2:59 AM. Seems to be a theme the last few months. My back decided to scream out at 2:24 and my only choice was to get up. It’s okay I was meaning to watch the SkinWalker Ranch show on History. That was sarcasm although now I want to know where all that damn water went. Guess you’ll have to watch too now. My brain wanders while I’m doing different things like taking Annie for walks. I don’t need all my brain power to throw the frisbee so it allows me to almost meditate while I throw the disc for her. I think of the “problems” I face daily and search for solutions. I like to do jigsaw puzzles and when I look for a new one I literally type “worlds hardest jigsaw puzzle” into google. The one I have now is awesome. I love to find answers. To look at things from multiple angles and learn from them. It is simply the way my brain works.
This current puzzle of just a bunch of lines drawn randomly (so it seems) looks to be impossible when a person first sees it. Well not to me, but we are about to get into that. I see a challenge. 1,000 pieces. The first thing is to get my first match or fit the first two pieces together. Boom not impossible anymore. I think well even if I only get one match per day I’ll be done in 1,000 days. When someone says that will take forever, well not anymore. 1,000 days is not forever. When I get two fits, then I think okay now it is only 500 days. This leads me to a couple metaphors that are popular. First one is how do you eat an elephant?? One bite at a time.
The other one I like a lot is imagine a giant ship like the one our friend from the last blog was stuck on. Big deal to turn that beast around. If you were to turn the Rudder only 1 degree to the right that massive ship would slowly start to turn. That ginormous ship will turn all the way around as long as you stay on the path. I use this analogy in my life. I don’t have to make a complete about face today. Just shift the rudder 1 degree and then stay with it. You can change your life with very little immediate sacrifice. Maybe tonight you only drink 5 beers instead of 6. Skip that last cigarette before bed. Ask your partner how their day was. Slow down slightly and let the car merge in front of you. You don’t have to become a different person overnight. All that you need is a willingness to try to change, and then follow thru.
I was planning to talk about a completely different angle on this whole puzzle thing, but I think I should split it up into multiple blogs. For today I think it is a perfect time to remind you that it is never to late to make a change. You don’t have to turn the ship around in one day. Just tweak the rudder a bit to the left or right. The change in direction will be slight at first, but soon you and others around you will start to see the shift. There are some people in your life that will be proud of you, some will be confused by you, and unfortunately there will be some people that want you to go back in the original direction. They don’t want you changing because it reminds them that they aren’t doing anything.
I am reminded of a time that a friend of mine after listening to “Jim Rohn – Excelling in the new millennium” decided to quit drinking for a week. A whole 7 days. For someone that drank daily the 7 days was a reasonable goal. It was insane to me how many of his friends could not handle it. They would show up with booze and say “come on” just have a couple with us. Good friends would respect his decision and help him reach a goal. He made it the week, but told me that he wouldn’t do it again. Kind of sad.
Ugh!! Twice now I have finished a blog only to have it not actually save so I have to write again. My frustration level is 1,000 right now. Oh well. Here is the point today. You can change. You can go the complete opposite direction you are currently on. it doesn’t have to be all at one time. Just make that 1 degree turn, put two pieces together, or simply start taking bites of the elephant. I have made a lot of mistakes in my life that I’m not proud of. I am proud that I paid attention and learned the lessons on these mistakes.
Don’t be afraid of the harder path. I could do easy puzzles, but I’ve already done that and so have you. Never underestimate your strength as we all have it inside us, but you have to test it, exercise it, and prove to yourself nothing is impossible. I wanted to start my own business and have. October will be 2 years. I am very proud of that. I wanted to write this blog more often and then make t-shirts. I am proud of that as well. I am in the process of starting a non-profit that will be making a film. More details on that in the future. Life is short, chase your dreams starting today, and never let anyone hold you back.
Remember to be kind. Be the person to give random smiles to strangers. A simple honest compliment can turn someone else’s day around. Most importantly you have to start whatever it is. Find two pieces that fit and boom you are on your way.
FknBucky
READ * THINK * LIVE FREE
FknBucky shirts are almost done. Here is picture of the black ones. I also have grey, light blue, and maroon shirts available. The spot with my face is actually a soft cloth for cleaning your glasses I had printed and then sewn onto the inside of the shirt. Yeah that was all my idea! 🙂 A formal announcement will be coming soon allowing you to order.
I appreciate all of you very much. Chase your dream!
FknBucky 