Tuesday, March 24, 10:30 AM - 12:15 PM Central, we're going live to kick off the launch of Real Words with Sam. If you've been curious about the book, this is a good place to start. We'll have guests joining throughout the morning — people who know Sam, know this story, or have something meaningful to add to the conversation. @John Israel , Amber Vilhaur, Paulette Britton, Dawnmarie Gaivin, Steven May, Ben Williams, Madison Weber, Julie Sando You can watch on LinkedIn, Facebook, or YouTube — wherever you already spend time. LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbrad/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/realwordswithsam YouTube https://youtube.com/live/EY6yiRwR1Hs?feature=share Hope to see you there. Get a free preview or get your personal copy: www.realwordswithsam.com

A parable about gratitude... Still, She Shines In a quiet village between the mountains and the plains, an unassuming young woman served her community with quiet consistency. She mended clothes for neighbors who couldn’t afford new ones. She prepared and delivered meals to those recovering from illness. She watched over children when parents needed a break or had to work late. She didn’t keep score—she just tried to help wherever help was needed. Most of the time, she was content knowing she was making a difference—whether or not anyone said it out loud. But lately, a question had crept in. Not because people were unkind or ungrateful—just distracted, busy, going through their days. The smiles had faded. The thank-yous had thinned. And she found herself wondering: Does this really matter? One evening, feeling off-center and unsure, she stood at the edge of the village path, hesitating. Her grandmother’s cottage wasn’t far—just a short walk through the trees—but tonight, even that felt like a quiet admission: something inside her needed steadying. She almost turned back - told herself she was fine and didn’t need to bother anyone with something so small or vague. But something in her chest tugged forward. And so, with a soft exhale, she began walking the winding path to her grandmother’s cottage on the edge of the village. They sat by the fire, wrapped in a silence that didn’t feel empty. After a while, the young woman spoke. “I’ve been doing what I always do. But lately… I’m not sure if anyone notices. Or if it even matters.” Her grandmother stirred the fire, then nodded toward the window, where the last light stretched across the hills. “What gives warmth, helps things grow, and shows up every day—even when most people don’t stop to appreciate it?” The young woman followed her gaze. “The sun.” Her grandmother smiled. “Exactly. Rarely do people stop and appreciate the sun. But we count on it. The sun doesn’t shine for applause. The sun shines because that’s what the sun does. And because people know you, and they know your heart, they’ve come to count on you in the same way—because your nature is to

Props to @Rachel Burke for winning our week 1 drawing and... @J Brad Britton for winning week 2. Quick reminder, we pick winners as a drawing based on posts and comments.We are entering the last week of the challenge...stay strong. You got this!

I wrote a card to an old friend from high school. His response blew me away. He gathered 50 images of me and our group of friends in high school, printed them on 4x6, and sent me the whole bunch with a handwritten note. The energy I'm putting out there is come back! And what a wonderful gift: a glimpse into another perspective of this thing I've created called "me." Looking back on who I was, who I am now, how much I've grown, am I who/where I thought I'd be... would my teenage self be proud of me? Next on my gratitude list: my teenage self.