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14h

Birthdays, anniversaries and holidays are obvious dates to celebrate. But what do we do with the dates that remind us not of what we have, but of all we lost?

It's been 35 years since I was burned on 100% of my body. And today I choose to celebrate.

https://johnolearyinspires.com/2022/01/anniversary-celebrate/

17h

Today marks 35 years since the fire that burned me on 100% of my body.

Read today's #MondayMotivation as I reflect on what I lost (and gained!) from that day.

https://bit.ly/3tJ7u03

16 Jan

Tmr we celebrate #mlkday and it reminds me that truly great leaders are not focused on themselves. They aren’t self-centered, don’t worry about what’s popular and don’t count the cost. They don’t rise and speak for themselves, but for a far greater cause.
https://bit.ly/3A8zr2s

16 Jan

Tomorrow we celebrate #MartinLutherKingJr, a man I admire greatly.

His picture hangs in my office to remind me that seemingly ordinary people can in fact change the world and that love is far more powerful than hate.

https://johnolearyinspires.com/2020/01/mlk2020/

Mattie Jackson Selecman (@mjselecman) dreamt of be

14 Jan

#MattieJacksonSelecman never expected to lose her husband of just 11 months.

Hear her share the important lesson Ben taught her on #LiveInspired Podcast ep. 428.

Available anywhere you get podcasts.

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What all great teachers and dynamic leaders know i

Tonight we celebrate 75 years of Mom’s life and

I love @kurt13warner. Loved him when he brought

After narrowly escaping the devastation of 9/11, K

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18 hours ago

"We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty." - Maya AngelouBirthdays, anniversaries and holidays are obvious dates to celebrate. Bake a cake, light the candles, sing a song, gather together, toast to life. But what do we do with the dates that remind us not of what we have, but of all we lost? How should we treat those anniversaries?For my family and me, one such date is January 17th.On that date 35 years ago, I was burned on 100% of my body.In total, I’d spend the following five months in hospital and endure surgeries and therapy for an additional year afterwards. The fire forced me to walk through life with scars covering my entire body, with fingers amputated, and with physical pain that remains and the emotional trauma of all that was endured.And I wasn’t the only one negatively impacted. The fire profoundly challenged my family, too. My parents were forced to navigate an impossibly difficult time. Our family home was destroyed, my siblings’ lives deeply disrupted, the life we’d formerly known permanently gone.I was the one burned, but we all received scars.All because of a date: January 17, 1987.And yet, as time passed and we reflected on it, that tragic moment produced unexpected blessings.Much of what is beautiful and enriching in my life today was born through the tragedy of those flames.Through the painful ashes of recovery as a child, our family grew in character, audacity, compassion, faithfulness, and drive. It galvanized a clear perspective on what things matters enough to fight for and what things to simply let go of. Because of the fire, we don’t take things for granted, are grateful for each day and remain certain that the best is yet to come.The fire provided an opportunity for our entire community to come together and work as one. Friends literally opened their houses for my family to reside and they opened their hearts for my family to heal. Friends offered support, strangers offered prayer, and visitors offered encouragement.In time, that date guided the decisions on where I went to high school and to university, which led to a fortuitous meeting with a beautiful lady named Beth. Together, we have been blessed with four children, loads of laughter, plenty of challenges, and lots of love.In other words, an awesome, imperfect, blessed life…all born out of a tragic date.Now, do I have scars? You bet. They cover my entire body.Did I lose my fingers? Yes.Was it devastating for my family? Undoubtedly.But we did overcome and not only does it no longer negatively define us, we’re actually significantly better because of it.My friends, we all face fires in life; we all get burned.Ultimately whether our life story is an epic to celebrate or a tragedy to mourn has surprisingly little to do with the events within our lives and far more to do with the manner in which we respond to those events.It is a choice. A choice to not only delight in the beauty of the butterfly. But also, to celebrate the painful changes required to achieve that beauty.35 years ago today our family endured an unexpected, unwanted agonizing tragedy.Today, we celebrate the beautiful transformation that came from it.Know this, in the midst of all the profound challenges we face societally and endure privately, remain confident that your life is a gift, you’re not done being formed, the foundation is firm and the best is yet to come.This is your day. Live Inspired. ... See MoreSee Less

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5 days ago

Mattie Jackson Selecman dreamt of being an author, but she never expected her first book #lemonsonfriday would be about the tragic + unexpected loss of her beloved husband of 11 months.Daughter of country megastar Alan Jackson and #NewYorkTimes bestselling author Denise Jackson, Mattie became a widow at 28 years old and was forced to navigate a future drastically different than the one she had planned.Relying on her faith, she embarked on a deeply personal journey through devastating loss and the difficult dance that followed.This conversation is a reminder that no heartbreak or loss is unredeemable. By confidently clinging to hope, we can truly heal.Listen to #liveinspired Podcast ep. 428. Now available anywhere you get podcasts. Links in first comment. ... See MoreSee Less

