Just be You!

FAILING TO FAIL!

Joseph Brann

            Just be YOU! You are good enough just being who you are! Now I’m not saying there’s no room for improvement, there’s always for improvement for everyone, even me, especially me, ha! But being YOU is a blessing and a gift so NEVER forget how wonderful you are! In line with this, remember that everyone’s been created amazing and although you’re spectacular, you are no better than anyone else. Do your best to, do your best, and don’t be too hard on yourself if you aren’t perfect. You don’t have to  be perfect, I just might be the only perfect person on the earth today so don’t feel bad for not being perfect. Just joking, I know I am far from perfect, but I keep trying everyday to do better than the day before and I am content to keep pushing myself to move forward and hopefully keep improving. Don’t ever doubt if YOU are good enough or not because I am here to tell you YOU are good enough and can improve everyday, so once again, just be YOU! Until reading my next blog and even after, remember keep FAILING TO FAIL! 

How I Keep Going!

FAILING TO FAIL!

Joseph Brann

         I’ve been asked how I keep going and how I face everything I do. I believe my answer was and is universal and how we all keep facing what we face; I just keep going! I don’t really see any other option, although there’ve been many times I’ve contemplated giving up, that just isn’t who I am or something I’m willing to do. I, truthfully, don’t really know how I keep going other than I just do. I’ve had times in the past where I’ve said, either to myself or others, that if certain things happened or didn’t happen I’d give up, and then when those breaking points were reached and surpassed, I still didn’t give up just because I didn’t. 

          But I’ve learned not to say, “If this happens I’ll give up!” or “if this doesn’t happen I’ll quit!” because pretty much every time I’ve said these words whatever breaking point I’ve concluded I won’t go past, I end up having to go past. So really I’ll just keep going until I can’t anymore, and then I’ll probably keep going even after that, ha! So whatever YOU are facing, whether you want to face it or not, just know that YOU can face what your life throws at you! You can also overcome anything and everything you have to, I believe in YOU!!! Until reading my next blog and even after, remember keep FAILING TO FAIL! 

Exhausted BUT Happy!

FAILING TO FAIL!

Joseph Brann

           Right now I am exhausted BUT happy! I actually slept pretty well last night but I woke up not feeling so wonderfully. Waking up like I did today is nothing new to me. Today, and most days when I wake up like this, I feel drained and worn out physically but mentally I still feel happy! I may have said this before but truth be told I’ve been BEYOND exhausted for the past almost 20 years. I CAN’T believe it’s been almost 20 years I’ve been living with brain damaged limitations. I try to get past the accident and past the brain damage and all but every second I live I have constant reminders, and extremely painful reminders…mental and physical pains…which make it so I can’t really ever forget the accident. I’m REALLY not trying to live in the past and want so very badly to get past the consequences of my accident but as long as I face what I do, I don’t know how to forget about it. 

    I don’t really want to forget about it from the standpoint that I want to help people, especially YOU, learn from my experience and hopefully not make life any harder than they need to be. So even though I am exhausted, and once again beyond exhausted, I still am happy! Now, more importantly in my opinion, when YOU are beyond exhausted, can YOU be happy? The answer is yes! But WILL YOU be happy? That answer is up to YOU! Either way, I hope I can help you and I definitely love YOU! Find out more about all of this stuff by getting my memoir off Amazon and reading it, if you haven’t already, with this link…bit.ly/tcsom Please ALWAYS know I hope YOU will choose to be happy! Until reading my next blog and even after, remember keep FAILING TO FAIL! 

PLEASE Be Happy?

FAILING TO FAIL!

Joseph Brann

       Today I’d like to ask you for a favor; will YOU PLEASE be happy? I’ve said it repeatedly and I know it’s true that happiness REALLY is a choice! Most people will probably say they’d like to be happy. But when you ask them if they’re happy and their answer is no they’ll probably have a long list of reasons for which they are not happy, and more then likely their reasons are valid points for which it’s probably easy to see why they’re not happy. HOWEVER, it REALLY doesn’t matter how many reasons anyone has to not be happy, YOU can ALWAYS find reasons to be happy. No matter what you face, YOU can be happy! So, it’s up to YOU and it’s your choice! Will you PLEASE choose to be happy? And when you’re not happy, PLEASE come back to happy! Until reading my next blog and even after, remember keep FAILING TO FAIL! 

If YOU Want a Great Life, Live a Great Life!

FAILING TO FAIL!

Joseph Brann

       I might be stating the obvious here but most people probably want life to be great! I don’t believe life is totally easy for ANYONE really. But if YOU want a great life, live a great life! It is actually that simple. Of course there are always trials and difficulties and things that if you allow them to frustrate you or make you miserable, they will frustrate you or make you miserable. But if YOU stay determined to be happy and to make your life great regardless of what you’re facing, you can and will live a great life. I believe every challenge can be overcome and I know I’ve said it before but sometimes a challenge is overcome by continuing to face the challenge, not giving up, and not allowing yourself to be overcome by the challenge. But the most difficult of times are much more manageable if YOU decide to stay positive and know YOU can and will make it through the tough times. YOU make the choice though! So, regardless of what you face and what life throws at you, will YOU live a great life? I know you can!!! Until reading my next blog and even after, remember keep FAILING TO FAIL! 

I"m Not Done...

FAILING TO FAIL!

