Courageous Life as a Soldier

Credit: Associated Press Photo

If you know anyone in the armed forces, then you know how courageous these men and women are.

These men and women are brave and they have no reservation about standing in front of bullets for their brothers and sisters in combat.

Today, we came across an article in The Spokesman Review about Ty Carter.

This young man is a brave soldier that has experienced loss in his own personal life, and portrays the true meaning of protecting his brothers in combat.

Mark Carter, his father, made no hesitation is sharing the story with the writer of the paper, and opened up about the personal loss and how many soldiers experience pain and suffering on a regular basis. They do it willingly without complaint.

The story of Ty Carter is one of a courageous soldier, brother, and friend.

What Makes Ty Carter Courageous 

What makes Ty Carter so courageous isn't necessarily his willingness to serve this country, but to carry out the true actions of what it means to be a soldier. Carter, while away in combat lost his brother Seth to a bad path in life.

When Carter came home to help identify his brother, the tears could only fall but it was too late. Seth had died due to being shot at a party, which a drunken friend states happened on accident. Nonetheless, it left a void in the life of the Carter family that couldn't be filled.

Ty was devastated, and in his mind he vowed to never lose a brother again. This is where the courage settles in folks. This is where a soldier looks at those around him he fights in combat with and says, "Not on my watch." For Ty, it was this way.

On October 3, 2009, Ty made a decision that would change his life forever. While stationed in the Afghani Mountains, at the Combat Outpost Keating, he walked into a shower of bullets to fight alongside his brothers in combat.

Ty showed no concern for himself as he did so, and delivered ammunition and medical care to his brother in battle. The numbers showed 8 were killed that day and  25 wounded, Ty Carter included. Yet, he never blinked an eye at walking into the battle to help his fellow brothers in combat.

Ty was determined to never lose a brother again, and as the result of his heroic effort, Ty was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama in August of 2013.

While Ty received this honor, it didn't lessen the battle with PTSD which affects nearly a half million men and women in the military. They don't feel courageous, but they most certainly are.

Today is Veteran's Day. Have you thanked a veteran today? If you have not, please do. Show a veteran you care; buy them a cup of coffee, let them share a story, and above all give to The Wounded Warrior Project. While you are at it, connect with us too!

It's time for you to be courageous!

Be Courageous and Touch the Untouchable!

Has anyone ever told you to be courageous and talk to the people that you normally wouldn't talk to? What about touching people that are what others would call unclean in their dress and in their appearance? 

This photo credited to Washington Times.com

It seems that at times we hear the most remarkable stories of those that are willing to reach out to those that we normally wouldn't approach, and we hear about public figures like Mother Theresa that reached out and touched the lives of the poor and needy. 

You may not have ever found yourself doing this type of work, or maybe you think about it but it somehow always seems to escape your mind. Pope Francis decided to be courageous when he reached out to touch a man and pray for him. 

The man he touched to pray for is severely disfigured and his face is covered with tumors. Who would touch this man besides the Pope? Not anyone that I know of, and I would find myself shuttering at the sight of such a thing if I were up close and personal with them. 

Pope Francis has called for courage and compassion from the Catholic Church, but it sure wouldn't hurt the rest of us to show compassion and love to those that we normally wouldn't consider talking to or even touching for that matter.

The church, no matter what denomination is called to be "Christ like", and this means that we are to live as He lived, and to walk as He walked never passing judgment on others for what they look like, do or even say. 

When people are hurting, they simply need someone to be courageous and show them a better way. They just need to see love, they need to feel love and above all they need to know that people genuinely care and are reaching out to them in prayer or any other capacity. 

What will you do with this information and insight today? Will you reach out to those in need or do you intend to avoid the topic altogether? Whatever your feelings are right now, remember it's always right to be courageous and do what others won't. 

PS-Were you inspired by this blog post today? Did you feel compassion for someone you know right now that could use your help or maybe even a hug? If you have a story to share, we would love to hear from you! We would also love for you to connect with us on Facebook, which you can do by doing HERE! 

Peer Pressure Causes Increase in Teen Smoking

Peer pressure has been around for years, but what is so sad is that it's driving teens to continue to make poor decisions that not only impact their life but their health too.

