JJ's Journal: 1979

From the Personal Journals of My Father

Rex Buckley Jensen 

1979

NOTE: In the quotation of my father's journals below, I use ellipses to acknowledge the skipping of text in the middle of entries, but not before the first sentence or after the last sentence. In other words, the first and last sentence (or paragraph) in the entries below are not necessarily the first and last sentences (or paragraphs) in my dad's journal entries. Rather, I have both begun and concluded wherever relevant for the subject matter at hand.  

Infant JJ
Monticello, Utah
1979

Monday, January 21, 1979

Got a tingle in my soul every time I thought about my sweetheart coming home tonight. Worked hard all day. Stayed up until midnight in the office and then slept until 1:15 a.m. Got up, showered, shaved, and met my Sweetheart in bitter cold at the bustling Monticello Bus Depot.

The anticipation was not without substance. She was as lovely and warm as ever. We talked and swooned until 5:00 a.m. She really got an earful the last five days at Ida's; and came home with the idea that "all is not well in Zion." I don't think things are that bad however, and I am just glad to have her back. It is all systems 'GO' on little #6 and I am just thrilled about it. Wish we could get twin boys.  

Tuesday, August 21, 1979

Took my sweetheart to the hospital this morning and by early afternoon she had delivered a beautiful little boy. We have decided to name him Jordan Rex. It was pretty special. It is the first time that I have been with her for a normal delivery. (Joe came with the luxury of a spinal). I was impressed at how hard she had to work. Dr. Smith was really cute about letting me in, and telling me about it all the way through. Sure like Dr. Smith. 

Sonny [Sunny] Redd was in the hospital today in labor too. She gave birth a short time after Pauline. A nice bouncing baby boy too. 

NOTE: Sunny named her son "Christian." Later in 1997, during my junior year of high school, Christian Redd (a senior... he was young for his grade; I was old for mine, having been held back from kindergarten until age 6) competed with me on our heartbreaking 2nd place medley relay team at State track and field held at BYU. The medley relay consists of two 200-meter legs, a 400-meter leg, and an 800-meter anchor leg for a total of four (4) laps (1600-meters). Clint Curtis and, if I remember correctly, Justin Redd, ran the 200-meter legs, Christian Redd ran the 400, and I ran the 800. Calamitously, the baton was dropped in between the second 200-meter leg and Christian's 400-meter leg. We went from first place to about fifth or sixth place in a matter of just a few seconds. Christian ran a strong 400-meter leg, but we were still several seconds behind four or five other teams when I received the baton for the 800-meter anchor leg. I gave it everything I had and ended up catching everyone in front of me and taking the lead with 250 meters left. However, Grand County's anchor leg caught me in the final 50 meters and we lost by a split second at the tape. On paper, we were the best team and the favorite to win the State title in the event. Moreover, I ran at least five (5) seconds faster than Grand County's anchor leg; but, in the end, my 2:00-flat time (my personal best at the time) was not fast enough to eke out a victory. I was devastated and recall throwing the baton in anger and frustration after the race was over. For many years thereafter the loss continued to sting, although I have always been at peace knowing I gave it my all in the failed effort.

Thursday, August 23, 1979

Brought Pauline and little Jordan Rex home from the hospital today. The kids were so excited to see their new baby brother. 

We took pictures, as always and had a nice time getting acquainted with the little guy. 

Friday, August 24, 1979

With my older sister, Jody.
September 1979

The kids started to school today. Felt a twinge of envy, as I do nearly every year at this time as I see everyone going back to school. Sure would be an easier life to just teach school, with all that security and structure. However, I don't think it is for me, for a career anyway... and the twinge always passes. 

Spent most of the day with Pauline and little #6. Sure is a sweet little guy. It is fun to have a baby in the house again.  

Saturday, November 3, 1979

Pauline has been very sick with mastitis the past several days. Little Jordan has taken it like a 'man' however, and things seem to be on the mend.

Sunday, November 4, 1979

In company with family and loved ones, little Jordan Rex Jensen was blessed and named today. What a choice little fellow he is. What love he has brought into our home. I am overwhelmed at times with the magnitude of the responsibility it is to take these little spirits and commit to a life-time of care and love. The love and joy they give in return make it all very worthwhile, however. What a joy this little one is to us.

Grandma Jensen had us all over to her house for dinner after the meeting. How blessed we are to live close to Grandparents. Mother is so very good to us. 

Attended Great Books at Steve Nielson's house tonight. Subject was A Dull Story, and I couldn't have agreed more. It truly was a dull story. It's fun to gather with some good heads to talk once in a while, however. 

