Change Your Life Friday

2021 Restart, Reset, & Relaunch

19. Do What You Love

Posted on May 10, 2013 by changeyourlifefriday

Do what you love, you will be better at it. It sounds pretty simple but you’d be surprised how many people don’t get this right away. -LL Cool J

One night last week I was down at the ballpark enjoying America’s past time. The home team was winning so I had a smile on my face. We were sitting in the bleachers and had some hot dogs; not too bad for 20 bucks. At our stadium they have a big 50/50 raffle that I tend to donate to, there are employees of the park that walk around the isles during the game and help sell tickets to raise money for their cause and also for the cause of one lucky winner. When the man came by this week I knew I recognized him but could not place him right away. He looked really happy and I realized that’s why I was having trouble placing him. It was an old roommate of mine and the whole time I lived with him he never looked happy. Sure he smiled, he was happy at times, but his overall demeanor was less than thrilled on a regular basis.

I was so taken back with his 180 degree personality shift I wasn’t really sure how to react. When he came back around later on in the game and I told him he looked really good and really happy. He replied, “That’s cause I love this job! I have always wanted to work for a baseball team.” He went on to tell me he wanted to work for another team eventually, but for 162 days a year he works at his dream job. He doesn’t have the position he hopes to have someday but he is very happy to have his entry-level job.

I think about how he looked when I lived with him and how he looked at his new job and at first thought I am amazed. When I took some time to think about what he said and the situation as a whole It really rang true what they say, “If you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life again.” I am following my dreams today which was not always the case and I am certainly not yet where I want to be but I have started to take the first steps to my dream, just as my old roommate has. My truth today is the same as his, I am doing what I always wanted to do and it makes me happy.

Affirmation: I am now willing to let my fears fall free me so that I can start to be who I always wanted to be.

Call to Action: I think it is very easy to get stuck in a situation that is “good enough” and never take that risk to follow our dreams. All dreams that are realized start with small steps and commitment to the path that it takes to get there. I know you have some dreams, maybe today is the day that you take the first step and feel some of the joy that comes with doing what you want.

14. Winner

Posted on April 4, 2013 by changeyourlifefriday

“The odd were against us, but we deserve to be where we are.” – Steve Gerrard

I was struck by an amazing thought the other day while I was out for a run on a beautiful afternoon. It came like a flash, and I was filled with this sense of duty and purpose, in that moment I was at perfect peace and was fully aware of the greatness of my life and experience. The thought that I had was simple and I know that I have had it before but like most things it would stay for a bit and then fade, as a result I would forget one of the most amazing things that truly can inspire me at any moment. The thought “I am truly blessed to be alive, the chances of me getting to be must be astronomical.” What I knew after thinking that was that I am grateful for this chance today and this experience and I want to make sure that I am showing that gratitude in every moment of my life.

For the past week or so I have been revisiting this idea, enjoying the feeling that comes when I think about how special I really am to have this chance to experience life and also how special everyone else is who has gotten their chance as well. As usual I wanted to look a bit deeper into what the odds really are, did I really hit the lottery already? Have I already been granted the greatest gift the universe can bestow. So I hit the internet up for some answers. First I would like to say that I have gambled in my life and I know that a 1 out of 100 chance is pretty poor odds. Furthermore my chances of winning the powerball seem so unlikely but they are around 1 in 175,223,510. Now my odds of being born at this time in history are about 1 in 6000000000000000000000000 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000, that is 100 zeros if you wanna count. I would call that the not a snowballs chance in hell number.

But here I am! Writing this to you and there you are. We are the winners! We are enjoying this thing called life. Life is filled with all sorts of experiences but it seems that when I take this idea of how fortunate I am into them, regardless of how they make me feel in a moment, I am still one of the biggest winners this world has ever known. It seems so easy to get down and live completely separated from gratitude for this gift, but constant recognition of this divine miracle seems to be an amazing way to connect to what is the real truth in this world; You are so special and amazing beyond measure, you make a 1 in a million chance seem like child’s play.

