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The Awesome Initiative
Sharing extraordinary lessons from everyday things…writing stories about living with intention, going outside our comfort zone, recognizing God in our life, and more. Subscribe — copy & paste: bit.ly/awesomeemail
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Why I’m Going to Seminary to Become a Catholic Priest (The ABBREVIATED Account)
Why I’m Going to Seminary to Become a Catholic Priest (The ABBREVIATED Account)
The answer is: Jesus.
Jacob Derry
Aug 19, 2020
Why I’m Going to Seminary to Become a Catholic Priest (The FULL Account)
Why I’m Going to Seminary to Become a Catholic Priest (The FULL Account)
The answer is: Jesus.
Jacob Derry
Aug 19, 2020
The First Holy Spirit Story: Do You Believe That I Can Do This?
The First Holy Spirit Story: Do You Believe That I Can Do This?
Prologue
Jacob Derry
May 4, 2019
Go Play Music: Teachings From A Dominican Youth
Go Play Music: Teachings From A Dominican Youth
This blog post is going to be like a 3-layer cake, or if you prefer, a lasagna. The first layer is a fairly ordinary but cool story. The…
Jacob Derry
Sep 8, 2018
Sleeping In An Airport Chapel In Paris
Sleeping In An Airport Chapel In Paris
I laid my head down on my travel neck pillow and closed my eyes to try to sleep on one of the four wooden pews of the airport chapel.
Jacob Derry
Jul 28, 2018
This Is About My Gray Hair
This Is About My Gray Hair
I was in 8th grade when a classmate first pointed out that I had a gray hair.
Jacob Derry
Feb 22, 2018
Let Your Faith Be Bigger Than Your Fear
Let Your Faith Be Bigger Than Your Fear
Over the past few months, I’ve led two different sessions for groups of 10 college students on the topic of “fear.”
Jacob Derry
Sep 3, 2017
The Brilliance of Ben: 7 Lessons That Apply To The World Today
The Brilliance of Ben: 7 Lessons That Apply To The World Today
Ben Franklin is one of the most interesting characters of American history. Here’s what I learned from him:
Jacob Derry
Jun 19, 2016
The Solution To Every Human Problem
The Solution To Every Human Problem
The solution to every human problem?
Jacob Derry
Jun 15, 2016
26 Ways To Do The Unexpected (and Not Die*)
26 Ways To Do The Unexpected (and Not Die*)
The asterisk is there because I can’t guarantee that you won’t die from doing any of these things I’m about to suggest…
Jacob Derry
Jun 5, 2016
What’s The Hardest Thing You Did This Past Week?
What’s The Hardest Thing You Did This Past Week?
Seriously, what’s the hardest thing you did this past week?
Jacob Derry
May 22, 2016
No Answers. Only Questions.
No Answers. Only Questions.
Congratulations graduating seniors! This post was written specifically with you in mind.
Jacob Derry
May 1, 2016
“I’m Not Creative”
“I’m Not Creative”
“I’m not creative…I don’t have any good ideas.”
Jacob Derry
Apr 29, 2016
It’s About More Than Water: Stories From Flint
It’s About More Than Water: Stories From Flint
Emily, a quiet and thoughtful freshman girl, and I hesitantly walked up to the first house, and with fluctuating levels of courage, I…
Jacob Derry
Apr 5, 2016
To Write or Not To Write?
To Write or Not To Write?
That is not the question…
Jacob Derry
Apr 3, 2016
Not Sure What To Title This
Not Sure What To Title This
Fair warning: this post is about suicide, depression, stress, and emotions.
Jacob Derry
Mar 24, 2016
Tell People What Your Dreams Are
Tell People What Your Dreams Are
“Tell people what your dreams are.” That was the advice Jim Craig, goalie for 1980 Olympic gold medal “miracle” hockey team, shared with…
Jacob Derry
Feb 26, 2016
Thriving Under The Harshest Conditions
Thriving Under The Harshest Conditions
There’s all sorts of cool patterns in nature that we can apply to our lives by a metaphor of some form.
Jacob Derry
Feb 14, 2016
The Simplest Way To Increase The Value Of Everything Around You
The Simplest Way To Increase The Value Of Everything Around You
I sat in my 8am class Tuesday morning…drowsy and barely attentive, listening to a man who was wearing his v-neck sweater backwards.
Jacob Derry
Feb 7, 2016
My Favorite Gift To Give
My Favorite Gift To Give
So your friend, sibling, parent, child, significant other, cousin, or someone else you care about has a birthday or special occasion coming…
Jacob Derry
Feb 7, 2016
How To Make Opportunities Come To You
How To Make Opportunities Come To You
A year ago, my friend Alex Martino wrote this post about getting a job by wearing a flamingo hat to Startup Career Fair.
Jacob Derry
Jan 23, 2016
Go First!
Go First!
I saw her but she didn’t see me. It was a moment like many I had encountered before. You’re hoping that person (friend or acquaintance)…
Jacob Derry
Jan 4, 2016
My Best Advice For 2016
My Best Advice For 2016
In 1998, if you were a musician, there were two ways to sell your CD. 1) You could be signed to a major record label, which would…
Jacob Derry
Dec 28, 2015
298 Days Later…I Haven’t Stopped.
298 Days Later…I Haven’t Stopped.
February 27th, 2015. That’s the day I started. 298 days later…I’m still doing it…every day.
Jacob Derry
Dec 22, 2015
Pierce Through The Fog
Pierce Through The Fog
There’s been some areas in Michigan (Ann Arbor in particular) that have been experiencing a good amount of fog in the mornings and evenings…
Jacob Derry
Dec 9, 2015
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