Tag Archives: life

Inspiration

What choices will you make today?

By DAVID TEPERA | Posted: Friday, July 29, 2016

Each morning, we wake to a full day of choices. Every thought and every action is based on a series of choices.

One of the greatest beauties of being human, is we get to make our own decisions about how we live our lives.

You get to decide on clothes, cars, neighborhoods, friends, spouses, diets, exercise and so on. But, most importantly — how you treat others.

Whatever and wherever you are in life, is due to all the choices you’ve made to date. Now think about that for a moment.

If you’re not happy or you’re miserable, then maybe it’s time to change your thought process by being a more positive and caring person.

Take a hard look in the mirror, reflect on yourself and understand why life hasn’t gone as planned.

To turn it all around and get back on track, start by changing your stinking thinking. Recognize when your thoughts are negative and find something positive to focus on.

For me, when situations aren’t going well, I’ve trained myself to find all the reasons to be thankful. I recognize life could be so much worse.

This starts first thing in the morning when I wake. My first thought of each morning is, “Wow, I’m alive and I get to go out into this beautiful world today.”

It took some time, but once I forgave everyone who wronged me, unnecessary stress vanished. Now, I find beauty in everyone and life has never been better.

My kids have learned to interact with people because I’m always striking up conversations with total strangers. To me, everyone has a story, plus I’m truly interested. That’s why I share so many stories in my column.

Just remember, your thoughts become actions, and your actions will determine your true character. That character is how we perceive you.

So, what choices will you make today? Choose to be happy because you can turn your life around with just one choice.

Inspiration

Don’t mess with my sister

By DAVID TEPERA | Posted: Tuesday, July 5, 2016

I have two typical teenagers who constantly pick on each other. Yes, my 17 year-old son Dylan and 15 year-old daughter Daylyn are amazing kids, but they enjoy getting under each other’s skin.

During the summer, both kids are attending the strength and conditioning camp at their high school. Each of them competes in separate groups according to their sports.

On one particular day, Daylyn was struggling during the weight room session and was feeling embarrassed. Dylan left all his buddies and came to Daylyn’s rescue to let everyone know that big brother has her back.

Hopefully, as we’ve all discovered as parents and siblings ourselves, when it comes down to it, kids truly love and care about each other, even though at home, you sometimes question it.

My only sibling growing up was my sister Karen Tepera Franklin. We are only 11 months apart, with Karen being the oldest. She actually hates being older now.

Karen and I picked on each other, too, but we were always each other’s biggest fan.

I remember as a young kid playing sandlot football, there was Karen on the sideline yelling for me like it was the Super Bowl. She continued as I competed in all my sports through school.

In high school, Karen wanted to try out for head twirler into her senior year. We would be in the yard for hours a day learning all the cool tricks and moves. Karen was self-taught and had amazing talent.

Believe it or not, I was actually a really good closet twirler. I didn’t want my buddies to know.

I was there the day Karen had tryouts to cheer her on. I remember being nervous for her, and then she won the head position. I was so proud of her.

Even to this day, in our personal and corporate worlds, Karen and I still support all of our endeavors. Yes, we still pick on each other for our faults, but no one else is allowed.

Just know, it’s normal for your kids to pick on each other, too. I sometimes look at it like two bear cubs. Fighting and arguing is part of the bonding process.

I think we can all agree, nothing is stronger than family. Take the time today and let your kids know how awesome and lucky they are to have each other — for life.

If you haven’t spoken to your own sibling in quite some time, then today is the day to give them call — just to say, “I really do miss the good old days. I’m lucky to have you. I love you.”

Inspiration

Learn to take in the ‘now’

By DAVID TEPERA | Posted: Tuesday, June 21, 2016

I’m sure everyone has some form of stress in their lives. The only difference is how we deal with it. It’s so easy to let our minds get overwhelmed and give ourselves different levels of depression.

I too, will sometimes catch myself dwelling on negative situations that occurred in the past, including forecasting negative stress that might not even occur in the future.

Lately, I’ve been training myself to take in the “now.” It’s right now where life is the best. I’m as healthy as possible for a 54 year old man. My kids are happy and experiencing the life I’ve created for them. My medical job has crazy stress, but I’m fortunate to make a decent living.