Joseph Brann

        Maybe you’ve realized this about me by now, hopefully you have, but I’M NOT DONE! I wasn’t yelling at you there, just emphasizing, ha! But really, I’M NOT DONE! I’m still in the pursuit of my goals! But there’ve been times I’ve felt like in the minds of others “Joe Brann” had nothing left to give and he’d just be remembered as the high school quarterback with great potential who came back from being reported braindead on the news all so he could just simply exist. I’m not sure if anyone actually thought this, but I felt they did. There were times I thought maybe I was supposed to be contempt to just be a brain damaged man with nothing else to give. And with SO MANY things I’ve attempted having fallen apart and not working out, I’ve thought maybe I was supposed to be content to just be a distant memory. But OH NO, that just ISN’T me, that ISN’T Joseph “Joe” Brann! I just won’t allow myself to only be a distant memory, the product of a horrible car accident which destroyed everything I’d worked so hard for. I just can’t let that car accident define me, that’s NOT me, I’m much more than that, I know I am!

I talk in my blogs about success, and success I intent to accomplish but haven’t yet. There are things moving forward but when I’ve spoken too soon in the past, those things usually don’t end up happening so I’m doing my best to not say too much about what I’m working on and I intend to talk about those things once they’ve already happened. Not talking about those things yet IS NOT easy for me, I’m excited and want to share what I’m excited about with YOU, but it’ll be much better if I share it after it comes to pass! So just know, I’m not done and will inform you of the things I’m trying to accomplish after they’ve been accomplished. But along with my not being done, I want YOU to realize YOU aren’t done either! Each day you wake up is an opportunity for YOU to move forward! Each day you wake up is an opportunity for YOU to get closer to accomplishing your goals! So DON’T GIVE UP, believe in YOU, and keep working and YOU, along with me, will succeed!!! Until reading my next blog and even after, remember keep FAILING TO FAIL! 

Talk to Me Thursday! My Brain Damaged Perspective!

FAILING TO FAIL!

Joseph Brann

           I can’t believe it’s already time for another “Talk to Me Thursday!” post, time goes by so fast! Today I’ll be talking about brain damage from a brain damaged man’s perspective, and of course that brain damaged man is me! Ha! If I’d never gotten in my wreck I’d probably have NO IDEA how different life is when you have real significant brain damage. I actually found out that before my wreck I already had brain damage because of concussions I had but my concussions were nothing like the brain damage I’ve faced since my accident. But EVERYTHING changed after the car wreck that left me reported braindead on the news. Colors don’t look the same, I’m partially blind so my field of vision is much less than it was, feelings…physical, mental, emotional and so forth…are all different, and things are just so out of whack. Sometimes I can’t tell if I’m awake or asleep. My judgment is not like it used to be and there've been time acting a certain way seems totally fine to me but not to everyone else. This brain damaged reality I’ve been living with for almost 20 years is something I’m still not used to.

           I’ve told multiple people who’ve asked about the things I deal with since my wreck that I’m in pain almost nonstop and’ve been asked if I just sort of get used to the pain after facing it for as long as I have. My answer was no, I know I’m in pain and will continue to be in pain, but I never get used to it because, well, it hurts. It’s the same thing for pretty much everything else in my brain damaged reality. I’m still not used to being partially blind. I’m still not used to the numb like feeling down the right side of my body. I’m also not used to pretty much never recognizing where I am and am definitely not used to not recognizing faces. Even though it’s ALL crazy and sometimes, or often times scary and I don’t get used to it, I can still find reasons to love it, and I do. It’s been a VERY long hard road for me and I’ll probably never get used to the brain damage and/or any of the things I deal with from the stroke I had, but it’s not going to stop me from smiling, loving my life..even when I hate it, ha…and doing my best to help others love their lives no matter how difficult they are. So this is just a little bit about my brain damaged perspective on what I deal with, but I’ll keep smiling and coming back to happy! Until reading my next blog and even after, remember keep FAILING TO FAIL! 

Who do YOU Think You Are?

FAILING TO FAIL!

Joseph Brann

          Who do YOU think YOU are? I’m not asking this condescendingly, but seriously, who do YOU think YOU are? If you think you are someone with no value or worth, if you think you are a loser, or anything else like that, YOU ARE WRONG! YOU are INCREDIBLE!!! I am partially blind, don’t recognize most faces, couldn’t even recognize a picture of myself, can’t find my way around a grocery store without help, am not able to go very far from my house on my own without getting lost. I also face a whole bunch more things that leave me knowing I’m mentally challenged, but I still know I’m spectacular! 

          So if I, with all of my limitations, disabilities, and shortcomings, including not being able to recognize most faces and even my own, if I can recognize YOU are spectacular, why can’t YOU recognize it too? Hopefully you do recognize it! But for everyone who doesn’t recognize their immaculate worth, value, and potential, I just want to tell you that I recognize these things in YOU and don’t even know how to put into words how amazing YOU really are! I just wanted to remind you of this today! So, once again, who do YOU think YOU are? Until reading my next blog and even after, remember keep FAILING TO FAIL! 

Keep Your Head Up!

FAILING TO FAIL!

