Showing results by author "John H. Clark III" in All Categories

As John Henry Clark notes in his book, Dying, as we get older we start to think about our own mortality. Those thoughts become even stronger as our parents age. It’s usually around this time we realize that time is no longer on our side, and if we really want to know more about our parents and the legacy they want to leave, we need to talk to them. Now. That’s exactly what Clark decided to do. Now in his fifties – with his father in his seventies – he sets out to record his father’s memories and his conversations with him and to put them into this touching slice-of-life memoir. ...

Filled with love She was a sweet, cute, lovable, loyal, annoying, pain-in-the-ass officially named Junebug Clark. For 13 years, she filled our cozy little country home with love, companionship, whining, crying, begging, puddles on the floor, small turds on the carpet, and a great big hole when she left. Mama's girl She was big and brave, going nose-to-nose – on opposite sides of two fences, mind you – in boisterous barking matches with the huge Rottweiler that lived behind our house. Never mind that a leaf falling suddenly to the ground behind her, or a butterfly floating suddenly over ...

From Pessimist to Optimist in 30 Days or Less How often do you think, “Today’s going to be a great day” or “I’m so lucky to be alive”? Would you like to think these things more often? What sets us apart from all other living creatures is the ability to think and use thought to form decisions, ideas, strategies, and actions. However, this same “power” can also work against us in the form of small thinking, negativity, depression, or distress. What we see is what we get. How we think is what determines our reality. Some of the Best Days of Your Life Haven’t Happened Yet Do ...

Break Free From Your Bad Habits It begins innocently enough. You find yourself drinking more than you used to. Or you’re watching too much tv, rarely exercising, or eating things that make you feel sick. You know you’ve gotten yourself into a bad habit, but you also feel powerless to change. “It’s too late now,” you think. “I’m too old [too fat, too far gone].” You’re stuck—trapped in a pattern you know is unhealthy, feeling like there’s no way out. But what if you’re wrong? What If You Could Change Your Life In Only 30 Days? What if you could watch as an ordinary ...

A dream fulfilled Traveling overseas and backpacking around Europe seemed like an out-of-reach dream for John Clark, until he learned of the Camino de Santiago in Spain, a 500-mile pilgrimage across the country that dates back more than 1,200 years. With encouragement from family and friends, never having traveled outside the United States, the self-proclaimed homebody from Texas hopped on a plane at age 53 alone and headed for the Iberian Peninsula. It wasn’t just the beginning of a month-long journey, but also, as he would discover, the beginning of a new life. Facing fear, regret and ...

The Enduring Power Of The Human Spirit A gravely ill former Army paratrooper who said no to a heart transplant, telling disbelieving doctors that his faith in God would heal him; the grieving retired supply sergeant who raises and breeds venomous snakes in honor of his dead teenaged son, who once shared the same passion for reptiles; the elderly World War II veteran who survived combat, only to be reported dead by hometown gossip more times than he can remember over the ensuing 75 years. All these ordinary people who have done extraordinary things in their lifetimes. They are no different ...

Uncertain Times Our world is a fast-moving, ever-changing place, but with the onset of something like a pandemic, things can suddenly come to a screeching halt. Life as we knew it is suddenly turned upside down. Has your world changed recently? How so? Has your qualify of life been affected? In what way? As these types of incurable disease continue to wreak havoc on the world, how are you coping with the uncertainty? When does it all end, and things get back to normal? Will things ever be normal again? Social distancing and self-quarantine Human beings are social creatures by nature. We ...

Are You At Risk? Depression is more common than many people are aware, and homosexuals are often at a higher risk than the rest of population of suffering from this debilitating and sometimes life-threatening condition. Major depression is said the be the seond-leading cause of premature death -- accounting for between 20- and 35-percent of all suicides every year -- and the leading cause of disability worldwide. Statistics show that more than 120 million people are affected, and depression is responsible for a staggering 850,000 deaths every year. There Is Hope Signs and symptoms of ...

