Posted in Philosophy

Locked-In or Locked-Out

Locks are interesting.  Not the physical mechanical device but what they represent and our perception of intent and purpose.   Inherently, they protect, secure, and isolate.  If those functions focus on physical property, then they are performing as originally intended.  How often have you been locked out from a place you felt you should have free access?  How often has your mind locked you into physical limits? How many times have you locked in your emotions or options?  How many times have you locked your intellectual or creative boundaries.

All around us are metaphorical locks.  Limiters placed upon us by others.  Barriers and obstacles placed to impede us, limit us, and/or control us.  Those are locks you don’t control.  You don’t have the key, and maybe don’t know who does.  That doesn’t mean the lock will hold.

Locks have a function.  They shouldn’t be the instruments which limit and isolate you; you, as a person, as an athlete, as a creator, as a learning, caring, participating person.  It’s bad enough, there are those around us, even our friends and family, who want to put locks on us. It’s worse yet when we lock-up ourselves.

We know who controls those locks; but, do we have the courage to grab our own keys and start unlocking?  Are we strong enough to push through physical barriers when our mind says, ‘you’re done, push no harder’?  Are we smart enough to continue to learn and press our intellectual envelope? Are we confident enough in our bedrock beliefs to challenge them with counter beliefs?

If we are willing to do these things, will we do them with an open or locked mind and spirit?  If the locks aren’t open and removed, then it doesn’t matter how many outside locks continue to ‘limit us’.  We are the gate keeper and have placed the most important locks on ourselves.  We shouldn’t complain about the locks we don’t control until we’ve unlocked ourselves.

Focus on unlocking yourself.  Unlock your physical, intellectual, and emotional self without fear or indecision.  Challenge every aspect of yourself and free yourself of your own locks.

#NeverFearTheDream 

Posted in Philosophy

Who am I?

It’s the hardest question seldom asked.  It’s the question I should be asking myself before I ask; Who are you?  And it’s the question only I can answer.

The answer isn’t what I’ve done.  That’s ‘What I was.’  It isn’t what I’m going to do.  That’s ‘What I want to be.’  It’s not what I know; because the more I think I know the more I know I don’t know.  It isn’t what I believe; because my beliefs have changed as I’ve lived life.  Who I am, is a swirling blend of them all.

What I’ve done is my foundation for what I want to do.  I am what I was and what I hope to be. What I think I know is the foundation for what I currently believe.  I’ve learned from what I thought I knew and challenge what I believe.  It’s upon these shifting foundations I will build my future.  I will Never Fear the Dream, but I will have a Dream.

Who am I?  Because I’m alive, I’m excited to think I’ll probably never be able to succinctly answer the question; but, I’ll keep asking.  If you are living and growing, you probably can’t answer either.  And that’s okay.  Be who you are; because, in your own way, you are amazing.

 

 #WhoAmI #MakeItGreat 

Posted in Philosophy

Have or Make…..

My father-in-law was in the habit of saying goodbye with ‘have a great one…’.  He was a thoughtful man and truly wanted you to have, not a ‘good’, but a ‘great one’.  However, phrase ‘have a great..’ anything has always struck me a bit passive, almost submissive.    Why be satisfied with ‘have a great one’ when you can ‘MAKE a great one’?

You’re in control of, and responsible for, yourself.  How you think about and perceive things.  How you act and react.  If you want a great day why wait for fate, or destiny, or someone else to give it to you.  No one can make it great, or crappy, except for you.  You choose.

Every minute of every day you are presented with challenges.  Opportunities to excel.  How you perceive them dictates how you will respond.  Will you allow them, or someone, to control the outcome?  Should you? Why would you?

If you are going to resolve to do anything this new year, commit yourself to taking charge of yourself and MAKE a great one….

And in the world we live in today I’d be remise not to include my Dad’s succinct goodbye… ‘watch out for the crazies…’  I’m just glad he didn’t say ‘watch out; you’re crazy…’

MAKE A GREAT ONE….It’s crazy not to…..

 

#watchoutforthecrazies  #makeagreatone