Powell2ThEEPeople

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I am a middle aged man with a lot of thoughts and opinions. I’m grounded, unapologetic, black and open minded. I want to do something thought provoking that is different from what I do professionally and speak from a perspective that is often overlooked. The EveryDay People Perspective. If you have a disagreement, RESPECTFULLY comment so we can have a conversation. I hope you enjoy!

  • Why ‘Ask the Horse’ Teaches Us True Strength

    Captain Howard from Bad Boys for Life repeatedly yells at Mike to “ask the horse.”

    At surface level, this phrase serves as comedic relief. Capt. Howard is loco. He’s older. And his harder edges have been smoothed out. He may have even lost it a little bit. Mike is the strong one. He’s tough as nails. Proud. He won’t admit to slowing down for anybody.Even himself.Ironically though, what makes

    Capt. Howard saying that line funny is because it’s true. The fact is that we don’t want to accept that it is. True strength comes from being uncomfortable with vulnerability.

    Captain Howard was comfortable asking for help. Mike needed it but didn’t want it. That’s the issue between them. Death broke the Capt. down. But it never introduced Mike to his weakness. That’s the dilemma. Who’s stronger? The person who realized nothing is permanent? Or the one who thinks he can’t be stopped?

    I think society is standing at that intersection. Nobody wants to take a step back and be vulnerable. We’re all trying to appear bigger and stronger than everyone else.

    Everybody wants a highlight reel others won’t scroll past. You want your face on billboards. They project an image of someone who doesn’t care about being hurt. So they pretend like they have no feelings. What happens though when we have no feelings? No one is happy. We’re exhausted from living day in and day out as a persona we created to protect ourselves, be liked, or appreciated by others. We’re on social media so much that just looking like you have it together is our career. We’ve confused slowing down long enough to be heard as a sign of weakness. We worship at the alter of distraction instead of the Bible. We swipe right looking for someone to follow instead of taking chances with friends. We forget how to care about others because we’re too busy stuffing our empty souls with junk.“Everybody is screaming”…at themselves. Inside we’re terrified silent will force us to listen to how empty we feel.

    That’s why I laughed when I saw that scene, “Ask the horse.” Let me translate that for you……

    Take a moment to listen.

    Listen to life whispering in your ear.

    Listen to your failures.

    Listen to your hurts.

    Listen to the people who are loving on you before your ego rejects their advice.

    Prove how tough you are on the outside and you’ll crack yourself open on the inside.We condition ourselves to believe we should shield our weaker images, but when we’re alone we long for healing.

    Take it from a man who drowned his pain in people and empty accomplishments. You can be VP of something and feel like zero.

    Help. Nobody wants help. Think about the image we’ve painted ourselves into.

    We compensate our insecurity by being mean to others.

    We cover our solitude up with positions of authority.

    We camouflage our fears with anger.

    We attempt to numb our damage with noise.

    You don’t have to be hard on the outside to be strong. True strength comes when you realize you don’t have to go to war with everyone you encounter to be respected. Wisdom is often disguised as crazy to those who don’t understand it. All Mike heard was some old dude telling him he’s soft. So he laughed at Marcus until….life shattered parts of Mike’s ego allowing him to understand what it meant to ask the horse. People don’t need another person pretending to be tough. The world needs more humble people willing to accept they have weaknesses too.And it’s time we all asked the horse.

  • Vulnerability: The Strength Behind ‘Ask the Horse’

    “Ask the Horse”

    There is this moment in Bad Boys for Life where Captain Howard keeps telling Mike to “ask the horse.”

    On one level, it plays for laughs. The Captain is crazy. He’s older. Softened around the edges. Maybe even a little unhinged. Mike is the strong one. Tough. Proud. He doesn’t believe in slowing down. He believes you gotta always be the loudest person in the room and the hardest man to knock down. But what’s funny about Capt. Howard saying that line is that it also holds a truth that we just refuse to admit.

    See the Capt. was broken by death. Mike wasn’t. That’s the true conflict between them. One man realized life was temporary. The other thought he was indestructible. I think that’s where we are as a society.No one wants to slow down and be vulnerable.

    Everyone is trying to be massive and powerful.

    Everybody wants a résumé to envy.

    Everybody wants their face everywhere.