Joseph Brann

          Each day I try to get closer to accomplishing my goals. Some days my goals seem out of reach but I know that IS NOT the case! I’m a very impatient person but I must keep pushing myself to get to where I want to go, even if I’m the only one who believes I can accomplish what I want to. Lucky for me I’ve got multiple people in my life who believe in me but there have been times I’ve wondered if I was being foolish to continue to believe in myself. I’m REALLY glad I kept believing in myself because, even though I’ve not gotten where I want to yet, I grow closer to getting there everyday! I want YOU to know that I believe in YOU! I know you can accomplish anything and everything your desire. It might take an extremely long time, but don’t quit and I know you can and will succeed! So keep your head up, you’ll be alright! Until reading my next blog and even after, remember keep FAILING TO FAIL! 

Finding Reasons to Love!

FAILING TO FAIL!

Joseph Brann

       Sometimes I’ve felt as though I don’t actually exist and that “Joe Brann” was a distant memory people remembered because of the guy he was and all anyone really wanted was that guy, the one who had just about everything the world had to offer, but that guy died in my car wreck. In many ways I am still him, but I felt as though I was left having to live the byproducts of his accident. A lot of people prayed, and prayed, and prayed that Joe Brann would survive his accident and then when I did survive the so called “impossible” a lot of people gave thanks that Joe Brann was back. I’m extremely grateful for the love and prayers I’ve received from many! But The truth is, the “Joe Brann” they prayed would survive, really didn’t. I, truthfully, believe that if all the people who prayed for me knew what I was going to have to deal with, they wouldn’t have prayed and would have kindly let me go, but I'm grateful they didn't know and still prayed. There've been SO MANY times when I hated living the byproducts of the car accident I was in and all I wanted to do was to die, or even more, I wanted to have never been created.

     However, I’m beyond grateful I am alive and am able to do the things I can. I am beyond grateful I haven’t given up, although I’ve come very close to doing so multiple times over the years. I’ve got constant reminders of my accident in the form of mental and physical disabilities. I wish I could forget about my accident, but then I walk into a table or any number of objects which I don’t see because of my partial blindness, or I don’t recognize the face of someone I’ve seen many, many times, or this nonstop pain kicks in even stronger and I just can’t forget about the accident because of so many reasons. But I can still be happy! I can still find reasons to love my life, and I do love my life, including the disabilities I’ve allowed to almost destroy me so many times before! I can still find reason to keep going and try to put a smile on someone else’s face. What about YOU? Will you find the opportunity in your obstacles? Will you find the reasons to smile when you are sad or angry? Will you be more than a byproduct of the negative events which’ve transpired in your life Will YOU find reasons to love whatever you're dealing with? PLEASE allow yourself to be happy no matter what YOU are facing, I know you can do it! Until reading my next blog and even after, remember keep FAILING TO FAIL! 

I Mean It!

FAILING TO FAIL!

Joseph Brann

       I’ve said it before that when I see your face I believe I see THE REAL YOU and that person is amazing, beautiful, spectacular and there are not enough positive words in ANY language to describe how truly incredibly immaculate YOU really are. But do you know I mean it? I’m not just saying it to say it, I’m saying it because it’s the truth! I know we are all immaculate when we come to life and the choices we make can either make your shine darken, or make your shine brighten. If you choose, that shine has the potential to become brighter than the son! But whether your shine expands or diminishes is up to YOU! I will always know everyone is truly amazing, including myself…but not in an arrogant cocky way…I mean it in the way that I believe our creator does astonishingly great work! 

       He’s done so with all of us, especially YOU! It’s easy to not feel spectacular. It’s easy to not want to continue on and to believe your faults define you and therefor you’re not a great or even a good person. It’s easy to give in to all of the negativity telling you you’re not as amazing as I know YOU are. Don’t take the easy way out and believe the negative garbage, IT’S A LIE!!! I really hope YOU know YOU are incredible and there are not enough positive words in ANY language, or all languages combined, to describe how amazingly incredible YOU really are! I mean it!!! Until reading my next blog and even after, remember keep FAILING TO FAIL! 

Life Is Uncertain!

FAILING TO FAIL!

Joseph Brann

    One thing fairly certain about life is life is uncertain. Very rarely is anything guaranteed. This is actually one of the points I talk about some in my speeches with my catch phrase “Better Choices, Better Chances!” But in life things rarely go as planned and even when they go as planned there’s usually something that doesn’t go exactly as intended. Adjusting to change has been very difficult for me since my life altering wreck but it’s been something I’ve had to come to grips with because, like it or not, change happens all the time. That’s one of the great and not so great things about life. When I make plans with someone, even my close family and best friends, I’m always prepared now that something might change and won’t go as planned. I used to get really frustrated and even angry when things didn’t go as planned but now, though I may not be pleased things don’t proceed as desired, I don’t get angry and just accept that that’s the way life goes sometimes. or even regularly. 

   So in order for me to be at peace I need to be prepared that often things will not go as I hope. I don’t go into situations negatively and expecting things to not work out, but if they don’t work out, even if it’s disappointing, I’m okay with it because I know that’s just how life goes sometimes. I feel in order for us to have peace and really be happy, we need to not get angry or “lose our cool” when things don’t work out. Just smile and look forward to the future and keep doing the best YOU can each day! Even when things don’t go as planned, just know you’ll be alright and everything will work out. So keep your head up and stay positive! This is one reason I blog, because I want to help everyone and especially YOU, know that being positive makes life much easier, more desirable, and even more worth living. Until reading my next blog and even after, remember keep FAILING TO FAIL! 

Sleep Deprived and Trying to Think Straight is NOT Easy!

FAILING TO FAIL!

