Real Achievement

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We all have our own doubt regarding events that may or may not have happened. A close friend of mine has always questioned whether we actually landed on the moon on July 20, 1969. He doesn't doubt the later landings, but that first one still makes him wonder. When you accomplish anything in life, chances are there will be those that question it. And the picture above is 'tongue-in-cheek' of course regarding accomplishment. I look beyond the obvious statement and note that we can fool others but we can not fool our self.

As hard as you try, you know the truth of your own accomplishments in life.

Which leads us to being truthful about self. I have known people that repeat an untruth about themselves for so long that they begin to believe the legend. The stage is theirs and the audience becomes them self as well. It soon becomes a problem knowing what is the real truth and what isn't. But deep inside, you really know which one it is.

The truth eventually catches up with you.

The paper walls that you built will crumble around and leave you naked before all. And it is in the depths that you must rebuild the truth within yourself before anyone else will ever return as an audience. Which means you will be on stage, all alone, no audience.

Accomplishment becomes a label that others put on you. It is not something we place upon ourselves. You will know accomplishment inside and be able to pursue even more when it is truthful. Others may question it at first, but eventually they will see it for real in your purpose and action.

Be truthful to yourself and your accomplishments will shine on their own.

Stay inspired my friends!

Even the Smallest

"Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies." ~Mother Teresa

As we watch the Major Baseball playoffs, it reminds me of a story regarding a pitcher named Roy Halladay. Roy became only the second person to ever throw a no-hitter in post season play on October 5, 2010. It was quite an accomplishment when you look at the history of baseball. More amazing is that on May 29 of that same year, Halladay had also pitched the 20th perfect game ever in Major League Baseball history.

As they say, "27 up, 27 down" to complete the game.

So what can pitching a no-hitter in baseball have to do with living a great life. Most certainly having that level of talent brings adulation and money, lots of money that helps make life comfortable. But it is the person behind the talent, their character, that makes a great life. And Roy Halladay did something beyond just receiving acclaim for his accomplishments.

After pitching the perfect game earlier that year in May, he arranged to commemorate the accomplishment. Halladay went and presented 60 Swiss-made Baume and Mercier watches he had purchased to everyone in the clubhouse. Each were presented in boxes bearing the inscription: "We did it together. Thanks, Roy Halladay." To top it off, on the back of each watch was engraved the date of the game, the line score, and the individual recipient's name.

Those sixty people were not just his fellow ball-players. They were the coaches, the trainers, and people that others might have considered to be insignificant participants to his accomplishment.

But not to Roy.

Roy understood and acknowledged that even the smallest of us have a large impact on success in life. While you toil away at something in life, you may feel insignificant. Just know that even the smallest flower along the roadside serves a grand purpose. The nectar a bee consumes, which creates food for the hive yet sustains the bee to carry on the pollination of other plants. The smallest flower is involved in the circle that will carry life forward.

And if we have greatness in our life, we need to remember and acknowledge all the other people that helped us accomplish it. For without many others your life can not be sustained for very long. Without the smallest flowers, the bee has less to draw upon. In time, the bee can no longer sustain its grand work. Even the largest depend upon the small; life is pretty grand in that respect.

So know that your life is never too big to have done so on your own. Nor is your life too small not to have an impact on the life of another person. Not all of us can pitch a no-hitter, but each of us can make a difference in the life of another. And when we impact the lives of other people, its as good as having a "27 up and 27 down" great life.

Stay inspired my friends!