Love Handles.

Speaker. Mentor. Podcaster

Don’t look down. You may realize there is either more or less of you to love than you last remember. When were the last time you walked through a shopping mall or department store? It’s interesting what happens when you find yourself in familiar territory, yet the sting of reality always finds a way to remind you of flaws you worked so hard to forget.

Life has an interesting way of treating everyone like a transactional shopping experience. If you’re anything like me, you’ll go into battle focused with a clear-cut exit strategy. On the other hand, many others experience ups and downs of relationships, broken promises, and false perceptions much like designer jeans, sale items and the lie that one size fits all.

By now, you might be wondering what this is all about, and it’s precisely that question that has awakened the restlessness of your soul. Just when you thought everything was getting better, and starting to look up—BAM, the Jaws of Life grip down on your personal space in unimaginable ways of discomfort.

What would it be like if you entrusted your secrets to someone, yet that person felt at liberty to share that information with anyone who would listen? Maybe you ran off and got married because you were convinced that would stop your manipulating partner from repeatedly disrespecting you in front of others, yet it didn’t. Maybe you’ve struggled in secret with your weight and there was nothing more important to you than to be accepted by others—literally anyone.Catch Me

The love you once remembered experiencing through frequent smiles has left your cheeks hurting from sheer joy, and has now vanished as quickly as vapor. Somewhere in the process of shopping for a replacement boyfriend, girlfriend, or spouse, you began to stuff your pain deep within the floorboards of your heart. At this point, you swore allegiance to self, and that no one would ever discover your true pain. Having consulted with self, this strategy appeared flawless because your reputation was paramount, your popularity was vital (yet temporary at best), and your perceived appearance was as convincingly delusional as Miley Cyrus inability to accept wise counsel.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always perseveres. Love never fails.” (NIV)

Now it’s time to ask the question you’ve been dying to know, and it’s not, “What is love?”, rather, “Who is love?” Truth is not relative, nor does it mask itself behind persuasive arguments or professionals with highly skilled vocabularies. Will the thing you’ve come to understand as love, ultimately stand up to the test of eternity? Have you ever taken time to think about the depth of your version of love? Is your love proud, arrogant, manipulative, self-seeking of attention, or rude in anyway? Does the person you’re in love with share a transparent commitment to genuine love as previously described, or are you both merely focused on satisfying your fantasies in bed, or even perhaps the idea of playing house as a pretend spouse?

Listen—life is short; there is neither discussion nor debating that fact. Everyone has a story, which is at best, unfinished. Let’s get the story straight once and for all: love is not merely a feeling. I’m just one man making a difference in the lives of those who will give me the time of day. I may not know your personal story, but I would like to. In all you do, please don’t miss my point—true love handles all your pain and struggles, and gives you something your best attempts never could—Peace.

Until next time, Be encouraged.

 


I speak to hundreds of thousands of young adults, men, women, and couples annually on leadership, decision making, and relationships.  Sometimes life has a way of being the antidote to life itself. If you’d like more information on this topic or how to bring me in as a speaker for your next event, please  contact me.

In the meantime, I encourage you to subscribe to my Tribe/Newsletter on my homepage. Post your comment below, Share my blogs with your friends on social media, and visit my website often for daily inspiration.


 

Egypt McKee

Speaker | Author | TV Host | Life Coach

©2009-2015 Copyright, Egypt McKee. All Rights Reserved.

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Painted on Jeans.

Speaker. Mentor. Podcaster

It seems like yesterday that people everywhere said she was a cute bundle of joy. There just seems to be something special about baby girls that pull at the heartstrings of both a mother and father. Although bruised and exhausted after her stressful journey into this world, she is well known by her beautiful features which resemble heavenly serenity, yet her hidden joy is yet to be realized.

While young and inexperienced, she is a precious jewel with much to learn; yet life will prove to be the antidote to the thing that eludes her most. The early days of bumps and bruises appear to be insignificant, yet soon enough, they will prove to alter her decisions yet feel natural in the process. Fathers do well to protect their prized joy wrapped in pink while sporting barrettes and a tiny purse, whereas mothers claim host to having carried, birthed and nurtured this little girl—its daddy that really made the difference.

The day daddy left, was the same day the earth stopped rotating and all directions led into the ground. That girl is no longer a baby, and an absentee father has promoted the decisions she wrestles with in secret. Mommy did the best she could, and for whatever reason daddy left a hole larger than the Grand Canyon in her heart, family and future. Who needs a compass when you can look for treasure to replace the pain and suffering on your own?

Painted On JeansMany little girls today range in age from their teens to nineties, yet they are still looking for daddy to come home and put his arm around them, cry on their shoulder and say, “I’m sorry, love you and everything is going to be alright”, yet this reality will not be experienced by many.