    Everybody wants to seem like they’re above it all; unaffected. Emotionless. Rich. Strong. Smart. Tougher. Better. MORE than everyone else. Nobody is happy though. Most of us are tired of walking around every single day as a version of ourselves we created to either protect ourselves, be accepted, or validated. Social media makes looking good every day our full-time job. We’ve made the mistake that stopping long enough to be heard is viewed as weakness. We chase distraction over substance. Seek fame over friends. Forget compassion because we’re too busy numbing our emptiness. We’re all screaming because on the inside, we’re terrified of quiet. That’s why that scene hit me.

    “Ask the horse” could really mean:take the time to listen.

    Listen to your life whispering at you.

    Listen to your failures screaming at you.

    Listen to your pain.

    Listen to the people in your life who are trying to speak life to you before your ego alienates you.

    Listen up before your ambition eats you alive.

    Some of us try so hard to prove how tough we are on the outside that we crack ourselves wide open on the inside. We praise the idea of buffering our images but crave healing.

    You can have status and feel numb.

    You can have beauty but feel invisible.

    You can have followers and feel utterly disconnected from those around you.

    Strength without wisdom is dangerous. Look around. This is what it creates. People compensate their feelings of weakness with cruelty.

    We mask our loneliness with power.

    We cover our fears with rage.

    We try to drown our pain with noise.

    Strength is not the opposite of weakness. True strength is understanding that you don’t have to kill everyone you step in the room with to be respected. Wisdom can sound like crazy if your ego is listening. Mike laughed at Marcus because he didn’t want to hear what Marcus was saying. Until…. life broke enough of Mike’s ego down that he actually started to understand what asking the horse was all about.

    Maybe the world doesn’t need more people pretending to be untouchable. Maybe it needs more people willing to become vulnerable. Maybe it’s time we all asked the horse.

    Peace:

    J Powell

  • Connecting Beyond Superficiality: Lessons from The Boys

    One of my favorite shows on Prime Video is The Boys. While it seems like just another superhero show on the surface, if you look past all the violence, politics, and chaos, it’s actually pretty insightful about human nature. One character in particular that caught my attention was Homelander. He is by far the most powerful superhero in the show, but also strangely the most empty.

    Despite his power, he constantly seeks validation from those around him. He craves attention. He needs people to worship him and tell him how great he is. Because if we’re being honest, he feels lonely. He feels disconnected from others. If someone doesn’t show him immediate loyalty, he will intimidate, anger, or get rid of them. Even people close to him eventually see past his public persona. What really stuck out to me, was how much he wanted people to call him GOD. Not because he felt like he was the best at what he did. But because he felt weak inside.

    The more I watched this show, the more I realized that this isn’t fiction. This is life. We see it every day. People who cover their insecurity with positions of power or authority. People who cover their loneliness with money, status, influence, abuse, or control. They throw their weight around and expect everyone to listen because deep down they feel small. The problem is, the more attention you get for putting other people down, the more you accept that behavior from others. It’s like everyone is screaming over each other just to be heard.

    What many people don’t realize is that the louder they get, the quieter their soul becomes. The problem with seeking external validation is that once you get it, it’s rarely enough. One more follower. One more like. One more instagram story. One more fancy car. One more award. One more pound on the bench. They will never be enough until you are enough. Until you find happiness and security within yourself.

    So how do we combat becoming Homelander? How do we chase influence in the world without becoming emotionally void and lonely? I believe it begins with three things.

    First, people have to learn how to get real with themselves. Too many people spend their lives avoiding who they truly are on the inside. Rather than face the pain, they bury it. Rather than deal with insecurity, they mask it. Instead of confronting trauma, rejection, or loneliness they throw on a smile and act like it never happened. You can hide behind a persona of success. You can mask it with money or status. You can cover it up with relationships or even intimidation. But before we can heal, we have to be honest with ourselves about where we are in life. You can’t fix what you don’t acknowledge.

    Second, we have to truly connect with people. Not followers. Not “fans”. Not people that look up to us. Real people. Relationships that allow us to be vulnerable and speak honestly without having to pretend like we have our lives together. So many people are addicted to the appearance of having it all together on social media but are dying on the inside. We have become a society full of people who know how to present a brand, but have no clue who they are away from that brand.

    Some of the happiest people I know have the least amount of followers. The most interesting people I know don’t have 3 million people listening to their every word. Some of the most influential people in the world you’ve never heard of. Real people building genuine relationships with other real people. That is where we learn to feel comfortable with who we are. That is where we are reflected for who we are on the inside. And third, we need purpose that doesn’t revolve around us. When we make ourselves the center of everything we do, we will burn ourselves out.