Joseph Brann

    So last night was another one of those "brain damaged nights" where my sleep was all messed up and now I’m so tired I’m concerned I’ll write something I don’t really want to say or what I say won’t actually make sense. I know this isn’t the first time I’ve not been able to blog like I want to because of my sleep from the night before. Ever since my accident my sleep has been all sorts of messed up. It’s been a lot better for the last little while because of the medicines I take but occasionally a night like last night will sneak in and REALLY disrupt my next day and my ability to think straight. So, since I’m not even sure of what I just wrote in the previous sentence and am doing a horrible job of even being able to think, I’m going to end this blog shortly. But I will say, we’ve all got to live with the hand we are dealt by doing our best and making adjustments where needed, I hope at least some of this blog makes sense? Ah brain damage, got to love it, ha! Until reading my next blog and even after, remember keep FAILING TO FAIL! 

Talk to Me Thursday! Today's Topic is Time...

FAILING TO FAIL!

Joseph Brann

    It’s hard to believe it’s time for another “Talk to Me Thursday” blog post already. It really seems to me like it was yesterday that I posted my first blog introducing this concept, but of course that was already a week ago. So for this edition I’m going to talk about time. Time is pretty crazy in my opinion. Sometimes time flies by so fast it’s difficult to keep up with everything and then sometimes it seems like time is going so unbelievably slow. Right after my accident my concept of time was REALLY messed up and everything took so, so, so, so long. And yes that was FOUR so’s! Ha! Back then, when everything was “out of control” in my brain, if someone told me we were going to do something in 20 minutes it felt more like I was waiting for 20 hours. 

But now, a lot of things with my brain have kind of come back to normal so time is not so distorted in my mind. I know A LOT of things take time, I’ve been working on stuff that I’ve wanted to come together for so many years and when I look back I can’t believe how many years I’ve been working on this stuff. Finally though things seem to be beginning to move forward and I’ll use my experiences with time, and my old frustrations with it, to help me be even more grateful for where I am now and where I get to. So no matter how long things take, if we just keep moving forward, eventually we’ll get where we’re trying to go, just DON’T QUIT! Until reading my next blog and even after, remember keep FAILING TO FAIL! 

Last Night I Cried!

FAILING TO FAIL!

Joseph Brann

   I realize I may be making myself vulnerable by blogging about this but I’m ok with that. So last night before going to bed I began to cry. I wasn’t exactly sure why I was crying but I think the “weight” of everything I have to deal with and knowing I’d still be facing it all when I woke up today scared me. I’m not afraid to live my life like I was for over 14 years but sometimes this life I’ve chosen to love just seems unbearably difficult for me. Most of all, I was afraid to wake up knowing I don’t have a wife or a girlfriend who I can hold, kiss, and love. But while all of this was going on, believe it or not, I was thinking about YOU! I was trying to figure out how I’d be able to use what I was crying about to help you. I know life is tough for me and I’m sure YOUR life is tough as well. Like I’ve said before, I’ll never say my life’s harder than anyone else’s and I believe comparing is pointless and accomplishes nothing. Truth is, while I was crying about this last night, I wanted to give up, I didn’t want to face my reality.

   But I know I am strong enough to face it and I’ll use the tears I cried and the fear I felt to try and help others know that they, and especially YOU, can deal with and overcome your situation. So I’ve got to keep enduring and not let the tears and/or fears stop me! I believe in myself and I believe in YOU! So I beg of you, even when you want to give up, even if you cry tears over your life, and even when things just seem too difficult to continue to endure, PLEASE KEEP GOING! Yes I wanted to give up last night, but I couldn’t. I figure you’ve probably had time and may be going through something right now which makes you want to give up sometimes of even often! BUT I know YOU can keep going, can find happiness along the way, and can love your life! Even if your life’s been a nightmare like mine was for me for so long, YOU can choose to love it and YOU can choose to find happiness in it! PLEASE do so? Until reading my next blog and even after, remember keep FAILING TO FAIL! 

Thank YOU So Much!

FAILING TO FAIL!

Joseph Brann

  Thank YOU so much! I once again don’t have much time but wanted to use the time I do have to tell you thank YOU so much! YOU give me reason to keep moving forward! YOU are a big part of what I feel my purpose is! I am grateful to everyone I’ve interacted with in my life. Even the people who’ve done things I consider horrible which at the time impacted me negatively I am still grateful to them! It is because of everyone I’ve ever interacted with and everyone I will interact with that I feel I am as happy as I am. Now I’m not trying to pretend like I’m always happy and if you follow my blog you should know I am not always happy. 

  But because of everyone else on the earth, and especially YOU, I am extremely grateful and that is a HUGE part of why I’m happy! So once again thank YOU so much! You give me reasons to keep going when I’d rather not and YOU give me reason to keep loving the life I once hated! I’m so grateful for YOU! I don’t think I can say it enough so I’ll say it one more time in today’s blog, thank YOU so much! Whether I know you or not, I love you! Until reading my next blog and even after, remember keep FAILING TO FAIL! 

I Don't Know How...

FAILING TO FAIL!

