The older you get, do you become desperate in a search to find value in what you believe to be your worth; do you ponder what you’ve accomplished? How do you compare to those who were before? Will those to come compare their worth to yours? Who you are will leave a trace; the question is will it be of any value? How do you measure personal value? Is the metric you use easily attained or must you work hard to reach the level you have set for yourself? If you reach your desired goal, do you reset the bar or do you rest on a bar that may rust and collapse with time? What is your worth?
Is this a question you ask yourself? Are you content with what you have become; there is a fine line between being content and being complacent. What do you think? Is being content the same as being complacent? Is there a point in your life when steps toward self-improvement are no longer worth your time? Do you strive to be an individual struggling with your own thoughts and abilities or are you satisfied with living an easy life outlined by others? Do you act and react a certain way because that is what you are told to do? Is that little voice in your inner thoughts still viable: do you question when your inner voice tells you to question or has your inner voice been clouded and deluded by complacency?
Is your value of any worth? I will not question your value; I have trouble enough sorting through and attaining my own goals. Your value, what you consider a value, is a quest you must embark upon through your own personal deliberation.
It is said that when the course of humanity is changed it is often from the efforts of one person; not sure how true that is. It is doubtful I will be that person and chances of you being that person is slim; but if you are content and/or stagnant in who you are, your chances have gone to zero.
I will not say you must always strive to do better to be of value. I will say if you do not strive, you have become complacent and, chances are, you are less than you are capable of being.
The notion that we must be absolute in our opinions pertaining to political and social associations troubles and confuses me. You’re either with us or against us. Republican or Democrat, Republic vs Democracy, Red State or Blue State, Left or Right, Conservative vs Liberal, Christian or Atheist, Pro-Life vs Pro-Choice, the right to provide for yourself and your family or depend solely on the government to provide. Even rights dictated by the law of the land have generated rifts in friends and families. To be viable it seems we can only reside in the extreme fringes of these issues, there can be no middle ground and certainly no room for debate. Anything short of “extreme” shows a lack of commitment. We can no longer look at an issue and ponder through a process to determine for ourselves the right decision; this too shows a lack of commitment to your masters. Regardless of the camp in which you reside, YOU MUST defend the “camp’s” viewpoint. It is not enough to ignore or disregard opposing viewpoints, we must also viciously attack opposing viewpoints as well as the person with those viewpoints. Additionally, we must be quick to label any opposing viewpoint as hate speech, systemic racism or “just too stupid for words.” To debate is beneath us and a waste of our time. Why bother with an honest debate? It’s common knowledge the opposition is without a doubt wrong on any conceivable level. Sadly, all too often the viewpoints you hold near and dear are based on a platform developed by others who care little for anything other than what is best for them; and that viewpoint can change with the wind and when it changes, YOU MUST change with it.
Our ability to reason and calmly debate is, or should be, a significant part of our humanity. We have lost the ability to debate. Not so long ago the art of debate was taught in our public schools but has been pushed aside; why it has been removed from the curriculum is anyone’s guess. We have become all too willing to forfeit our “reasoning” in exchange for the good feeling of standing on what we have been told is the moral high ground. Claiming the moral high ground is easier than becoming familiar with the art of honest debate. We must take on the position and attitude of “our team,” or stand accused and be ostracized; to be cast out. You must be ostracized. Our cancel culture points that out on a daily basis. Anything short of public annihilation, and you may stand out as someone who is above the fray; someone willing to walk a different direction; one who demonstrates discernment and has an ability to reason, most importantly someone who can think for themselves; you are a major threat to them. Your dismissal has been mandated.
If, when faced with historical and current fact, we are unwilling to admit we may be wrong and admit our error, then it must be said arrogance has replaced intellect, humility and integrity. If our viewpoint cannot tolerate debate or abide remarks meant to question, then we have by our own making placed ourselves in shackles and do the bidding of a misguided cause. We have become nothing more than a puppet. Do not let others dictate your thoughts, your beliefs, your passions nor allow your viewpoint to be guided solely by the whims of others. Are there absolutes? Yes. Be willing to stand up for them. Be willing to stand alone for them. Absolute truths do not need defending, but a cordial debate is healthy. If a debate quickly turns into a personal attack, then take that as an indicator that the “truth” being presented is lacking. With regard to absolutes… others can question it and others can deny it, but their opinion does not diminish that truth, regardless of fierce and unrelenting attacks. Do not fear being an outcast, it may be the only thing that saves you.