The emails I receive from you readers gives me an overwhelming sense of worthiness to people outside my family circle. I share most of them with my kids to which it has tremendous impact on their desire to help others as well.

You might not realize it, but all of you out there are helping me raise teenagers to be compassionate adults.

I don’t want to go back in time because I’m so much wiser, humble and love all people more than I could ever imagine.

I know a man in his mid-40s who still whines and complains from a dysfunctional mom he had growing up. To this day, he uses that excuse as a reason for all his misbehaviors and inability to find happiness and success.

I told him that it’s impossible to re-ring that bell. Nothing can change the past, but you have complete control of the now. You get to write your own destiny.

Think of all the situations that could be worse and appreciate the now. Don’t even think about tomorrow. Overwhelm yourself with the emotions of how incredible life is right now. Go-ahead, make yourself laugh, cry or both. Take deep long breaths and feel the presence of the now.

Recently, my son Dylan had his first flat tire on his car. It occurred during all this crazy rain we’ve been experiencing. I thought of this moment as a great learning experience to which he learned to change a flat in adverse weather conditions.

To me, it was a cool moment because I was taking in the now. I blended in with Mother Nature and enjoyed every drop.

No matter what is going on in your life, you are here today and this is the now.

Inspiration

One person can affect a whole city

By DAVID TEPERA | Posted: Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Recently, I was explaining to my son Dylan about the financial impact that superstar athletes have on their cities. For example: LeBron James generates over $100 million annually from tourists to the city of Cleveland through hotels, restaurants, shopping, transportation and so on.

I continued explaining, to think about all the families who were able to raise their children and have a decent living — all because of one person.

That’s why when LeBron left the city, he did more than disappoint the fans in winning a championship with the Miami Heat. Cleveland, Ohio, really did lose its king.

The whole reason for having this conversation with my 17-year-old son is I want him to start thinking about how he can influence his community.

Dylan replied to me that there is only one LeBron James. I told him, “You’re absolutely right, and there is only one Dylan Tepera.”

You see, Dylan has one more year left in high school, and then it’s off to college. But, I want him to create a career to help others and bring goodness to all.

Don’t just think about working in a corporate environment where you’re being told what to do on a daily basis. Yes, you can start there to learn about the real world, but you must have the desire to go beyond.

At an early age, I instilled in my children to own their own businesses and create a brand that makes people’s lives better. When you’ve accomplished this, then you’ve succeeded.

Don’t worry about the income. Money will follow and grow when you’ve created a brand of integrity and passion.

Now you must think about you. It doesn’t matter that you’ve settled into a comfortable living. We must all find a way to help others. It’s as simple as volunteering to an organization in your hometown.

Look around and see where there’s a need. Try to find a way to generate money or get others involved to help charities or people in need.

We must all act now because we only have a short time on this earth. We are neighbors and in this world together. Our destiny is to inspire and have a positive influence in life.

Diets, Fitness, Inspiration

Flip your thinking to accomplish goals

By DAVID TEPERA | Posted: Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Probably, the most challenging component of losing weight is getting our diets in order. Americans are bombarded with fast-food marketing, large food portions and unlimited buffets.

So, as we are determined to lose weight, we continuously say to ourselves, “I’m not going to eat fast foods, fried foods, doughnuts or any unhealthy foods.” But what really happened is those particular foods salivate your brain, which in turn creates more cravings for them.

You must be more positive and proactive by saying, “I can’t wait for lunch to eat a grilled chicken or seared tuna salad with dark green crispy lettuce.” Keep repeating the desire for healthy foods and your body will want them.

The same goes to your workouts. Most people dread knowing they need to exercise after a day of work. You need to flip your thinking and get excited knowing the gym is a reward for a productive day.

In the morning, I lay out my gym clothes and charge my headphones. It’s my reminder that it’s another amazing day because I GET to exercise.

Let’s apply this type of positive thinking for all parts of life. You should wake up each morning excited knowing you have a job. You get to provide for your family and have a quality of life.