Wednesday, November 7, 1979

Got up at 3:30 a.m. this morning, bathed, played with Jordan, who is really developing fast. The little tyke smiles and talks often now, and is so cute I could eat him. Wish I had five more just like him.

Monday, December 3, 1979

Sunday we took Jordan (left Jody with Aunt Ida) and drove to SLC again and enjoyed the Tabernacle Choir Broadcast; breakfast at Hotel Utah (where we saw the Ben Hesses and the Bob Sparks). Visited the aunts (Rux-Ballard-Beecher). Uncle Hal told me that he has lost over $500,000 in his Reno deal. The guys he was hooked up with turned out to be crooks. Really felt badly for him. He was low. Has been in Reno all week testifying before a Grand Jury or some such matter. Guys like him make it fast, but they lose it fast too. He will bounce back, no doubt, but that much "green" is hard to lose in one swoop. 

Monday, December 31, 1979

Last day of 1979 was foggy and cold. Worked at the store all day, anticipating more business than we actually got.

Decided this afternoon to have a new year's bash. Called a few folks to join us about nine o'clock. Took home enough junk food [from the store] to feed an army. Kids had fun helping me set it all out. Let them stay up and join the adults for the first time in their young lives. They thought that was wonderful. 

The lateness of the invite showed. Turnout included the Waltons, the Kerry Freestones, the George Rices and all the Jensens. Had a good time nonetheless and all got sick eating junk.

The new year and decade came in amidst a game of 50 cents. I hope the eighties are better than the seventies.

Rex Buckley & Pauline Smith Jensen Family

1979

Paul & Jordan

 

—Dr. JJ

Wednesday, September 9, 2026

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA

Author's Note: This is the 539th Blog Post Published by Freedom Focused LLC since November 2013 and the 319th consecutive weekly blog published since August 31, 2020.   

Click HERE for a compete listing of the other 538 FF Blog Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Freedom Focused SAL QUOTES  

Click HERE for a complete listing of Freedom Focused SAL POEMS   

Click HERE to access the FULL TEXT of Dr. JJ's Psalms of Life: A Poetry Collection

Click HERE for a complete listing of Self-Action Leadership Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Fitness, Heath, & Wellness Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Biographical & Historical Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Current Events, Cultural, Philosophical, & Miscellaneous Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Dr. JJ's Autobiographical Articles

.........................

Tune in NEXT Wednesday for another article on a Self-Action Leadership related topic.  

If you liked this blog post, please share it with your family, friends, colleagues, and students—and encourage them to bookmark this blog to access a new FREE article every Wednesday.

Click HERE to buy the SAL Textbooks

Universal Laws Set the Price

 

Chapter 24

Universal Laws Set the Price 

Law 11 of the SAL Theory states: Universal Laws determine the price of Existential Growth.

LAW 11

Universal Laws determine the price of Existential Growth.

Any meaningful achievement or acquisition comes with a price in time, effort, and often money and other resources.

The same is true of Existential Growth. 

Rex Buckley Jensen
Circa 1979
Around the time of JJ's Birth

As my father taught me: Nothing in life worth having comes fast or easy. 

"Nothing in life worth having comes fast or easy."

—Rex Buckley Jensen

(Dr. JJ's Dad)

The price that Life and Universal Laws place upon any given achievement or acquisition—including Existential Growth—will differ from person-to-person based on each individual's singularly unique SAL Variables Quotient. As a result, what may be easy and affordable for one person may be hard and expensive for another, and vice versa.

Nevertheless, achieving the highest levels of Existential Growth is both possible and challenging for everyone; and that is precisely what makes its acquisition so unspeakably satisfying, rewarding, and fulfilling. 

Thus, the greater the price, the more valuable the achievement or acquisition.

In conjunction with this great truth, it is worth noting that difficulty and ease are absolutely relative to your own ability, or lack thereof, to do or accomplish something. As such, there really is no such thing as "hard" or "easy"; only your capacity—or lack thereof—to do. 

SAL Mantra

There's no such thing as "hard" or "easy"; only your capacity—or lack thereof—to do.

Corollary 11.1 states: You cannot cheat or circumvent Universal Laws.

COROLLARY 11.1

You cannot cheat or circumvent Universal Laws

Universal Laws refer to natural laws of physics and metaphysics. They must be respected and obeyed to avoid devastating consequences. 

For example, you can choose to disregard the laws of entropy, gravity, leverage, mass, motion, mechanics, torque, et cetera, but that does not change their reality and presence in our world and universe; nor does it preclude the consequences that flow naturally from ignoring them.  

According to Corollary 11.2, these Universal Laws apply to everyone and everything; they are no respecter of persons. 