It’s now 2022 and the buzz phrase of the day is “The New Norm.” Its most recent application is used to identify the many changes in our daily lives brought on by the, all too often falsely focused, attempts to mitigate COVID. But things have been changing for a long time. Look at what is acceptable behavior today and compare it to similar behavior from 60, 40, 20, or even 10 years ago. If you are still able to visualize and be persuaded by truth, you will acknowledge significant differences and slowly creeping changes that are proving detrimental to society. Analyzing the differences will reveal to you the damage done by the “new normal” adopted by our society. There are some cities in this nation that no longer consider certain felonies a crime and will refuse to prosecute; this is an open door to anarchy. An ID is required to buy a pack of cigarettes, but asking for an ID to practice a most precious right of citizenship is considered racist. Fact is, it is not racist but using the term “racist” is a sure fire way to get what you want. Another fun fact, it is easier to defraud and circumvent when IDs are not required and we willingly accept this as the “new norm.” I challenge you to identify any behavioral change, at the social level, that has improved society as a whole.
COVID has changed what we do, but has had little to do with a change in who we are. COVID has had nothing to do with the decline in honor, integrity, compassion, and respect. Before you go all “social justice” on me, I’m not saying these attributes are dead in us all as individuals. I know far too many honorable and compassionate people to believe that. But, these people are not the norm and sometimes it takes a little effort to seek them out. A sure way to find a person of honor is to look for anyone ridiculed for doing the right thing. It’s easy to find people who talk it, hard to find those who live it. Those who easily and eloquently talk honor and integrity often show a distinct inability to practice honor and integrity when pressed into service. A distinct indicator that shines a bright light on those who lack any level of integrity are those who condemn a person based on an action committed and then praise a different person who does the very same thing. Do they think we are blind and do not see. If you do not see, it is because you decide to turn a blind eye and pretend all is well. If you condemn an action, then ignore the same action when your role model does it, then you should consider that a trait to analyze and re-evaluate.
Far too often the role models for our youth are fictional super heroes whose powers come from CGI or sports superstars who, when removed from the arena, fall short and are found wanting. Those who pursues honor, integrity and compassion and teaches the same are not only ignored, they are often sought out and ridiculed by the woke culture.
You cannot accept a “new norm” and live by a code, the two contradict each other. If you live your life based on a true “code” of honor, integrity, and compassion then chances are, more often than not, you abide alone. But, you cannot always abide alone, you must seek out like minded people who live by a similar code so you can support and encourage each other when the “new normal” presses in and attempts to force changes that are contradictory to your sworn code. Standing against tyranny is a group effort, a single entity will fail with time.
You cannot stand alone against the Woke Culture.
Often times, to abide by your code, you must not only walk alone but be content to do so; you must be comfortable with a life detached from what society offers. Many, once they sense you abide by a code, will do everything they can to break you down, ridicule you, embarrass you, and shame you. Why? Because if they can break you down, and see you go against your chosen path under pressure, it justifies and vindicates their failures and shifts the light that highlights their faults away from them. To see a person stand firm to their values in the face of adversity – whether those values be a belief in God, a belief in a high moral standard, or a refusal to see a lie as truth or see evil as good – is something today’s “normal” cannot abide. All too often if, after extreme effort, they cannot break you they bring false testimony against you and let loose the trolls of propaganda.
If you refuse to see evil as anything other than evil, then today’s “normal” will label you as deplorable, despicable, unworthy, and a blot on the utopia so many believe they live in.
So, if you live your life based on a high moral value (yesterday’s value, not today’s) then expect troubled times, expect to be hated, expect to see the “new normal” suffocate your surroundings. The “woke and cancel” culture will make you their next focused target. Seek out like minded people and associate yourself with them. Dissociate yourself from those who see your code as something to attack. Disassociate yourself from those who see evil as good and see good as evil. Standing firm will win some over but most will never accept the possibility they could be wrong; even when wrong stares them in the face.
And most important, do not hide your code, allow it to be a beacon so those of like mind can find you. Your beacon will draw in the trolls, but it will also summon the allies.
The time it took for you to read the title of this blog, roughly 3 seconds, is all the time needed to lose your life. A few years ago I was in Rapid City, SD headed to the Black Hills and was setting at an intersection waiting for the light to turn green. A rider passed through the intersection and he looked toward me and nodded his head as if to say, “Hey, how’s it going?” That was all the time needed for the car in front of him to stop and he rode into the back of the car.
