. I was successful and one of the major tools along the way was a form of cycling, both stationary and road.

      As the days of the week went by, the opinion somewhat shifted away from all the “outrage” to one of understanding and support. Here is exactly why I agree with that shift. I have said it often and will continue to say this for the rest of my life. The one single biggest gift we can give to others is the gift of our time. It doesn’t have to cost anything and can take many forms.

     As an example, I love it when my daughters come to visit, and we can just talk with no other pressures or expectations. I would rather do that than go out for the nicest meal available or some type of entertainment. And friends too, old and new, I am going to make the gift of time for them just as I hope they will.

     Now back to the guy who gave the Peloton bike for Christmas. My first thought when seeing the commercial was that the actor portrayed a young husband who gave a gift from the heart, one that his wife could use at home. Simply in hopes that his wife would enjoy herself and also be around to have lots of time with him and their family. What could be better than that?  

Shopping?

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By Ann Farabee

Shopping? How did Black Friday go?

Black Friday is the name for the day after Thanksgiving, which is considered the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. It began in 1952 – although the term Black Friday was not used until 1961. It has become the busiest shopping day of the year.

I personally have refused to ‘buy in’ to the belief that Black Friday has the best deals.

Not me. My plan was to shop from home – on Thanksgiving Day – beginning at 3:00. No fighting traffic, no pushing through crowds, no waiting in line, no trying to navigate where to go when.

A cup of coffee, a slice of pecan pie, and my computer from the comfort of home.

I found a deal! 40% off! I knew it! I knew it! Shopping with the crowd on Black Friday was no real advantage – this store had what I needed – why keep looking? I went for it!

I selected needed items. It was taking some time, but it would be worth it! It was only Thanksgiving Day – and much of my shopping would be done! I am a super shopper!

$600 worth later for only $360 – I smugly shut down my computer – and rewarded myself with a turkey sandwich.

I smiled. I had a heads up on the Black Friday shoppers.

But…sigh…. Black Friday morning arrived. I awoke to an email from the same store I had made my purchase from. It now offered not a 40% off, but a 50% off. Mental math informed me that my $600 purchase could have been $300 – not the $360 I had spent.

Too much time had been spent looking for what I thought was the best deal – and it ended up not even being the best deal.

So – hats off to you savvy shoppers out there!

I tried.

However, there is one great deal none of us can afford to pass up!

In case you missed it, here is some info:

DEAL OF THE DAY! IT’S FREE! We do not even have to make the purchase! It has already been made – when Jesus died on the cross for our sins to purchase our salvation!

Don’t know how to locate the deal?

Here is your special access code: John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

As for Black Friday? And the greatest Door Buster?

No sale – or gift of any price – could begin to compare with the gift the world was given on the darkest Black Friday – as Jesus gave His life for our sins.

And three days later, He became the real Door Buster – as He burst forth from the tomb – giving the world the greatest gift ever given – victory over death!

It was – and is – the deal of a lifetime!

Ann is a speaker and teacher. Contact her at annfarabee@gmail.com or annfarabee.com

Family

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By Doug Creamer

            The holiday season is officially upon us. Retailers have been pushing the holiday season for a couple of months, but I always try to hold off until it actually arrives. This year as I drove to my in-law’s for Thanksgiving I noticed that some people had their Christmas decorations up. When I drove down our street coming home from Thanksgiving I noticed almost all our neighbors had Christmas decorations up, both inside and out.

            I have to admit that it is hard to sit here and write this column as I want to be outside getting my Christmas decorations up. I am going to have to work on getting some of the leaves up before I put the decorations out. I am excited to get started decorating for Christmas.  

            At this point, I have already helped decorate two Christmas trees. I helped my brother and sister decorate my mom’s tree, and then while I was home for Thanksgiving helped my in-laws get their tree up and decorated. It’s nice to be able to help family get ready for the holidays.

            I like spending time with my family. Both of my parents have birthdays in November so we were able to gather around them and celebrate their special days. We shared meals and lots of laughs. We talked about growing up and the special times we shared as a family. It is good to see and hear how my family members are doing.

