BACK TO REALITY

While I was off gallivanting about the Caribbean, it snowed here in Kansas City.  It's snowing again today.  There is something almost naughty about having a (slight) tan when it is snowing out and knowing you got it legitimately.  I think that's what's so fun about vacations ... you can get away from reality for a little while.

However, I realized something while I was on my little reality escape.  Reality comes with you.

One of the exercises I often have people go through when I'm coaching them is to determine their life mission statement.  I help them identify what they are doing with their lives, for whom and why.  I've done this in my own life.  My own life's mission statement is to help people become who they are meant to be.

Help people

become

who they are meant to be.

This, I believe, is why I am here.  I believe life IS meaningful.  I believe there is a person you are MEANT to be.  And I believe no one else can be that person but you.

I believe it is your job to figure out who that person is and to become that person.  You must.  Otherwise, we're missing you.

The "reality comes with you" part is this: while I was gone, I kept running into chances to help people become who they are meant to be.  Over and over again I "happened" upon people who needed to be reminded that they are meaningful and their life can have purpose. Sometimes I did something about it... Bob who we met in the elevator - I'll be calling you this week. John on the plane - who knows what he wants, just not how to get it. Courtney who helped me parasail for the first time and who needed to be reminded that what she found in Key West is actually inside her.

Sometimes I didn't....Ken and Barry from the wine tasting - I didn't take the opportunity to listen as closely to you as I should have. "Little Stevie" - I wish I'd connected sooner and better with you. The brown-sugar-only-for-my-oatmeal lady at breakfast (a.k.a. these-eggs-benedict-aren't-the-same-as-yesterday's-eggs-benedict lady), well, frankly, you bugged the crap out of me and I didn't really want to help you become anything but gone.

But regardless of whether or not I took advantages of the chances to live out my life mission or not, the opportunities were there.

And that's my point.  The opportunities are there for you to have a meaningful life.  They are all around you.  I don't agree with some who believe that life is mundane.  I believe it is your choice to accept the mundane. 

We do have a choice.

Comments

[-Birdy-]

Throwin' down the philisophical gauntlet, huh?

[Jenne]

You think so?

[Wendy]

I love the word gallivanting. (and I agree, we have a choice.)

[Donna]

Encounters like this happen on airplane rides and other traveling adventures so much-I often wonder why people keep to themselves more often than not. Last weekend's trip to Portland offered similar opportunities. Some folks are reasonably open and communicative, others static, still others, a vault; or worse, like Eggs Benedict swimming in such a small glass of water. 'Why for?' Me thinks. Why for.