A brief second of distraction…
His injuries were minimal, but the bike needed to go to the shop for repair. While waiting on the police to show up we talked and I learned he was a rider with years of experience and this was his first mishap. The split second it took for him to look at me was all the time it took for the convergence of unfortunate circumstances to meld together and result in an accident.
Riding is risky business and we, as riders, are responsible for reducing that risk as best we can. Most assuredly during those years of riding he had, as we all have, allowed his attention to be diverted for a second or two while acknowledging someone while riding or take a few extra seconds to look at the scenic view to the left or right. But, in previous instances other variables did not enter into the mix, like the car stopping unexpectedly or a deer dashing out to get to the other side of the highway.
We rely on our riding skill and experience to stay between the ditches and to keep the shiny side of our motorcycle pointed toward the sky while we ride. These are important for sure, but I think attitude and focused attention are more important. Call me rude if you like, but I will never wave at or acknowledge an oncoming rider while I’m in city traffic. I assume every car within 100 feet of me is ready to implement a well-developed plan to run me down and then take a selfie over my lifeless body. We have all had close calls with “cagers” and the only reason we lived through it was because we were 100% focused on the task at hand and evaded the assault. What happens when that “close call” presents itself during that short span of seconds when we are momentarily distracted by some inconsequential thing?
Stay focused, stay alert and always ride as if everyone is out to get you. It’s a strong bet they are indeed looking for an opportunity for the perfect selfie and your lifeless body would make a fine backdrop. Don’t give them the opportunity. You can’t expect the “cager” to be focused, they’re too busy talking on their cell.
Traits like honor, integrity, compassion, and respect are not traits you, all of a sudden, decide to accept as personal traits on a particular day and go forth from that point on as a person worthy of being identified as owning these traits. These traits are developed and honed over time through actions and deeds that demonstrate these traits. It requires an intentional and determined effort. As these traits are practiced they become who we are; like muscle memory of a repeated action they demonstrate themselves without an intentional thought to implement, but rather are implemented out of habit. It is also required that these actions be implemented without thought of personal gain.
A friend of mine (COL William Galbraith) once wrote, “The leadership philosophy of a senior leader is developed through years of experience and education. A philosophy of leadership is a statement or idea that guides how an individual will lead. If an individual starts to develop a leadership philosophy when appointed as a senior leader then the potential for failure is prevalent. The philosophy we use to lead is not something we can turn on and off like a light switch; it is who we are and those we lead know this. The development of a leadership philosophy is conducted in conjunction with the development of who we are. What motivates a leader on a personal level will, in part, define the leadership philosophy.”
Likewise, our philosophy defines who we are and who we are defines our philosophy. It’s a given if you lack honor, integrity, compassion, and respect you’re probably a jerk. A jerk cannot just arbitrarily start to be a person of integrity. You cannot, because of guilt felt after an action or deed, decide on Saturday to be a person of honor and compassion starting at sunrise on Sunday on your way to Church. As stated by my friend who is much smarter than I, “…the potential for failure is prevalent.” You are destined to fail and repeated failure will eventually lead you to the belief that you being a person of worth is beyond your capabilities and you’ll go back to being whatever caliber of jerk you were the day before—perhaps worse, because now any lingering doubt about whether or not you were a jerk to begin with has been removed and now you are an angry jerk.
However, the scenario played out in the last paragraph may not be all together true—which means there’s hope for you yet. You can be a person of integrity, honor, compassion and respect, regardless of your caliber of jerk-hood; you just need a strong desire and you need to cater the approach. These traits are developed and applied, not applied fully developed. Let me lead you down a rabbit; bear with me for just a minute. I consider myself a good person, but I also consider myself a failure. I am my own worst critic. People tell me I’m a good person, but they don’t know my secrets. I know that God forgives and I will be eternally grateful for that; and I use the term “eternally” in the most literal of terms. But I have a hard time forgiving myself for past actions. People say, “but you should forgive yourself” because these were done long ago (some not so long ago) and you have been forgiven and hanging on to them will only drag you down. I think the guilt helps me when a desire (or temptation if you will) comes along and prods me to do or say something that defy honor, integrity, compassion or respect. I remember the guilt and often (but sadly not always) the temptation goes away. I remember the feeling I have when I approach God and ask, “Lord, can you forgive me just one more time?” Remembering the guilt is a tool, it’s helpful to me.
