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CHOOSE DOING
Tuesday Apr. 7, 2015
Infinite choices for everyone.
So many of us, so often, choose stuck, or stalled …
My life is neither unique, novel or destined for extraordinary/great (already is, many ways) in any lesser way than anyone.
We are already good at many things – funding engines, foundation for dreams, to make impossibilities possible.
My issues, dreams, crashes/dashes, foibles/follies …
So typical, occurring in you too – the next guy, next gal. Differences on surface – appearance, voice, personality, career, accomplishments, financial status, where we live. We are all identical – we ache for others, silently agonize over everything we’ve failed to become – in eyes of our parents, in eyes of our children – harshly berating ourselves with disdain, disgust, disappointment.
When we do that we DON’T stand up to defend ourselves.
We just take it.
We should all just take a break.
I mean BRAKE.
No mid-life re-examination of goals, priorities, life ambitions … no re-directing, re-purposing or re-inventing business, career or product.
I mean taking a breather.
Letting our great dreams catch up, catch wind in their sails, parameters sorted – then acted upon.
Taking time to think somewhere else, somewhere relevant, somewhere pleasant and peaceful is what every travel agent should advocate – and I endorse that. Having said that, I believe this sort of work can be done anywhere we choose.
There is the rub.
Choosing.
Not talking about it, talking around it – but actually doing.
I don’t know exactly what’s next.
Many fermenting things still planned, new ones germinating, many half-baked ones abandoned. They litter the floor …
Opportunity, for me – not necessarily advocated for anyone else – floats airborne like wireless radio waves, an energy virus.
Haven’t we been there in this mode, ready for an opportunity to show up?
We say things like that, but when they arrive, do we really take action?
Change opportunities showing up on proverbial plates every day; most often disguised in questions, debate …. or just floating by.
We watch them fly by.
Not to say studying something before acting is a bad idea – it isn’t.
Research, thought, planning – they all matter, have their place.
If we are going to do anything good, we need lots of that.
And luck. And passion. We need to feel gut-level angst, ‘go for it’ even when odds, odds-makers and everyone we look to for counsel and support are shouting ‘NOoooo!.
Most often, it is our own chicken-belly warding us off.
We all know incredibly talented people, doing things well below their capabilities.
We see them stuck, fearful, lacking courage to leap.
When we think that – we should immediately walk ourselves to a mirror. Take a good look.
Facing, rather than navel gazing, is what we need.
That’s what I needed.
That’s what I’ve been doing here more than anything. Examining what I can do, what I ought to do – rationally as I know how, asking, “Mark, what do you want to do?”, measuring against every project, idea and venture currently on my plate …
Best venture is adventure.
Best life is an adventuring one.
Best results, I believe, are achieved by making our lives valuable in pursuit of worthy dreams, causes, projects. Most of all – doing important work with, for and involving worthy people.
I’m one of those worthy people.
So are all of you.
Mark Kolke
P.S.: as I publish this I know Charlie Cina reading it and planning to call – to say, “hey Mark, we should design a seminar series around this and take it on the road ….” , and I look forward to that call Charlie.
column written/ published from Paia, Maui, HI
morning walk: 17C/63F (weather site says 16% chance of precipitation – but I’ve been in the middle of steady rain for about two hours now, so I think it is really raining!), and then it ended. I went out for my walk to mostly clear sky, sunshine and some rain drops still blowing around – a breakfast burrito from Hana Foods started my engine. Fore! …
Reader feedback:
MY BAGGAGE MY TRAVELS
Mid-journey one intrepid traveller noted “we’re not in Kansas anymore” but finally observed “there’s no place like home”. Enjoy the journey (and the detours), KK, Calgary AB
It is said that home is where the heart is; here in Texas the saying is "home is where you hang your hat": Is home a comfort zone we carry around with us? Is it the place where the heart is happiest? I have come to realize that my heart can be as flighty as a hummingbird and for the most part is truly happy no matter where these wings take it. However, here in the Piney Woods of Texas there is great comfort gathered from the tall, tall trees; the swiftly running creek at the back of the property; the many bird songs (some familiar, some yet to be identified) and the chickens. Yes, the chickens. I never thought I would enjoy the company of chickens; and yet here I am among the roosties (free range roosters) and the bearer of many breakfasts (our egg layers). Maybe the saying should be "life is where the heart is." GW, Bon Wier, Tx.
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