Stuff I Learned Yesterday
About Stuff I Learned Yesterday
Stuff I Learned Yesterday is a podcast that aims to encourage, inspire, challenge, motivate, and improve the lives of those who listen to it. Stuff I Learned Yesterday is released each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Each episode ranges from 5-15 minutes long and contain short stories based on real events and lessons learned by the hosts. Friday episodes are called the Friday Forum and are filled with inspirational and motivational thoughts submitted by Stuff I Learned Yesterday listeners. Submit your story for a Friday Forum episode by calling 304-837-2278, visiting our feedback page, or click on the Send a Voice Message button on the left hand side of this page.
SILY 654- No Apology Needed
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Unlike the annoying barn swallows occupying my porch, my son has flown from the nest never to return. He’s spread his wings, experienced the freedom and independence that comes with that stage of life, and he is perfectly content to navigate those waters on his own. He knows full well that we were just a phone call away and less than an hour away if we are needed, and that he can reach out to us for any need he has. I was not ready for this. It bummed me out and made me sad. One day it was hitting me especially hard. I was super proud of him and his independent spirit, but I was missing my boy. In that moment of reflection, I realized that I’d done the same thing when I was his age.
SILY 653- Loudest Person in the Room
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Today’s story is pulled from a television episode that aired 25 years ago. However, its claims about the Bible are ones that I still see being used often today, and the very scene has been making the rounds on social media this year, which is why I decided to address it on this podcast. It’s easy to see why the Old Testament laws can be confusing and hopefully it’s easy to see why I’ll be devoting an entire episode to this topic. What we see in this clip from the West Wing is not an example of putting someone in their place. No, what we see in this clip is what plagues our culture. That is, Biblical illiteracy. In fact, this clip demonstrates Biblical illiteracy from both President Bartlet and Dr. Jacobs.
652- Monday Mailbag
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Thanks to Jeff and Ruthie for sharing their stories. I found both of these stories to be incredibly inspiring and I appreciate each of them being willing to be vulnerable enough to share these raw moments from their lives. These stories represent the true heart of this podcast and the best of what community looks like.
651- What’s Better Than Money
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In 2017 I received an email from a podcast associate of mine named Shawn. I reached out to Shawn to learn more about the mission and determine how much I could donate to make maximum impact. Shawn was great with answering my questions, but the conversation didn’t go as I expected. Rather than simply taking my money, Shawn repeatedly emphasized that the best impact I could make was not in purchasing multiple stoves and floors. Instead, he insisted the biggest impact would be made if I joined him in Guatemala.
650- Pitfalls of a Thor Complex
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You could say that nobody steals Thor’s thunder. He is the god of thunder, after all. But perhaps he’s the only one who is immune to having their thunder stolen. It took me years to see this fault in myself. To be honest, I’m still not convinced I’m capable of realizing that I’ve stolen someone’s thunder until a great deal of time has passed. That scares me a little. And that’s the lesson for today. If you’re like me, you love the thrill of getting set free to take an idea and run with it. That’s a great feeling and often comes with rewarding outcomes. Just don’t take off without first taking a look around you.
649- Understanding Your Why
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As we stood there on the shore of San Diego Bay taking in the sights of Comic-Con, Clint looked at me and asked, “Darrell, why do you do all of this?” I took a moment and gave him an answer I wasn’t happy with then and I’m not happy with now. I told him that I enjoyed being around the celebrities and learning about all the new stuff that’s coming out on TV this season. He looked at me with a dissatisfied expression. I’ve thought a lot about it since then, and here’s the truthful answer he deserved that day. I wanted the recognition. I wanted the notoriety. I was motivated heavily by selfish ambitions.
648- The God Behind the Curtain
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The Bible has a lot to say about God and his attributes, and it’s easy to understand how some of these passages can be interpreted to paint God into an image similar to that of Oz. But is that accurate? Just as Dorothy and her friends learned the truth about Oz when they pulled back the curtain and had a face to face conversation with him, I think if we dig in and pull back the curtain a bit today, a better understanding of God’s character will be revealed.
647- I Think Therefore I Am
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Certainly the fact that we have the capacity to think signifies our existence. However, I’ve seen too many people who think they don’t exist because no one seems to notice them or acknowledge them. Honestly, I think deep down all of us need someone to affirm us in some way in order for us to feel like we exist. Thus, “I am thought of, therefore I am.”
646- The Year of Breakthrough
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I can’t tell you how many conversations I’ve had with people about NMX 2015. Nearly every conversation I have about it includes someone declaring, “That was the best event ever!” Why? Surround yourself with a group of friends that will encourage you, stick with you, help you see your blind spots, and give you that necessary encouragement on those hardest of days. Otherwise, you might give up when all your dreams are just outside your grasp accessible via a path you’ve just not yet seen.
645- Ingredients of a Happy Marriage
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Marriage is not easy. Adding kids into the mix makes it even more challenging. It’s not surprising that between two-thirds and one-half of all marriages in the US end in divorce. This week Kari and I will celebrate 26 years of marriage and we are as happy and as solidly connected as we’ve ever been. Here are what I believe are five key ingredients to a successful marriage, plus a bonus ingredient.