Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Self Important...But Not Too Important

Last night my sister wrote to me on Facebook and told me that she wants to take some steps in getting her family more prepared for emergencies. I’m thrilled that she came to me. Generally, when she, or anyone else in my family, have a question or want to learn more about something, we go to my dad, but not this time. It’s satisfying to know that the research and time I have spent learning and preparing is actually worth something and that someone needs my help with it.

It’s a special thrill for me to feel important outside of my home or my store – and sometimes even in those places. As people, it’s definitely good to be needed and it gives you that extra bounce in your step. I think anytime that a person feels important it’s uplifting to them in a very distinct way. I believe that in can overcome bad moods and bad days, it can give someone a self confidence about their actions, and it can truly make someone feel like they have something to add to the world at large or even just their own little world. Today is a good day because I feel important.



Things seem to be coming together in my writing world. Stacey and I had a long talk over dinner Sunday night about motivation and organization and I think that it’s ignited a fire under me to be more proactive. I reached out to a site this week about possibly writing some articles for them and, even if it doesn’t work out, I’m proud because it’s a step in the right direction. I am slowly but surely putting the puzzle pieces in play and assembling them.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Life Lessons According to Q

“If you can’t take a little bloody nose, maybe you oughtta go back home and crawl under your bed. It’s not safe out here. It’s wondrous, with treasures to satiate desires both subtle and gross; but it’s not for the timid.” — Q, Star Trek: The Next Generation “Q Who?”

For those of you who aren’t aware, I’m a big science fiction and fantasy geek. Fat jokes aside, I’ve been into this stuff as long as I can remember. In fact, one of my childhood memories is getting to stay up late and watch Star Trek: The Next Generation with my dad. The above quote actually comes from that series and, as I read it the other night, I realized that that it transcends that show and the genre altogether.

Life is going to beat you up. You’re going to get a bloody nose. Marriages and relationships will fall apart. Friendships will dissolve. You’ll be broke. Lonely. Depressed. These are the rules. Life isn’t always sunshine and flowers, but when it is, grab on to it and ride it out because there’s always another valley coming.

Walk out of your front door and live every single day. Don’t drudge through life just doing the minimum and hating every second. Believe me, I’ve been there and it’s not worth it. Don’t be timid. It’s your life, make of it what you will! I wish it didn’t take me until I was almost 30 to figure that out. For years I was too distracted, too unfocused, or just not brave enough to pursue my dreams, and now I feel like I am behind the curve.

Pursue your passions and you’ll find you own treasures able to satiate your own desires. Your treasures may be financial or they may be something else altogether, but if you live the life that you were meant to live you will find all you can handle and more. Crawl out from under your bed and embrace – not who you are – who you’ve always wanted to be and make that happen. If you don’t you’re going to see yourself getting hit in the nose over and over and over until you change something.

Make it a resolution to live more like you were wired to. I don’t mean a New Year’s resolution. I mean a permanent “I’m not going to quit this before January is over” resolution. I don’t know about you, but I have come to terms with the fact that 2010 was not my year, but it was the start of the rest of my life. I decided in October that I was going to do whatever it takes to make me proud of me: to live my life to the fullest and to embrace every opportunity and quirk that comes my way. I’m willing to take a figurative punch in the nose punch in the nose every single day as long as I know that I am taking my life in the direction I want instead of mindlessly slaving away for the next paycheck.

What other way is there?