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1 week ago

"He has put fire and water before you; you can stretch out your hand for whichever you choose. Life and death are in front of human beings; and they will be granted whichever they please." - Sirach, 200 B.C.Do you remember when one of the most popular shows on network television was Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?Host Regis Philbin asked a question and provided a few choices to the contestant. After they provided an answer, Regis would dramatically pause to build suspense, give a serious look and ask another question: “Final answer?”What all great teachers and dynamic leaders know is sometimes the best way to answer a question is to ask another one.Most don’t do it to build suspense for a television audience. It’s a tool used to ensure the individual answering deepens their belief and takes total ownership. That's important for game shows. But it’s critically important in all of our lives.When I was just nine-years-old laying on what was expected to be my deathbed after a house fire, my mother guided me with this same approach. Her question changed the trajectory of my life.Mom came into the emergency room that morning, pulled back the curtain, and saw me laying in a hospital bed, burned and dying. She walked without hesitating, took my hand in hers, and told me she loved me.I remember looking into her eyes and asking a simple question, “Mom, am I going to die?”My hope was to have her take away my fear; to comfort me and give me reassurance. I expected her to answer by telling me they’d get me out of here tonight and we’d get milkshakes on the way home!Instead, she clasped my hand gently in hers, brushed back my bangs, looked into my eyes, paused for a moment and asked: “John, do you want to die? It’s your choice, not mine.”She served as a wonderful reminder to me of what we must all know: whether fighting to avoid death, enduring an expected challenge, achieving a worthy goal, or vibrantly leading our lives, we must be ALL-IN.There is no middle ground, no passive participant, no do-over. We must assume total accountability for our actions in life and no one can do this for us.Mom challenged me to do exactly this.I remember being stunned by my mom’s question. I looked back at her and said, “No, Mom. I don’t want to die. I want to live.”She responded, “Then, John, you need to fight like you’ve never fought before, you need to take the hand of God, and you need to walk this journey with Him. Race forward with everything you have. Daddy and I will be with you every step of the way. But John, listen to me: you need to fight.”That day we made a commitment to faithfully, courageously and collectively fight on. We had no idea of what tomorrow might hold. All we knew was the fight was on.My friend, like Mom, I offer no milkshake promises. Life is packed with difficulties professionally, challenges relationally, and diagnosis personally.But in holding yourself accountable, focusing on what is important in your life, elevating personal relationships, growing intentionally and not making excuses – you will be liberated to take back your life, ignite your possibility and change your world.Each day, “fire and water are before you; you can stretch out your hand for whichever you choose. Life….or death.”So, do you want to really live?Final answer?Me, too!This is your day. Live Inspired. ... See MoreSee Less

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1 week ago

Tonight we celebrate 75 years of Mom’s life and I was hoping you’d help…. You see, Mom has spent a lifetime serving others.She’s pictured here serving a birthday cake to me…She raised six children through extraordinarily good times...and some extremely difficult ones. She didn’t like animals in the house, but she let her kids bring in three dogs, one cat [who promptly birthed 9 kittens!], a turtle, a bunny, 2 birds….all because she knew it brought us joy.She’s been married to Dad for more than five decades and they remain truly in love with one another. Over the last 30 years, though, as his Parkinson’s disease has progressed, so has the responsibility on Mom to do more and more for Dad. So how you can help celebrate Mom?Please comment below a birthday wish for Mom. I’ll be sharing your comments with her tonight over dinner. She’s an amazing lady and I want her to know the love felt for her goes far beyond her husband and six kids. ... See MoreSee Less

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1 week ago

I love Kurt Warner. Loved him when he brought excitement back to the Dome in St. Louis 23 years ago.[He was stocking shelves at an Iowa grocery store just a couple years earlier] Loved his selfless, continuous service in the community.[Many players show up for the cameras. Kurt was there when they weren’t and made a profound difference.] Loved his sincere, unapologetic passion for his faith.[Began every interview by recognizing all the credit for his success was because of Jesus Christ.] Loved his commitment to his wife, Brenda. [Many athletes and celebrities pull away from those there for them coming up… Kurt instead drew even closer to her.] Loved that when I invited him to be on our podcast, he responded immediately with dates that worked.[He was on all the big shows, didn’t really know me, and certainly didn't have to join us. I’ll post his episode in the comments.] But I didn’t know how much I really loved him until I took my wife, kids, and entire family last week to American Underdog. My friends, this is a story of overcoming, seeing beauty in the broken, pursuing a dream for something bigger than yourself, and believing that in spite of all the naysayers, God is still God, the foundation is still firm and the best is still yet to come. Grab your helmet….and your family…and go see it this weekend! ... See MoreSee Less