Affirmation: I am so blessed to be right here right now.

Call to Action: Take some time throughout the next several days to feel how special you are. With that feeling in mind how will you celebrate your victory?

12. Connecting

Posted on March 22, 2013 by changeyourlifefriday

“Life is a journey, not a destination.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Last weekend I had the chance to travel through several states and log many miles with a group of people in a van. Over the course of the weekend we were able to go through several stages of growth together since we all had a common goal on our journey. At the beginning of the trip it was a bit awkward because the group was comprised of 11 people who knew each other mostly as acquaintances. At some point everyone in the van started to get out of their shells through accepting the group and the role that we all had collectively as well as individually. The music inspired conversation which turned into jokes and joy for everyone involved. At some point we also came up with a chant made us smile and turned some heads which finished with the phrase, “No Regrets.” We continued to bond and by the time we returned it seemed that we didn’t want to part since our conversations continued to deepen throughout the journey.

Over the past several days since the trip we have all seemingly found reasons to get together and relive the moments that we shared on our trip and also make new memories together. I really feel that once we all started to let our guard down and talk about our lives honestly and from the heart our little community began to bond in a very beautiful way. The most interesting part to me when I look at this experience from the outside is how we all grew once we freed ourselves from judgement and accepted each other and our mission.

I think the lesson that I learned and that I want to share with you is that I find so much growth for myself through the times I spend with others. I also find that there is not much that is more inspirational than to see someone else grow and change in front of my eyes. When we left I am certain that we were all thinking about our goal for the trip but I feel that it was in the journey that we found the most growth. The only way that this can happen though is to get involved and take an active role in the lives that we have been given. I am so proud of my new crew that took that chance at being uncomfortable and put themselves in a position to show me once again that I am completed by the people that I surround myself with. Thank you all for being a part of my experience, I love my CYLfriday crew, No Regrets!

Affirmation: Today I embrace my journey. I make memories and connections with all who I come in contact with. I love the idea that all people can be old friends when I let them in.

Call To Action: Share with us a recent time that you have had deep meaningful conversation with someone other that a dear friend. When was the last time you were vulnerable, and the result was something unpredictable and beautiful?

8. Leadership

Posted on February 22, 2013 by changeyourlifefriday

In continuation of building our community of inspiration, please enjoy our second guest submission. This year, the last Friday of each month a guest writer will have their submission posted. If you have a thought, stance or story to share please send it to our email @ changeyourlifefriday@gmail.com If you feel called, please listen to the words of our second guest and lead us…

“A leader is a dealer in hope.” Napoleon Bonaparte

I feel like Napoleon, despite his politics, can teach us all an excellent lesson in leadership. For he was a man not even born a Frenchman but ended his rein as the Emperor of France, King of Italy, Mediator of the Swiss Confederation, and Protector of the Confederation of the Rhine, which stretched from Norway to Prussia to Spain.

He accomplished these feats by offering hope. His countrymen and even the people he conquered were in dire need of hope. He saw the need and he provided relief that situation demanded. He used hope as an instrument to motivate and lead individuals.

We must remember, he was not unique and his situation was not unique. He only had the passion needed to capitalize on such a situation. He had the self-confidence, determination, integrity and the emotional intelligence to accomplish his goals. He took the skills he possessed and turned them into hope for millions.

Once again we must remember, he is not unique in this area. We all have these gifts. It just depends on if we choose to utilize them or not. It has been proven,

LEADERS ARE NOT BORN; THEY ARE MADE.

Every one of us could be a leader if we simply make the decision to lead. We all have that power within us. We have the power to give hope, and there will always be followers seeking hope.

Affirmation: I have the power to lead and I have the capability of offering someone hope.

Call To Action: Never sell yourself short and think that you aren’t good enough to positively influence another human being. Find a person who is dying for hope and show them the way. We all have experiences that can help another person, do not let this go to waste. Live. Know. Show.