Once, my daughter Daylyn dropped an expensive bowl in the kitchen and it broke into many pieces. She looked at me with much concern. I thought about it for a moment and told her, “I didn’t like that old bowl anyway — good riddance.” We both laughed and cleaned it up together.

Now think about that. No matter what the situation was, that bowl was not coming back. I decided to not ruin her day or give myself unnecessary stress. Daylyn loves to tell that story and will probably, one day, use the same scenario with her kids.

Sometimes you’ve got to take a step back, breathe deep and realize how incredible life is.

I can’t take back what happened yesterday, but I’ve got full control of what’s happening now.

Stay positive and be kind to all.

Inspiration

Don’t dread wearing a swimsuit in the summer

By DAVID TEPERA | Posted: Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Well, Memorial Day weekend has past and it’s the official start of seasonal hot Texas weather.

I’m sure there are many of you dreading outside activities knowing short clothing and swimsuits are required.

Look, you’ve probably dealt with this situation for many years, but relax; it’s only as embarrassing as you perceive it.

Here’s what I’ve come to realize and understand through my own life experiences.

Usually, young adults from their late teens through their 20s judge others’ bodies the most. This is probably due to the aftereffect of harshness and bullying throughout school years. They think everyone is looking at them when actually we don’t care.

Adults in their 30s become less critical because they’ve started a family and raising children takes full mental capacity. It seems like both mommy’s and daddy’s bodies change after childbirth, and it’s OK; you’re in this together.

Then comes the age of the 40s when you realize your body doesn’t respond like it did before.

The kids are grown, out of the house, and you’re possibly facing a divorce. It’s typically during these years when adults take drastic steps trying to create a better looking body.

Plastic surgeons live in mansions and drive fancy cars due to the panicking 40s generation.

Now, I can personally speak for the 50s age adults. Negative judging of others’ bodies is no longer a thought process. It’s easy to find beauty in everyone. We become more attracted to people for who they are, rather than physical appearance.

I know a lady who is physically drop-dead gorgeous, but once she starts speaking and judging others, she becomes quite unattractive in my eyes.

Sorry to categorize ages 60s and beyond, but it seems that all you talk about is body ailments. You try to outdo each other by who’s had the most joint replacements and surgeries.

Now that hurricane season is around the corner, I can hear you now — “Thar’s a storm brewing in the Gulf. I’m gonna have to board this darn house with these bad knees, back and shoulders.”

So really, don’t worry about what others are thinking because they aren’t thinking about you.

Wear whatever makes you comfortable and enjoy the coming summer months.

Inspiration

Benefits of setting goals go beyond the gym

By DAVID TEPERA | Posted: Tuesday, May 17, 2016

One of my very best friends is 69-year-old former body builder Mike Rebescher. Personally, Mike is one of the most successful businessmen I know.

Recently, I had breakfast with Mike and asked if there’s a correlation to his success and years as a body builder.

Mike looked me dead in the eyes with a stern face and told me “absolutely.”

Mike explained body building taught him to be more goal-orientated. It had also pushed him outside of his comfort zone, which built his confidence, mental toughness, strength and strong character.

Mike started dabbling with weights around the age of 12 at his local YMCA, but truly didn’t dedicate himself until he turned 40. I know countless people who’ve given up by the age of 40.

Mike’s body building journey lasted until he was 53, even though weightlifting and staying in shape has been a lifetime commitment.

Mike made it clear that no matter what struggles in life or in business he encounters, he can grind it out because he’s already tested himself beyond belief.

Believe me, that evening I was throwing some crazy weight around in the gym. Even to this day, when Mike attends business meetings and sees the other out-of-shape members, he knows he owns the room.

You see, that statement includes each of us. When you’re the fittest person in the room, you reflect strength, dedication and discipline.

Employers want you to represent their company to which you’ll get the job and promotions. It’s probably not fair, but it’s the way the subconscious mind works.

I know we all don’t have the desire or dedication to become body builders, but hopefully you’ve understood the “take home” message.

For those of us who’ve been around awhile, maybe it’s time to bring back the Jordan slogan “Be like Mike.”

