Josh Hatcher
Posts by Josh Hatcher:
Thanks: How gratitude changes you
As we approach Thanksgiving, it’s important for us men to rekindle that little fire of thankfulness.
Have you ever met a braggart – a pompous ass who loves to bray and flip his ears around, reminding you of how amazing he is?
Of course you have. You may have even been him.
If you aren’t him, though, you are in danger of becoming him. The solution to that problem is to stay humble – and gratitude forces you to do that.
A thankful man doesn’t look to himself as the source for all the good things in his life, but rather identifies the people and forces around him that have contributed to his success.
I think confidence is a sliding scale – and while we all want to be confident people – we may fall short of confidence, and we might overshoot confidence and end up displaying cockiness.
The more time we spend showing our thankfulness, the more we keep that scale in balance.
Actually choosing to be grateful helps to realign your thinking toward the positive. It gets your focus off the distractions of the circumstance themselves, so that you can focus on your end result.
Manly Music Friday VETERAN’S DAY Edition! #manlymusicfriday
Here’s a song I wrote for our veterans and active duty military.
THANK YOU ALL FOR THE SACRIFICES YOU MADE TO KEEP THIS COUNTRY FREE AND SAFE!
Thanks: How to recognize the good
As we approach Thanksgiving, it’s important for us men to rekindle that little fire of thankfulness.
Sometimes, it’s easy for anyone to get fixated on the negative.
A man once remarked that the Grand Canyon was just a big hole in the ground – and while his statement was true – it reflects the “negative space” in the canyon’s void. But what makes the Grand Canyon different than a “hole in the ground” are the soaring canyon walls.
In our lives and in our relationships, we need to cultivate the habit of looking for the good. I think some people may be more naturally disposed to see the negative – so for those, this task may be harder.
As a Christian, I’ve found that saying prayers of thankfulness often remind me of the positive things around me, and they cause me to take the time to reflect on the good, even in tough circumstances. Regardless of your religion or belief system, you may find a thankful ritual helpful.
Good Ole’ Bing Crosby gets it –
Take some time at the beginning and end of your day to make a list of things you are thankful for.
Write them down, speak them out loud, or tell a friend.
That very act of taking inventory is like putting a fugitive’s pillow in front of a bloodhound. Now your mind has “the scent” of the good things in your life, and will more likely recognize them in the moment.
Iron and Wine – Naked as We Came #manlymusicfriday
Something about Iron and Wine’s grizzled approach to songwriting makes me happy.
Thanks: Why gratitude is manly
As we approach Thanksgiving, it’s important for us men to rekindle that little fire of thankfulness.
Men, we tend to be creatures of utility, and we tend to act and speak out of utility rather than emotion. For many of us – our words and speech are reserved for work, for selling, for instruction, and I think that often, we toss out the words that we don’t think matter – and as a result, we really don’t say “Thank you,” enough.
When is the last time you thanked your family? Your parents? Your spouse? Your kids?
To demonstrate gratitude requires an intentionality – and while it might not seem like it carries emotional weight – being “thanked” has a huge emotional gratification to those on the receiving end.
To reciprocate gratitude for kindness truly is manly – because it elevates you. It helps you build your reputation, and it cements you in the hearts of the people who give kindness or assistance to you.
While you may strive for independence, the cold hard truth that “no man is an island” needs be your anchor. You aren’t entitled to anything in this life – and even the things you have earned you have earned because someone blessed you with kindness, taught you skills, or shared with you an opportunity.
Be thankful for those blessings, and be vocal with your thanks.
Wilco: NPR Tiny Desk Concert #manlymusicfriday
NPR’s “Tiny Desk Concert” stuff is fun…. and Wilco is amazing. Check it out.
Legends of the fall: Standing on principle
The movie Legends of the Fall is a fantastic tale of manhood. Gorgeously shot, and wonderfully told, that story follows a man through his entire life, with heartbreak and victory and struggle. Rather than parallel the story too closely, I thought that this month, we could explore together a few of the themes that the movie illustrates, and look at how they can appl to our own wild lives.
Principle is a powerful thing.
prin·ci·ple
ˈprinsəpəl/
noun
noun: principle; plural noun: principles
a fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior or for a chain of reasoning.
If you are a man without clearly identified principles, you are drifting across the sea of life, and will be tossed around like a leaf when the storms roll in.
If you have a principled life – you can drop anchor and weather the storm.
What are your principles? Have you ever taken the time to jot them down on paper?
What core beliefs shape who you are?
From the time we are young, we are taught to follow our heart. We’re taught that we are supposed to let our heart be our guide.
I’m honestly not sure what buffoon came up with that advice – but I’ll tell you this – following your heart has allowed a generation of men to rise up to the surface – and then just flounder.
Flopping along with whatever they “feel” to guide them.
Listen, men. You are better than that!
Your heart and emotions are fickle. They do matter – they are indicators and gauges on the dashboard of your life. They measure your performance, and they respond to your circumstances.
But if you try to navigate your car by the direction the speedometer or RPM needle is pointed – you won’t get anywhere.
What should guide you, then?
Your principles.
These are what guides you.
Don’t follow your heart… follow your principles.
Traveling Wilburys – End Of The Line #manlymusicfriday
Can’t help it. Tom Petty’s music last week just got me in the mood for more of this kind of stuff….
Legends of the Fall: Honoring those who went before
The movie Legends of the Fall is a fantastic tale of manhood. Gorgeously shot, and wonderfully told, that story follows a man through his entire life, with heartbreak and victory and struggle. Rather than parallel the story too closely, I thought that this month, we could explore together a few of the themes that the movie illustrates, and look at how they can appl to our own wild lives.
Since we visited the topic of legacy last week – this is the next logical train of thought. What do we do to honor the men who went before us? Your father, your brothers, your grandfathers?
I think there is an awful lot of cultural revolution these days – to the point that the culture keeps rolling over like a 7-11 taquito on the grill. It’s hard to honor heroes of the past when no one can determine what values we respect anymore.
Let’s make it a point to study the “heroes” that have gone before us. Sure – they can be flawed… and we can identify the flaws – but let’s also give them the benefit of the doubt, and honor their success, rather than throw out all the babies with the bathwater.
Who, in your own history, or your nation’s history is worthy of honor?
Feel free to make a comment to list some heroes that you think we could all learn from!