Hey Friends,

Thank you so much for joining me on my blogging Journey. In less than a month, I will be celebrating my 1 year anniversary blogging on this platform. It has been been an absolute honor sharing my story with you and I have connected with so many great people along the way.

Anyhow, I thought I’d share with you my top 10 viewed posts of 2018. Here you go.

1. My battle with shame and what I’m doing about it
This was the post that started it all. I held onto it for several months before releasing it. It tells the story of my personal journey to finding myself once again.

2. My struggle to define masculinity
This, hands down, was the most vulnerable post that I’ve ever written. I’ve always to struggle into societal expectations for my gender. However, much to the surprise of many, I’m quite ok with that. I’ve learned to appreciate the person that God created me to be and grateful that He loves me for who I am.

3. What I learned from a gentle hand squeeze
My first grade teacher gave me a gift that I will carry with me till the day I die. The gift is called love and acceptance.

4. The day that I failed to pray
Watching your brother lose the battle to cancer is never easy. It became a test of faith for me. Through the process I learned that God is completely capable of handling me when I freak out at life.

5. Don’t you dare tell me how to feel! (pt 1.)
I dislike when people assume things about me and then try to make me believe the things that they have assumed. I rarely stay quiet. This is a story of one of those encounters.

6. 3 Lessons I learned from one of the biggest lies I’ve ever told
Lies will always catch up with you. This is a story of a lie that I told when I was in 8th grade that came back to haunt me as a pastor. YIKES!

7. I forgave myself
In my journey I’ve learned that if God forgave me, then I can forgive me.

8. The day my doubt turned into faith
Sometimes God answers your prayer, you are living underneath the blessing of it, and you are completely clueless. This is one of my all-time favorite personal testimonies.

9. Don’t you dare tell me how to feel! (pt 3.)
Most people don’t understand how I can grieve something that I never have had. However, it is rare that I don’t find myself thinking about my inability to have my own children.

10. What I learned from 3 separate scenarios of marital separation
There was a time where my wife and I separated. I’m grateful that we were able to work through our struggles. However, it isn’t always the case for everyone.

Thanks again everybody!

Have a great New Year! Bendiciones!!!

John Eli Garay

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John Eli is a transformational life coach who has spent over 15 years mentoring individuals in life skills, career transitions, and through organizational change. His resume includes pastoral care, behavioral health, and higher-education advising. From an early age, John recognized that God created him to bring hope, healing and encouragement to others. He is currently walking out his purpose by helping others confront, and work through, any negative self-talk that keeps them from living life to the fullest. His ministry includes blogging, speaking, and personal development coaching. He currently lives in Chandler, Arizona with his wife, mini-schnauzer and an antique piano whom he calls, “Betty.”

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To schedule a coaching session with John Eli click here.