Inspiration

Sometimes, all you need is one more step

By DAVID TEPERA | Posted: Tuesday, May 10, 2016

When my daughter brings her clothes to the laundry room, half the clothes make it into the basket. When she cleans her room, there’s typically some clutter in the corner. When Daylyn gets a glass out of the kitchen cabinet, she leaves the door open.

I’ve explained to Daylyn that if she would just take one more step, all tasks would be completed. I know these are small concerns, but it’s amazing how the extra step would make all the difference.

Now this could be applied to all aspects in our lives.

Think about when you’re at work: At the end of day, there might be one small task or project that needs finishing. If you would take one more step and complete it, then you’ve had a successful day. Plus, it creates more available time to finish more work the following day.

Why is this important? It will probably get the attention of your employers, which would lead to promotions and better income.

We all want to lose more weight and get in better shape. How about at the end of training you take one more step and perform an extra set of weights. Or, when going through a cardio workout, you push your body to an extra 10 to 30 minutes. This would at least burn up to several hundred more calories.

Just know, Daylyn did recognize the benefits of one more step and has applied it to her homework and studies.

Now, if we could all take on the “one more step” mentality, how much better and quality of life would we create?

Inspiration

Don’t give up, keep the momentum

By DAVID TEPERA | Posted: Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Have you ever tried to push a heavy object, and at first, it was difficult until it started moving? Once the object gained momentum, it became much easier.

We can apply this same law of friction to our daily lives.

Think about when you started a new project, a new diet, a new job, a new sport and so on. The most difficult part of the process was just getting started. But once you got in motion and gained momentum, it was much easier.

There are many people I’ve helped with a new diet and exercise program. Almost each one of them was getting frustrated for the first month because their goals and expectations were not being obtained.

I explained to keep pursuing and don’t give up because that’s how our bodies work. At first, your body goes into shock and survival mode because it wants to protect itself against the forces and extremes you’re putting it through.

But once your body recognizes exercising and clean dieting is a new way of life, it will start adjusting and transform itself to the constant demands. Hopefully, this makes sense.

The key component to all of this is momentum. Once you’ve gained momentum, everything gets easier.

Notice during sports competition when a team gets momentum and starts a lot of scoring, the other team’s coach will call a timeout to stop it. This typically works.

The great news is that the only thing that can stop your momentum — is you.

Just know if reaching extreme goals was easy, then everyone would accomplish them. That’s the beauty and the end reward. It’s something that took full effort and dedication.

Plus, you’re the one who did it. You alone defeated all the obstacles and barriers that stood in your way. You clawed, sweated, studied, fought the battle and became king of the mountain.

Don’t hesitate. Today’s the day to get your bodies and ambitions started to gain momentum in this game of life.

Inspiration

Do what it takes to reach goals

By DAVID TEPERA | Posted: Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Recently, I had an inspiring conversation with a young lady named Maricruz Diaz. She had a slight accent, so I asked to share her story. At first, Maricruz was a little reluctant but proceeded to amaze me.

Maricruz had come to the United States a few years ago to pursue her dream of obtaining a bachelor’s degree in nursing. She started her journey in Mexico completing almost two years of college but was given a new opportunity here to continue a full education.

She faced many obstacles and setbacks. First, the American nursing school didn’t accept any credits from Mexico. Next, Maricruz had to take one year of English, which she completed, then one year of remedial classes to prove her understanding. Finally, she took two years of prerequisites to be accepted into school.

After 4-5 years of schooling, she is now ready to start a four-year program for nursing.

Oh, did I mention she works 40 hours a week in a hospital organizing surgical instruments?

I can’t tell you how many people have told me that they don’t have time to reach their goals, no time to go to the gym, exercise or clean up their diet.

I know a grown man in his 30s who hasn’t worked in almost four years because he found a way to work the system and receive a free check from the government.

Maricruz told me she is one of five siblings, and all of them have college degrees.

Her dad is a retired construction worker, and her mom was a full-time, stay-at-home mom. Yes, they might have been somewhat financially poor but obviously wealthy in family values.

Listen, we’ve got to stop giving excuses for our lazy behavior. It doesn’t matter what your age and current status quo. Step your game up, get excited about what lies ahead and live out your dreams like a young lady named Maricruz Diaz.