            We spent Thanksgiving with my in-laws. My father-in-law and I peeled over five pounds of potatoes, and I am not sure how many pounds of sweet potatoes. There were multiple meats to choose from, as well as five different desserts. I ate plenty of great food and got the opportunity to spend some quality time with my wife’s side of the family. I had some very interesting conversations and washed plenty of dishes.

            Many people travel long distances to be together for the holidays. We have traveled and we have stayed at home. Both have their perks. In today’s world with blended families, husband’s family here and wife’s family there, it’s almost impossible to be at every family gathering.

            I think that it is important to make the effort to be together, but why does it have to be on ONLY one specific day? Can’t we celebrate Christmas anytime we can get the family together in one place at one time? That way there is no rushing and possibly a much more relaxed atmosphere. We can visit and connect without feeling pulled in multiple directions.

            I believe it’s important to find a way to be together at some point during the holiday season. With families separated by long distances, it might be physically impossible to make the trip. That’s when we can use the power of our global communication systems to make it possible. Whether it is Facetime or through another virtual app, we can find a way to gather and spend some special moments together.

            There is no perfect “Brady” family on earth. We are all imperfect people trying to connect with each other and create memories that will last a lifetime. Some memories are tender and sweet, while others make us laugh until we hurt. We try to put our best foot forward, without tripping over it, and share the love we have for each other. We know the flaws but hope that we can look past them and share the love of the season.

            I believe God does that with each of us. We’re not perfect, yet he welcomes us into His family. He knows our weaknesses and flaws, and yet His grace covers over it all. He knows how many times we have doubted and almost given up, yet His love pours out for us. He knows how often we feel inconvenienced by Him, yet He still wants to spend time with us. He pursues us relentlessly because we are His children and He wants to have a relationship with us.

            I want to encourage you this holiday season to connect with loved ones. I know it is hard to express your love and appreciation, but take the risk and open your heart. Sometimes it won’t go well, but try. Give your pain to God. God revealed how much He loved us by sending His Son to be born in a manger, yet destined to die on a cross. He still loves us no matter what we have done. We are His children and He wants us all around Him. So in spite of everything, make the effort to connect, to love, and to be loved during this holiday season. 

Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com

The Pilgrims

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By Ann Farabee

The days must have felt like an eternity – and they slowly turned into months while sailing on that ship.

They had been willing to make sacrifices in order to travel to a new land. It was a stormy season. Food began to run out. They slept on wooden pallets. No baths. Chamber pots. Seasickness was rampant. The smell onboard was horrendous. Sickness came often – in many forms. The work load was heavy because maintaining and sailing a ship 24 hours a day involved the efforts of everyone.

And the children? Their days and nights probably felt long due to the hardships. But, they helped with work around the ship and took care of younger siblings. They also spent time playing games and running around.

The desire of all their hearts was to attain a new life where they could worship God freely.

We call them the Pilgrims.

And they were on a pilgrimage.

A pilgrim can be defined as one who travels on a long journey. A pilgrimage can be defined as the journey. It is hard to clearly envision their days, because recorded accounts often leave out the heart – but as we know, being in a relationship with the God of the universe includes matters of the heart – like love, dreams, goals, feelings, desire… not the seen, but the unseen.

They were people like us:

Dads wondering if maybe they should not have come.

Moms worrying if the trip was too hard on the children.

Children – sick and hungry – trying to find something to pass the time.

There were even some orphans onboard – who may have felt alone and fearful.

Doubts probably crossed everyone’s mind at times.

And then… perhaps as hope seemed lost – LAND AHOY!

Imagine that moment. The moment they had kept in view in their hearts the entire trip – knowing that it one day would come. Envision them gathering around on deck and staring at that speck of land ahead, watching it appear to grow larger and larger right before their eyes.

They had not belonged on the ship, nor had they felt at home on the ship. In their hearts – they knew they had been strangers and pilgrims who were bound for their permanent dwelling place.