    That’s why faith, service, family, mentorship, community, and helping others is so important. When we realize that life is bigger than us, we can find fulfillment helping others find their purpose. Purpose keeps us humble. It’s what pulls us outside of our own little world and forces us to care about other people. Loneliness doesn’t get cured by following influencers. Insecurity doesn’t get healed by thinking you’re better than everyone else.

    Empty souls won’t feel full until they learn to feel comfortable with who they are. The strongest people aren’t always the loudest. They aren’t always the most famous or the most feared. The strongest people are the ones who can look in the mirror, accept who they are, genuinely love others, and still maintain their character in a world that wants you to do otherwise. That’s the real super power. Homelander wanted to be called GOD, but he was nothing more than a man running from his loneliness.

    Until we learn to accept ourselves, connect with people, and find purpose outside of ourselves, we will continue to chase external validation that never satisfies. Inside every “ superhero” is a human being. A beautiful complex human being that’s way too valuable to spend their life seeking validation from others. True strength comes from being secure in who you are when no one is around to tell you that you’re great. No one knows how powerful you are. But you do.

  • Growth Through Pressure: My Semester Reflections

    Spring semester has officially come to an end. When I look back on these past few months I realize that this journey has become much bigger than just grades, assignments, or trying to simply pass my classes.
    This semester has taught me life lessons.
    Lesson 1: You can’t always “wing it.”
    I’ve always prided myself on being someone who could step up to the plate and perform under pressure. But as I began to encounter challenging situations and the enormity of balancing so many things at once hit me, I realized that working hard and staying busy can only take you so far. Eventually you have to prepare yourself for success if you want it to find you.
    I’ve heard people say “Failure to plan is planning to fail” a million times, but this past season truly opened my eyes to what that means. Putting a plan in place doesn’t mean you have it all together or that you aren’t going to encounter obstacles. What it does mean is that you are willing to put in the work necessary to prepare yourself for success. It means you are willing to be proactive rather than constantly reacting to the chaos around you.
    Planning + Preparation = Potential for Success
    Discipline matters.
    Showing up matters.
    Putting a plan in place matters.
    Lesson 2: There are no shortcuts to worthwhile success.
    We live in a results-driven society. Everyone wants instant gratification. Everybody wants the end result without having to do the work in between.
    Many want a raise without taking on more responsibility.
    Many want to be fit without making dietary changes or working out.
    Many want to be successful without consistency or sacrifice.
    Real growth and development takes time.
    It takes work.
    And it won’t happen for everyone.
    You have to want it more than the person who isn’t.
    Lesson 3: You have to be willing to do the work.
    Knowledge is powerful but it’s only worth as much as you can apply it to real life situations. Employers these days are not just looking for people who know how to do something. They already have smart people on their payroll. They want people who are going to show up everyday, continue to learn, and can handle pressure in times of adversity.
    They want problem solvers.
    They want thinkers.
    They want action takers.
    Did you know that the average person uses only 10% of their brain? I think we all have way more potential than we realize but oftentimes refuse to tap into.
    Talking about what you will do is fun. Actually doing it is what changes you.
    LESSON 4: Pressure isn’t always a bad thing.
    One of the things that I learned this semester that hit me hard was that pressure equals opportunity. Pressure means you have something to lose. But it also means you have something to gain.
    Most of us want things to come easy. We want everything in life to just “fall us.” But what builds character? What teaches us mental strength? What helps us grow as people?
    Things that force us to adapt.
    Things that challenge our mind, body, and spirit.
    That something is pressure.
    Pressure makes you better or breaks you. There is no in-between.
    Lesson 5: Growth is a choice.
    This semester has been a mental, emotional, and personal challenge. It has pushed me to evaluate my habits, the excuses I make, how I manage my time, my overall mindset, and my willingness to be disciplined in areas I’m struggling.
    I needed this.
    How could I expect to grow if I didn’t push myself to get uncomfortable? How could I expect change if I wasn’t willing to evaluate my current situation and make the necessary adjustments?
    Let me tell you something that I am discovering at nearly 50 years old.
    It’s never too late.
    It’s never too late to reinvent yourself.
    It’s never too late to become the best version of you.
    Life at your age is about continuing to evolve.
    Continuing to learn.
    Continuing to grow.
    At this stage in your life, you’re just starting over smarter.
    Fall semester won’t be easy either. I will be attending PLNU while simultaneously working and trying to learn as much about cybersecurity and the technology world as I can. But that’s the fun part about it. The journey is continuing and I can’t wait to see where these next few months take me.
    If you would’ve asked me years ago if I saw myself doing what I’m doing now, I probably would’ve said no. But the beauty of life is that we learn a lot about ourselves when we stop putting limitations on our potential. My fear of starting school had to be replaced with excitement about the future and what I can become.
    Remember…
    The only thing worse than failing is never trying at all.
    There will always be people who doubt you. People who judge you. People who don’t think you can do it.
    But you know what else?
    Nobody grew inside their comfort zone.
    – Powell 2 Thee People

