My oldest is in 8th grade, stuck right in the midst of the awkward middle school years. We all remember those times when we were convinced every single eye was on us every time we walked across a room, scrutinizing our gait, our hair, our clothes? (The irony here, of course, is that in actuality all attention is much more focused on themselves than on anyone else.)

But a core truth is still exposed in middle school; that the heart’s desire of every person is to find community, to fit in, and this is none more apparent than in those teenage years.

The Stuff That Matters, Real Change, Overcoming Fears, BusinessNathan WestwickSeptember 25, 2018Identity, Being RealComment

There is No Life Without the Storm

I’ve been reading a book about different personality types, and my particular type, it turns out, tries to avoid pain at all costs.

Now, I get that it’s human nature to avoid pain, but apparently people with my personality type will go to nearly superhuman lengths to avoid it. It seems that pain is something that is particularly difficult for someone with my makeup to deal with.

And since God isn’t really interested in stagnant character development… the past 11 months have been some of the most difficult of my life.

Faith, Life Abundant, Overcoming Fears, The Journey, BusinessNathan WestwickFebruary 14, 2017Dealing with Pain, Storms, Finding HopeComment

The Myth of Popularity

Growing up, I never cared much about being popular.

That is, until I hit junior high.

Then I had to have all the right brands of clothing , because I knew that if I was wearing anything that might be found on a rack at Mervyn’s, I could risk the danger of being socially ostracized.

So my parents would give me a clothing budget, and I would blow the entire wad onone pair of pants and a shirt or two.

Cutting Life's Safety Nets

Yesterday I put my signature on a paper that officially steers my career in a new direction.

I left teaching high school math a little over two years ago in order to work full-time in my coffee business. I traded stability for adventure. A high-structured job where simple needs like going to the bathroom were dictated by electronic bells buzzing through busy hallways, and exchanged that for the freedom to set my own schedule. I tossed my collared button-down shirts aside in favor of shorts and flip flops.

Business, Faith, Overcoming Fears, The JourneyNathan WestwickFebruary 25, 2016Leap of Faith, Trust Comments

Mustering the Strength to Fight On…

For most of my life, I’ve felt like a pretty emotionally stable bloke. But lately, it seems my days are bookended by feelings of anxiety at night followed by moods of depression in the mornings.

There are a variety of reasons for these emotions, but most of them are related to my continued realization that life (at least the good stuff) is really tough. That in order to live a full life, there are things I have to face head-on and fight each and every day.

Fighting for What's Good, Life Abundant, Overcoming Fears, The JourneyNathan WestwickJanuary 28, 2016Fighting OnComment

How a Dead Gopher Nearly Crushed my Spirit

Yesterday morning I woke up from a restless sleep so stressed out I felt like crying. Later, as I was walking out to get the paper, I was met with the unexpected sight of a dead gopher on our driveway.

As it turns out, that would serve as a metaphor for my entire day.

Business, Faith, Overcoming FearsNathan WestwickJanuary 21, 2016Trust, Fighting On, Life's Struggles Comment

Live A Courageous Life

I had the opportunity to speak to a group of young professionals last night. It was a great time sharing my personal story and that of my business with an absolutely great audience. What struck me as I was sharing was fairly profound:

A life lived courageously is really the only life worth truly living.

Faith, Overcoming Fears, The JourneyNathan WestwickNovember 11, 2015Stepping Out, Sharing is Caring Comment

We're All a Little Kid Sometimes...

This was originally written 7 years ago, but I felt it worthwhile to post it today. You see, I often feel like young Garrett in this story - sometimes reluctant to take risks, yet letting the sense of adventure take over, enjoying the thrill that comes with it. Until, that is, I feel in danger and/or scared that I might not make it through. Like Garrett, I often end up with scrapes and bruises, but I can relate to the young bloke in so many ways...

Enjoy the read; I know as a father I sure enjoyed the moment:

Overcoming Fears, Faith, FamilyNathan WestwickOctober 28, 2015Adventure, Risk-Taking, Growing Up Comment

Ready, Set, Go!

I’m fairly certain we can all relate to the paralyzing fear associated with feeling called to move in a particular direction. Perhaps it’s a calling for a career change, or to move to a new city, or maybe it’s a calling to finally pop the question to your longtime girlfriend.

The fears seem to wait until after we’re convinced that we should take that big step—it’s almost as if the torrent is held back until we finally decide to move forward in courage, and then the floodwaters break and all of the fears and doubts roll in…

Faith, Overcoming FearsNathan WestwickOctober 21, 2015Trust, Leap of Faith, Trying AgainComment

My Personal Encounter With A Wild Cat

I used to walk blissfully through life, all the while not knowing I was being stalked by a wild, stealthy cat—one with big teeth and sharp claws, and when it jumped me, I was caught so off guard I didn’t know quite what to do.

The Journey, Faith, Overcoming FearsNathan WestwickOctober 7, 2015Overcoming Fears Comment

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