I am a sucker for sappy motivational videos. I can read a good book, I can listen to someone talk to me until they are blue in the face. Sometimes, what actually gets me going and remembering that it takes a lot of courage to follow your dreams is watching little videos like this.

There isn’t anything wrong with going after comfort and security and money. It takes hard work to achieve financial security, not at all taking away the accomplishments of those who have chosen comfortable, economically rewarding careers. However, I am not exaggerating when I stress that it can be excruciatingly difficult trying to conquer anything that is high risk with little to no immediate return. You know, the kind of goals and dreams that take longer to accomplish. The type of goals and dreams that might leave you feeling as if your life is going in slow motion, while all your friends and family are not just pass you by, they are sprinting by. You got to remember one thing, if you feel like people are passing you by in life, they’re not. Because as cliche as it sounds, this is not just any journey, it’s YOUR journey and not a race against anyone else.

The only place your eyes belong is the road in front of you. I say this to myself and remind myself regularly. Stop looking to the right or to the left. This is about YOU and not about THEM. The moment you turn away, begin comparing, you will always find someone with more. Don’t let anything distract you and place doubts in your head where you begin second guessing yourself. Tenacity, discipline, passion, and faith in yourself is what will eventually take you to your own personal finish line. Your goals might shift a little, they may expand or grow, tweak and that is okay, because we are evolving creatures. Our interests and ambitions will naturally reflect the person we are growing into.

A flower begins as a seed, it changes and grows. Like anything rewarding, you may not get there tomorrow. You may not get there next week, you may not get there next month, next year…hell, it may take you YEARS and you know what, that’s okay. Whatever you do, keep your eyes forward and on you, not on anything or anyone external or outside of yourself.

I am not where I want to be yet, but I am definitely not where I once was.

Slow and steady….slow and steady.

“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything – all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.” ~Steve Jobs