  • From Pressure to Privilege: What This Semester Taught Me

    Spring semester has officially come to an end. When I look back on these past few months I realize that this journey has become much bigger than just grades, assignments, or trying to simply pass my classes.
    This semester has taught me life lessons.
    Lesson 1: You can’t always “wing it.”
    I’ve always prided myself on being someone who could step up to the plate and perform under pressure. But as I began to encounter challenging situations and the enormity of balancing so many things at once hit me, I realized that working hard and staying busy can only take you so far. Eventually you have to prepare yourself for success if you want it to find you.
    I’ve heard people say “Failure to plan is planning to fail” a million times, but this past season truly opened my eyes to what that means. Putting a plan in place doesn’t mean you have it all together or that you aren’t going to encounter obstacles. What it does mean is that you are willing to put in the work necessary to prepare yourself for success. It means you are willing to be proactive rather than constantly reacting to the chaos around you.
    Planning + Preparation = Potential for Success
    Discipline matters.
    Showing up matters.
    Putting a plan in place matters.
    Lesson 2: There are no shortcuts to worthwhile success.
    We live in a results-driven society. Everyone wants instant gratification. Everybody wants the end result without having to do the work in between.
    Many want a raise without taking on more responsibility.
    Many want to be fit without making dietary changes or working out.
    Many want to be successful without consistency or sacrifice.
    Real growth and development takes time.
    It takes work.
    And it won’t happen for everyone.
    You have to want it more than the person who isn’t.
    Lesson 3: You have to be willing to do the work.
    Knowledge is powerful but it’s only worth as much as you can apply it to real life situations. Employers these days are not just looking for people who know how to do something. They already have smart people on their payroll. They want people who are going to show up everyday, continue to learn, and can handle pressure in times of adversity.
    They want problem solvers.
    They want thinkers.
    They want action takers.
    Did you know that the average person uses only 10% of their brain? I think we all have way more potential than we realize but oftentimes refuse to tap into.
    Talking about what you will do is fun. Actually doing it is what changes you.
    LESSON 4: Pressure isn’t always a bad thing.
    One of the things that I learned this semester that hit me hard was that pressure equals opportunity. Pressure means you have something to lose. But it also means you have something to gain.
    Most of us want things to come easy. We want everything in life to just “fall us.” But what builds character? What teaches us mental strength? What helps us grow as people?
    Things that force us to adapt.
    Things that challenge our mind, body, and spirit.
    That something is pressure.
    Pressure makes you better or breaks you. There is no in-between.
    Lesson 5: Growth is a choice.
    This semester has been a mental, emotional, and personal challenge. It has pushed me to evaluate my habits, the excuses I make, how I manage my time, my overall mindset, and my willingness to be disciplined in areas I’m struggling.
    I needed this.
    How could I expect to grow if I didn’t push myself to get uncomfortable? How could I expect change if I wasn’t willing to evaluate my current situation and make the necessary adjustments?
    Let me tell you something that I am discovering at nearly 50 years old.
    It’s never too late.
    It’s never too late to reinvent yourself.
    It’s never too late to become the best version of you.
    Life at your age is about continuing to evolve.
    Continuing to learn.
    Continuing to grow.
    At this stage in your life, you’re just starting over smarter.
    Fall semester won’t be easy either. I will be attending PLNU while simultaneously working and trying to learn as much about cybersecurity and the technology world as I can. But that’s the fun part about it. The journey is continuing and I can’t wait to see where these next few months take me.
    If you would’ve asked me years ago if I saw myself doing what I’m doing now, I probably would’ve said no. But the beauty of life is that we learn a lot about ourselves when we stop putting limitations on our potential. My fear of starting school had to be replaced with excitement about the future and what I can become.
    Remember…
    The only thing worse than failing is never trying at all.
    There will always be people who doubt you. People who judge you. People who don’t think you can do it.
    But you know what else?
    Nobody grew inside their comfort zone.

