During Christmas break of my freshman year of college, my mom welcomed me with this small card of encouragement. She probably thought that I would keep it for a week or two then toss it away upon traveling back to Florida. I didn’t. In fact, I’ve held on to for almost five years and during difficult times it has helped serve as a subtle reminder that the belief in myself – more than anything else – is what’s most needed during difficult and troubling times.
Recently, difficulties have been present in my life. My “can-do” attitude that had always been most evident, had been seeming to diminish. This new business venture has created a lot of uncertainty. Have you ever told someone what it is you’re going to do, and know that they don’t believe in it? Not only by their words and saying they don’t, but too by their body language and/or tone of voice.
Yeah, I certainly have.
It seems like every time I turn around to tell someone what I’m going to do now, I get that funny look of uncertainty or the response of, “that’s not a real job. How can you make money doing that?” Truthfully, it’s been very challenging overcoming these opinions. I’d always been someone who said that I’m not too concerned with the “nay-sayers” or those whom don’t think my dreams are possible. But when EVERY PERSON you talk to, doesn’t believe in you, it’s only natural you start to question yourself. I was beginning to think perhaps I needed to go back and seek out a 9 to 5 – find some sort of comfort and certainty. But then I’d realized:
I don’t need to do that. I don’t need to give in.
And this short message on this card has helped me to remember that. It’s again served as a reminder that the biggest of our dreams begin with one simple step. If dreams were meant to be attained easy, then every one would be everything they desire. The fact of the matter is, however, people aren’t willing to endure the funny looks and criticisms that you’re DEFINITELY going to get. They’re not willing to face the uncertainties of not knowing, & the uncomfortable feeling of not fitting in with the “societal norm.”
However, I encourage you to join me today, in being abnormal. To take a risk that you’d been wanting to take but may have been a bit fearful of due to the “looks” you might receive from others. Look, we have one life to live. We have only a few opportunities to make this thing called, life, work itself out. The time is now. There is no tomorrow – there’s only now. What are you doing now to ensure you fulfill your dreams? What sort of sights (similar to this card) or sounds are you allowing in your life to impact you in a positive way? When things become challenging, as they most certainly will, I strongly recommend you find a similar message to the one my mom had given me and remember to KEEP BELIEVING IN YOURSELF!!!
I welcome and would appreciate any comments about this post or other sights or sounds in your life that have been helping you push past your day to day obstacles!
Thanks as always,
Adam
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