Joseph Brann

  I don't know how to fully describe how incredible YOU are currently and I know even less about how to describe the person you have the potential to become! But I do know how incredible YOU are and can become is baffling to me! My inability to currently describe how incredible you are and can become goes for everyone though, including myself, WE are all amazing with even greater potential. Just by being YOU though, you are astonishingly incredible, but if you concentrate on becoming all that YOU really can become, I don’t know of any words in any language to describe how spectacular “that person” really is! “That person” is YOU, I hope you believe me and know this is true. In our lives, wherever we go and who we become, is decided by the choices we make. So I BEG of you, PLEASE make the choice to see the you I know you are and PLEASE work to become the YOU I know you can be!

  But, more importantly than me knowing your value, I hope and believe YOU know or will know your value is immense! I know whatever you want to accomplish and wherever you want to go in your life, you can get there! Unfortunately I’m not the standing beacon of success I’d like to be yet, but fortunately I know I can and will become that person by continuing to pursue becoming him, because I know I can and I’ve made the choice that I will become him! What about YOU? Will you continue to work to be the best YOU you can be? Yes YOU’re already spectacular, but the future you YOU can become, I’ve no idea if you’ve any idea what that person looks like, because I don’t know how to fully describe how amazing YOU are and can become!!! Until reading my next blog and even after, remember keep FAILING TO FAIL! 

Do You Want To Be Happy?

FAILING TO FAIL!

Joseph Brann

  Do you want to be happy? Is your happiness something you don’t believe you can achieve? There was a point in my life where I pretty much concluded happiness was not something I would ever find again. But guess what? Even though sometimes are tougher than others and I’m not ALWAYS happy, I can honestly say I am now very happy! But the thing is, all of the difficulties and everything I’ve faced for so, so long are pretty much the same, well truthfully, as I get older, they get a little harder. 
         I’ve not made an insane amount of money yet and I’m still working on JOEtivating as many as I can but I’m not where I want to be yet. But I know I’m in the pursuit of getting where I want to go and I’ve found I can be happy regardless of where I am in my pursuit of the success I desire. But I had to decide I wanted to be happy! There are so many things that are out of my control but my happiness is not one of them. This is true for everyone, and ESPECIALLY YOU! So, if you want to be happy, BE HAPPY! The decision is yours! Until reading my next blog and even after, remember keep FAILING TO FAIL! 

Just a Quick Reminder for YOU!

FAILING TO FAIL!

Joseph Brann

So today’s become busier than I thought it would be and I’m meeting up with a friend for lunch real soon so this blog will be pretty short. However, I just wanted to post a quick reminder to YOU and once again say YOU can accomplish anything you want! It’ll probably take longer than you’d want or expect it too, but if you don’t give up and keep pushing forward everyday to get closer to accomplishing your goals, you will accomplish them! Today and everyday PLEASE know you are amazing and so incredible I don’t even know how to put your magnificence and ability to become even greater into words! Until reading my next blog and even after, remember keep FAILING TO FAIL! 

The JOEtivator!

FAILING TO FAIL!

Joseph Brann

   A little while back one of my close friends, who I’ll refer to as Jim, called me and asked what I would tell someone who was in need of JOEtivation. I told him it would depend on the situation and the needs of the person desiring help so he told me why he was asking. Turns out a friend of his was having a tough time and facing multiple challenges. I then found out Jim’s friend was actually right next to him and could hear the whole conversation. So I began addressing the issues I was told about and was just really trying to help Jim’s friend find what he needed to keep facing what he was facing. So I just spoke honestly and shared some of my experiences dealing with similar issues. When I finished saying what I said I really hoped it was what this great guy needed to hear. Jim then told me something along the lines of he’d never heard me JOEtivate before, only having read my JOEtivation, but he said I really got “in the zone” and what I’d said was AWESOME!!! So I greatly appreciated this and appreciated having the chance to help Jim and his friend. 

   I believe this is why I live though, this is one of the reasons I came “back from the dead!” I love to help people and whenever I’m able to it actually helps me keep going and finding the additional value in myself. Even “The JOEtivator” ha, needs JOEtivation sometimes. We all face so many things in life that can beat us down and even destroy us, IF we let it. But YOU can face whatever you have to face, you don’t have to quit, and you can truly be happy, no matter what you face. How you deal with your challenges is a choice. I ask that you please keep yourself motivated and stay positive. And when you get or think negatively, pick yourself up from your low points, keep going, and I’ll be hear to try and help and provide JOEtivation along the way! I guess that’s why I’ve been called “The JOEtivator?" Ha! Anyway, YOU are rAdiculously AWESOME, NEVER forget this!!! Until reading my next blog and even after, remember keep FAILING TO FAIL! 

Talk to Me Thursday!

FAILING TO FAIL!

Joseph Brann

  I’ve decided to start something called “Talk to Me Thursday!” wherein I talk about whatever’s on my mind, not necessarily JOEtivational stuff, although I’ve this crazy feeling at least a little JOEtivation is still going to find it’s way into my posts occasionally, or regularly. I intend to do this every Thursday as long as I don’t forget, but I have a reminder on my calendar for each Thursday so hopefully I’ll remember. No matter what, though, positivity is sure to be found in each and every blog I write. As always and especially on “Talk to Me Thursdays” anyone can comment and/or ask me anything. But on Thursdays the floor is wide open and any topic may be addressed. Possibly I might jump around a little but that’s just one of the awesome things that can happen on “Talk to Me Thursdays!” So, today I’ll start talking about how I LOVE football, it’s my favorite sport! After my wreck for a while it was difficult for me to watch because I could no longer play and I’d get depressed but now I once again like to watch football. But I’m not as into it as I used to be because I’m no longer playing. Watching it doesn’t depress or frustrate me like it used to but I’m just not all that concerned with the game. I usually root for the underdog and usually love to see unexpected outcomes, though. 

