#InternetGrandpa

Good things always stretch us and are challenging. But bad things are often hard too. How can we discern when a hard stretch is good and worth sticking with vs. when something is just bad and not helpful? Well, I had a thought on that the other day. Much Love, # #YourInternetGrandpa #InternetGrandpa #Grandpositivity This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers...

We’re celebrating our 32nd anniversary this week and I am reminded of a few basic lessons that are applicable to everything in life, I believe. First of all:anything good is just going to be difficult, and it will likely be difficult to the extent it is good (and vice versa). Much Love, #YourInternetGrandpa #InternetGrandpa This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other sub...

We all get discouraged from time to time, even if we generally enjoy the endeavor that brings us that discouragement. I had a little patch with that recently, but a happy ending reminded me of a few important things. Love, #YourInternetGrandpa #InternetGrandpa This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bradenbell.substa...

I heard someone described once as a "kiss-up, kick-down" person. I had a boss like that once as well. It's human nature to be really respectful to people above us, and be kind of a jerk—or at least thoughtless— to those who may have less status. It is natural, but not good! Ironically, trying to treat everyone with the same level of respect helps us become more fully our authentic selves, which ma...

Some thoughts on the importance of (non-romantic) love in the world and our lives, and how we can spread and cultivate it. This may be one of the biggest factors for happiness--your own and that of other people. And, as always, I want you to be happy! Much Love, #YourInternetGrandpa #InternetGrandpa #fyp #Grandpositivity This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscr...

Learning to love your work is an important way to be happy in life! And, it is something that can be learned and practiced, even if you don't currently feel that way about what you do. Sending you so much love! Love, #YourInternetGrandpa #InternetGrandpa #fyp This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bradenbell.substac...

Learning to love people, really love real people, will make you happy (and them, but mostly you). And, I want you to experience love and happiness in life. Much Love, #YourInternetGrandpa #InternetGrandpa #fyp #Grandpositivity This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bradenbell.substack.com

Love is a verb, not merely a feeling. That means we can act and do, not wait for a feeling, and what we can do, we can practice and get better at. Learning to love, and not only in a romantic sense, can make us so much happier in life. And I do wan't you to be happy! Much Love, #YourInternetGrandpa #InternetGrandpa This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers...

When you are worried about big problems in the world that you can't control, it can be empowering and very healthy to address somethng that IS in your control. Focus on what you can do, not on what other people aren't/won't/don't/can't do. A small productive step in the real world will always be better than only being angry, upset, or righteous in your mind or online. Even small things in real lif...

Just a reminder that you matter, that you are loved, that you are valuable, important, and of infinite worth; that you have infinite potential! You are brighter, better, stronger, smarter, more competent and capable than you probably know, you are doing better than you think, and you are making important contributions around you! And, for what it's worth, I love you and am cheering you on! Much Lo...

One of my most humiliating, mortifying experiences in high school ended up being--not that bad. I think there's an important lesson in this very awkward story and I hope it helps you find peace. As always, I want you to be happy. You are wonderful and I'm sending you lots of love! P.S. Likes, saves, shares, comments, etc. would be lovely. The cool-kid-algorithm is ignoring me lately. Love, #YourIn...

I recently had to decide how serious I was about living the values I say I believe in. Our values don't really mean much until it is hard to live them. It's in these times that we find out how serious we are about what we believe. But, even when it's hard--especially when it's hard--by living our values we find freedom and self-actualization. This is a big key to happiness--and I want you to be ha...

I worry a lot about the content that your generations are exposed to. There is so much contempt and criticism about men and women--you can find both, often from people who have had very little life experience. Or, from people who have real and traumatic experiences, but then make vast generalizations. My wife and I will soon have married for 32 years and I've learned a lot in that time. I've also...

We all know how it feels to get in a rut sometimes. There are things we have to do, but we're just not feeling it--but it still has to be done. That is natural and very human. I recently realized I was in a rut on something and re-learned a lesson about how to manage these times. It's helped my happiness and energy a lot--and I do want you to be happy! So much love, Your #InternetGrandpa #fyp This...

Here is why I don't talk about politics on this account--or online in general. It's just my own thing, but I do think being more intentional about the spaces where we talk about and ingest political stuff is a generally healthy thing to do for our minds, souls, and honestly, our democracy. But that's just me. We can differ peacefully and respectfully, and that's a wonderful thing about this countr...

A somewhat vulnerable story about how I learned that when you feel important things aren’t being done or said, it may be your cue to step up and be what and who you feel is missing, even when you don’t feel like you’re very good at it! Even imperfect efforts may end up changing things for the better for someone else, and also, almost surely, for yourself! And that is a great way to be happy! So mu...

Life is hard! It just takes a long time to get life together and to learn how to do it well. In fact, it takes a lifetime! If you’re not quite where you want to be or where you think you should be, first of all, I suspect you’re doing better than you think. But secondly, give yourself a little grace and focus on some small and simple steps to grow a little bit. I think you’re wonderful! Love, Your...

Here’s my final message for you, just in case TikTok shuts down and we lose touch. There are a few things I hope and pray that you will remember and this is my attempt to distill all of that into one short message. I genuinely want you to be happy and I’m genuinely sending you all of my love. Sincerely, Your #internetgrandpa # If you want to keep in touch: Instagram: your.internet grandpaSpotify/A...

I’ve never been a big New Year’s resolutions person and I don’t find a year to be very helpful marker of time for self-improvement. But I do find that I’m happier when I try to be better and keep growing. For me, though, a week and even a day, works far better as the period of time I’m using to frame my growth. And of course, I want all of you to be happy! I’m sending you so much love, love, Your...

I’ve been really discouraged to see the way our compassion for people is often influenced by their perceived political beliefs. This is not healthy for our humanity or for us. This really risks hurting our humanity—which hurts our souls and will not make us happy. And I want you to be happy! So much love, Your #InternetGrandpa This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other...

I was very different than almost every other boy I knew, growing up. I was used to being and outsider. They were actually pretty nice to me, but I worried about fitting in and what they might say or think about me. So, I basically let them define me and what I did and who I was. When I was about 14, I came to a turning point and I remember it very clearly: a specific phrase came to my mind and ser...

I’m not a big one for checklists or goals, but I do think growth and self-improvement are important keys to happiness and meaning. I like to focus my actions on trying to be better and more fully live my values. I find that asking myself a few questions on Monday mornings helps me do that better. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bo...

Happy Friday! I’m proud of you for making it through another week. Here’s a simple thing I do each Friday at the end of the workweek that’s helped me be more intentional in my life and less just punching the clock. Also, what are you proud of yourself for doing this week? Love, Your #InternetGrandpa This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to...

I was joking with some teacher friends about the fact that we don't make a lot of money, so many of our clothes are worn and even a bit shabby. But, then we have a few really nice, new, even high-end things in our closets that were gifts from generous families. It's sort of a funny contrast. This random conversation reminded me that all of us have areas in our lives and souls that are shabby, and...

I never want the Christmas tree to come down, but I’m inevitably glad when I walk out and see how open the space, how clean and fresh the room looks. I feel like that’s a good metaphor for life. So often I don’t want something to end, but, once they do, it turns out there’s a new and exciting opening in my life, room for fresh and exciting things, unburdened my the past’s clutter. This is a public...