COROLLARY 11.2

Universal Laws apply to everyone and everything; they are no respecter of persons. 

Universal Laws don't care whether
you are a PRINCE or a PAUPER

In other words, Universal Laws don't care who you are. 

It doesn't matter if you are the President of the United States, the Queen of England, an ordinary "Joe Citizen," or an obscure homeless person on the street. 

Regardless who you are, the consequences of your thoughts, speech, and actions are ultimately determined by the omnipotent decrees of Universal Laws. No one is absolved of these consequences, which flow naturally from the decrees of the Law. 

While it may often seem like certain individuals avoid or escape these consequences—especially in the short run—the proverbial "hens" always come home to roost in the long run. In the process, they expose the hucksters and imposters who lack integrity and vindicate the authentic and genuine who were honest and true.  

According to Corollary 11.3 and 11.4: Universal Laws create human benefits (11.3) and limitations (11.4).

COROLLARY 11.3

Universal Laws create human limitations.

There are some things in this world that human beings simply cannot do, at least not yet. For example, we are currently unable to travel at the speed of light, fully cure cancer and AIDS, and scientifically prove whether or not there is life on other planets, whether God exists and intervenes in our lives (or not), or if life continues after death. 

Furthermore, people are limited in what they can individually accomplish. In other words, no matter what a motivational speaker might tell you, you can't do anything and everything you put your mind to. 

One of life's great challenges is differentiating between perceived and actual limitations and potential. While your potential for Existential Growth is unlimited, it does not translate into omniscience or omnipotence in this world.  

A KEY COMPONENT of SAL is and always will be Self Awareness. 

The better you know yourself, the better you'll accurately comprehend your strengths, weaknesses, and potential. This self-awareness and knowledge will empower you to minimize or eliminate your weaknesses and maximize your strengths. Just as importantly, it will empower you to see yourself as you really are, rather than merely what you suppose you are, or hope that you might someday become.  

In this world, it does little good to over-cultivate the idea that you can accomplish anything you put your mind to.

It's much wiser to recognize your particular aptitudes and talents and then focus carefully and work diligently on realizing your authentic and realistic potential within a framework of the very real limitations that we all face in life because of Universal Laws to which we are all subject.

For example, I am naturally tall and slender with small bones and lean muscles—an ectomorph. As a result, I will never be a world champion weightlifter—no matter how positively I think, what training techniques and substances I use (or abuse), or how hard I work and train. 

I can, of course, always become stronger and improve my own weightlifting performances over time, but it's unrealistic to expect that I could ever compete with a motivated mesomorph—someone born with a stout, large-muscled body well suited for weightlifting. 

On the other hand, as an experienced and skilled middle-distance runner, no champion weightlifter is ever going to beat me in a mile race when I am in top shape. 

As a self-action leader, it is vital to remember that no one can do everything well, but everyone can do something well. 

SAL Mantra

No one can do everything well.

But everyone can do something well. 

Intelligent self-action leaders discover what their unique gifts and talents are as early as possible and then focus most of their time and energy on developing those capabilities to the best of their abilities. By maximizing the capacity of their unique aptitudes and skill-sets, they are able to effectively serve others and contribute meaningfully to their families, organizations, communities, nations, and even the world-at-large. 

The bad news is that Universal Laws do place very real limitations upon us. The good news is that they also produce stunning benefits, as we learn in Corollary 11.3.  

COROLLARY 11.3

Universal Laws create human benefits.

 

To illustrate these benefits, consider the law of gravity.

In some ways, gravity is limiting. It precludes you from jumping off high cliffs without incurring serious injury or death. On the other hand, properly respecting and working with gravity enables you to do all sorts of exciting things that would be impossible without gravity, such as: flying, skydiving, hang-gliding, bungee-jumping, cliff diving/jumping into water, etc. 

The important thing to remember about Universal Laws is that they are intractable, intransigent, and irrevocable. We cannot change the ones that already exist and we cannot create new ones out of human whole cloth. We can only learn about the real and present ones and then choose to respect and obey them.

If we do, we will find that the Laws are some of our best friends.

If we do not, we will discover that the Laws are our worst enemy; and they do not forgive.

As the self-appointed SAL Guy, I am profoundly grateful for my knowledge of and humility before Universal Laws of physics and metaphysics. This knowledge and humility keep me safe, secure, and successful.

I therefore bow on bended knee in humble obeisance and sincere reverence before their existence and omnipotent power.  

In Your Journal

Think about something you deeply desire to achieve or acquire personally or professionally as you answer the following questions...

• What are some of the Universal Laws involved in your own personal and professional goals?