OK, let’s get back on track. You can adopt a desire to do and say the right thing. You can adopt a desire to be a better person. Will you, after accepting this new you, always be a person of honor, integrity, so one and so forth? No. You will fail, but with each successful attempt the failures will dissipate, not completely but a reduction in failure is as good as a win. Will you eventually, after years of trying, get to a point where you will never fail? No. There will always be failures. However, with each failure you can, if you have the foresight to do so, learn a lesson that will come in handy the next time that option presents itself. I might add here if you are at a point in your life where you feel you have mastered the traits of honor, integrity, so on and so forth, then you may not possess any of them; pride trumps them all. Just sayin’.
In full disclosure I must say this will be the hardest thing you will ever do. It is something you will have to “want” with every once of energy. Start small, maybe yield the right of way in traffic and let someone in. Of course I must also say, if this is too hard for you, there is an easier way; just be a jerk your whole life and be remembered as such. Like Bill says, “…what motivates us will define us.” What defines us is who we are.
I have a great job. I spent 23 years on active duty intermixed with an additional 4 years as a traditional reservist. After I retired from active service I worked as a government contractor for 2 years after which I left contracting for a job with the Department of Defense as a Department of the Army Civilian and I’ve been doing that for 12 years. Barring a few years in the late 70’s and early 80’s I have spent my entire adult life as a soldier or working with soldiers. I’ve been to the four corners, several countries in Europe, Asia, Netherlands, Middle East, Far East, and patches of remote solitude in the Atlantic and the Pacific. I’ve even had the opportunity to fly a P3-Orion a 1000 feet above the Atlantic off the coast of Iceland. Sadly I’ve never been to Africa or Australia. I’ve seen things and done things most cannot comprehend let alone understand with any level of acceptable acuity. Most of it was good and, as those who have walked this path know all too well, some not so good. Regardless, I cannot imagine anything this side of life as better. All in all, it is a life well spent.
At present—present as in “on this date that I am writing this”—I am at Fort Lewis, Washington; known today as Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Been here a few days on a temporary assignment and will head back to my normal duty station tomorrow morning. I’m wrapping things up and currently in a “wait-mode” for some final actions to be completed. My attention has been drawn to some activity outside the window. Two busloads of young soldiers are drawing their issue of needed equipment at a warehouse across the street. Most are very young and I suspect they have just arrived at Lewis-McChord after completing their Basic Combat Training (I think they may call it Initial Entry Training now) or maybe they have arrived from a previous duty station after completing their Advanced Individual Training.
Their adventure is just beginning. Where they go from here, which unit they will be assigned to, or what their position will be in that unit is unknown to me. But I wish I could go talk to each and every one of them and offer up some hard-learned advice. But I would never do that. I remember what I thought when old retired soldiers came up to me and gave me advice when I was a young soldier just starting out; I had no need of their advice because I already knew everything I needed to know. They were an irritant to me. I see now that was a regrettable mistake; certainly a missed opportunity that could have made my life as a young soldier easier, a bit more accomplished, and much more fulfilling.
However, I wish I could bestow upon them words of wisdom; perhaps not wisdom but at least that bit of advice that we all need from time to time. I would tell them to pick their friends wisely. Just because a person wears the same uniform and is perhaps in the same unit does not mean they are trustworthy enough to be a trusted friend and confidant; a person you can trust to watch your back and who will run to your aid during times of trouble and hardship. Many are, but the “few” are not. The intent of the few is to deceive and take as much from others as they can by their self-serving interactions, to mislead and misdirect. Sadly, the ability to recognize these “few” comes only after being burned a few times.
I wish I could bestow upon them words of warning. That every personal action has a reaction and is sometimes emphasized with ill-fated consequences. We all make mistakes but not all have the integrity to “man-up” and take responsibility for our own actions. Take note and check-fire on an attitude that can lead to that face to face encounter with the Command Sergeant Major.
I would tell them to take as much time as needed to identify the Warrant Officer, Non-Commissioned Officer, or Commissioned Officer that everyone respects, that everyone goes to when confused or in trouble, and after identifying that person to emulate their actions, their attitude, and their professionalism. By doing this they too will eventually become that person others seek out when dire circumstances warrant. They can be that trusted professional who by words, actions, and deeds, can change the course of a life.
Yea, that’s some of what I would tell them. But they are young and must learn from their mistakes just like we all did. I wish them luck, I wish them well, and I envy them; their adventure, if they have the foresight to see it as such, is just beginning.
