Life lesson - it is up to you!

January 14, 2008 · Posted in About Us

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The most important thing that I have learned about life is that I am in control of it. When I was in high school, I played soccer, and our coach always used to say, “How bad do you want it?” when we were losing. I didn’t think much about it at the time, but I always used to go out and play harder after he asked us this question. Looking back, it’s kind of ridiculous - why did a coach have to remind me of the purpose of playing the game in order for me to try harder?

I think that many people are content to go through life without regularly asking themselves exactly what they want out of it. “How bad do you want it?”, as well as the incentive to work harder, does not really apply for these people because they’re not really sure what they want. This is understandable - in today’s world, it is easy to get caught up in material possessions and the daily routine. However, before they know it, life has passed them by, and they have all of these really nice things. However, they may have missed out on their kids, or quality time with their family, or have lost touch with friends. I think that it is worth the time to sit down and be honest with oneself about their personal goals in life.

Thoreau said, “I know that the most encouraging fact is the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor.” I agree with this statement, and use it as a platform to evaluate my life on a regular basis. It’s hard sometimes, but taking a good look at myself and what I want really helps me to realize what is important in my life. When I am unhappy with something, I try to develop a plan (on paper if necessary) to fix it. I try to look ahead and say, “If I do this thing X, what will it mean to me in the future? Will I regret it? Will it matter?”

I don’t mean to preach, but I think that it is so important to really think about what is important in life on a daily basis. So far, I can honestly say that I have few regrets in life, but it has been a difficult path at times. I hope that others will also take the initiative to make positive changes in their lives as well - it is up to you!