One of my very best friends who I’ve known since 6th grade and am currently in a venture with told me yesterday that he was enrolling in the US Navy flight school to fly fighter jets. 2 years ago I would have felt angry or abandoned that he wanted to leave the business we had created together. Today I have a very different outlook.
For those of you that don’t know, this program is highly competitive to get into. It is the military equivalent of becoming a professional athlete.
I have noticed a change in my friend over the course of the last 2 years. I could tell in his demeanor that he just wasn’t happy or satisfied with what he was doing. I could tell that something was missing; a thrill that couldn’t be satisfied. I noticed this long before he actually said it to me. His commitment to the venture has been wavering.
Some months back, someone had asked him what he would do tomorrow if he could do anything. He immediately resounded that he would go flying. Flying is the true passion that my friend has. When he told me last night of his plans, I think he was a bit surprised at how encouraging I was. I told him that if this was truly one of his dreams, that it was something that he had to do.
We only have one life to live. Yet most people don’t follow their dreams and end up as middle aged and full of regrets of the things they didn’t do. There are several different quotes that I like that all speak to the fact that nobody ever regrets the opportunities that they took, but they do regret the opportunities that they let get away.
Spend your life doing what you love and your life will be much more fulfilled; you will be happier and more successful in your life if you do live your dreams. Dream big and you will live big.
February 19, 2009 at 10:08 pm |
In my 20′s I would say wise things like, “i want a life of no regrets”, and “you only have one life to live.” 20 yrs later (wow, am I middle-aged? that was fast!) having faced cancer and seen friends die, I KNOW that you only have one life to live. With 5 children and 1 husband I can TRULY say I’ve lived a life with no regrets. Now with wisdom on my side, life can only get better. This is a great place to be! “Dream big and you will live big” is right!