What rocks are in your bucket? If you are walking along the beach, hopefully, the answer is none. If you are trying to decide between different courses of action, you may want to consider what’s in your bucket. It may alter how you evaluate your next life-changing decision.
A blank page, that is what each day is. Every day we get the chance to be the type of person that we want to be, the freedom to pursue the goals that we want to achieve, and the liberty to indulge on yet another bowl of over-priced ice cream. If you’re anything like me, you believe you can best realize the fruits of your labor, and fulfill your purpose, when you are the one driving the bus, when you are in control of your destiny.
Today, I am preparing to leave the house with my blank page to see what radical new ideas will fill my page. If the wisdom of Solomon holds, I suspect very few; his take is that there is nothing new under the sun.
Still, there must be something out there that we need to experience to be transformed from who we are to the type people we are destined to be. If not, why the restlessness; why is there tension?
Allowing self-destructive thoughts and words to take up residence in my head, and giving credence to what others say about me, I will permit someone else’s opinion of me to shape who I think I can be. Heeding that little voice that regurgitates the lie that I can’t overcome this challenge because I have that condition, will lead me to believe that I am something less that human.
If I want to be a person of conviction, faith, and courage, I need to live like I can be. I must believe that I able of being a person of conviction, faith, and courage.
It is said that time is a precious commodity. While others assume my time is their precious commodity, my time is not a commodity to me. Time is finite and fleeting. I cannot produce time, but I can capture the uniqueness of each moment and each day.
Why should I pursue this goal today and not wait until tomorrow? Why should I exercise today, upload this post today, read this book today? All vital questions that speak to the uniqueness of today and the uncertainty of tomorrow.
At times, I invest more energy in this hobby than I should. After all, it’s just a hobby! But what if I want it to become something more, something bigger than 600–800 words delivered to your inbox once a week? I will need to expend more of me to capture the uniqueness of today and communicating the uncertainty of tomorrow.
Today matters, it must matter or else why would we be here, and why now; at this point in time and this place in history? We were designed to be so much more than placeholders for those who follow in our footsteps.
Speaking metaphorically, what should I consume and what is nutrition for my soul? Consuming thoughts of weakness and entertaining stories of failure, will leave me fearful of what lies ahead, paralyzed by the unknown and unable to act when glimpses of my future are presented to me on a silver platter.
If I gorge myself on a steady diet of bitter herbs, vile gossip, back stabbing, and innuendos, I too will become bitter, toxic and untrustworthy. If that is the sandbox that I chose, I will undoubtedly find kindred spirits.
If I succumb to the daily lure, the almost audible calling of another bowl of Salted Carmel Vanilla Ice Cream, I do so at my peril.
Today, with my blank page, I will make every effort to be that person I hope to be, not bound by who I was yesterday. Today, I will ignore comments made by those that thrive on personal destruction and will pursue something that is worthy. Lastly, I will be influenced only by the people and ideas that I want to emulate and will do so at the expense of those that don’t. Lofty goals? Yes! Attainable? Absolutely!
I have been forging my worldview for a while. It’s time to put it into an actionable statement, one that aids clarity of thought and facilitates intentional living. It begins with it this acknowledgment — I have a degenerative condition with no cure; that is the point from where I start and not my reason to stop.
I believe that everyone, regardless of the words contained in their medical records and the number of digits on their bank statements, can and should be the ones to determine how they want to be remembered. What do you need to do to write the narrative that will become the story of your life? You’re driving the bus, where are you going?
We all have our reasons, some are even legitimate, why we think that our life is difficult, the challenges are all too frequent and insurmountable, and the resources at our disposal, too scarce. Welcome to adulthood, to humanity; it’s a place where those that wish to conquer, do.
Remember, it is your call. No one is forcing anything on you.
Thanks for reading, liking, and sharing,
I see that Ivy made it back. She heard the word ice cream; she brought her personalized bowl. No, you can’t use my spoon.
Al and his faithful, but gluttonous sidekick, Ivy the wonder pup.
There was a time, not all that long ago that it felt like everyone I knew was living a life that was much larger than mine. Many were going on vacations and weekend getaways, others received promotions, and most were in good health. It was as if they were part of a club that protected them from the realities that I was facing.
It was over five years ago, having recently received my diagnosed with Parkinson’s, that I had to come to terms that what I was experiencing was real. I couldn’t work my way out of it; I couldn’t buy my way out of it, I couldn’t strategize my way out. The “come to Jesus” part was when I came to the realization that I couldn’t outrun it either. This one I had to endure and, sadly, my family had to endure it along with me. The journey would be difficult but necessary.
It wasn’t until I began sharing my story with others, I came to the realization that most people were more like me than I thought; most are hurting, most are struggling, and most are searching. I had to have my eyes opened to see what it looks like to be human. To my surprise, it looks more like me than I ever imagined.
So this is Humanity!
Now that I’m in, what’s next?
Thanks for reading, liking, and sharing,
Al and his faithful, but hungry, sidekick, Ivy the wonder pup.
Ask, and you will receive! Is that what you were told? When I was growing up, the questions were, “Can I have something, like a new bike?… Can I do something, can I fly to the moon?… Can I be someone; maybe Superman?” Different types of questions, all met with the same simple answer, “No.” The years pass and life happens; careers falter, relationships crumble, and our health wanes. Once again, the focus turns to questions in search of answers.
I have long been criticized by my family that my first response to any request, no matter how simple, is to first say, “No”. “No, you cannot get your belly-button pierced… No, you cannot pull the trampoline closer to the pool… No, you can’t pre-buy the iPhone 8.” All reasonable requests in their eyes but not in mine. My kids grew up in the land of No.