    Peace and Love
    – Powell 2 Thee People

  • The Simple Pleasures We Overlook

    In a society that encourages us to get more. Do more. Go faster. Be online 24/7.

    I feel we often lose sight of where true happiness dwells…

    It often isn’t found in material things.
    Neither is it found in prestige.
    Or recognition.

    Sometimes happiness is found in life’s little moments.

    For me, those can be the few moments I sit in silence before everyone else is awake. Hot coffee in my hand. Cool breeze coming through the window. Time to think. Time to reflect. Time to pray.

    Other times it’s spent in the barbershop.

    Not just cutting cuts, but listening. Laughing. Hearing the honesty people let out when they’re comfortable enough to sit in the chair. Watching someone leave with more confidence than how they walked in. There is significance in that. Humanity in that.

    Other times it’s kicking back and listening to a good song on a drive late at night.
    Other times it’s watching my kids and grandkids develop into young adults.
    Other times it’s spending quality time with my better half.
    Other times it’s coming home to my dog who’s glad I’m home no matter how great or terrible of a day I had.

    We are often programmed to think happiness has to be extravagant.

    Rumbling. Loud.

    I promise you some of the best times are silent.

    A clear mind.
    Meaningful conversation.
    The accomplishment of a goal.
    Answered prayers.
    Life lessons.
    Small growth that no one else will see but you.

    Take the time to appreciate the small things. They mean more than you think they do.

    The older I become the more I realize happiness is temporary, but being grateful will change your outlook on life forever.

    So maybe take time to appreciate the small today instead of seeking something bigger.

    You may realize it was never that small to begin with.

    Peace and Love

    -Jarred Powell
    Powell 2 Thee People

  • 50 Trips Around the Sun

    May will always hold a special place in my heart.

    Why? Well, quite a few reasons actually. Yes, it means that warmer weather is coming for the majority of us. But it also means spring is in full effect. Trees are budding from the ground. Flowers are erupting from the grass. Grass that has transformed from brown to green once again.

    May has always been a month of celebration for me. Why? Because May 4th allows me to say the heck yes I’ve made it 50 trips around the sun. Yes, I know what you’re thinking. I LOVE my birthday.

    I used to think that I was the ONLY person that I knew that had a birthday in the month of May. Well, my grandfather anyway. We actually never celebrated our birthdays together (mine was May 4th, his was May 7th) but as I got older, I learned many similarities we shared in the way we celebrate.

    When I started high school, I shared homeroom with a girl I had known my whole life, Katie Raley. We used to go to her families grocery store all the time growing up. The Raley family are wonderful down to earth people who always showed my grandparents and I the utmost respect and kindness. We would always reciprocate that same energy when we engaged with them. One day in ninth grade, we realized we were both born on the same day. Thus I had my first birthday buddy. We share that joy to this day.

    Life happens and you start to figure out what birthdays really are. They become more than cake and gifts. They become more than people singing to you (yay Facebook requests). Birthdays are milestones. They are reminders. Reminders that throughout every heartbreak, defeat, win, loss, lesson, blessing, YOU MADE IT THROUGH TO SEE ANOTHER.

    This birthday was different for me.

    Now, before I go any further. Let me give you some background. I turned 50 this year.

    FIFTY.

    To most that probably sounds old. To me, it sounds Liberating. It sounds like grace. It sounds like I’ve earned the right to be here. It sounds like storytelling. Decades worth of experiences, wisdom, scars, growth, and overcoming. It sounds like every lesson life has thrown my way, has finally started to make sense.

    I turned 50 and realized I was fortunate enough to make it this far. Not everyone gets to grow old. I have lost loved ones that will never get the chance to celebrate another trip around the sun. I have felt pain, disappointment, brokenness, and felt like I was questioning my own greatness. But through it all, I’ve also felt overwhelming amounts of love, great friendships, purpose, faith, laughter, fatherhood, grandfatherhood, and opportunities to completely change my mindset when life thought I was too old to change.

    50 made me celebrate the journey more than the destination.

    I thought about my grandparents raising me and how they molded me into the man I am today. I thought about the naive Jarred who thought he had it all figured out. LOL. I thought about my years in the Marine Corps, having life changing conversations with strangers while in the barber chair, mistakes I’ve made, victories I’ve encountered, and every single person who played a role in helping me become the man that I am still evolving into.

