A Purpose

"Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction." -John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Purpose and direction, two of the things that can be essential to living a happy life. Where are we headed and why? It is a pretty simple question but can be very difficult to answer. We question ourselves over and over trying to figure this one out. So much that we can become mired in the muddiness of the question itself.

As we try to answer the question, we work hard in trying to get somewhere. We say if we just work hard enough, put out enough effort, we will end up where we want. But where is it you will end up if you do not have any idea where "that place" is?

You may be asking yourself now, "gosh, he always says that we need to get up and move in order to make change." Am I saying that you should sit still until you figure out that purpose and direction? Of course not and traveling in circles is not a good idea either.

What I am trying to tell you is that you need to get up and move. Change will come as you head off in one direction. The idea though is to examine the direction you are headed. You may find that it is not correct, but at least now you know what "is not" the purpose for your life.

I liken it to someone giving up everything to minister to the poor, sick, orphaned, and dying like Mother Teresa. You may find that once you start heading in that direction, it really is not using your abilities very well. It could be that you were meant to make millions of dollars in the business world like the author J. K. Rowling whom has contributed tens of millions to fight poverty.

While Mother Teresa has passed on, what she left behind continues to accomplish a tremendous amount. What Ms. Rowling is doing will also live on for a very long time. Both created purpose and direction in their life; they are examples at both ends of the spectrum. You can accomplish an awful lot somewhere in between as well.

As you can see, it is in getting up and moving that starts to create change. You examine that change, evaluate it as you move and then change direction until you one fine moment realize, "this is my purpose and direction." It will happen when you least expect it. And above all, stay inspired my friends.

Travel with Purpose

Pilgrim statue by Jose María Acuña in front of Parador de San Marcos - LEON, SPAIN

"Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends." ~Maya Angelou

I am fortunate enough in life that my job gives me the opportunity to travel all around the world. It certainly isn't every week or even every month that I travel abroad, but so many places I have seen.

Some of these places I have been able to share with my wife. Others I have had to document in pictures and stories for her and those that I know. The world is still quite large in spite of how small it seems at times.

The statue above reminded me of the pilgrimage all of us are on. The journey to something in life that requires us to sit and reflect at times. A short rest from the travel we endure each and every day.

It could be your daily pilgrimage around your hometown or possibly across state. Where ever the road leads you in life, I have found people are pretty much the same as you and I are.

People all around the world, from where I am today in Shenzhen, China across the globe to my home in Atlanta, Georgia; all are living life the best way they know how. Each of us get up in the morning and get ready for work. If we have kids, we are getting them off to school. We are battling traffic to get to our job or running to catch a bus or train.

The work goes on, the lunch time routine and back home to make supper or shop for groceries; it remains the same for all of us. If we look beyond ourselves, we'll find that our similarities outnumber the differences. The languages might be different, the cultures not understood, but the act of living is the same.

I might be the only red-headed Irish-German within 100 miles of Shenzhen. Although there was the teen with brightly painted red hair walking down the street. But as you can see, even young people go through their phases across the cultures and generations.

If we take the time to look beyond ourselves, to look beyond the distance and cultural differences, maybe we can work things out. The arguments and disagreements will still occur; even our own families argue. Yet to understand each other a little better could go a long way in making life a little better.

Travel with purpose to understand those near to you and those far from you. The journey will take us to a better life, a better way of living and a better tomorrow.