“Do one thing every day that scares you.â€Eleanor Roosevelt
“When you are courting a nice girl an hour seems like a second. When you sit on a red-hot cinder a second seems like an hour. That’s relativity.” Albert Einstein
“A man should look for what is, and not for what he thinks should be.”Albert Einstein
The beauty of blogging if you take it seriously lies in the ability to write down your thoughts and ideas about life.
It is the chance to explore what you really think and to let your imagination run wild. It is the chance to share stories about life and to consider not just the breadth of our experiences but the depth.
That is part of what I wrestle with, the depth that is. When you look at posts like If You Only Had One Day and ask me to give you serious answers I do my best based upon what i think I know at that moment.
Things change. People Change.
Moments In Time
When you ask me if I fear depth I will tell you I don’t but I don’t want to meet it any sooner. As my grandfather once told me if death shows before I am ready I will do my best to kick his bony ass and send him along his way because I have things to do.
What I want is time to collect more moments in time. I want time to expand the depth of my knowledge and experiences in a variety of areas. It is why I want to live to be a thousand, I need time to expand that depth.
I need time to become an expert in more areas and the thought that I won’t have the time is what bothers me most.
It is not because I fear being forgotten because I don’t. I am confident that I am making a difference in the lives of others, perhaps it is not as many as I wish but it is better than nothing.
Do The Thing That Scares You
I have done it and I am doing it, perhaps not as aggressively as I would like to but nonetheless it is happening.
Steps have been taken, hard choices have been made and possibilities are explored with the hopes that they will turn into opportunities.
I don’t know about you, but sometimes I feel like I am living some version of Dylan’s Subterranean Homesick Blues. If you don’t understand what that means all I can say is maybe one day we’ll get a chance to discuss it.
Someday when my children look upon this blog and or talk about my life I want them to see that I lived a life that was more than just doing what I had to do because that is not living to me.
Living involves reaching for the extra step and trying to run down the things that you really want, even if it means you have to take a risk.
Selfish Needs Are Necessary
The blog affords the opportunity to portray our lives as we wish others to see them. It gives you a chance to paint a pretty picture but my goal isn’t to paint a picture that portrays me in nothing but a positive light.
Nor is it to try to provide you with a platform for self or public flagellation either. I am human and that means I am a mix of things, some good, some bad and some in between.
When I think about life I see a need to try to include the opportunity to go after the selfish needs as well as those that are selfless.
Many people don’t like to do that because they don’t want to be seen as selfish, but sometimes we have to be, especially as parents.
As It Relates To Blogging
As it relates to blogging I still advocate the need to write about the things that you enjoy writing about. If you can’t include passion and personality into your writing you are missing out on the opportunity to share joy in the journey and to have fun.
And this is too much work not to have fun with.
What about you? What do you think?
I’ve often discovered in my own life that when I feel like quitting, if I just push myself just a little more, THAT’s when true growth comes and great things result.
I love those moments!
This reminds me of what I’ve been up to lately, and just thinking about it makes me scared. I have been interviewed in the newspaper, talking about my book, and I have been on the local radio (for 1 hour) talking about my book, my business and a vegetarian festival I am going to launch this summer. I said yes, because I know how important it is, but it was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life.
Hi Jens,
That sounds great. It sounds like your business is really growing and that opportunity is just waiting for you to take it by the horns. I wish you much success in all this. That is awesome.
Wow Jack, this is SUCH a meaty post with so much to think about! I admit, I fear death. I wish I didn’t but I do. Maybe it was my cancer diagnosis at 34 (15 years ago) or maybe it’s my lack of religion. I wish I could come to terms with that inevitable fact but I can’t.
Hi Stacie,
I think it is reasonable and understandable that you would fear death. I have had some close shaves, but nothing like yours. Maybe if I had I would feel differently, I don’t know. I just am not worried about it other than as it pertains to my kids.
It’s good to hear you can make some you time. We all need to make time for that.
Yes sir, that we do.