As a 22-year old in perfect health I know I have a lot to be thankful for. I’m a musician that’s been living in New York City for the past four years and I’m incredibly happy to tell you all that I haven’t come remotely close to reaching my goals yet. Not close at all. I’m quite serious. Do you want to know something, though? That’s the best news I’ll ever tell you. I’m a young man with a college education and if I know one thing it’s this: I’m supposed to be fighting it right now. I don’t want to have made it. What would that be saying? “I guess it’s not that hard out there after all.”
I’m about to embark on my own great-American journey, something I feel called to do, and as far as I’m concerned, a right of passage for myself. Only through hard work can great things come. Only through sacrifice or loss can true appreciation of life exist. In this world some of us may be lucky enough to be given a chance to do something really special, something really big. When the right time, the right person, and the right tools come together, there’s no saying how much the world can change.
I’ve been very blessed on this journey so far. A lot of very smart people have told me a lot of very good things during my time, but there’s one voice that I’ve come to appreciate quite a bit recently, and that’s my own. You’d be surprised what we may do to ignore ourselves. It’s sad, really, because we’ve got a very special friend locked in our hearts that usually always has our best in mind as I’ve found out that mine does.
This may sound counterproductive if not little short of insane, but I don’t want it to be easy right now. I want it to be worth something. I don’t want to be satisfied. I want to earn something. Lance knows that. He knew that every single day that he was tearing his thighs apart charging up the Alps in the heat, rain, and snow. He knew that everyday he was away from his couch, his TV, his refrigerator. His friends knew that when every time they called him he was training on his bike. I don’t know that, but I want to know it. I want to get to the top of the mountain and know that if I don’t do it again tomorrow someone else will. It’s a bit crazy, maybe, but I’m ok with that.
I hope someday in the long future I’ll look back at my next few years and say “What was I thinking?”
4 comments:
Press on, friend! The ride called life has just begun. Thanks for the reminder. :)
Kelli
Good Luck. RANGER
You made the comment "I haven't come remotely close to reaching my goals yet." You will probably say that to some extent for the rest of your life. Most of us do. If you climb one mountain, there's another one to challenge us. We, as human beings, especially driven people, like yourself, are usually never 100% satisfied. That's what keeps us going. That's what keeps us motivated. We do, however, need to take time to appreciate the steps, and celebrate life's accomplishments along the way. We need to take time to be grateful. Being grateful is so powerful. It gives us a spring to our step. It gives us a reason to achieve and share. I agree with you, we need to listen to our own voices, but we should be careful not to isolate ourselves. No man is an island. We need interaction from other human beings. We need God. God sees the whole picture. God gives us the ability to listen to our own hearts. God helps us find that peace deep within ourselves. When we have that peace, then we know that we are on the right track. You say that you don't want to be satisfied, and that you want to earn something. You say that you don't want it to be easy, and that you want it to be worth something. Worth what? Earn what? Accomplish what? Only you and God know. Reach deep. Reach deep. Reach deep. Best to you, Nick.
You sound very driven and excited. Good for you. Yes, follow your voice and your heart. Go for it! I'll be anxious to follow your blogs on your continuing journey.
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