Born in Central IL in 1955 I grew up with 4 brothers and two sisters. I joined the Army in 1972 and, barring a short stretch between ’76 and ’82, I have been in the U.S. Army my entire life; first as a soldier then as a DA Civilian for the Department of Defense. I cannot say I have always had a motorcycle. But, for the most part, a ride was always within arm’s reach and utilized on any given opportunity. There was a time, in that stretch between ’76 & ’82, I associated with riders from the “outlaw” side and, after a couple of near miss events, decided to turn 90 degrees and ride away. For years I steered clear of riding groups; regardless of genre.
In 2008 I came across a group called Rescue Riders and, during that encounter, met some of the finest people I have ever met. People who give of themselves and ask nothing in return. This was the type of person I wanted to be. In 2010 I came in contact with information about a long distance endurance ride from Key West Florida to Homer Alaska. At the time I could not fathom such a ride, but got my chance to participate in the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge in 2013. To say it changed my life would be a gross understatement. The impact was so great I was compelled to narrate the event in book form. The ride showed me that I was not the person I thought I was and showed me a glimmer of what I needed to do to strive to become who I wanted and needed to be. Hoka Hey has taught me much and is still instructing me on a daily basis. To put a life in two paragraphs is an impossible task. A personal bio is a narrative of who we are. I learned, through the Challenge, that who I thought I was and who I really was differed greatly. I believe a true metric of a person is best measured by what they do to become someone people deserve. So, who am I? Not sure yet, but my prayer is that with each passing day I will get closer to that person I am supposed to be.
A friend of mine posted a blog titled, “American Genocide and the New World Order.” I call him a friend but we have never actually met. My first introduction to his writing was when I purchased his book, “The Three Meter Zone” which became my “go-to” manual when I was a First Sergeant serving in the U.S. Army. Shortly thereafter I started following his Blog and have garnered a plethora of wisdom from his narratives.
I enjoy reading his posts. This particular post got me to thinking; sometimes my thinking is a good thing, sometimes not so much. Every word in his post is truth. The kind of truth nobody wants to hear. The kind of truth that, if taken to heart, would bring to light the fact that delusion has taken the place of reason and common sense, that compassion has been overrun by arrogance, and a truth that demonstrates, in no uncertain terms, that integrity and honor have been pushed aside for the sake of expediency and a self-serving agenda.
I commented on his post stating in part, “…and I have to wonder if we are not just banging our heads against the sidewalk.” I was referring to the daily demonstrated fact that very few want to hear the truth, so why speak it.
We live in a country that has turned its back on God, has pushed God out of our schools, our homes, our government, our lives, and even out of some of our churches. We live in a country that has willfully, expeditiously, and with a not so hidden sense of glee taken, the lives of millions upon millions of unborn children every year; this is done with no remorse, no sorrow, no regret, and is called “a god given right” to do so. We have taken steps to ensure single parent households are the norm and same sex marriage is not only acceptable but proper and encouraged. The mindset that embraces these callused attributes has been around since Cain and Able but I think in recent decades it has flourished and is driving us headfirst (with eyes wide open) into perdition. In fact it is being taught in our schools as a curriculum, either directly or indirectly.
Many will ridicule the Christian faith and claim it infringes on the U.S. Constitution and call it hate speech but at the same time hold Islam up as a bastion of hope. Many claim gun control is the answer and call guns and the people who own them evil… until the time comes when someone breaks into their house and they have no gun to protect themselves. They might have time to call 911 but they would be better served calling a crime scene cleanup crew; that’s all the police will be able to do once they get there, but nobody wants to believe that. Many want open borders and claim there is nothing wrong with illegals… until an illegal injures or kills one of their own. Many believe it is their right to murder an unborn child, but on those occasions when the parent changes their mind their life is enriched by the child, but nobody wants to believe that. Many wish to push aside our Republic and replace it with Socialism knowing full well that socialism, as a government, has never worked; how stupid is that?
So, what good does it do to tell the truth to people who do not want the truth and who will go so far as to lash out and attack when the truth is spoken. We see the attacks daily. A conservative is shouted down and buildings burned to keep them from speaking in public places, but the left (the progressive, the liberal, the socialist democrat, whatever you want to call them today) is appalled and claim the 1st Amendment as a law that MUST be upheld when they speak. A double standard that only a few enlightened people actually see. Actually, everyone sees it, many just choose to not “see” it.