When they reached the shore – they knew. They were HOME. As their feet touched the ground, their emotions plummeted them to their knees as they began to cry out prayers of thanksgiving to God.

Their faith in their God – and sacrifices made – had not only impacted each of them – but impacted generations to come. Worth it.

*Like the pilgrimage of Abraham to the Promised Land.

*Like the pilgrimage of Paul, as he traveled on foot to share the Gospel to the world.

*Like the pilgrimage of Jesus from heaven to earth – so we can go from earth to heaven.

*Like our pilgrimage from our home on earth – to our eternal home in heaven.

Be a pilgrim. Stay on your pilgrimage. It will be worth it.

God promises provision for it.

God provides power for it.

God has a prevailing purpose for it.

Happy Thanksgiving

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By Doug Creamer

            I love my church. We are a close-knit family. We have people from the age of one to one hundred, and everything in between. We have people from different ethnic backgrounds. We have young families and retired older folks. It’s a good, fun mix of people.

            My pastor is a very creative person. He comes up with great objects that we can take home to remind us during the week about his sermon. For example, sitting on my night stand is a plastic cup with the phrase on it: “I’m stirred, not shaken.” It was to remind us that sometimes things come along that could shake our faith, but we are not going to be shaken. We are going to allow those things to stir our faith.

            He is also good at creating new words. I’ve lost count of how many new words he has created. Last Sunday he created a new word for Thanksgiving. His new word was Thaithfulness. He was trying to teach us to be thankful for God’s faithfulness. If we stop and think about all the ways God has been faithful to us, we would create a long list.

            All of us can point to ways He has been faithful to our churches. He has blessed us with good leaders, good worship, good Sunday school teachers…and the list goes on. We can also list the ways God has been faithful to our families. Think of the times He has protected you or a family member. He has provided for our families in many ways.

            We all know that God has helped us to grow and mature in our faith. God has helped us all with relationships, meeting our financial obligations, and providing the basics of life. I know that families aren’t perfect, but certainly there have been some family members who have stood with you and supported you through the ups and downs of life. Do you remember a time when God really came through for you in a big way? He is faithful.

            When I think about my family, I am very thankful for them. We just celebrated my mother and father’s 87th birthdays. We are lucky and blessed to still have them with us. I have missed some of their birthday celebrations in the past, but this year I was able to participate in the fun. It’s nice to have the opportunity to be with your parents and to thank them for all they have done in your life.

            As I sit here thinking about my family, I realize one thing I am thankful for is the laughter we all share. All of us have a prankster side. None of us want to hurt anyone, but bring laughter and fun. I know that signs were put in family member’s yards for milestone birthdays. Prank calls have been made. And surprise parties have been planned. Laughter is loud and runs deep in my family.

            I know the main focus of Thanksgiving is the food. My family gathers often throughout the year and you can be sure that food is part of the gathering. Everyone brings something to a family get-together so no one has to do too much work. My brother or sister will host the event, and whatever family is in town gathers to share the food, laughter, and plenty of fun. We have created a lifetime of special memories.

            This Thanksgiving season I find myself reflecting on how blessed I am to have a good, loving, and supportive family. I am also grateful for those same qualities in my church family. I am surrounded by people who love and care about me, why wouldn’t I be thankful? Then when I look up to express that thanks I realize how absolutely thankful I am for Jesus and all He has done for me. He laid His life down so I could live free. He bought and paid for the relationship with my Father in heaven. He’s cleansed and forgiven me for everything.

            I want to encourage you to take a few minutes and reflect on your life. I know that life isn’t perfect and that we all have bad days, but if we can nurture a thankful heart I believe we can help to change our entire outlook on life. It’s easy to be thankful for the big things, but don’t forget the little things, the special people in your life, and the hope that springs from a life connected to your loving heavenly Father. Happy Thanksgiving! I pray that you and your family will be safe and blessed.

Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com

Whack-A-Mole

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By Ann Farabee

He was surrounded. He was on the run. He was hiding. Often.