• What price in time and effort have these Laws set to achieve your goals?

• To what extent do you believe you are willing to pay that price?  

—Dr. JJ

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, USA

Author's Note: This is the 417th Blog Post Published by Freedom Focused LLC since November 2013 and the 226th consecutive weekly blog published since August 31, 2020.   

Click HERE for a compete listing of the other 416 FF Blog Articles 

Click HERE for a complete listing of Freedom Focused SAL QUOTES  

Click HERE for a complete listing of Freedom Focused SAL POEMS   

Click HERE to access the FULL TEXT of Dr. JJ's Psalms of Life: A Poetry Collection

Click HERE for a complete listing of Self-Action Leadership Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Fitness, Heath, & Wellness Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Biographical & Historical Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Current Events, Cultural, Philosophical, & Miscellaneous Articles

Click HERE for a complete listing of Dr. JJ's Autobiographical Articles

.........................

Tune in NEXT Wednesday for another article on a Self-Action Leadership related topic.  

And if you liked this blog post, please share it with your family, friends, colleagues, and students—and encourage them to sign up to receive future articles for FREE every Wednesday.

To sign up, please email freedomfocused@gmail.com and say SUBSCRIBE, or just YES, and we will ensure you receive a link to each new blog article every Wednesday.  

Click HERE to buy the SAL Textbooks  

Chapter 25 Notes

Why I Started My Own Company, Part 3: A Quest to BUILD

The Summer of 2020 will forever be remembered as a
season of violence and unrest in America.

This article is the third and final installment of a 3-part series dedicated to answering the question: "Why did I choose to start my own company?"

This past summer, Americans saw large numbers of their fellow citizens take to the streets to deface, damage, tear down, burn to the ground, or otherwise destroy a variety of different things, including both public and private property in cities throughout their nation.

These actions were purportedly undertaken in an effort to end racism and air a variety of other related and unrelated personal, political, and cultural grievances. Sadly, this pattern of violence and unrest seems to be growing more common in our increasingly cynical and divided culture—as further evinced by the storming of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2020 by fringe extremists.  

Unfortunately, a growing number of people erroneously believe that the best way to bring about positive change is to tear down existing structures.

Few sights are more beautiful or exciting to me
as a construction project being built correctly.

At Freedom Focused, we take a different approach.

Instead of tearing things down we DON'T like, agree with, or believe in, we do the exact opposite: we build things up that we DO like, agree with, and believe in.

In the long run, which method do YOU think has more power to open hearts, build bridges of trust, and bring about positive and needed changes that will benefit the most people of all races and backgrounds? 

Tearing things down, or building things UP?

Critics of our premise would argue, of course, that in order to build up something new, you must first tear down an old or existing structure. While that might be literally true in some regards, the issue at hand is not so much what you are tearing down, but how you go about doing so.

Moreover, a compelling argument can be made that negative structures will, in time, crumble atop their own flawed foundations if enough positive structures are built up all around it.

This process harnesses the power of positive peer pressure to get people to do the right things not by force—and not even because you think they should—but rather because they themselves want and choose to of their own FREE WILL.    

By taking a constructive rather than a destructive approach, you can accomplish your objective of eliminating negative structures over time without leaving a devastating and completely unnecessary wake of gratuitous and wanton destruction in your path.

It's the ultimate "Win/Win" arrangement.     

Throughout history, the greatest human beings have never been conquerers, sowers of discord and destruction, or manufacturers of mayhem.

The greatest men and women have always been BUILDERS, INVENTORS, and TEACHERS. From Socrates and Jesus to Confucius and Siddārtha Gautama (the Buddha) and from Michaelangelo, Edison, and Florence Nightingale to Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Great people envision a better future. They then
plan, design, prepare, and build a better future.

Bad people tear things down.

          Good people build things up.  

I have always admired architects, engineers, builders, inventors, and teachers.

My Father was both a builder and a teacher. He spent most of his career either building things (houses, apartments, etc.) or building people.

How did he build people? By parenting seven children and teaching students in traditional classrooms at the middle school and high school levels. 

I love and admire my Dad for the noble work he accomplished in the fields of education and construction throughout his incredibly productive life. And then there are the remarkable things he and my Mom accomplished in raising SEVEN (7) children, of which I am number six. And as crazy as it may sound these days for a single set of parents to bear and raise seven children, you can imagine how grateful I personally am that they didn't stop after only FIVE (5)! Indeed, my parent's single-most productive, positive, and constructive contribution to this world was the procreation of their seven children, who have, in-turn, bore them 31 grandchildren. And an even higher number of great-grandchildren are right around the corner!  

