For the first column of the new year, instead of looking backwards for an idea, I’m looking forward, and instead of writing about me, this story is really about you…well, mostly. Now how can I possibly write such a story if we’ve never met? Well, Dear Reader, we actually have. Keep reading, and you soon will discover, like I have, there are common threads woven into the fabric of us all. If only is one of those threads.
In the years to come, you might start looking back over your life thinking, If only I could change a few things from my past, life would be so much better. Don’t. This is an exercise in futility. Take it from one who has wasted countless hours doing this over five decades – only to come up with two undeniable conclusions. The past can’t be changed, but the future can be. And it’s
your
future that this story is really about…well, mostly.
Some folks who want to make a change in their lives find themselves fearful to do so. That fear keeps them paralyzed. Others just need a little nudge. Well, here you go – consider this your nudge. You’re never too old to do what you want to do or become what you’re really meant to be.
Change is frightening.
I’d like to be able to say that the older you get, the less frightening change becomes, but that wouldn’t be true. You’ve got bills to pay, kids to take care of, and a job that takes a lot of focus, most of your time, and almost all your energy. Adulting is hard and leaves very little for anything else – like change. Luckily, a little time is all you really need.
A crack.
Have you ever watched a bird hatch from its egg? Emerging from inside the protective life of the shell to the outside is a real struggle. It starts off with a small crack, then the crack widens and eventually a piece of the shell falls away and a new life starts to emerge.
The reality.
We all live inside some form of a protective shell – some we’ve built to keep the world out and some to keep ourselves in. But the most damaging shells have been placed around us by others, formed by phrases like: You can’t do that. You don’t have a degree. You’re not like your brother or sister. These are perhaps the hardest shells to crack and escape from, especially if they have been placed around you by a loved one. After years of trying, I broke through the shells placed upon me and made changes. I know it can be done. You can do it also.
Now this story is about me.
Back in 11th grade, I received a D- in my English class.