The Human Condition A woman’s life suddenly shattered by a stunning medical diagnosis … a man who survives unspeakable childhood trauma … despite suffering two heart attacks, prostate cancer, diabetes, bladder failure, and crippling respiratory problems, a wheelchair-bound veteran of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam considers himself a lucky man … Passing these people on the street, or even living next door to them, you would likely never know the tragedies and triumphs they have gone through during their lives. Too often, we get wrapped up in our own little worlds and our own ...

“God” Means Something Different to Everyone "This book is amazing. It is one of those that once you start reading you don't want to put down. I am a huge fan of this author. He is a genuine man with a heart of gold, which makes these stories even more inspiring. Touching, indulging views, a book to add to your collection." ~Danna Parr"As someone who avoids discussing my personal beliefs with others, I was amazed and captivated by the honesty and openness of the interviewees and the author himself. I was touched and moved to tears. I can relate to many of the people as fellow Texans and ...

Do You Know Your Life’s Purpose? In today's increasingly troubled world, more and more people are searching for more meaning in their lives. How about you? Are you tired of just getting through each day instead of feeling a sense of purpose and direction? Sometimes the answer to a question is best explored in reverse. In order to find more purpose in life, perhaps we need to go to the end—death—and work backwards from there. Is it possible that contemplating death can lead to more meaning in life? Is There Such a Thing as Life After Death? What happens to us after we die? Do we see ...

“If you're feeling like life has passed by too quickly, or that you're no longer capable of what you once were, John Clark's story is just what you need to re-ignite the spark inside you." – Matt Stone; 180DegreeHealth.com Running out of time John Clark, an overweight, self-loathing school teacher turning 60 years old, had a wild idea. Despondent and depressed at the idea of becoming a sexagenarian, he was absolutely PANICKED at the possibility that the time he had left to fulfill his biggest dreams was running out – and running out FAST. Instead of buying a sports car he couldn’t ...

The Cancer Diaries by John H. Clark III is a raw, heartfelt journey through the highs and lows of living with cancer. When John heard the life-altering words, “You have cancer,” his world turned upside down, launching him into an emotional and physical rollercoaster that no one could prepare for. Written as a blend of journal entries, social media posts, and personal reflections, this book chronicles John’s path from diagnosis to treatment and beyond, sharing both his darkest moments and his incredible resilience. John’s story is more than just a tale of survival. It’s an honest ...

Are you depressed? Desperate to learn how to be happy? How to live? Are you struggling to get through the day, thinking no one understands how you feel? Well, the good news is that you are not alone. Not at all. As many as 350 million people worldwide are affected by what the World Health Organization calls “the leading cause of disability worldwide” and “a major contributor to the overall global burden of disease”.

Inspirational storiesCourage in Camouflage is a fascinating collection of stories based on individual interviews with military veterans young and old from all across the United States. Most of these brave men and women served considerable time in combat during sometimes historic battles in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Operation Desert Storm, Desert Shield, and the longstanding fight against terrorism in the Middle East. Most all have gone on to successful lives outside the military, but things they saw and did during wartime haunt many of them to this day. Life-changing experiencesMike ...

Women more likely to suffer Depression, referred to by the World Health Organization as “the leading cause of disability worldwide,” afflicts as many as 350 million people of all ages, and women are twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with this often debilitating condition in any given year. According to the Office on Women’s Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, between 10 percent and 25 percent of women will experience an episode of major or clinical depression at some point in their life. There is hope Signs and symptoms of depression are the same regardless of ...

Revealing the Power of the Human Spirit The newlyweds who arrived in San Francisco just in time for the devastating earthquake… The centenarian who recalls learning to drive at age 11 and taking over the household duties when she was only 15… The man who survived the Luby’s Cafeteria massacre of 1991 in Killeen, Texas… When disaster strikes, it often brings out a strength you never knew you had. The stories of these people are no exception. But there are ordinary triumphs, too. Adopting dogs that might otherwise get put to sleep. Retiring on the beach, even if you don’t have a lot...

In his latest book Simple Truth, author John H. Clark writes openly and honestly about his own lifelong struggle with low self-esteem and lack of self-worth, the discoveries he has made about how it all began, and ways he learned to overcome these painful issues and find inner peace, joy, happiness, and fulfillment. He asked a number of friends and associates who have suffered similar experiences to share their experience, strength, and hope, and their stories are included here, as well.