  Football was such a huge part of my life for the first 17 years so of course I’ll always have a special place in my heart for the game. I still remember how to read defenses though and love being able to do so, being able to do so makes me feel fantastic, it’s fun. Football’s actually extremely complex and there’s so much more that goes into a game than most people who’ve never played it probably have any idea about. It’s not just trying to get the ball across the other teams goal line. You’ve got to be able to try and predict what the defense is going to do and, if you’re the quarterback especially, you’ve got to prejudge and make adjustments to each play depending on how the defense lines up. There are only three things I know of which a defensive player can do. First, they can play zone where they protect a certain zone on the field. Second, they can play man defense where a player’s responsibility is to defend a certain man. And finally, a defender can blitz where they just go after the quarterback and try to sack him, unless he hands the ball off, then they have to try and get the guy the ball’s been handed to. So, there’s a little knowledge about the complexity of football. Do YOU have any questions or comments? I hope you like “Talk to Me Thursday!!!” Until reading my next blog and even after, remember keep FAILING TO FAIL! 

Keep Failing to Fail!!!

FAILING TO FAIL!

Joseph Brann

Last night as I lay in bed I had a strong feeling about what I should blog about today and as I thought about it I almost began to cry. You see, years ago I had a close friend decide to take his life. He’d messaged me on Facebook and told me he was going to do so and I responded to his email with multiple messages I believe begging him not to give up. I also began frantically trying to get ahold of him by phone, calling and texting him repeatedly. Then early the next morning he called but since I wasn’t thinking straight my phone was silenced and I missed his call. Shortly after that he left this world. I was a little upset with myself for not thinking to not silence my phone that night but I didn’t and don’t blame myself for what he did. My friend faced multiple difficulties in his life and I understand why he wanted to leave but I so badly wish he hadn’t. Though I don’t blame myself for what he did, I cried many, many tears over his death and almost cried more last night, all of these years later. I do believe had I been able to talk with him then I could’ve helped him to continue to push forward, or at least I hope I would’ve been able to have helped him. 

          My blog’s will always be positive but sometimes you’ve got to look a little deeper to find the positive’s in a negative situation. So I’m using my past experience with my dear friend to try and help others to not make the same decision he made. I’m BEGGING YOU, whatever you’re facing PLEASE keep facing it? I know life is tough, but I also know we can all succeed and I promise I WON'T GIVE UP so PLEASE join me in persevering whatever we face? This experience with my friend is one of the reasons I blog and wrote my memoir. I know my writings can help others and definitely YOU! If you’re feeling down or depressed or negatively and you have my memoir you can pick it up and read it and find reasons to love your life and keep going! If you’re feeling negatively though, please skip to “Chapter 10: Finding Impossible Success!” I do talk about several negative things throughout my memoir in hopes of getting people to not make their lives more difficult. In it though, chapter 10 is the most positive chapter and where real JOEtivation is found! I definitely hope you’ll read some if not all of the 50 JOEtivational quotes on pages 225-233 to help pick YOU up when you’re feeling down or even just help you keep going strong when you’re feeling great! YOU are the reason I wrote my memoir and the reason I blog, I’d like to help YOU!!!!! Until reading my next blog and even after, remember keep FAILING TO FAIL! bit.ly/tcsom 

Overcoming Your Challenges!

FAILING TO FAIL!

Joseph Brann

We all face different challenges and the thing about challenges is that they’re challenging! Pretty self-explanatory right? Ha! How do you face your challenges? Do you try to ignore them until you’ve no other option but to deal with them or do you try to deal with them as quickly and proficiently as you can? It might just be my impatience and obsessive compulsive disorder, O.C.D., but when I notice I’m facing a certain challenge, I try to deal with it right away and be done with it. This has been especially hard for me when it comes to dealing with the challenges from my brain damage and stroke, such as the being partially blind and so forth.

I don’t know how to make myself not be partially blind or not have any of the disabilities I’ve gotten from my car wreck and brain damage. So to deal with these things, as long as I face them and until God works another miracle if He chooses to do so, I’ve got to face these challenges by just continuing to endure them. I’ve got to not let them destroy my drive and determination to succeed at the things I desire to succeed at and even the things I’ve been told I can’t accomplish. YOU can face your challenges! YOU can endure your challenges! YOU can overcome your challenges! Even if overcoming a challenge just means simply continuing to face it and not allowing yourself to be overcome by it, you can overcome your challenges! I believe in YOU!!! Until reading my next blog and even after, remember keep FAILING TO FAIL!

Trust is Key!

FAILING TO FAIL!

Joseph Brann

  For me it’s very difficult to just trust someone new. Anytime I meet someone, though, I give them the benefit of the doubt and go into a new relationship hoping I can trust them. I’ve been lied to, deceived, and in many ways have felt “run over” by many, many people. However, I feel trust is key in this life. But in order to be able to trust others, I believe you must first be able to trust yourself! I know I was that honest kid growing up and after my accident, for many, many years I WOULD NOT allow myself to purposefully lie. But after having had the experiences of not being able to trust so many others and being lied to by so many others, I’ve unfortunately allowed myself to lie about some things. But I do my best to not purposefully lie to someone unless they’ve lied to me first, and even after that I don’t like to lie and try not to unless I find it essential. But it is definitely hard to trust a lot of people in this life and that’s unfortunate. Can YOU trust YOU?

