Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Those Who Travel the Furthest

There was a headline news story of a family on vacation in the Grand Canyon whose beloved dog wonders off and could not be found. With coyotes, snakes, and deep crevasses in the wild canyon, hope faded for the family pet after many days of search. The heart-sunk family reluctantly goes home, 1000s of miles away. Months later, the dog shows up on the front lawn. It is a miracle! The dog found its way home!


Everyday in America, dogs are lost. Yet news reporters ignore poodles wondering in the park. It's only a headliner when it's a feat of dramatic triumph. Dog travels for two months to get back to loving home. What would make you traverse canyons and highways on foot? What's your front page story?


Today, you're about to start you on a triumphant journey. Some people will call the trek a Hero's Journey. And like all heroic tales, when one starts rock bottom and climbs to the top, the paparazzi go wild.


Rock bottom is personal to each of us. Are you in debt over your nose, overweight, without a romantic relationship, wearing 90's clothes, jobless? Feels like a million miles of mountains between where you are now and where you want to be. Looks futile, doesn't it?


I had heard of people being over 400-lbs, yet to see a 500-lb man on the Biggest Loser show was a horrible train wreck I never wanted to witness. However sad of shape those people may be, the Biggest Lower show has proven the morbidly obesity can win their life back. If a 500-lb man, who's heart races as he sits upright, can lose 45-lbs in two weeks, your excuses are now annoying noise.


The sympathy choir has gone home. No one is listening to why you cannot have your most amazing life. You don't have rich parents? Never got a college degree? So what. Yes, so what if you're a single mom or you're physically limited. Look around, all the excuses have been used up by him and her, and heck those two there have a three pack of pity-me excuses. None are left for you. You're starting work on your dream today.


Your dream was that vision you have of the perfect 2-story house, a loving spouse who's your perfect compliment, kids gleefully playing tag, a BMW, and a secure job which easily affords your family vacations twice a year. Or did your mind dare to wonder into greater visions of fame and jet-set fortune. Ah-ha, we have a covert Rock Star on our hands...super!


Your future life vision is currently far from the reality of sitting alone in a small apartment, late on rent. Yet that doesn't stop the process of change which you can initiate today with a single thought. "My life is limitless. I move forward today and everyday." Nothing can stop your imagining a better life. Your imagination is limitless, thus is your life. Once upon a time, no one thought we could fly. Then no one thought we could see space, then no one thought we could carry computers in our jean pocket. Do you see where imagination has taken the world?


Recall that lost dog so far from home. All it wanted, all it knew was to it had to find the love of its family, the green lawn to run in, and the warm bed next to it's master. The dog wanted nothing else, and nothing was going to get in its path to home.

The vision of your future life is your future home. Be the dog taking each and every small step because it won't be happy if it doesn't get home. The blistered paws will be worth it. Is your future dream life worth it? Is your vision strong enough to keep you moving towards "your home?" Claim it as your new home, even if it's only a vision in your mind.

If you're under a Titanic of debt, paying $20 today is chipping away at it. Forward progress. Be proud you paid off $20; you are moving towards financial freedom. See, each day, it gets better. Yes, each day you work towards you dream is better than yesterday.

You're the Michelangelo of your life, start chipping at your personal masterpiece. God gave us the ability to dream and imagine so we could know our potential. Current circumstances do not, repeat, do not have any bearing on your future. There's nothing that you cannot repair, forget, leave behind, ignore, and/or overcome. Like the eggshell where the tiny chick emerges. Thanks for the shelter but I'm moving on now.

Truthfully, the poorer you are, the less advantages you have, the steeper social ladder you have to climb, the dire illness you have to overcome, equals more fanfare awaiting you. Everyone loves a underdog story.

Keep the vision clear in your mind. Sit with it daily so your thoughts, feet, and hands will work to move towards it. The news crews are waiting for you at the goal line of your life. Oh my goodness, CNN just drove up too. I've got my camera ready too. Smile on three!

No comments:

Post a Comment