Edition 17 - Wrapping Up 2022

2022...WHOA.

It has been more than a minute since my last newsletter edition. I apologize to those who look forward to these editions and also to those who ultimately get nuggets of wisdom or thought provoking info out of them. Life has been life. It isn't always the Instagram perfection that we often organically compare to or try to align our lives with. In case you haven't realized yet...that is NOT real life. This is real life and real transparency...

My last edition, Edition 16 , was describing my experience of being in the direct path of Hurricane Ian. Gusts in my neighboring home county have been confirmed at 206 mph, with sustained winds in some parts of the county at 176 mph. That was a literal whirlwind to go through. Nonetheless, God is good in ALL things. God blessed me, my family, and my friends safely through the storm. That is obvious since I am still here able to write about it lol.

I won't lie though, it caught me off-guard and pushed me off track. I didn't realize how the experience would bring back so many memories and PTSD that I didn't know still existed from surviving Hurricane Charley in 2004. Hurricane Charley took out my house, my high school, and devastated my community...but was in and out. I didn't realize how going through something similar in strength, but for much...much longer would affect me.

I wasn't ready for the toll it would take on me to see the destruction day after day afterwards. That happens to still be the case in many areas around me. I wasn't ready for the need to step up in the weeks after for others to the point of only exhausting myself. I wasn't ready for the crash after that, and how much momentum with work that Hurricane Ian so kindly sucked up with it in it's path.

But God does all things for the good.

In reflection, 2022 has been a year that God has been using to strengthen me through the not so ideal moments and the uncomfortable moments. I know that to be true, but sometimes if we are just being honest...we just don't want to be strengthened.

Like...can we hit the timeout/pause button for a second, God?!

Michael Jordan's quote above sounds motivating until you are in the midst of the obstacles with seemingly no quick end in sight.

So in those moments this year...God said through signs and through others..."Keep the Faith...fight for Faith...find the lessons in the storms."

At the beginning of 2022, coming off of some of the COVID craziness, and hoping for some normalcy...I was positive (not COVID positive) and super excited for what was on the horizon this year in 2022. I had some great prospective game-changing deals that were in the works and momentum was growing again. Thought I had my mindset locked in. No matter if these deals were either won or lost...I knew I put my absolute best effort into earning them and I put each client in the best possible position that I could.

Again...it sounded good...until they were lost. Because there potentially were some unethical moves made that sent me into the loss column on those...my mindset shifted. I no longer was okay with knowing I did my absolute best. I self admittedly was angry, discouraged, sad, and starting to burn out.

I was mad at myself for letting myself get there. I had told myself, "Brett, you don't do this anymore," yet I did. I needed space and I needed guidance to get back on track. My Faith surely was being tested.

I sought guidance from good friends, and guidance from some of my Marked Men For Christ brothers. I prayed, looked inward, and worked through it. It took longer than I wanted, but I was reminded of "Gods timing, not mine."

Let's jump past all the political clown world happenings in our country and world this past year...the fight to be a Christian amongst all this satanic influence that seems to be infecting so many areas...and past the Hurricane in August. Let's skip to arriving at a point of going through some of the most challenging feelings/times of my life due to info that surfaced and decisions that need to be made surrounding some family matters that I won't go into detail about. Thank you 2022.

I describe all of these things not to be negative, or bring your vibe down...but rather to prove that a year doesn't always go as expected. Just because we are faithful with a little, and faithful with much...it doesn't mean that we are exempt from our share of obstacles. We are not exempt from growth and the way that God will use those obstacles to strengthen us further.

Despite feeling exhausted at times, over it all, emotionally drained, stressed, overwhelmed...God is still with me. He has been growing me in areas that I had thought I already fertilized. He has made sure that I have had no choice but to step through the fear to know that I finally can. He has put me in uncomfortable situations in order to become closer to the Man that he is shaping me to be. That I believe.

I have found even more awareness of how important it is to do life with people you trust and who truly care about you. People that care about your well being, not your social media following. I have gained awareness in what I will and will not allow in my life. I have set boundaries, and focused a whole lot more on nurturing what Brett needs in order to be fully present and able to help with the needs of others. Most importantly, I have experienced the grace and goodness of God in new fresh ways.

As we are only a few days away from 2023...resolutions will be made...changes will be anticipated...goals will be set.

Collectively, I truly am excited for the vision/thought of stepping into a new year that isn't 2022. However, after what I experienced in 2022, I will not be setting any resolutions, or overly direct goals.

Instead, I will be looking forward to facing each new day presented of 2023. Even when they are not necessarily void of challenges. Challenges will be coming...something will throw me off...lies will be said...things won't go as I planned, deals won't work out, and that is okay.

God uses all things for growth and our good.

Our timing is based on expectation, whereas God's timing is based on SALVATION & REVALATION.

I pray you have a Happy & Blessed New Year! I pray over your families, friends, communities, and country. I thank you for your continued support and the ability to share the good positive times, and the not so ideal points of life on this great platform.

Be real, be blessed, and bless others in 2023!