    Because at 50, I am still evolving.

    See, that’s the thing… we NEVER stop evolving as long as we don’t stop growing. Many people let society dictate when they should be “here” or “there” by a certain age. I am grateful that I’m still growing.

    At 50 I am still…

    Learning.

    Healing.

    Building.

    Dreaming.

    Trusting God through the process.

    This birthday was special because I didn’t need a grand celebration or party to appreciate the fact that God blessed me once again to make it 50 trips around the sun. Some will reading this are either running their damn race or haven’t started it quite yet. Trust me, there is something therapeutic about reaching a point in your life where you stop caring about pleasing everybody and you start focusing on the things that truly matter. Peace, family, faith, purpose, loyalty, health, genuine conversations, and time.

    Speaking of time, time seems different when you hit 50. You begin to understand that it’s one of the only things in life we can never get back. So you learn to cherish moments more. You learn to cherish conversations more. You learn to cherish people more. You care less about the small things that used to try to steal your joy.

    This year I found myself embracing gratefulness more than anything.

    Grateful for my wife and our relationship. Our children. Our grandchildren. Our friendships. Our careers. Our new paths Jaycee is taking me on with cybersecurity and education. I’m grateful for every person who has walked alongside me, supported me, believed in my greatness, prayed for me, or even took time to check on me when I was being shady during my low moments.

    Most of all, I am grateful to God for allowing me to make it this far and carrying me through times where I myself could not understand what He was doing.

    If I had to leave you with anything. Don’t let society tell you your timeline. Your reinvention can happen at any age. Your purpose has no expiration date. Your healing doesn’t have a time limit.

    Your next chapter could be your BEST one yet…and it could start AFTER the world thinks you should’ve stopped.

    50 trips around the sun and I’m just getting started…

    …I’m JUST GETTING FOCUSED.

    Peace and Love

    — Jarred Powell
    Powell 2 Thee People

  • Reinventing The Man In The Mirror

    Grow Through Seasons, Not Expiration Dates

    The late great Michael Jackson said it best when he famously said,” I’m starting with the Man in the Mirror; I’m asking him to change his ways”.

    There’s an age where a man stands before a mirror one day and realizes he’s lived multiple lifetimes already. Some call it growing old. Others call it slowing down.

    But I choose to see it another way.

    I call it evolution.

    Listen, for years I measured myself by the cards life dealt me: surviving, responsibility, sacrificing, and maintaining. I allowed titles to become my identity: father, husband, barber, provider, Marine, mentor. While I’m proud of every single title I’ve earned or responsibility I’ve had, there comes a season in life where you start asking yourself questions:

    Who am I growing into now?

    What passions are still inside of me?

    Is there still time to grow?

    The answer is YES!

    Too many people are misinformed into believing that growth only happens during the early stages of your life. That once you reach a certain age, you’re supposed to get comfortable, play it safe, and limit yourself to an easy life.

    I don’t agree with that philosophy.

    I believe we’re all capable of reinventing ourselves, even in years where most people give up. Not because I have no idea what I’m doing — but quite the opposite. I understand that growth is a lifelong process.

    Currently, I’m dipping my toes into the cyber world of cybersecurity. A career that’s worlds apart from where I spent over a decade in barbering. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned in life, it’s that we can always learn new skills while STILL embracing the wisdom we’ve accumulated over the years.

    Sure, I’m striving every day to be a better man for my wife and our son by finding the perfect balance of faith, family, purpose, and discipline. But that doesn’t mean I’m not working on parts of my life that need repairing. We all have parts of us that life tends to bruise as we get older. And although I am a dad and I consider myself grown, I’m still allowing myself to grow up.

    Let’s be real.

    This journey isn’t always comfortable.

    There will be days where you think you’re too far behind or feel “old” compared to your peers. You’ll see people younger than you farther ahead or more “advanced” and start believing the lies that you missed your window.

    But what most people don’t understand…

    Maturity is an advantage.

    Failures from your past are TRAINING.

    Older age allows you to SEE things that people in their youth often miss.

    Reinventing yourself in your “older years” isn’t about trying to live like you’re young again. It’s the complete opposite. It’s realizing that you refuse to be “old” mentally.

    It’s about evolving as a human being while staying TRUE to who God created you to be.

