One of the last things Conan O’Brien said during his final Tonight Show monologue was “if you work really hard and are kind, amazing things will happen.” I believe in that so much, and have this quote posted in quite a few spots at home and online. It’s a constant reminder of how I want to live my life.
I’ve been thinking a lot about my potential, as well as the potential of others. I’ve also been thinking about pre-conceived notions we might have of others, or people might have of us, and how it affects us and our world. How does it affect their world? How does it affect us as we go about day to day life? What tools are we taking with us, and developing, as we go out in the world, taking part in the business that has become surviving and thriving on this great rock.
These tools are important. I’ve learned in my almost 41 years on this planet that if we’re not learning and developing, we’re in a suspended state of animation. Things slow down, or worse, stop. Personal growth doesn’t exist while you’re in this stage. Personally, I’ve found that too much time online, or using various forms of technology, stumps my personal growth. By not taking enough time to sit and think, we are, in my opinion, harming ourselves.
My goal, just a mere 48 hours shy of my 41st birthday, is to start winning at life. I’m ready to take it by the horns. To know I’m doing what I love for more than money. To find my inner quiet, and build those pockets of stillness into my life. To give more of myself. To no longer doubt people when they say they are one thing, yet automatically assume something else. To be the eternal optimist, knowing that it will take presence, practice, and perseverance.
Success isn’t about accolades and awards. It’s about living life. When I’m gone from this rock, I want people to say “she loved every minute.” Shouldn’t I start living that way?
Believe it or not, I was inspired by a Planter’s Mr. Peanut commercial: The Personal Peanut. Sometimes, you have to look at the small things and realize just how much they influence you.
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.