Deliberate

I'm sure many people would debate whether or not love is a choice. I believe that it is not only a choice, but a deliberate, well-thought out choice. I think that love requires strategy, because there are many opponents of love. The statistics about divorce are enough for some to never consider marriage. The top 3 causes for divorce are sex, money, and communication. These are just a few of the opponents of love. About 50% of US marriages are remarried or re-coupled, which means a lot of them are blended families. Add children and jealous exes to the previous list. That's a lot of opposition. Love these days must be deliberate, otherwise you are setting yourself up for failure. Don't ignore red flags. Don't brush issues under the rug. Recognize when the relationship has gone past its expiration date. Be willing to compromise. Communication is key. And don't be afraid to seek out a third party mediator. We all need help sometimes. I am a big proponent for love. Let's be deliberate in who, why, and how we love. 

Domino Effect

Have you ever placed dominos in a row and knocked them down? The result is a domino effect or a chain reaction which causes one event to set off a chain of similar events. I've always enjoyed watching dominos fall in intricate designs. I could only imagine the patience it took the designer to arrange each piece in a specific location and order to achieve the desired result. There is no room for happenstance. Every placement is deliberate. Every move is calculated. There is no room for error. Imagine your life. Every obstacle and circumstance is strategically placed in a specific order to achieve a predesigned result. Every moment is arranged to cause a chain reaction to propel the next domino into motion. The end result is an intricate design called destiny. 

Winning Strategy

The culmination of every football season ends with the Superbowl game. This year's Superbowl was between seasoned contenders and an underdog team. I've always been a fan of the underdog. Underdogs tend to fly under the radar. No one seems to pay them any attention until it's too late. However, underdogs and seasoned contenders must have a winning strategy. Years of opposition, failure, disappointment, and desperation can create a winning strategy. Just like years of proper training and execution can create a winning strategy as well. Sometimes, the best lessons are when we learn not what to do, but what not to do. When this lesson is implemented properly, the momentum is undeniable. Success in life requires us to plan, prepare, and learn from our past mistakes. Everyone loves to win, but everyone is not willing to do what it takes to implement a winning strategy.