Focus on What is Really Important

When life is difficult and seems incredibly unfair, it is so easy to slip into a funk. But moping about doesn’t do a damn bit of good. I’d rather use my energy in positive ways. I want to see barriers as opportunities and challenges. Thank goodness I have friends who hug me, feed me dark chocolate and remind me of this perspective when my hope grows dim.

If you need a shot of inspiration, you might want to try listening to Randy Pausch’s Last Lecture. It did me a world of good when I needed it most. The quote that keeps me going today is:

But remember, the brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough. They’re there to stop the other people.

I remind myself…”Glenda, don’t be wimp. Don’t throw yourself against brick walls. And whatever you do, don’t stop focusing on what is really important. Find a way over, around or under the brick walls. Or take 10 giant steps backwards and make sure that wall is really the best way to climb on the way to making the world a better place.”

4 comments

  1. I spotted this via your Twitter stream a couple of weeks ago and went off and watched it. Both humbling and awe inspiring. Thank you for passing it on and for anyone that hasn’t seen it you really should. It’s an hour well spent.

  2. You are an inspiration, Glenda. I keep pummeling against those brick walls where I work and thinking how much easier it would be to stop trying so hard. Then I go to a PESO meeting, and everyone there seems to speak my language, and it gives me hope. Your description at one of the meetings recently about how you turned a vendor around was amazing. Hang in there!

  3. I am wondering… does it have to be this way? I mean, yes life can be a series of brick walls, one after the other. But let me talk about another approach.

    A Greek poet used to mention a woman he admired. What he found really impressive was her ability to live the way things came. In difficult times she let the river flow. In happy times again she let the river flow. She didn’t try to change the river.

    Yes, life is unfair. And there are not many things we can do to change this. But we can focus on doing what’s good for us and the others, try to discover what we like to do in our life and smile (and laugh) the most often we can.

Comments are closed.