We were shocked to find out that there is still a growing interest in teen smoking, and all because it's deemed as cool. Although cigarette smoking had in fact declined, it's back on the rise and at huge numbers we just didn't expect to see.

Not only is smoking now a way to look cool in college, but this is now affecting teens in high school. Over the last several years, the addiction to smoking has increased dramatically for these high school and college students because it seems teens and young adults are still struggling with finding a place in which they can connect and feel as though they belong.

It's sad that they turn to smoking as a result of this inner conflict and that is is being turned to as a social outlet. While this is just one of many ways in which peer pressure affects teens, it's one that can lead to poor health down the road, meaning cancers of many kinds.

A study done in the UK by the Cancer Research Center delivered statistics that state that 207,000 teens from ages 11 to 15 start smoking each year. Not only are the numbers of these teens staggering, but the age bracket is such as shocking.

What can we do to change this?

If you are reading this and you are a parent, you need to talk to your kids about smoking. Furthermore, if your children are newborn or young toddlers, be sure that you start working on how to encourage them and build up their self-esteem so that they understand there is no need to turn to smoking or other bad habits.

There is so much talk of addiction to drugs, hazing incidents, and more that teens are doing to cope with peer pressure and the pressures of life, college, and even relationships.

Consider kids that are being bullied for their personal beliefs, or better yet, how about their sexual orientation? Bad grades, being a nerd, and not dressing well are only the tip of the iceberg for your children. When is the last time you took the time to sit down and talk with your children about what is happening at school and what is going on in their life?

Don't wait too long, peer pressure is daily challenge for teens and they need your love and support. These teens need to be filled with self-esteem and they need to know that you care and that you love them enough to listen and help them no matter what.

Reflect back on what your days in school were like, and if you were ever picked on it hurt right? Now is the time to be courageous, and start taking action against "peer pressure"!

PS-Do you have a story of amazing courage, inspiration, or motivation to tell? If so, we would love to hear from you. You can connect with us on Facebook, and while you are here, be sure to check out our hats, decals, and apparel to help show your courage!

Inspiration from Autistic Twins in NYC Marathon

If you need a little inspiration, you won't have to look much further than Alex and Jamie Schneider, the autistic twins that ran in the NYC marathon.

Human beings have a great way of putting limitations on their own life, and if you have been looking for a glimpse of hope, then this story is what you need to read. The marathon isn't just about the twin brothers, but its a family affair.

These twins have been running from the time they were young, and it's been a great way for them to connect with their parents. These parents aren't disappointed at all, but rather proud that their sons are running this marathon despite the odds.

Have you ever experienced the birth of a child that doctors said wouldn't do much in life? Was your child limited by what doctors had to say about their physical well-being?

The twin's mother say that they are non-verbal most of the time, however, this was the one way that they were able to connect with them when they loved to be chased and chase their dad when they were little. Something so simple turned into a way for the twins to interact and connect with their parents despite their autism.

This story has brought inspiration to millions, and was aired on Good Morning America the morning of the NYC marathon. It was also made known that their was a club that has volunteers that offer to run with individuals with disabilities. What a great organization, and as you can imagine this organization is much loved by the Schneider family.

Did this story give you some inspiration as well? Have you put limits on yourself because of what others say or do to you? Do you allow the opinions of others to rule your actions in this life? It's time to be courageous!

No matter what you might be facing today, just watch this video of the Schneider twins, and be sure to share this with others too. You won't be disappointed, and you may crack a smile! Please check back often for more inspiration from Courageous Life, and if you would love to follow what we are doing to help others, you can connect with us on Facebook HERE!

PS-Want to share your courage and motivation with others? Be sure to stop by our website and check out all of the great t-shirts, hats, and decals we offer for men, women, and children when you click HERE!

A Mother and Her Courageous Choice

Do you think mothers are courageous? We sure do, and we believe that they are courageous all of the time. Mothers make decisions that always put their children first, at least in most cases I know of. The mother we wanted to talk to you about today is no exception. 

In fact, she is the model of what makes mothers awesome. The New Zealand Herald published an article earlier this year about this mother, and the decision she made to have her baby despite what doctors told her. The news?