In Psalm 3:1, David said that they who were troubling him had increased – and that MANY rose up against him. Psalm 3:6 indicates it was an army of around 10,000. That’s a big number!

I know the feeling, David. I know the feeling.

It reminds me of what many days in my life seem to hold.

It also reminded me of the arcade game Whack-a-Mole. You have a weapon – a soft rubber mallet. You use it to whack a mole on the head as he pops up at random times. But… as soon as you get that mole whacked and out of your way, another one pops up. And another one. And then another one. And before you know it, the original troublemaking mole pops up again. I have never seen anyone quit the game. The only way the battle ends is when your time runs out.

Yes, David was in the middle of a time when the enemy was on the move and trouble was coming from every direction.

As king, he had an army he could have sent out, but he knew his stronger power was calling on the Lord. Instead of choosing hopelessness, he chose to go to his Helper.

The Helper showed up as David cried out in Psalm 3:3 –

Thou, Oh, Lord, art a shield for me! It does not say the Lord GAVE him a shield. It said the Lord IS his shield. This shield was a buckler that went above, beneath, around, without, and within. That’s what I would call full coverage.

Lord, You are my glory! If we belong to God, we can have faith we will be triumphant – and have grace to see our future glory in the midst of our present suffering.

Lord, You are the lifter of my head! Have you ever been to a place in life where you did not even want to lift your head – maybe because of sadness, sickness or shame? Envision this: The Lord is the One who lifts our head – it’s a personal touch!

David’s personal prayer received a personal answer.

Sometimes, we may feel like we are whacking the mole.

Sometimes, we may feel like we are the mole that is being whacked.

But, no matter the circumstance:

The Lord’s shield surrounds -and brings us protection.

The Lord’s glory embraces – and brings us His promises.

The Lord’s lifting of our heads – brings us peace.

So, what happened in the next 3 verses – Psalm 3: 4-6?

David’s personal prayer received a personal answer:

He cried unto the Lord and the Lord heard him.

He laid down and slept.
The Lord sustained him.
He was not afraid of the 10,000.

Ann is a speaker and teacher. Contact her at annfarabee@gmail.com or annfarabee.com

Peace About the Future

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By Doug Creamer

            I have always had a sense that I knew where I was going in life. I remember once moving into a rented house and feeling in my spirit that we would only be there two years. Two years later we moved out. Another time, I thought we would be in an apartment for several months which turned into over a year. So everything doesn’t always go as planned.

            Even though there has been this overarching sense that I knew where I was going, there have been plenty of times when I struggled with doubt. Was I hearing God? Then there have been those times when God tested my faith. Did I really believe God was going to lead me and take care of my needs? He wants to know our heart.

            I have to confess that I have struggled with worry at different times in my life. My dad gave me this amazing math-enabled mind. My wife sometimes calls me the human calculator. We will be out shopping somewhere and she will ask, “This item is going to be 30% off, what will it cost?” I can quickly tell her. (She can figure it out too, just takes her longer.)

            This gift can sometimes be a curse. When finances start to get a little tight, I am constantly doing the math in my head. Long before I retired I had done the math over and over again. I even built a spreadsheet to confirm what I had already figured out in my head. Sometimes I will lay in bed late at night calculating and worrying about our budget.

            There is a fine line between what the Bible teaches us about being a wise builder and a worrier. The wise builder plans and calculates before beginning a building project to be sure he has enough money to complete the work. The person who worries has done all the math homework to be sure everything will work out and then proceeds to worry about everything along the way. God wants us to trust Him once we have done our math homework and we are confident that we have sought His guidance and are following it.

            In other words, God wants us to live in faith. Will there be storms, trials, and tests along the way? Naturally. When we are doing what God told us, walking in faith, then you can be sure there will be opposition. The challenge to our faith gives us the opportunity to believe and trust God. If we sought the Lord, waited for His answer, did our math, then all that is left is trusting while we move forward.

            Think about the time Jesus got in a boat with the disciples. He said, “We are going to the other side.” Then he fell asleep. We all know the storm arose in an attempt to prevent them from reaching the other side. When we are moving in the direction that God wants us to go, the enemy will come and try to prevent us from getting there.