Little girls are beautiful, simple yet extremely complex. The place where life begins is also the place where life extends. It’s never been enough to be a biological mother or father; little girls are highly impacted and shaped by their relationship and influence from their daddy.

The scales of life offer extreme alternatives to genuine love, purity and hope—while the love and affection of daddy offers encouragement, affirmation and stability; the absence of daddy offers rebellion, promiscuity and insanity. In a world that is obsessed with experiencing everything for the sake of selfish desires, young girls are easy prey to the assembly line of young men who are skilled at feeding their minds with words their hearts can barely comprehend. Respect never begins after your clothes come off.

Titus 2:4-5, “These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely and be pure, to take care of their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands.” (NLT)

So many women and young girls never had a daddy, and were left to navigate through life with a broken compass, often running from one broken relationship to another. Does painted-on jeans, blouses four sizes small and 3-inch heels make a woman? Can a woman without a relationship with her daddy honor others without desperate acts of affirmation?

Depending on your own abilities is exactly what got you into trouble in the first place. Right now all that really matters is a right perspective. Then and only then will you have the ability to make the appropriate choices that will lead you to respect yourself and others.

It doesn’t matter if you’re married, single, a student, or a widow; authentic hope will never be found in starving yourself behind closed doors, blaming men for your choices or giving away your body as sexual trade for the false hope of not being alone. It’s a new day, and new decisions need to be made. Let’s walk this mile together.

Until next time, Be encouraged.

 


I speak to hundreds of thousands of young adults, men, women, and couples annually on leadership, decision making, and relationships.  Sometimes life has a way of being the antidote to life itself. If you’d like more information on this topic or how to bring me in as a speaker for your next event, please  contact me.

In the meantime, I encourage you to subscribe to my Tribe/Newsletter on my homepage. Post your comment below, Share my blogs with your friends on social media, and visit my website often for daily inspiration.


 

Egypt McKee

Speaker | Author | TV Host | Life Coach

©2014-2015 Copyright, Egypt McKee. All Rights Reserved.

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What Were You Thinking?

Speaker. Mentor. Podcaster

Long before the question was asked, life seemed so predictable, peaceful, and even simple. The war that was about to ensue was neither wished for nor anticipated. The art of shock and awe has long thrived upon the mastery of surprise and diversion, yet your ability to comprehend will be far outweighed by emotions of betrayal, disgust and shame.

Up until now, the road of life has offered numerous curves, turns and twists, yet logic would never include an option for delusions of grandeur. Maybe, I could’ve done something different—you think to yourself; yet the burden you feel is vaguely reminiscent of a silhouette for logic and reason. Nevertheless, a Grand Canyon sized hole in your heart is all that remains visible in the pile of ash from deeds performed in secret.

A long list of questions can simply be consolidated into one—What were you thinking? The profound nature of the response is only surpassed by the actions themselves. Life in rewind reveals details once covered up in denial and enabled in bliss. Regardless of the circumstance, the pain of betrayal will not soon be forgotten.

What were you thinking

The long series of events can be found embedded in the character of its actors, yet the outcome will determine victory or failure. The shock and awe phase is merely the perverted reward for the performance of the participants. Are you kidding me? I didn’t ask for this and I don’t deserve this! That may very well be true, but please remember that resolve as you continue reading.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-4, “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable.” (NIV)

Many people have asked me, “How can I ever recover from my boyfriend, girlfriend, or spouse from having cheated on me?” I’ve long since come to understand this to be code language for, “Is there any hope for me and will I ever be ok again?” Regardless of how you ask the question, the answer is YES—there is genuine hope and recovery for you.

By the way, have you ever considered performing an in-depth inventory of all your relationships? Are you sure you haven’t turned a blind eye to a series of covert threats that have been marginalized as acceptable values over a period of time?

I’ve never heard a young woman say to me, “My dream is to someday be married to a man who belittles me all the time and makes me feel insignificant. I also want him to be committed only on his terms, because a man can’t love just one woman—and I don’t want to interrupt his time with his friends just so he can help me put our children to bed.” Yet the reality is widespread in that so many women have ransomed their virginity to move in with their boyfriends to “play house” as if to pretend that is an acceptable replacement for a genuine marriage commitment. Listen, relationships based upon real commitment have no “Get out free” clause.

On the other hand, the self inflicted wounds of the emotional disrespect of women and young women alike has left many opportunistic men convinced that a female’s name begins with “B” and ends with “itch.” Sadly, this tragic state of mind is responsible for endorsing countless catfights, backseat encounters and rumors of supremacy.

If truth really mattered, then the words, “I’m sorry” would take on a whole new meaning of relevancy in a court of law where the act was punished rather than the actor. Threats once marginalized as harmless and acceptable will no longer be tolerated when the pieces of your life are restored once again. The old signs bearing your name as naive, gullible, or blind will soon be replaced with warnings and a security perimeter of protection for the one thing you cannot afford to ever lose again—Peace.