Toni, this young mother was told that the baby she was carrying would only live for a short time if the baby survived. If you have been following our blog or have joined our community, then you know the stories we share not only reflect courage in the lives of others, but we share miracles. 

This story is nothing short of a miracle, and you'll love sharing this with your friends and family too! 

Courageous Choice Over Doctor's Recommendation

Toni was pressured by her doctor to terminate her baby early based on what they say were anomalies that showed up in the ultrasound. Toni was told that her baby girl had many problems physically that not only cause her to live a short time, 

She was told that there was no amniotic fluid around the baby, and that the baby's brain was growing out of sync. Plain and simple, she was told there is no hope. The condition she was diagnosed with, occurs in 2 out of every 100 pregnancies. 

This Premature Rupture of the Membranes was the overall diagnosis for Toni, which is what doctors say causes the baby to suffer physically. Toni made a courageous decision to NOT follow the doctor's advice and carry the baby despite the pressures. 

As a mother, Toni never feared giving her baby a chance at life, and when the baby was born, none of the complications she was told she had were evident. Her baby girl was born only with what is referred to as a horseshoe kidney. 

Is it possible that God rewarded her for her decision? We can't answer that, but what we can tell you is that it's always right to be courageous. Life is precious, and we value it. We believe you should too! 

If you love what we have shared with you today, please leave a comment below! 

Live a Courageous Life! 

Why Discrimination is Wrong for Any Reason

Today, you probably heard the noise about the anti-discrimination bill in the workplace against the lesbian and gay community. The thing is, any employer isn't allowed to discriminate right now, or did I miss something?

Over the past few years there have been tons of debates over black and white, lesbian, gay and straight, and whether or not everyone has the right to this or that.

When did any of us become the police of each other? Since when is it okay for any human being to tell another human being that they can or cannot work somewhere?

The facts released that 21% of the lesbian/gay population say they have faced workplace discrimination. It's appalling.

Why would it even matter? While these debates are still happening in the hearts of Americans, Congress shouldn't have the ability to even enter this debate. It doesn't look pretty, and this is on the heels of disapproval ratings of the President.

If we are going to stand up for people and give equal rights, shouldn't they always be the rights of the people? Why should there ever be a time when we have to say that people "should be able to work where they want?" Isn't it the right of every man  and woman to earn a living?

It's' time for Americans to stand up against discrimination and to live out the dream of a free country, where equality is real and exercised with every man, woman, and child. It's also time for us to stop labeling people as "okay" or "not okay".

It's time for Americans to reach out a helping hand, and to exercise love rather than judgment on their fellow man. While Congress can continue to present ENDA, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, there is no need for people to turn anyone away for work ever.

There is no need for discrimination of any kind, whether it be due to the color of someone's skin or their sexual orientation. We all get to make our own choices, and live our own lives. Do we not? This is America, let's take it back!

If you support the equal rights of all men and women, and you believe that it's courageous to do, won't you join us? You can connect with us on Facebook, and if you enjoyed reading this blog, please feel free to leave us a comment below!

Be courageous!

Would a Superman T Shirt Help you Fly?

When you were a kid, did you wear a Superman t shirt? Did you ever grab your cape and pretend to be flying off of the couch just like Superman or Superwoman?

I can remember those days as a kid, and yes it was fun for both boys and girls!

It's funny to look back into the past and think how a t-shirt or a costume could make you feel so empowered in that moment.

Did you really believe yourself to be different? Did you really feel as though you had super powers?

I know I did. I had that cape on and believed that I could do anything at any time, no matter who said what. Somehow, that changed as I got older.

What a shame, right? We begin to lose our imagination and we start letting life get in the way and we begin to think negatively rather than believe we really are great.

How do we ever lose that? Is this why we have such a call to buy clothing that is inspirational and motivational in nature?

We may not sell you a Superman t shirt, but we do offer great motivational and inspirational apparel. We offer hats, decals, and yes, tons of t-shirts for children, men and women.

Would you be willing to wear something that you knew would make people smile? What about just having something in front of you to keep you smiling and encouraged? It's a wonderful thing, isn't it?

We have our own version of a Superman t shirt, and it's our full line of Courageous Life apparel that you can find HERE!

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