It's a truly remarkable legacy—one that is a virtual lock to live on for at least as long as this world stands.    

My Father, Rex Buckley Jensen, was a Builder
and a Teacher. I was a Daddy's Boy and 
am his namesake: Jordan REX Jensen.
Is it any wonder that I am also 
a teacher and a builder?

A rural renaissance man who also spent two decades teaching school, my Dad was also a grocer, general contractor, land developer, journalist, photographer, entrepreneur, and church leader. Suffice it to say, he is an unusually ambitious and motivated person. Skilled with his hands and very intelligent, he was also a talented writer and gifted teacher. He could work harder, longer, and accomplish more in a days' time than just about anyone I have ever known.

My Dad was my hero growing up. As a little boy, I wanted to be wherever he was and help with whatever project he was working on. And he always included me in whatever I wanted to be involved in. Indeed, I personally helped Dad and my older brothers build a great many things, including a log cabin on land my dad owned—when I was only six years old!  

One of my earliest professional ambitions was to become a carpenter and build homes—just like my Dad. A few years later, while still in elementary school, I thought perhaps I would someday become an architect. Over time, I came to discover that I was poorly suited for both of these careers. However, I never lost my desire to build. My ambitions merely evolved from physical construction projects to metaphysical construction projects in the form of theory, education, training, organization, and leadership.

I look forward to a future day when physical construction begins on Freedom Focused offices and properties. I am even more eager for the day when Freedom Focused begins to hire increasing numbers of leaders, managers, trainers, and staff members who will represent it and take its vital message throughout the United States and World.

After all, the most important building project of all is the construction of human lives and careers.  

As much as we will always value our physical products, properties, and tools, our primary aim at Freedom Focused is not to build things, but to build people. And while the old saying: "No margin, no mission" remains a reality in the business world, our goal is not primarily to profit from our products and services. That is merely a secondary value and practical prerequisite to perpetually prolonging our mission. Our fundamental aim—ever and always—is the education, training, and existential growth of each other, followed closely by our clients and students. Our foremost concern is the elevation of the human mind, heart, and spirit of everyone on this planet who seeks to grow. That is why we value greater income equality and eschew exorbitant executive salaries and individual shares of book royalties.   

How do we aim to accomplish this grand objective?

By showing human begins everywhere that they are the "architects of [their own] fate" (Longfellow), and then teaching them how to design their own individual lives and worlds in ways that lead to long-term success, happiness, prosperity, inner peace, and contribution to others.

I end this week's article with a POEM.

And not just any poem. But THE poem that served an important role in the inception of Freedom Focused as an organization. It was also a poem that inspired the construction of the Self-Action Leadership Theory, Model, and Pedagogy. Finally, it is the poem that will continue to inspire Freedom Focused Agents and our clients and students all over the world to become builders who make something truly magnificent out of their lives and careers.     

The Builders

By: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)

All are architects of Fate,
    Working in these walls of Time;
Some with massive deeds and great
    Some with ornaments of rhyme.

Nothing useless is, or low;
    Each thing in its place is best;
And what seems but idle show
    Strengthens and supports the rest.




For the structure that we raise,
    Time is with materials filled;
Our to-days and yesterdays
    Are the blocks with which we build.

Truly shape and fashion these;
    Leave no yawning gaps between;
Think not, because no man sees,
    Such things will remain unseen.

In the elder days of Art,
    Builders wrought with greatest care
Each minute and unseen part;
    For the Gods see everywhere.

Let us do our work as well,
    Both the unseen and the seen;
Make the house, where Gods may dwell
    Beautiful, entire, and clean.

Else our lives are incomplete,
    Standing in these walls of Time,
Broken stairways, where the feet
    Stumble as they seek to climb.

Build to-day, then, strong and sure,
    With a firm and ample base;
And ascending and secure
    Shall to-morrow find its place.

Thus alone can we attain
    To those turrets, where the eye
Sees the world as one vast plain,
    And one boundless reach of sky.

This concludes a 3-part series about Why I Started My Own Company. In review, my three primary reasons/desires for incorporating Freedom Focused include: Freedom, Discontent, and a Quest to Build.

.........................

Tune in NEXT Wednesday for another article on a Self-Action Leadership related topic.  

And if you liked this blog post, please share it with your family, friends, colleagues, and students—and encourage them to sign up to receive future articles for FREE every Wednesday.

To sign up, please email freedomfocused@gmail.com and say SUBSCRIBE, or just YES, and we will ensure you receive a link to each new blog article every Wednesday.    

Click HERE to learn more about Freedom Focused

Click HERE to buy the SAL Textbooks