Do you know for sure what you’ll end up doing in your future life? That may sound a little strange and maybe silly at first glance but I will tell you what I’ve found in my own experience. When I was a kid I was so shy that I, when I tried to look ahead at myself in some extremely distant future world, all I could fathom was that because of my debilitating insecurities I would probably be working in an extremely low paying and out-of-the-way job for the rest of my life! But, I had this one dream, after being bullied by an older kid and beat up on the school bus nearly every day, that I was going to get as fit, strong and independent enough to fight back my current, as well as all future, oppressors! Little did i know at the time what this “active decision and personal choice” on my part would mean and forever change the way I looked at my future!
I have since been the first in my family of 5 boys to get a college degrees (2 actually), one in computer programming and another in science (nursing) and have worked 15 years primarily in CCU. I also have been a functional trainer for around 20 years! I have also done many bodybuilding and powerlifting events, as well as run over 300 marathons and over 250 half marathons as well as 30 + ultras (races longer than a marathon of 26.2 miles) including several Pikes Peak marathons and “doublers” (a marathon on Saturday and then a half the following day on Sunday).
Having said that, looking back, I owe pretty much all of that to that one long ago day when I was only 12 years old and was really only thinking about getting that darn bully to stop beating the heck out of me! That and the fact that I’m pretty “bull-headed” and don’t easily give up or in on things I’m excited about! I truly feel that without making that choice and following my feelings, I would still be hidden in some low paying minimum wage job and totally disliking who and what I was!
So let’s get back to what I’ve named this little story: “What do you need to become before you become what you need?” I needed to feel like I had a reason and purpose in my life! I made a choice that eventually led me to fulfill those desires. So what I’m saying is that you don’t need the entire picture showing you everything! You just need to ask the right questions and go where the answers lead you and never ever give up on yourself! Now go out there and live your life! Life@62!