  Even if YOU can’t trust anyone else, YOU have got to be able to trust yourself. I try to always be honest with myself, admitting my faults but not allowing them to “beat me down” so to speak and working to overcome them. What do YOU think about trust? Is it important to you? Do you trust others? Do you trust yourself? Ask yourself these questions and give yourself honest answers to help YOU grow and be the trustworthy person I’m sure you know you should be. But ALWAYS remember, in life, being trustworthy is key to finding lasting friendships, relationships, becoming all you can become, and accomplishing your full potential! But also ALWAYS remember, YOU are AWESOME!!!!! Until reading my next blog and even after, remember keep FAILING TO FAIL!

Be True to You!

FAILING TO FAIL!

Joseph Brann

Be true to YOU! I’ve said it many times before and also in my memoir you can get off Amazon with the link bit.ly/tcsom but I do believe that, because of my experiences and conditions, when I look at you I can see you, THE REAL YOU! If you could see the you I see you’d know YOU are beautiful, amazing, spectacular, extraordinary, and there are not enough positive words in any language to describe how truly outstanding YOU really are! I really mean this. When we come to this life as babies we are all SO immaculate and have this incredible potential which I don’t even know how to put into words to be even more outstanding. 

         We all make mistakes and as we grow we learn and change but the REAL YOU is who you were when you were born and that person and soul will always be a part of you. So if you are true to YOU, you will make this world a much better place and you will be happy, because YOU are fantastically great! I strive to be true to me, THE REAL ME, and I don’t always succeed at such. But every time I push myself to try again and work to be THE REAL ME, I grow closer to being that person and I know that person is incredible, even with the brain damage and limited abilities, mental and physical, I now have. So PLEASE be true to YOU and NEVER stop working to be the incredible YOU you are and can become! Until reading my next blog and even after, remember keep FAILING TO FAIL!

Do YOU Know You're AWESOME?

FAILING TO FAIL!

Joseph Brann

Do YOU know you're AWESOME? If not, I’m here to remind you YOU REALLY are AWESOME! There might be things you don’t like about yourself but believe it or not those things are reasons to LOVE yourself! Each and every quality that makes you YOU is a blessing and a gift. Some of these qualities may be things that aren’t necessarily good. I know there are people who become outraged at little things which in my opinion shouldn’t really be reasons to become outraged. I know there are people who become outraged at things which I’d have to conclude would make me outraged. But if you’re someone who easily becomes angry or someone who has a desire to do things which aren’t good, instead of acting on those bad desires, love the fact that YOU can overcome them and don’t have to give in to them. No matter what though, don’t give in to desires to do things which aren’t good. 

        I know I’m not perfect and’ve done things I’d later wish I hadn’t, but I can love myself because of those things which I wish I hadn’t done. I can do so because i know I am awesome enough to learn from those mistakes and work to continue to improve and hopefully never make those poor choices again. Even if you don’t feel like it, PLEASE know YOU ARE AWESOME! You can become even more awesome everyday by continuing to work to be the best YOU you can be and NEVER giving up! Please ALWAYS make sure your answer is yes when the question is, “Do YOU know you’re AWESOME!” Until reading my next blog and even after, remember keep FAILING TO FAIL!

My Podcast Interview with the gotyoursix Podcast

FAILING TO FAIL!

Joseph Brann

THIS PODCAST IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE, sorry! Today I’m not going to write much but rather I’m inviting you to listen to the podcast I was blessed to be featured in which became live on the internet yesterday. My great friend Tyler Dyal who is a veteran had the idea for me to be featured in the show. Also my great friends, Thomas Offer and Billy Lister do the show and Thomas was a sophomore when I moved to Boerne my senior year in 1998. All three of these guys are awesome! I REALLY enjoyed the podcast and hope YOU will enjoy it as well. It’s over an hour long so sit back, relax, enjoy, and prepared to be JOEtivatd!!! The link to this awesome podcast is below and you might have to copy and paste it into your web browser but taking the time to listen to it will be more than worth it!, Enjoy…

https://gotyoursix.podbean.com/e/episode-78-get-joetivated-ft-joe-brann/

Until reading my next blog and even after, remember keep FAILING TO FAIL!

YouTube videos!

FAILING TO FAIL!

Joseph Brann

Yesterday, thanks to my great friends, Tyler Dyal, Thomas Offer, and Billy Lister, I was able to post three more videos to YouTube. I’m excited because things are moving forward! But yet, today’s another day I don’t have much time to blog but I wanted to tell you about my YouTube videos and I hope they help YOU! If you’d like to see them, go to YouTube.com and enter my name, Joe Brann. My first video posted years ago is about my novel and is “JoeBrann-Successful Failure.” The title of the three videos I posted yesterday are pretty self explanatory I think. The first one is “Joe Brann’s Memoir” the second is “Joe Brann’s Blog” which is about this very blog you’re reading here, and the third one is “Joe Brann Motivational Speaker” and tells you a little about my speeches with my catch phrase “Better Choices, Better Chances!” 

Each video shares some of the different things I’m currently doing. You’ll also find out how to get my memoir, which you probably already know if you’ve been following my blog, and how to contact me for speaking engagements in my video called “Joe Brann Motivational Speaker” and I hope YOU will view, like, and if you feel like it comment on them. YOU’re AWESOME, I hope you have a fantastic day, and an even more phenomenal day each new day, keep your head up! Until reading my next blog and even after, remember keep FAILING TO FAIL!

