Do One Thing

March 3, 2010 | Inspiration

Tomorrow is not promised to any one of us, no matter how much we try to trick ourselves into believing that it is. We carry that calendar, cell phone and laptop as a crutch to ensure that we’re so busy there has to be a tomorrow so we can finish up that project, send that email, schedule that meeting. But the reality is that for all of us, there will be one day when tomorrow will not come. There will be one day when we do not roll over in the bed to hit the snooze button on the alarm clock. There will be one day when we will not wake up to greet the golden sky.

I heard author and motivational speaker John St. Augustine give a speech once at a book festival in Charlottesville, Virginia. He said to think of your life as a timeline. The average person lives to age 77. He said to think about where you are now on the timeline between your current age and 77. The space between is the unknown.

The problem is that most people are afraid of the unknown. Most people are so afraid of the unknown that they live unhappy and mediocre lives until they aren’t living anymore. They have big dreams that they’re even afraid to speak out loud for fear they might have to make them come true. But deep down, we all want the kind of courage it takes to live what John St. Augustine calls “the uncommon life.” Deep inside of each of us, there’s a glimmer of wanting light that yearns to do something real. John says that living the uncommon life is about deliberately doing different things so your life will be better, more fulfilling. The uncommon life is not for people who say they’re going to wait until they get all their ducks in a row before they do what they really want to do. It’s not for people who insist that they’ll follow their dream of starting a business or spending more time with their family, or taking that trip to Paris…once they’ve reached a certain age or point in their lives.

Because we all know that tomorrow is not promised. All we really have is today.

So where do you start?

Do one thing today to move your dream forward, even if it’s as simple as writing it down and taping it up on your computer. Do one thing today to remind yourself that life is too short not to do what makes you happy. Do one thing today to move yourself closer to living the uncommon life.

Image credit: Wishful Thinking

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Tags: courage, Inspiration, John St. Augustine

Chelsea

Belatedly, Rosetta, I love this post! Thanks for sharing John's vision of "the uncommon life" and for articulating the things that have recently been running through my mind.
Michael A. De Bose

We really do have to be determined to live "uncommon lives". Its too easy for us to normalize with our surroundings and friends and families. I had a disruptive event a few years ago and by the time I was to return to work my entire job class had been removed from the org chart. Some of my co-workers found jobs doing what we'd been doing before. I won't lie and say I didn't miss the money because it was great. At the same time, somewhere deep within I couldn't get over the fact that it had been "ELEVEN YEARS". I wasn't lamenting the money that I loved or a job which I enjoyed or the wonderful people I worked with. Somehow the time I spent there just offended me to no end.

I was one of those little understood gifted kids that perplexes age peers and adults alike. Even at work my output was unparalleled, (yes but I only admit that here), but I didn't fit in entirely and my vision like me, was just different. I realized through no longer having that job, that I never stopped being gifted or me. The problem was that an opportunity that was supposed to become a stepping stone became a lifestyle and my sole validator. Externally my life looked like everyone else around me, which wasn't bad but it didn't reflect my soul. What I learned there however will serve me well. The thing with being gifted is that it doesn't make you better, but you do see things differently and often farther into the future than most around you. If you are alone in this in your circle then you learn to speak only in the terms of your group. Suddenly you think you're just like everyone else only they seem happy.

Thanks for posting this because its important that we take the time to evaluate our present against our soul's mission. I'm currently in the process of starting several businesses and my vision allows me to see that even those I will one day walk away from. So I work to build what will be a thriving corporation that I will walk away from and as crazy as that sounds I'm good with that because it makes perfect sense to me. Will I maintain ownership? I don't even know. Yet, when I was growing up countries, history and different peoples along with technology and science was all that I ever cared about. To the point that while I had a life full of people and friends, I was really alone because the world before me wasn't the one I saw within me and there wasn't anyone there that you know really got me but along the way I've come across many guidepost and markers.

This unknown you're speaking of is really about the eyes because your soul knows. The decisions you make that seem so counter intuitive and yet give you so much peace. That's your soul saying this is the right way.

I do challenge everyone to do what's in you to do. Isn't it funny how when children talk about what they will do and be there is so much variety and a little showing off. Yet when adults talk the vocabulary is so much smaller and the things sought so homogenous. Vision has scope and range. There are some who want picket fences and the dog and taking the kids to recital and that's okay. Some of us don't want that but we've gone through life wondering what's wrong with us for not wanting what our friends and families seem to be so grateful to have. If your vision is large enough to encompass other people or continents; or it allows you to see yourself leading companies or countries, there's nothing wrong with you and don't apologize. What ever is within you, you didn't put it there, but you owe it to the One who did to act on it.
Joe P

Love the blog today! Thanks for sharing...
monise

Wonderful! I was just sitting here fussing about having to write a statement on my teaching philosophy for an adjunct position...now I MUST get it done! Thank you! Have a great day!