Dr. Larry Pittman Goddard Blog

Twenty-seven years ago today, I was accidentally run over by a Jeep.... the pain has been continuous every nanosecond since then. Horrible, red-hot ice pick to the bone pain. It has ruined many of my life's moments and destroyed a long list of goals. When I see these reports of a driver intentionally running over people, I almost feel better for the dead than I do for the living. The survivors will suffer for a lifetime. Six years ago today, my pulverized ankle was removed and prosthetic internal ankle installed. I kept my leg-- but also kept pain that changed harmfully my personality, normalcy became oddity, and added dark depression. The worse thing the terrorists can think of is exactly what they do. Running someone over and leaving them ruined. No one understands what a major accomplishment it was to have a career and flourish in life -- and suffer every nanosecond of it

O Lord, Please bless our friendship. Our friendship is like a long steady soft rain. It's not so harsh that it will destroy. Yet it is not so soft that it goes unnoticed. Our friendship is growing in your grace. Please bless our friendship, and keep it holy at all times. friendship is a gift from you, O Lord, and we thank you. May our friendship always produce the fruits of the spirit. And may the soft rain of our friendship nourish the heart forever Amen! Love to all of you and all you love.

This Fourth of July, look closely at one of those printed copies of the Declaration of Independence. See it? The woman’s name at the bottom? It’s right there. Mary Katharine Goddard. If you’ve never noticed it or heard of her, you aren’t alone. She’s a Founding Mother, of sorts, yet few folks know about her. And some of America’s earliest bureaucrats did their best to shut her down. Same old, same old. Goddard was fearless her entire career as one of America’s first female publishers, printing scoops from Revolutionary War battles from Concord to Bunker Hill and continuing to publish after her offices were twice raided and her life was repeatedly threatened by haters. Yup, she faced down the Twitter trolls of 1776. In her boldest move, Goddard put her full name at the bottom of all the copies of the Declaration that her printing presses churned out and distributed to the colonies. It was the first copy young America would see that included the original signers’ names — and...

I've been thinking about images--moments in one's life--that strike the heart and set it blooming like a wild flower, images that open up some much, much larger beauty that if you spent your whole life searching for and never find.  The images, those moments in life just happen.  Never planned.  Never the way you imagined.  I have many of those images and my heart loves beauty in all forms; the images make my heart grow.  I would not trade for them.  Yet, describing those moments is close to impossible.  You have the same.  I think that is what we will take with our soul--those images of great beauty and touching moments in our lives.  Nothing else truly matters.   Some funnies: The people who need firecracker safety tips aren't the people who read firecracker safety tips.... Always remember and don't ever forget...He who goes forth with a fifth on the Fourth MAY not go forth on the Fifth!  There are two secrets to succ...

1. Do What You Know Is Right Always be courageous enough to do what your heart knows is right, especially if it concerns someone else’s well-being. When we do things we know are wrong, we also damage ourselves at a fundamental level, and we vibrate on a lower frequency that typically makes others wary of us. Meanwhile, when we act ethically and responsibly, people intuitively know we can be trusted. 2. Cut Out Superficial Gossip If you’re too busy judging others and gossiping about them, you’ll miss so many of the more profound and fulfilling things that life can offer. In addition, you’ll radiate a certain dishonesty. Meanwhile, if you focus on talking about more meaningful subjects and sharing ideas, others will be attracted to your vibrant mind and respectful attitude. 3. Elevate Other People If you help others to see the best in themselves and nurture their talents, you’ll be a radiant and compassionate presence that i instantly attractive. There’s often so much ...

This much I know is true: Relationships are NOT hostage situations! Don't go chasing people. Ever. Why did we spend so much of our lives chasing people and conforming so that by a small chance, they might possibly sort of like us?.... a little bit. Got someone in your life who bums you out and is crummy and steals your joy? Distance them. Neither you nor them are being held with a gun to your head-- no hostages-- don't even chase them when they leave. Change the locks to your heart. Protect your feelings; don't be a victim-- be the victor! Life is too fragile, too precious, too brief. Those people who fuss, fight, feud? Eh. They are not your hostages and NO one is going to pay a ransom-- you control those in your life . Choose the ones you can depend on; when you ask for privacy, they've already left the room; when you want to talk, they have the Sonic cherry cola and ready to listen. No one says on their death bed, "I wish I'd b...

Billie Abernathy Spencer There was a summer, more than a decade ago now I suppose, that was the driest summer on record in Commerce. I truly think there was a rain once in June and then not again until September that particular year.  The trees and grass went dormant and we would run from the air-conditioned cars into air-conditioned houses.  Several days of over 100 degree temperature and just a tough summer with everyone talking about how hot is was and how we would never complain about wet and cold days in the winter again. Everyday I would drive into my little carport across from Otha and Billie about 5:30 p.m. after work.  Billie would be outside, in her house “duster” dress, and watering this same patch of dry dirt to the side of their house.  Day after day, same time, same place, she would water this patch of dirt—no flowers or grass there, just moist dirt. Finally, against my better judgment, I walked over and said, “Billie, why are you watering this s...