Listen—sex addiction and sensual influences in life is a real threat to genuine relationships. You might be under attack right now in your mind and heart, and feel too ashamed to admit it or move forward? I want to give you an opportunity to take a first step toward a new life of freedom regardless of how much it hurts to recognize it.

No one is immune to the human condition, better known as life. I assure you this, you are not alone, and you certainly are not the only person skilled in misery, failure, or brokenness. Maybe it’s your turn to break the cycle today by sharing your story with someone who cares—Me.

Until next time, Be encouraged.

 


I speak to hundreds of thousands of young adults, men, women, and couples annually on leadership, decision making, and relationships.  Sometimes life has a way of being the antidote to life itself. If you’d like more information on this topic or how to bring me in as a speaker for your next event, please  contact me.

In the meantime, I encourage you to subscribe to my Tribe/Newsletter on my homepage. Post your comment below, Share my blogs with your friends on social media, and visit my website often for daily inspiration.


 

Egypt McKee

Speaker | Author | TV Host | Life Coach

©2009-2018 Copyright, Egypt McKee. All Rights Reserved.

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I will be the guest Speaker for the Laguna Presbyterian Church Mothers of Preschoolers Group.

Date: March 26, 2015
Time: 09:00AM - 11:00AM
Event: Laguna Prebyterian Church
Topic: It takes a village
Venue: Laguna Prebyterian Church
Location: 415 Forest Avenue
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
USA
Public: Private

Three’s a Crowd

There’s nothing quite as annoying as trying to carry on a conversation with someone over the phone, and they repeatedly drop in and out of your conversation with a mystery third party. The more we seem to advance as people, the more dependent we become on multifunctional skills we neither developed nor have the capacity to master.

How did we ever make it in life back in the old days? Simple, we offered one another a mutual respect, our undivided attention, and we held a conversation as if the other person mattered. I encourage you to do the unthinkable today by turning off your cell phone for a single day, and learn to communicate with others the old fashion way—IN PERSON.

 

Until next time, Be encouraged.

 


I speak to hundreds of thousands of young adults, men, women, and couples annually on leadership, decision making, and relationships.  Sometimes life has a way of being the antidote to life itself. If you’d like more information on this topic or how to bring me in as a speaker for your next event, please  contact me.

In the meantime, I encourage you to subscribe to my Tribe/Newsletter on my homepage. Post your comment below, Share my blogs with your friends on social media, and visit my website often for daily inspiration.


 

Egypt McKee

Speaker | Author | TV Host | Life Coach

©2014 Copyright, Egypt McKee. All Rights Reserved.

Life Book_READ IT

 

The Clown Bell.

As the oldest of five to a single mother, I have a deep appreciation and admiration for mothers, and their unenviable task of maintaining order in an often-chaotic household. Witnessing a mother wear multiple hats forged in steel on the battlefield of childrearing, midnight feedings, sleep deprivation, and menstrual cycles is nothing short of miraculous.

Somehow lost in the cadence of screaming children, dogs barking, and the television playing in the background, offers that rare moment when your children are actually quiet, content, and most of all—preoccupied.idiot Bell

How could letting your guard down be so tempting? In just the blink of an eye, the phone rings, and you’re convinced you can actually carry on a conversation with a friend in peace. No sooner than it takes for you to pick up the phone and begin your discussion; it’s as if Ringling Brothers hit the idiot bell and summoned your children to a new level of noise production while demanding your undivided attention, and simultaneously leveraging your body as a jungle gym.

The good news is these days are few in the span of parenting, and I encourage you to enjoy them as much as possible. Leveraging your village to provide your children a healthy outlet while maintaining and strengthening your relationships is a critical part of your life’s balance.

Until next time, Be encouraged.

 


I speak to hundreds of thousands of young adults, men, women, and couples annually on leadership, decision making, and relationships.  Sometimes life has a way of being the antidote to life itself. If you’d like more information on this topic or how to bring me in as a speaker for your next event, please  contact me.

In the meantime, I encourage you to subscribe to my Tribe/Newsletter on my homepage. Post your comment below, Share my blogs with your friends on social media, and visit my website often for daily inspiration.


 

Egypt McKee

Speaker | Author | TV Host | Life Coach

©2014 Copyright, Egypt McKee. All Rights Reserved.

Life Book_READ IT

 

Moms: Step away from the Car.

I’ve commonly referred to wives and moms as the CEO of Balance in their homes. The age old expression that, “If momma ain’t happy, then no one is happy” applies in most households I’m aware of.

Interestingly, babies and children often respond in direct proportion to a mothers mannerisms and responses. More often than not, a baby’s insecurity comes from sensing yours.

Practice staying calm, and your baby and children will likely follow your lead and be calm as well. She who yells the loudEST is not necessarily the rightEST. Be encouraged!