Chart Your Life

“Intelligence is not to make no mistakes, but quickly to see how to make them good.” ~ Bertolt Brecht

One of the most important lessons life has taught me is that we have to be willing to readjust our course. Sometimes we make a mistake or things just don’t go the way we had anticipated. It is these moments we define how the outcome will go. Will we find an alternate route that takes us where we want to go or we just not proceed forward? Every person has faced situations that aren’t going their way. It is not a bias situation that only some of us experience; however, those individuals that seem to have life always go their way have just become master at charting their life with the ability to adjust to the winds of life. There is always opportunity and sometimes we have to paddle up the stream and others the wind will carry us, yet in all situations there is opportunity if in nothing more than the attitude in which we face the day and the situation. Those that face it with potential will find potential.

Chance Meets Opportunity

“Chance favors the prepared mind.” ~ Louis Pasteur

In the pursuit of a fulfilled life there are moments that we feel as if it is going according to plan.  We are rowing our boats along the course and have done everything right, regardless we are still not reaching the final destitination.  If we gaze back too much at those moments in the past we will run ashore, if we stare too long at how others are doing we may run into them.  Instead we have to keep our eyes fixed on our destination with an understanding that we must be prepared.   Prepared for a bend in the river, a swift current or an idle current.  Life isn't according to our plan, instead it those that are prepared and open to new destintations that typically exceed their own expectations.  Keep an open mind, be prepared for every option and most of all, don't be so fixed on getting there that you don't enjoy the here and now.

Opportunities in Abundance

Opportunities are all around us in great abundance. Why is it then that some people can see the opportunities for what they are while others fail to recognize them? Is it that some people get more changes or do they simply know and understand an opportunity when the see it? How then can we learn to recognize and the abundant opportunities we are all equally entitled to? We can start by first being open minded. If we shut the door on the opportunity before we explore it a little more, we will miss its potential. What might appear at first to be uninspiring may turn into the opportunity of a lifetime. Second, we can look for opportunity in every situation. If the door is closed on what we thought was the right direction for us, then try looking for the open window. It was once said that opportunities don’t come along stamped with their value on them. We never know what they may bring until we act on them. If we cannot understand the opportunities when they come along, then we miss out on the true potential they hold.

The Legacy Of A Wish

Thirty years ago the Make A Wish was started by a group of individuals that wanted to grant a wish to a child with a life threatening disease. Today the organization has granted thousands of wishes. While this is amazing, the thing that amazes me the most are the recipients of the wishes. These children that are granted wishes and go into recovery then ask to help make other children's wishes come true.  From making bracelets, to have carnivals in their backyard there is no limit to the drive of these young individuals to make a difference in others lives.  When we think about the power of a Legacy, consider if we could impact our youth.  If we could inspire them at a young age to want to make a difference in our world what they can do in their lifetime the number of individuals they will be able to affect.  A Legacy can be created while we are young and expanded on.  We all have within us a Legacy to leave.  A purpose to fill.  What is your Legacy?  What change or affect do you want to have?  Never be afraid to pursue your purpose.  If a child can after being face with a life threatening disease then you can to..

One Legacy Leads To Another

Throughout time there was always a first. However, sometimes there was a first before that first that inspired the way for others that went before us. I had never heard of Kitty Wells until I wanted to write a blog on Taylor Swift. I wanted to know the first female country singer to top the charts and did some digging and found Kitty Wells. In 1952 her hit “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels” hit the charts. Another hit “The Wild Side of Life” and its controversial pre-feminist lyrics was said to pave the way for singers like Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette and established Wells as the first major female country star.

Taylor Swift debut song “Tim McGraw” was released in 2006 and she was one of country music’s youngest faces. Her first album was released in late 2006 and had 5 consecutive top ten singles a new record for a female solo artist. Swifts debut album made her a titan in the country world; however in 2008 Fearless positioned her as the year’s biggest star on any genre.

On Saturday night I was at the last concert of her Fearless Tour along with 55,000 other fans. As the young Taylor took the stage and throughout the performance shared some of her journey and I was inspired. While I have no desire to be a singer I as do most of us have dreams and being around individuals that have made a dream a reality I felt inspired. Only 6 years earlier this was a dream. A young girl with her guitar sitting on her bedroom floor dreaming of being able to sing her music was now a reality. I wonder if during her dreaming she imagined she would be the first female singer to be the main performer at Gillette Stadium to a sold out crowd of 55,000 fans. As these thoughts danced through my mind I wondered if possibly the only difference between individuals like Taylor and Kitty was the passion and drive to see them through. So I will continue to search for Legacy’s that have made a difference that have had an impact and by doing so maybe someday become my own legacy and inspire someone.