If you had to pick a label for yourself, what would your label be?

I can hear them coming — fat, dumb, unlucky, shorty, junior.

Then hit your playback button and listen again.

When you get caught up in that kind of label it holds you back your entire life. By letting go you will open your eyes and move forward.

When I was in school I had one teacher that told me I could do anything. His name was Mr. Neal. He made me feel great! I had another teacher too.

She told me I was not college material and always gave me a hard time.

When I finished at Georgia I went by to see Mr. Neal who was so excited, and you guessed it, he other teacher really got mad. My point here, I knew she did not like me and she was the little person.

Mr. Neal was my hero, but she did not like Mr. Neal either.

If you ask me what my label would be, that would be easy — blessed!

People used to call me lucky. I always thought that was nice but the older I get I know my label would be blessed. There is a big difference.

When you feel blessed you know deep down everything is going to be good in the long run for you.

I had a cousin  that  was  a  big -time  college  quarterback  and  had  a  good  coaching  career,  I noticed  he  called  several of his  player “Big un” asked him  about it  one  day.

He laughed he said you call  those 155 pounds kids “Big un” enough,  and  they  believe  they  are  bigger  than  they are  and hit  you like  they  weight  190.  He winked, grinned and said it  works!

Jerry Johnson is President of First Realty of LaGrange.