It’s Never Too Late (until it is)
Good day, folks. Thank you to all who took my brief survey last week. Your answers will help me determine the future of this blog.
To that point, for those of you who said you’d like shorter posts:
Please read the title and let that sentiment sink in for a moment.
Check out the cool, shattered clock pic.
Get on with tackling your life goals and challenges.
Thanks for stopping by, and I’ll see you next week!
For the rest of you, welcome to the longer version of my first June blog post. I want to use this space to try and light a fire under all our collective butts. The following is an edited excerpt from one chapter in my inspirational booklet, Carry On.
My goal today is to implore you to never give up on, well, anything. It could be trying out for the Olympics or competing in an ice cream eating contest. Until your personal life’s clock shatters, there is still a chance of fulfilling any challenge you set your mind toward achieving.
Look, I’m not totally delusional. Factors like time, money, or physical ability might hamper your chances at fulfilling your goals. I’m talking about things you could achieve, if you prioritize them. For instance, maybe your dream of getting on America’s Got Talent is a longshot, but if you never try, you’re guaranteed not to make it. And what if, during the process of trying, you discover another path, or meet someone who enriches your life in a way you couldn’t have anticipated? Or, maybe your attempt serves as an example for someone else to follow, and maybe they do make it onto the show.
Still need more inspiration? Check out what these clever folks said once upon a time:
“There are two days in the year that we cannot do anything, yesterday and tomorrow.” -Mahatma Gandhi
“A boundary is not that at which something stops, but that from which something begins.” -Martin Heidegger
“The proper function of man is to live, not to exist.” -Jack London
“Don’t try to add more years to your life. Better add more life to your years.” -Blaise Pascal
“You can have anything you want, if you want it badly enough.” -Abraham Lincoln
“The only time you can run out of chances is when you stop taking them.” -Alexander Pope
“One moment can change a day, one day can change a life, and one life can change the world.” -Gauthama The Lord Buddha
These are some great quotes that can help reset our mindset about achieving big goals. We can also apply these bits of wisdom to our everyday lives. Even pursuing smaller, reachable challenges is quite satisfying. Check out this partial list of things you can start on any time:
Volunteer—there are so many opportunities out there
Go on a day trip somewhere you’ve been meaning to check out
Ride some roads you never have before
Take a walk on those nature trails you discovered
Enroll in a college course or two
Bake me some chocolate chip cookies
Learn how to play an instrument
Visit your local library or independent bookstore
Try a new recipe for dinner
Buy those concert tickets for the musical act you’ve never seen play live
Watch all of the Marvel superhero movies (there are a lot of them!)
It’s all about perspective and attitude when you get down to it. Any everyday moment, regardless of how mundane and ordinary it might seem, can be fulfilling. Again, it’s never too late to start (until it is), so get out there and get busy!
Also, whatever you are, don’t give up until you’re a good one!
-Dave
