Restless Hearts

Why are some people given to wanderlust and others find refuge in safe harbors along the coasts of life? What is it in our upbringing, our DNA, our psyche that drives the wanderer?

I used to think that it was a search for adventure. Traveling to far off countries, experiencing new cultures, and cataloging new experiences, but I realized there is more to it than travel. My pilgrim roots go far deeper than my geographical wanderings. I find I am easily seduced to by a new idea, a bold revelation, a new opportunity. Complacency, ritual and rote behavior eat at me like a cancer. Put me in an office for 8 hours a day, or worse yet - stick me on an assembly line attaching some gadget to a new Toyota and I would soon be locked away in some Charter Hospital.

My heart is always in motion, restless, longing for adventure, seeking new worlds and opportunities. There are days I feel like a wild stallion who has had a bit forced into his mouth. I strain against the world's attempt to tame and domesticate me. I want to run free - to feel the wind blow through my hair (what is left of it), to climb Everest and then sail around the world.

You can't contain a restless heart. The best you can do is to steer it responsibly, point it in the direction that contributes to others and isn't spent on selfish ambition. So, as I sit in a cold, drab cubicle on a Friday morning I am forced to comtemplate - what is my next great adventure?

Turn Right

Each decision you make today will take you closer to your goals or further from them. That is not particularly profound, but it is true. When I get up each morning, I go through a simple exercise - I make a list of things I need to accomplish that will take me closer to my goals.

Each day is filled with decisions that will take you closer to where we want to be or farther from your dreams. Do I turn right, or left when I come to a fork in the road? Let me give you a simple example from this week. About a week ago I bought a couple of Kit Kat candy bars. I ate one and left the other in the fridge at work. Over the weekend I decided it was time to get serious about my eating habits and get back to the gym. This morning I went to the fridge to get a bottled water (that I spike with Hydroxycut) and staring at me was the abandoned Kit Kat bar. A simple decision right - eat it and move further from my goals, give it to a co-worker and move closer to my goals (not that it helped their diet any). Fortunately I also had 100 calorie Slim Fast bars in my drawer making my decision easier.

Making a series of small, but RIGHT decisions makes an impact. Here is a list of decisions I made this week to move closer to some of my goals:

1. I opened an Amazon resllers account so I can sell some old books gathering dust (made $32.50 the first day). I also plan to sell fundraising guides designed for the Kindle Reader.
2. I added three new books to my personal development list to read and started the first one.
3. I ordered P90X to suppliment my workouts (or as I  understand - it becomes the workout).
4. I didn't eat that candy bar today and gave it away so I wouldn't be tempted.
5. After this blog I will return to writing the first fundraising guide designed for high school bands, sports teams, or any agency needing to raise a few hundred to a few thousand dollars (as a group or individually).

How about you? Are your decisions moving you closer, or further from your goals.

Redefining your dreams

When I was a child I used to dream about being a professional baseball player. In the summers I would leave the house after breakfast and play ball until it was too dark to see. I pictured myself hitting the home run in the bottom of the ninth inning, or turning an unassisted double-play to end the game.

By high school I knew I wasn't destined for fame as a professional athelete and soon other dreams and ambitions begin to fill my mind. A successful entrepreneur, a famous attorney, a gifted writer. My mind explored lots of possibilities and I have seen my share of successes and failures along the way. Through it all I learned a couple of important lessons:

1. I can't expect anyone else to be as excited about my dreams as I am. In many cases, there are those who would squash my dreams, or serve as obstacles along the way.
2. I may have to redefine my dreams along the way. Sometimes life just says NO!

A couple of years ago I had my life planned out pretty clearly. My work, family and future all looked pretty bright, but I soon realized that everyone wasn't reading from the same script. I could have become bitter, disappointed, or just given up, but what I choose to do is redefine my dreams.

The world may laugh as I battle windmills, or encourage me to stay down when life delivers another blow, but that just isn't my nature. If you want me to stay down, you better knock me out. If you expect me to quit, or surrender to the naysayers or pessimists of this world you don't know me too well.

Its never too late to live your dreams.