The Journey
from
A to B
Sunset, Venice Beach, Jan. 2001
What
makes life worth living?
Self-actualization.
Passion. Give your
life meaning, because we are only here for a short period of time.
Every second of every minute counts.
Make a conscious effort to use each minute wisely.
The closer you get to achieving your ultimate potential, the closer
you get to God. Love
yourself first. Focus on making you the best you can be; others
will feel your passion, your zest for life, and crave to share in the
positive energy you radiate!
Time
is our most precious resource. Between our first breath, to the time we
exhale our last, we have only a limited amount of time. We can never make
more of it, or buy more of it. Once
its gone, we can never get it back. Make
sure that each minute you breathe, you are doing something productive,
something that will ultimately take you closer to where you are going;
make a difference here on earth. Be
aware of how your precious time is spent.
Be cognizant of your activities as they relate to the realization
of your ultimate goals, whatever they may be.
Realize
that time is never wasted if we are using it in a productive way.
That is, doing the things we want to do, that will contribute to
our peace of mind, quiet our spirit, and bring us closer to achieving what
we are aiming for. Recreation
and play are healthy, and important to keep the spirit energized and
healthy. Even a seemingly
non-productive activity such as lying around on the couch for an afternoon
can be purposeful. Rest is as
important as the hardest work toward a goal.
It is what allows one to continue to work with maximal effort.
Someone
intelligent and famous once said, “Expect nothing from life.
The world does not owe you a living.”
You owe it to yourself to make the most out of what God has given
you.
Remember, though, that “making the most” out of what you’ve got is a subjective term. Be sure that you clearly identify your own goals, and priorities. What is important to you? Where do you want to be? Your own “most” may not necessarily correlate with society’s definition of what is important in life. Remember, your goals are just that, your own! It is ok if your goals are not the goals that others may have for you, because ultimately, you are the only one who is living your life. So, live it!
Sunset, just west of Phoenix, AZ...
DEFINE
YOUR “B” :
GOALS:
Goals
are what give our life meaning. Whether
it be focusing on children and the success of one’s family, or
achievements in sporting competition, or striving to be the best lawyer or
stock broker in one’s area, having a goal gives one a reason
to get up in the morning, to hop out of bed and attack life with
passion, zest and vigor.
True
story: a very successful
business woman and single mother of 4 once was asked why she didn’t get
depressed with having to do without certain luxuries and comforts during
the raising of her children, and the beginnings of her business.
She worked 6 days a week, 8-10 hrs each day, after getting up
earlier than her children to make their lunches to send them to school or
to child care. She would make
her children eat breakfast each morning, and the family would have a late
supper each night, so that they could all share their adventures of the
day. She worked and lived
frugally, but the children were helped through college, and are all now
graduates, successful in their own endeavors.
Her reply to the question about depression was, “I don’t have
time to be depressed. If I
start to get down because of the heap of frustrations that challenge me
daily, I sit back and reassess my situation.
I look down the road, over the heap, to focus on my goals.
Then, I see what I am in need of, whether it be sleep, or a little
recreation. I satisfy my need
as best as I can, and then I continue on toward the achievement of my
goals. If I get a little down, it usually means I need to sleep a
bit, so that I can work harder! If
I feel depressed, it means I am not working hard enough!!”
Define what is most important to you, in your life. God has given us a brief flash of life to live, and the free will to do as we please, go where we may, live how we choose, within the parameters and limits of our environment.
From
your current position in your life, (your "A")
Pick your “B”, draw the map (do the necessary research to make
an accurate map, given the tools at your disposal at the time), then take
the first step. It has been
said that “the road to success begins with a single step.”
How true this is!
Take
the next step. Keep walking.
Reassess
periodically. First,
look back and observe the amount of ground you have covered!
Feel good about your achievements thus far. You have come a distance since the first step!
Next, ask yourself some very important questions:
1. Am I getting closer to “B”? or have I drifted a bit from my path?
2. Is my map accurate? In other words, am I taking the shortest, or most efficient path to my goal?
3. Do I need to consult with a professional “map-maker”? Could he help me make my road quicker? My travel more efficient? More pleasant? Learn from the experts. Popular motivational speaker, Anthony Robbins, states, “Success leaves clues.” Consult those who have been where you are going; observe and learn from both their successes, and mistakes.
4.
Given the amount of effort
anticipated to get to your “B”, is it worth it?
If
you find that your destination is too far, or the road is too rough, that
is ok…it just means that your goal did not mean enough for you to follow
through and achieve it. There
is no shame in changing directions, or goals; with each step, we get a
clearer picture of our goal, and sometimes it is not as appealing as it
was from the view at “A”...
If it is the case, that as we see our goal more clearly, we realize it is not worth what we thought it was, then we must stop all efforts toward that goal, and refocus on a more meaningful endeavor. This is not to say that we should fear hard work, effort and commitment toward a goal, for it is exactly the price of attaining that goal that gives it value. The rougher the road, the more costly and difficult the achievement of that goal, the sweeter the joy when it is reached.
HONESTY
THE TRUTH, THAT’S ALL THERE
REALLY IS:
It
is tough to always be true to oneself; and true with oneself.
The truth can be brutal. To
be able to look in the mirror and see the reflection objectively is an
invaluable skill. If we can
learn to become familiar with our own wants, desires, motivations, and
weaknesses we are a step closer to being fulfilled. When
one is able to look at oneself in the mirror, and smile, what a beautiful
day it is! Remember, that
self-respect, and self-love are the foundation for loving others, and
changing the world for the better.
Focus
on your needs first, and love yourself.
Wake up each morning, and take an honest look in the mirror.
Ask yourself which areas of your life need work on the journey
toward your own self-actualization. Commit
yourself to making an improvement in your own situation, in some small
way, each morning, as you face your true self in the mirror.
Over time, you will get closer and closer to the you
that you want to be. With
yourself taken care of, you will have the ability to share the inner peace
and positive energy you possess with others.
Others will recognize your power, want to be with you, to be able
to share in it. This is the
way to elevate the spirit of the world. A quick thought: imagine if
everyone in the world was truly honest with themselves, and others,
and on their way to becoming the best person they could be?
There would be no jealousy, no insecurity, no vengeance, no need
for crime, or hostility. It
would be a better world!
I
read a quote somewhere about positive attitude. It is difficult at times to look on the bright side of
everything, but the quote stated something like this: “ Work like you
don’t need the money, love like you’ve never been hurt, dance like
nobody is watching.” Cute,
but true, really. Every
situation in life presents us with a choice.
We can choose to be hurt, or focus on the negative; or we can come
away from every situation looking at the positive aspect of the
experience. Focus on what was
gained from each encounter, each interaction, each happening in our short
life. Each experience is just
that, “experience”.
With every task, trial, or mountain to climb, we learn something new. It may be just that the knowledge gained from an experience is learning how not to do something. But, then, even that is useful information, something that we didn’t know before!
Anthony S. DiRusso
1969-1994
"The end, therefore, is irrelevant...
all is the path...
the path is all..."
This portion of my web site is dedicated to Anth.
You know, he's lookin' at 'cha from every angle!
He lived more in 23 years than most people live
in a full lifetime!
Miss ya, bro...but you know that, don't you?