Seven Words to Think About During the Storm

The storm is coming.

You can feel it—not just outside, but everywhere. Schools closing. Churches canceling. Flights disappearing from the board like magic tricks gone wrong. We’re all being gently (or not so gently) told: stay home, stay put, stay warm.

Which is exactly what I’m doing—sitting in my little radio studio, which also happens to be a television studio, a video studio, and a worldwide broadcasting station. No tower. No transmitter building. No million-dollar equipment. Just a good microphone, a decent camera, an internet connection, and a lifetime spent loving radio.

I started in the kind of radio that had mystery and majesty—big towers, humming transmitters, and studios that felt like sacred ground. There was romance in it. There still is. Old radio guys even swap pictures of their favorite towers now, like proud grandparents showing photos of the grandkids. Guilty as charged.

But radio has changed.

And in some wonderful ways, it’s come home.

Now, during a snowstorm, you can sit in your own house and be on the radio. You can speak to the world from a spare bedroom, a basement, or a corner of the living room—just like I’m doing right now. And that matters, because a lot of people have something to say, something to sing, something to teach, or some wisdom worth sharing. They just needed permission and a microphone.

Which brings me to the storm—and the pause it gives us.

When weather forces us to slow down, it also gives us space to think. To read. To pray. To wonder a little about the life we’re living… and the life we still want to live.

I’ve made a commitment that 2026 is going to matter. I want it to be significant—for my family, my community, and the people kind enough to listen in on my life and work. And as I was sitting here waiting for the storm, seven simple words came to mind.

Not fancy words. Not complicated words. Just honest ones.

Here they are. Don’t rush past them. Let each one ask you a question.

Better.

What, exactly, do you want to be better at this year?

Beautiful.

What do you want more of that brings beauty into your life—or that you bring into the world?

Bright.

Not smarter—brighter. More alive. More visible. More you.

Bolder.

Where have you been playing it safe when you know you’re meant to step forward?

Braver.

What fear are you finally ready to face?

Richer.

Yes, maybe financially—but also richer in relationships, meaning, gratitude, and joy.

Smarter… and Wiser.

Not the same thing. Smarter fills your head. Wiser shapes your life.

And then there’s the one underneath them all:

Matter.

We all want to matter. We were made for meaning. We were designed to make a difference. That’s not ego—that’s wiring.

So while the snow falls and the world quiets down a bit, maybe these seven words are worth sitting with. Let your mind talk to your heart. Let your heart speak to your future.

As I often ask:

Are you living the life you want—or just the life you’ve got?

Storms have a way of clarifying things.

Stay safe. Stay warm. Comfort one another. And maybe—even in the middle of the storm—find a little comfort and joy.

All the best and blessings,

Stan

Things to Remember

- Storms slow us down so reflection can catch up

- You don’t need a tower to have a voice

- Meaning often shows up in simple words

Things to Share

- The seven words that resonated most with you

- This question: Which one am I ignoring?

- The idea that 2026 is still wide open

Things to Take Note Of (and Act On)

- Write the seven words down

- Circle the one that scares you a little

- Take one small step toward it—after the storm

Snow days are good for productivity too. ❄️🎙️