Too Brain Damaged to be so Smart, Too Smart to be so Brain Damaged!

FAILING TO FAIL!

Joseph Brann

More often than not I try to focus on the blessings I’ve been given in life but I’m not perfect at doing so. My intelligence has been a blessing and a curse, though. You see, no credit be to me, but I’ve been blessed to be extremely intelligent. But at the same time, with my brain damage having been as severe as it was, I can’t understand how this can be the case except that miracles happen and God can do anything. I’ve said it in my memoir and to family and friends but I am too brain damaged to be so smart and too smart to be so brain damaged! This is the conundrum that is Joe Brann! And no I didn’t use the word conundrum to try and impress you with big words brain damaged people probably shouldn’t know how to use, ha! So because of my intelligence I've frequently had fantastic ideas but bringing them to pass was something I’ve not been able to do. My brain has also “beat me up” so to speak in the way that it will just run and run and run like the Energizer Bunny except faster and I’ve had to use my intelligence to figure out how to get it to stop doing such. 

But finally I’ve been blessed that I do extremely well in this department and it isn’t such a problem now. But the years and years and years of trying to deal with my brain spinning almost nonstop were beyond exhausting, on top of everything else being even more beyond exhausting. But I didn’t give up and now I’ve got it under control. What about YOU? I know YOU are intelligent, especially if you’re smart enough to read and follow my blog, ha! But do you ever have problems getting your mind to slow down? Do you ever feel exhausted from what you face? What is the conundrum that is YOU and how can you deal with it without giving up and using it to actually make yourself stronger? Please ask yourself these questions and use the answers to motivate, I mean JOEtivate, ha, yourself to keep going and proving everyday YOU are as incredible as I know YOU are! YOU CAN DO IT!!! Until reading my next blog and even after, remember keep FAILING TO FAIL!

Don't Tell Me to Relax!

FAILING TO FAIL!

Joseph Brann

I don’t know about YOU but often when I’m frustrated or stressing I personally get a little annoyed when someone tells me, “Just relax!” I sarcastically think, “Oh, great idea, why didn’t I think of that??? Oh wait, I DID, DON’T TELL ME TO RELAX!!!” Most of the time when you’re frustrated and/or stressing, you probably know relaxing is what you need to do, but you probably also know someone else telling you to relax isn’t going to make you be relaxed, although it may be a helpful reminder for YOU, but for me it often isn’t. When I’m stressing or the like and I know I need to relax, I will tell myself to relax but that’s kind of like someone else telling me to relax and doesn’t accomplish a whole lot. So instead of just telling myself to relax, I do things to actually help me relax. What almost ALWAYS works for me is to take deep breaths and to just try and clear my mind while reminding myself everything will work out. It also helps me to relax if I take a hot bath, and at times when needed I’ll also take the prescription medication I’ve been prescribed to help me relax, but maybe YOU don’t have said medication, and sorry it’d be illegal for me to give you mine, sorry. But YOU can definitely take deep breaths and probably take a hot bath, that should be a help I do believe!

The truth is, stressing will almost ALWAYS accomplish NOTHING but more problems. When we stress we are much less likely to make the best choices for whatever situation we’re dealing with. Your thinking and judgement will be impaired and later you’ll probably wish you’d made different and better decisions than the ones you make when you’re stressed. If you are relaxed you will be at peace and are much more likely to make better decisions. So, not telling you what to do, ha, but when you’re frustrated or stressing I suggest you take deep breaths, realize frustration and stressing will be of little to no assistance, and reassure yourself things will get better and do what you need so you are relaxed. I hope YOU will be relaxed and my blog will help you to be such and in many more ways as well. So, not telling you what to do, ha, but if you’ll try to relax I do believe life will be a lot better and easier for you. Until reading my next blog and even after, remember keep FAILING TO FAIL!

Good Things to Come!

FAILING TO FAIL!

Joseph Brann

So today is once again a day I don’t have a lot of time but I wanted to blog about how there are good things to come in life, not just my life, but your life too! One reason I don’t have much time is because I’m going to be getting m.r.i.s done on my neck and spine today again, I’ve had them done before, but I’m going to have to take some medicine to help me relax and afterwards I probably won’t be thinking too clearly. Have YOU ever had an m.r.i.? Anyway, I’ve got things that are supposed to be coming about this week actually but I don’t want to say too much about it because in the past when I’ve talked about stuff that was supposed to come about, if it didn’t happen for whatever reason, then when people asked I’d have to explain it and so forth. I don’t want to get any hopes up about what’s supposed to happen in my life, it will happen when it’s supposed to.

But I do want to get YOU to look forward to good things to come in your life. Maybe you’re already working on those things or maybe they’ll be brand new unexpected good things that come. Even if bad things happen, as does occur in life, YOU can make your bad situation better but it’s up to……who??? Oh yeah, YOU! The attitude we take towards things is so crucial in every situation. Even though there are a lot of things that can and will be frustrating or even bad in life, YOU have to know there are good things to come, even if you have to bring them about, there are still good things to come in life! I hope you know this is true and I look forward to the good things happening, not just for me but definitely for YOU!!! Until reading my next blog and even after, remember keep FAILING TO FAIL!