"Whether you prevail or fail, endure or die, depends more on what you do to yourself than on what the world does to you." ~ Jim Collins
There is no way better to say this. This speaks to me. It tells me that you make your life, not that life makes you. Time to step into the game and begin to play it with a renewed sense of purpose and possibility.
One of my favorite things to do with my daughter Leila is to listen to her play "make believe." There is nothing more entertaining and great for her to be doing as a five year old. Just the other day, she put on a tiny white lab coat, a plastic stethoscope around her neck, and a plastic clipboard with a prescription pad in her hands. She quite proudly exclaimed that she was "Dr. Leila" and that she was helping her sick stuffed toys get better. I asked her a simple question, "why do you want to be a doctor?" "Because I want to help people," was her quick reply. I let out one more question, "how are you going to become a doctor?" I thought I would stump her for a second with this query. I could then talk about how she needs to work hard at school, volunteer in hospitals, etc. to make it as a doctor. But she was already ahead of me. She slowly looked up at me. She looked straight into my eyes and said, "because I want to." Beautiful.
Leila was right. You have to want it. You have to desire it. You have to be willing to make sacrifices for it. You have to take full ownership over you, your actions, your thoughts, your dreams. Only then will you make it. Is it possible you will fail? Yes. But you will feel much worse if you never try. Make your life into what you want it to be. It may mean making tough choices, withdrawing from less important pursuits and responsibilities, and saying no to a lot of people and other things. If something comes up and seems like an unbeatable obstacle, take it on, don't back down, don't give up. The world will challenge you. It wants to test how much you really want something. Rise to the test. Show the world what you are really made of.
Sometimes you will find that you can't overcome a roadblock. We have to be realistic here. But don't throw away everything you have accomplished to that point. Look back. Reflect. Think about what you have learned while on this journey. You may find that the roadblock is more like a street sign, pointing you in a better direction. Open your eyes to that possibility.
No matter what may happen to you, whether you are riding higher than ever, or so low that you don't think you can get back up for another round, always remember that you decide whether to die or endure, fail or succeed, and only you ultimately are responsible for which it is.
Goodnight all!
J.M. "Welly" Maw
No comments:
Post a Comment