John H Clark III
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Painting ©2018 John Clark III

Heroes

4/30/2014

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"Being honest may not get you a lot of friends but it'll always get you the right ones."

That is a quote I came across today from the late, great John Lennon. One of my true heroes.

My first hero was probably New  York Jets quarterback Joe Namath. I honestly don't remember watching Super Bowl III, which helped solidify his status as a legend among NFL legends, but I'm sure I did. I've seen every Super Bowl since the first one (Kansas City versus Green Bay), so I had to have watched that one, too.

Namath was great, and the absolute ultimate in cool. I even got a pair of white football shoes when I was 14 years old, playing quarterback at Oaks Dads Club in Houston. We had a really good team, the Panthers, but we could have been even better if our quarterback had been a leader, instead of an arrogant ass. I remember getting tossed from one game by a referee, who pretty much dragged me to the sidelines, but I don't remember the reason. Another time, my own coach took me out after I grabbed my center's facemask and shook it, as I chewed him out for something.

Told you I was an ass.

And my attitude never got any better. By the next year, I had quit playing sports altogether. This was the first major mistake of my life. All of a sudden, I had no identity. I didn't have a clue who I was, or what to do anymore. Sports had always been my life. Baseball, football, basketball. Eventually, I found somewhere else to "fit in," and it wasn't with the right crowd of kids. I sort of foundered after that for awhile, for some years. I thought I was having fun, but what I was really doing was wasting a whole lot of talent and potential.

It took awhile, but I finally got things together, although I'm still trying to figure out who I am exactly, and where I fit in. Too often, I feel like that kid looking out the window, wanting to join in the fun but not sure exactly how to do it. Lately, though, I think I'm finding my identity -- John, the writer. I like that one, and I think it fits OK. After I get another book or two out there, maybe I'll call myself an author. I'm not sure one book really makes you an author. A one-hit wonder, maybe.
 
And, like Lennon said, I don't have a whole lot of true friends -- probably have more than I realize -- but I have some really good ones. Maybe that's because I'm a pretty honest guy. Too honest sometimes, probably. I'm not sure I'm always honest with myself, but I know that I'm pretty darn honest in my writing. It's the only way I know how to do it.

My heroes now include just about anybody who is truly happy, with themselves and their life. Those people have it all figured out -- the important stuff, anyway. I'm workin' on it, and I'm gettin' there, slowly but surely. The thing about it is, life is a journey, not a destination. So the way I see it is, if I'm doing it right by the time I get to the end, then I win.

Another day of the "30 days of positive" project  nearly completed, and I haven't blown it yet.

Ciao, y'all ...







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A few reviews of John's books

The 30-Day Optimism Solution: 
“I just re-read this book for the third time. I have read several books by John Clark and this book, by far, is my favorite. So much of our everyday lives are impacted by how we think about it. We have the power to choose but so many times we choose the easy wrong versus the slightly more difficult right. John may feel this book helped him more than it might help me but I think the positive impacting, even in the slightest, of another person's life is a great gift. I am so pleased for John's journey of discovery and awareness, moreover I am pleased to have this book in my possession. I am excited to recommend this book to several people I know.”

“This was the right book at the right time for me. I have been struggling with some things, and Clark offers some wonderful information on how to turn things around, not to mention describing his own struggles with negativity. I think this book is going to help a lot of people.” –
Sgt. Ducttape
Depression Blues:         
“Part memoir, part informative text. You get both when reading 'Depression Blues' by John H. Clark III. Mr. Clark shares his struggles with depression in an honest and real way, and as the book progresses, so does his hope. Woven into the story as jumping off points are bits of information about depression and ways to "conquer" the sadness, loneliness, and despair that comes with it.

Mr. Clark becomes more than an author in this book; he becomes a friend who understands the pain of depression and provides light. I recommend this book to anyone looking for light or to anyone who knows someone with depression and wants to learn more.”
​– H
illary

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