Does fear control your life?

“If you don’t do the thing you fear, then fear controls your life.”

I was a freshman in high school walking to school by myself.  A rock came whizzing by my head.  I looked back and it was the Taska brothers – all three of them.  Two older than me, all taller; jackasses alone, emboldened together. 

I kept walking, a little faster now.  Another rock came by.  Then one hit me in the back.  If I ran, I’d have to face them again in the future.

I stopped.  I turned around with my fight face on, ready for whatever might happen.  They closed the gap on me.  I stood my ground and stared them in.  When they got to me, they walked around, mumbling tough guy noises.

That was that.  I never had to deal with them again.

Getting older?

“It is magnificent to grow old, if one stays young.” – Harry Emerson Fosdick

There’s nothing that says you have to act your age.

Say "YES"!

Some people say “no” as a default.

Say “YES!” 

Yes, I’ll try it.  Yes, I’ll go there.  Yes, I’ll check it out.  Yes, I will meet them.  Yes, I will learn about that.

A life of fun and adventure opens up when you say “YES”.

"…or die in the attempt"

If you don’t try for fear of failing (dying), you can be sure you will die not trying and not having achieved much. 

There are two types of suffering

There are two types of suffering – short-term and long-term.  

You have to decide which you want.

Life does not just get better on it's own

Action must be taken on a day-to-day basis to make it better.

What are you doing to make your life better?

Fulfilling your cup

Filling your cup is not the same as fulfilling your cup.

We remain empty until we fulfill from the inside.  

Temporary satisfaction on repeat is not living to your full potential and it sure doesn’t equal fulfillment.

Civil Illiteracy

Can you imagine – Only 51% of Americans can name all three branches of government?

71% can’t identify the Constitution as the supreme law of the land.

62% can not identify the governor of their state.

63% can not name one of their state’s senators.

The US constitution is an exquisite charter of freedom, but freedom requires patriots, not passersby.  It demands fierce defenders, not feeble bystanders.

A republic comes with responsibility.  Each generation has an obligation to pass on to the next, not only a fully functioning government responsive to the needs of the people, but the tools to understand and improve it.  Education is a crucible for good citizenship.

“If a nation expects to be ignorant and free…it expects what never was and never will be.  Education enables every man to judge for himself what will secure or endanger his freedom.” – Thomas Jefferson

Be clear on YOU.

Three simple questions.  Can you answer them?

1) Who are you?

Not who others want you to be.  What makes you happy?  What makes you sad?

2) What do you stand for?

What do you believe in?  What do you not believe in?

3) What impact (difference) are you trying to make?

What are you trying to make happen that would not have happened without you?

Don't forget to live

There’s been a lot of fear put out there in recent times.

“By fearing death, we forget to live.”

Don’t forget.