Being Selfish

Have you ever found yourself living your life for someone else? This could be your spouse, kids, family, friends. You are always doing what your friends ask or what your family ask. You are always that rock for your spouse or your kids. After a while, you can get worn down and worn out from being everything for everyone else. 

Now, I'm not saying you should just "go for yours" and forget everyone. What I am saying is from time to time, you need to be aware of the importance of being there for yourself. You can go, go, go, but in the end, you are drained and the people you are doing all of these things for a just as healthy and as happy as can be. 

Believe me, there is nothing wrong with giving your all for your kids, but hey, in time, kids grow up and they leave to start their own lives. Your spouse, well hopefully if you have done things right, your love and relationship is as strong as ever. Still each person needs that "away time" where you are out doing something for you, recharging your batteries. Then you can go back to being the best YOU that you can be. 

So to all my friends with a big heart, take a minute or two for yourself from time to time to recharge, release and refresh yourself. You will be happy you did. 

Stop Making Excuses

Now, I know I'm not going to make many people happy about this one and I'm OK with that.

I am personally tired of hearing excuse after excuse on why people fail. Things like, "I am messed up because I had a bad childhood. I can't keep a job because my dad could't keep a job. The white man is never going to let the black man get ahead. Women are never treated the same as men at work. The government owes me. 400 years of slavery, they should pay us something. I was raised in the hood. I was raised in the country. My parents didn't push me. My parents pushed me too hard."

I could go on and on about those statements or as I like to call them, excuses. I will openly admit, yes, I'm sure there is scientific reasoning that will back up some of those statements. Repetitive negative behavior, just like repetitive positive behavior can have an impact on a person's life. That can be true as a child and as an adult. There is a need for psychiatrist and psychologist to help people figure out where they are headed in life. However, people still have to make a choice to do better, to be better.

There are so many people, major role models and historical figures (some having it much worse in my opinion) and they were able to make a difference, to make something out of their lives. People like Rosa Parks, Maya Angelou, Martin L. King Jr., Malcolm X, Medgar Evers. If I may go back even further, George Washington Carver. To touch on the ones you may really recognize, Michael Jordan, Michael Jackson, Mike Tyson. These people were not born famous. They were not born successful. They worked hard at it. What they all shared was passion, goals, determination, the sheer will to be the best they could be. These people were not born rich. They were not born famous. At some point in their lives, they decided who they were and what they were going to be.

You are going to have to find your motivation, your passion. Whether that is sparked by family, kids, a relationship or you just want a better life for yourself, there are ways to get it. YOU have to make that decision to do, be better. Stop making excuses and take a long hard look in the mirror. There is opportunity out there for everyone. The question is, are you going to let your opportunity pass you by or are you going to get on the train of life and see where it takes you? The choice is yours.