Get Out Of The Way

A lot of mediocrity has been expunged from my life this past year and I am reminded of how often I still get in my own way. Sometimes I give too much power to other people and wait for them to force a change that I should have made by own volition. My past year has been the most tumultuous of my recent life. That turmoil has forced a couple of long term sloppy situations to overcome their inertia and begin their transformation. Scary and exciting all at the same time.

I appreciate being responsible for my own circumstance and having the power to accept it or change it.  Making the correct decisions, tough or not, is always easier when I am surrounded by the most supportive and positive people around.

“Show me your friends and I'll show you your future.” - Maurice Clarett (b. 1983)

Daily

Sometimes someone says something that is so spot on that it is impossible to expand beyond what they have said.

“There's a fundamental difference between the things you do every day, every single day, and the things you do only when the spirit moves you.  One difference is that once you've committed to doing something daily, you find that the spirit moves you, daily. Rather than having a daily debate about today's agenda, you can decide once that you will do something, and then decide every single day how to do it.” - Seth Godin (b. 1960)

Yeah, what Seth said.

Things

There are things that become bigger things that eventually become insurmountable things. These things did not start as insurmountable, they became such over time. Each day procrastination and anxiety added a few more grains to our growing things and before we know it, our things have become what they are. Obviously it is easier to deal with big things before they become bigger or insurmountable. Consistently going beyond your arbitrary limits will take some mass out of big things.

My things are not your things so don't think you know my things. My things are my things and for those of you whose things are similar to my things - the intensity of your experience with your things cannot be compared to my things. My progress in tackling my things cannot be compared to you and your things. I can only measure my progress by comparing my things to what they were yesterday.

My things became my things over time. Therefore taming my things can, and will, happen over time.

“Obviously, because of my disability, I need assistance. But I have always tried to overcome the limitations of my condition and lead as full a life as possible. I have traveled the world, from the Antarctic to zero gravity.” - Stephen Hawking (b. 1942)

Taking Responsibility

Control freak. The term immediately evokes images of someone who needs to have everything done their way. I use the term in a different way when I remind my students that being a control freak is one of the most important attributes of a black belt.

I choose my diet. I choose my friends. I choose my conflicts. I choose my influences. Whatever affects me does so because I chose to let it. I cannot control what others say or do but I have absolute control over how I choose to interpret their words and their actions.

"In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility." - Eleanor Roosevelt (1884 - 1962)

 

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