So, again, why do we continue to speak truth to those who care not? We do it because there is a hope that some will listen. We do it for that mother who changed her mind. We do it for the families that realize they have been lied to for years and they want (and need) a Godly truth. We do it for that person who grows weary of being spoon feed someone’s agenda and realize they have a mind of their own and they need a renewable energy source for that new thought process. We do it for a teacher in the classroom who is inundated with twisted social experiments from the Department of Education. We do it for those who do not know they are being lied to and are being manipulated and played the fool by the puppet master. We do it for that soldier and police officer who defend the lives of the delusional masses and are hated for it.
I know very few read my words and that’s OK, some do. Our world is in a spiral dive and I will do all I can for those who seek the truth. I’m not saying every word I say is truth. Sometimes I will fail, sometimes I will get caught up in the foolishness, sometimes I will lash out as well… I am thankful that my salvation is based on God’s grace and is not based on a performance based requirement. A performance based requirement would certainly place me in the pit with the puppet master. When I stand before God I will have to answer for lots of mistakes, both intentional and unintentional. What I do not want to answer for are those things I should have done but chose not to.
It has been said that the tongue is sharper than the sword. Words can cut deep and cause more damage than a sword and whereas a cut from a sword will heal the 2nd and 3rd order effects of words linger on and on, often a lifetime. But words can also bring light and warmth.
During an interview with Ken Burns, the creator of some of the best documentaries ever, it was said many of the narrations used during the making of the epic “Civil War” documentary came from journals written by soldiers who actually participated in the battles. Letters written to family members and actual journals maintained by soldiers and by-standers from both sides of the conflict. Two things come to mind here. The first is that the soldier thought it important to write their story and the second, the families that saved these letters and journals.
Today we are quick to read a note or letter (or email) and then discard or delete it as trash. We read it, so no need to clutter our existence with the paper it was written on or waste the storage space on our hard drives. Right?
Perhaps not. Words carry weight and words written have a place, often a cherished place if we use the proper words with the proper intent. We just don’t realize it. Today at work I was looking for an OPORD. I’ll not get into what an OPORD is because it really has no merit with regard to this thought. While looking I found a letter sent to me by my sister and inside was a copy of a story written by my Aunt Lora about my Aunt Nita when they were young. I set aside the search for the illusive OPORD and again read the story written by my Aunt Lora. It was a letter telling of memories of her younger sister (my Aunt Nita) while they were growing up.
It is a toss-up on which of these two wonderful ladies is the most precious to me. They both display a grace and generosity that is hard to find in so many other people I associate with. My Aunt Nita recently passed away and I believe it is that passing that precipitated the writing of that collection of memories; memories that would have been lost were it not for a desire to share them by my Aunt Lora. The memories included snippets about Nita, Bris (my Dad), and the arrival of baby brother Joe and little sister Vivi. It was a great read.
We are quick to bad mouth each other, even those we love, but seldom will we take the time to share a good memory. We need to fix that. I often question my resolve to write and I always decide to continue regardless of the fact that very few read my words.
Take time to write a story. We often remember things from our past and that thought might linger for a moment then is swept away by other thoughts of less importance or the ringing of the evil and ever-present cell phone. Rather than let these memories dissolve in the mist of thought, write them down. Don’t worry about spelling or grammar. Spelling and grammar take a back seat to the actual memory.
Perhaps someday Ken’s great-grandson will do a documentary and he will need those words. We’ll let him edit for spelling and proper grammar.
Ask anyone what their objective of life is and the number of different responses will equal the number of people you ask. Regardless of your objective, is it attainable? Who sets the mark for your goal and, when set, how difficult is it to attain? If you set an easy goal then it will be easy to attain. If you set a goal that is impossible to attain then the chances of reaching it are problematic.
If you set an easy goal, and it is easily reached, what then? Do you set another easy goal? If you reach your easy goal do you consider your life well spent? Do you become complacent with your accomplishments and relive the day over and over in your mind—feeding on past accomplishments?
If your goal is easy, but blocked by an unexpected obstacle do you set it aside—perhaps move your “meter” back to claim a false win or do you push on?
Easy goals are easy—impossible goals are not easy and can feed a desire to continually strive for the impossible; if you are so minded. Many of us will never change the world, but a few, that few who strive for the impossible, will sometimes change the world. At the very least you will change your little piece of it.
Never take the easy route—take the right route; which is always harder. The only reward for an easy accomplishment is that it was easy. On the hard road you will see and do things most cannot comprehend. Plus, if you stay focused you will see that the impossible is not that impossible after all; it’s only difficult.