            The disciples, in a panic, woke Jesus up and asked if He cared whether they were going to die in the storm or not. Jesus got up and commanded the storm and the sea to be still. Then guess what happened? They arrived at the other side.

            For me, I have known all along that I would need to work once I retired. I have created a resume, done some interviewing, and generally kept my eyes open for opportunities. My natural tendency is to worry about the details. Where is God leading me? What does He want me to do?

            Something different happened. I discovered peace. My future lies before me, an open slate. Some opportunities have come and gone and I am still at peace. The bank account is telling me that I will need to be working sooner rather than later, but I haven’t been worried about it. To be at peace in these circumstances is unusual. When I ask Him about it, He assures me that I am right where I am supposed to be for now.

            As you face your fork in the road, I want to encourage you to be at peace. Pray and seek His guidance. Meditate on your options and do your math. Sometimes the new path requires us to wait because God has to work out the details in the background. If that is you, live in peace, because you know He is at work. Do your part and trust Him with your destiny. God is planning a great trip for you; enjoy the ride.

Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com

Exercise Helps with Many Things

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By David Freeze

  I read the other day that statistically there is more documented depression now than ever before. While I’m sure that comfort and the better things in life are more abundant than ever, it takes more than that to be happy with oneself. I don’t have a related degree, but I do have training and years of experience working with people who have a common thread running between them. They say, “I want to feel better about myself. How can you help me?”

    With that said, I often hear from people who spend at least 30 minutes a day exercising and then report a positive feeling that lasts all day. One of my best friends called exercise “the best mental therapy that money doesn’t have to buy” and she is absolutely right!

   While I start my day very early most mornings with a run of at least 45 minutes and five or more miles, I know that the resulting feeling is unbeatable. But my personal training clients and group class participants began to experience the same feeling when they go out and raise the heart rate for even as little as 20 minutes. While slightly more is better, just that simple beginning gets the ball rolling.

     I certainly don’t mean that you must run to have the mental benefits. Just begin by going for a walk at a comfortable distance. Not a very slow stroll, but one that makes your heart beat faster and challenges your cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Pump your arms! In other words, raising your heart rate and number of respirations is the key to starting the “good feeling”.

     As an example, that first day’s walk might be a quarter mile, or it might be just up and down the driveway a few times. Do what you can do. No matter the age, I am convinced that you can feel better by exercise. The next day, add more and keep doing it again almost daily. Find the challenging distance and pace, meaning that you aren’t overdoing the effort but pushing yourself just enough to do more than you thought possible.

    Years ago, I was gaining weight around my middle and found that I didn’t like it. I didn’t consider anything other than the fact that I needed to exercise more. I did plenty of walking at work and a good bit of lifting, but that kind of exercise was not sustained. I began to run just about every day and it didn’t take long to find that I loved the post-exercise feeling. I began to look forward to more of that post-exercise feeling as much as I did the actual exercise and other positive results.

     At that time, my runs were done in the evening. I had a young family at home and worked in Charlotte and the evening was a better time. Just 30 minutes of exercise began to leave me with a confident, yet relaxed euphoria until bedtime. My sleep came easier because my mind was relaxed and happy.

     Shortly afterwards, I craved the exercise so much that found a way to do it almost every day at lunchtime in Charlotte. I floated through the afternoons with easy problem solving because of increased mental focus and the lingering confidence.

     About six months into my exercise program, I shifted to mornings as often as possible. I wanted that confidence and top of the world feeling to begin early and last all day. My overall health continued to improve, and the excess weight disappeared.

    On the unusual day that I couldn’t at least go for a long walk, I missed something and felt off. To this day, 40 years later, nothing about that has changed. Even serious life trials are helped by the result of regular exercise.

     Bottom line, give it a shot. If you feel depressed or even just a little off, go for a walk, a run, find an exercise class that you like or just follow an aerobics program on TV. Let me know if you don’t find the same result I did. Kick that depression out the door and enjoy the health benefits!

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