A Sore Knee

"Life's real failure is when you do not realize how close you were to success when you gave up." -Unknown

I was listening to Jill Sweetman speak the other day and she related a story I found interesting. She was speaking about having worked out in our new fitness center. Afterwards, she was talking with some folks and indicated that her knee was quite sore. A physical therapist was in the group and told her that it was very likely not the knee but a muscle above the knee causing her pain.

It was interesting to me because when we have a complaint in our life, it is likely not the complaint but something else that is the real cause of the issue. What we see at the surface is not the root cause. You need to look beyond and find what the source is.

To look at where the complaint or failure originates will allow us to see just how close we are to success. Success is just beyond complaint or giving up. The source of failing may not be what you think it is. Resolving the source of the complaint may require change on your part.

Whatever it is that causes your complaint should be the focus of your attention. If the knee is sore, concentrate on the muscles associated with it. If you are annoyed by others driving on the road, concentrate more on your behavior and attitude towards it. Focus on the source and make changes which will place you closer to success.

Until you deal with the real cause, the knee will remain sore. Boldly resolve to get beyond the complaint and closer to your dreams.

The Project

"I'm not in a hurry to do a lot of projects. I am very resolved in each project I take on." - Maya Lin

Your life is your project whether you want to realize it or not. It take four facets in order to get ahead and move forward in life. These are shown above and mean so much when it comes to seeking a great life.

The first one is to "DREAM" of what you want in your life. Great things in life do not normally just fall in your lap. That which you want is very personal and has to be something that you will hold onto as your very own.

Secondly, you have to "BELIEVE" in yourself and what you want in your life. It takes work to hold tight to that which you want. When other people are not providing encouragement or work to ridicule you, hang on and believe in yourself.

A third item is to "ACT" upon what it is you need. Sitting at home wishing and dreaming will not get you closer to the dream. It takes movement or action by you to begin working towards that dream. If its a new home, the simplest action might be to start saving extra money each week. Maybe it is to change jobs, then career training might be the right 'action' to take.

The last thing is to "REALIZE" your dream. It will happen and you will achieve great things. It is very possible that the final achievement may not be exactly what you first envisioned. Yet the end result will be exactly what you needed.

And when the dream is realized, dream again and again and again. Never stop moving forward in life. Enjoy and achieve all that you can. It is possible and it all starts with the sparkle of a dream.
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Keeping A Dream

“Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something, and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained.” - Marie Curie

A couple of good friends of mine here in the Atlanta area are guys that inspire me with their level of perseverance. Guys that I look up to as examples of not letting life beat you down. To continue on despite the difficulty.

Both were hit by the down swing in the job market a couple of years ago. The experts say the job market has rebounded but its certainly a different market. Many that were let go were older employees with higher paying salaries. When the various industries started hiring again, they were looking for young people and much lower salary costs.

In trying to get rehired, each of these individuals has continued to look, to try and reinsert themselves into their fields of experience. Both were very good and the circumstances each faced were beyond their control. So they keep doing what it takes to survive, not only for themselves but mainly for their families.

It can be painful to watch their struggle to regain what was lost. Yet I would never suggest that pain is even close to what they are going through. And every time I see these individuals, they are positive and continuing living each day. My wish is for each of them to find their way back into what it is they each do so well.

For each of us, they are great examples of perseverance in the wake of adverse conditions. Life has an odd and non-discriminatory way of placing burden upon people. Keep after your dream each day.