Do one thing everyday that scares you...check.

About two weeks ago now, the soldiers of C 2/60th at Ft. Jackson South Carolina lost a battle buddy. He took his own life, and I know this will be the first of what is the unfortunate part of military life.  It's hard saying goodbye when someone deploys, or PCS' or just separates from the Army.  However, this goodbye is a long time temporary one.  I know I'll get to see everyone who passes again someday, but it really makes you think about the short time we have on this planet.

I don't know what hit me tonight, or who is guiding me while I write this, but something came over me. Suddenly it hit me that this life is SO short.  While it goes against all human nature to do things that scare us, imagine what kind of world we'd be in if we all took a chance.  Told people HOW we really feel.  Took that step at work that we're not sure is right but we think it is.  We do that sky dive or travel to that land that we want to see, but aren't really sure if we should.  Imagine your life now if ten years ago you took a crazy leap, where would you be?

When our risks don't see the rewards we want, it's hard to try again. It's hard to say "Okay, I put myself out there, I failed, but there is a reason I did."  Rejection is one of those human emotions that will case anyone to crawl back into a shell and turn out the world. And, it's going to happen, because that's life. But, if we keep living our lives in fear, we may never know why we're here on this Earth for the short amount of time we are.

Taking chances in life is scary, I understand this more than anyone.  But what I've learned is the greatest things in life come from that push inside of us. That voice daring us, that little voice in the back saying "seriously, you need to do this!" Don't be scared to fail.  Yes, it'll happen, but don't let that stop you.  If your courage comes from your heart, head, gut, soul, wherever, LISTEN TO IT! Don't be scared, take that chance.  Go for that new job.  Go for that person's heart.  Don't stop until you know you've given every chance....don't be scared!

In the movie "We Bought a Zoo," while the movie itself is sub-par it has an amazing line in it: "You know, sometimes all you need is 20 seconds of insane courage. Just, literally, 20 seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it"

Have courage and have faith.  Have courage to take that step...no, that leap to do something that terrifies you, and have faith that, while it may not be what you think,  or turn out how you plan, it absolutely will turn out how it should.

Keep it strong my friends.

"Pearls don't lie on the seashore, if you want one, you must dive for it." - Chinese proverb

"Do the one thing you think you cannot do. Fail at it. Try again. Do better the second time. The only people who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire. This is your moment. Own it." -Oprah Winfrey


 "Always go with your passions. Never ask yourself if it’s realistic or not."  Deepak Chopra



"You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something – your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life."  Steve Jobs

And finally, I find this song very fitting right now: