The Name Game

    Have you ever been in the situation of "JASON!!! How have you been!?!?" And you have no idea who the person is? Or you introduce yourself to someone and they reply "we've met before." It's an awkward feeling because it shows the other person they didn't make enough of an impact for you to remember their name. Sometimes I'll forget people's names within the first five seconds of meeting them.
    When someone calls you by name, you feel included, at the very least you feel important enough for someone to know your name. Knowing names is crucial to grow any type of community. That is why I take remembering names at youth group events very seriously. I want each teen to feel welcomed. But when I forget names as they come out their mouths, I needed to learn a few tricks fast.
    One way that helps me remember names is to repeat their name. "Jackie? Nice to meet you, Jackie. So Jackie, what's a hobby you like to do?" Another trick I use is the first couple weeks of youth group the ice breakers focus around name association. And lastly, when I failed to remember their name, I'd give them a dollar. It makes teens excited you forgot their name.
    As youth group begins a new year this week, I ask for prayers for a strong memory so I can still afford Christmas gifts this year.
    Other tricks for remembering names is asking them to spell it "Theresa? With or without the 'h?'" Or add something to their name like Jazzy Jeff, Athletic Adam, Will the Thrill, Zac attach, etc. And lastly, if you feel someone forgot your name, use it in a story. "I was walking on the dock last week and someone said "Jason! Look at that rainbow!'"

Changing Habits

    Look at your life, not too bad, huh? But what if I told you that you could make your life better with only a 1% lifestyle change? You'd think I'm crazy. "Jason, this sounds like an infomercial." That's true, but this really works! All you need to do is change 1% of you relationships, spiritual life, and media intake.

    Let’s start with relationships. We have relationships with family members, friends, teachers, and strangers. What if you took one of these relationships and put more time into making it stronger? You could take a sibling out for ice cream, do your chores without being told, welcome a new classmate into your circle of friends, etc. If you’re happy with the result, start to strengthen another friendship.

    Another important part of your life is spirituality. If you don't have a connection with your Creator, how can you know your purpose in life? The 1% change could be having a reflection of the day each night, praying in the morning, or stopping at church to pray in front of the Eucharist. One little thing to strengthen your relationship with God will greatly benefit your everyday life.

    Finally, change 1% of the media intake. The media gives us a unique opportunity to control what we take in. But media also has the ability to control us. There was a study done where a group of people went 24 hours without technology. After about 12 hours, their brains started showing signs of withdraws similar to drug addicts. The 1% change in media is to help you control the media rather than the media controlling you. It could be fasting from the internet and video games every Wednesday (exception of school projects), no electronics after 9:30pm, or limiting your TV/movie intake to 7 hours a week. The amount of time you will gain from this will astound you (you could learn the guitar).

    These 1% changes are small, but you will notice benefits in less than a week. It gives you an opportunity to live your life rather than be controlled by fear, shame, or technology. If you need extra motivation, remember that you have been called to a life of greatness, not comfort. Choosing to do homework rather than watch TV is choosing greatness rather than comfort. Imagine all you could accomplish with starting with just this 1% change.