    My reinvention started within before it could ever be seen on the outside. Before I could get my next opportunity or achieve new goals, I had to silence the voice in my head that told me I was too far gone. I had to wake up every day and remind myself:

    Your best days could be TODAY.

    Your best days are not defined by your age, your salary, or the car you drive. They’re determined by the person you choose to become.

    I’ve spent the last year really learning who I am outside of cutting hair. I’ve gone through a detox of sorts mentally and spiritually. I’m cutting out the distractions. Becoming more disciplined. More intentional. More spiritual. More in tune with my emotions. AND spending every minute I can building my next chapter while being more purposeful with my time, effort, and voice.

    I’m cutting hair plans.
    I’m cutting out distractions.
    I’m cutting DEEP and building myself back up…

    … EVEN BETTER than before.

    I wanted to share this with you because maybe…just maybe you needed to read this today.

    You’re not too old.

    You’re not too far in life.

    You DON’T have to stay the same feeling lost and confused.

    Life hasn’t finished writing your story.

    You are NEVER too old, TOO late, or TOO anything to reinvent yourself.

    You just have to want it BAD enough.

    Reinvention at 25 is possible.

    Reinvention at 45 is possible.

    Reinvention at 65 is STILL possible.

    Growth never retires.

  • My Introduction

    My Introduction

    This is a picture of me at my worst

    On the surface I look okay. At least that is what it looks like. This was one of my worse moments in my life. I didn’t even know it was the beginning of me dealing with an illness. On this day, my friend and photographer George took a pic using my camera with a new Lense that I had just purchased. See I trusted George. He had my full trust professionally. Our relationship became more personal this day. He took this photo to check the settings to see if they were right for me to use. We then proceeded to have a conversation. I got emotional out of nowhere while we talked. My mind drifted and it was hard to shake out of it. George was very supportive at the time and was needed because I was all over the place in thought and mind.

    See this was during the COVID Pandemic of 2020. I didn’t know it yet, but it had an effect on me. This was the second time around after restrictions were lifted. I had a breakdown my third day back. I was uncontrollable. Luckily, I didn’t have any clients at the time in my suite because it was pretty bad. I missed my wife Lisa like crazy and our dog Teddy. I missed having them around me like when I was home. I missed having lunch and watching television in between clients. It rocked me to the core.

    When I got home, I hugged and held on to Lisa while she had Teddy so tight. It was so right, and I couldn’t stop hugging my wife and crying. It felt like I was holding on for dear life. I was falling apart, and I didn’t know how to address it or let anyone know. It was just the start of my spiral. Despite it all, failure would eventually make way for strength. I just had to hold on.

  • “ I Am Jarred”

    ⸻

    I am Jarred.

    People see the outside—

    The clean fade, the steady hands, the smile that says “I’m good.”

    But inside?

    I’m still putting it together.

    Piece by piece, prayer by prayer.

    I’ve been broken.

    Mentally? It’s hard.

    But I’m fighting.

    Because if I can help one person avoid this pain—

    It’s worth it.

    I was raised by my grandparents.

    Not out of weakness, but out of wisdom.

    They gave me structure, soul, and survival.

    Their lessons still echo when life gets loud.

    I’m a husband—Lisa is my anchor.

    A father.

    A grandfather.

    A man watching his kids raise kings and queens of their own.

    And that? That’s my reward.

    I’m a barber by trade.

    But my mind don’t stop at the mirror.

    I see numbers, business, legacy, impact.

    Some days I apply it. Some days I don’t.

    But every day—I think bigger than the chair.

    I lost Taffy last year—

    My male toy Pom, my little dude, my silent comfort.

    Still hurts.

    Teddy’s five now, still holding it down,

    Reminding me that love—real love—don’t die. It just shifts.

    People say I might be selfish.

    Maybe.

    But I got a good heart.

    An open mind.

    I think deep—sometimes too deep to explain.

    I’m loyal.

    I move with principle.

    I put God first—

    Not just on paper, but in my pain, my process, my perseverance.

    I’m introvert and extrovert.

    Depends on the day, the room, the energy.

    But through it all—I’m me.

    No filter. No front.

    So when you hear this—know you’re not listening to perfection.

    You’re hearing persistence.

    A man still in the middle of becoming.

    Still walking through the fire,

    But choosing to speak so someone else don’t burn the same way.

    I am Jarred.

    Still healing.

    Still building.

    Still here