Change Direction

My brother, Jim, wasn’t sure what he wanted to do after high school.  He went to college for a year, didn’t like it.  Went to a specialty school to learn to be a Radio-Technician.  Didn’t like it.  Enlisted in the Air Force, serving two years in Vietnam.  Came back to the states.  When he got out of the service, went back to college, graduated with honors with a double major in Art and Architecture.  Owned his own business.  Designed and built houses.  Wasn’t satisfied.  Became a teacher and did that for most of his adult life.  Retired.  Now owns an RV park in a resort area of Wisconsin.  A park he and his wife designed.  Happy as can be.

Change Direction.

My wife, Kim, knew what she wanted to do since fourth or fifth grade.  Still a Physical Education and Health teacher to this day.  Added a certification to teach Driver Education.  Is a Department Chair.  Happy.  No need to Change Direction.

Change Direction.

There isn’t anything wrong with walking down a path, finding it’s not the one you want, not the one for you, stopping, turning around and walking down a different path.  Nothing wrong with that at all.  Why would you want to continue being unhappy?  Why would you want to continue being unsatisfied?

I’ve enjoyed life in several states.  I’ve taught and coached high school in Wyoming.  I’ve taught and coached at the collegiate level in Nebraska.  Taught and coached and counseled in Wisconsin.  Was a counselor and administrator in California.  Was an administrator in Wisconsin and now in Virginia.  Along the way, I’ve met wonderful people.  I’ve seen beautiful country.  Learned many, many things about life . . . myself . . . that I probably wouldn’t have learned had I stayed in one place all my life.

Change Direction.

There is a Chinese proverb that says: “Do not fear going forward slowly; fear only to stand still.”

Change Direction.

To not move is a choice.  It is also a direction. 

I’ve seen adults and kids so numb with fear, so numb with indecision that they cannot move.  Not forward.  Not backward.  Cannot move at all.

While trees grow roots and for the most part, stay in one spot, they can be transplanted and thrive.   We do that with plants.  They outgrow one pot, so we transplant them to another, a bigger pot.  Or put them into a garden bed.

We are not trees.  We are not plants.

So move.  Change Direction.  You might like the view.  You might like the life.  The experience.  Something to think about . . .

Live Your Life, and Make A Difference!