Blog #707: Not What I Wanted

Is your life not what you expected?
Maybe you’ll see yourself in a question below.

Five email excerpts.

______

#1. “I thought my life was going to be different. I don’t have a family and have to watch every dollar I spend. I haven’t made a difference in anything I’ve done.”

Fame, wealth, influence, love, family? All of it.

I’m certain many of us have thought, “Why don’t I have…more?”

I don’t know your answer, but for me…

I might NOT make a difference on a scale that makes LOTS of people say, “WOW!” I won’t make a difference in entertainment, sports, politics, or anything that makes social media go nuts.

BUT…

I WILL make a difference with the next person I meet.

And that matters.

______

#2. “I don’t feel old, but I am.”

Just so you know…

I’ve seen a guy staring at me in the mirror and wondered, “Who’s THAT guy?”

But I believe in my heart, we only fade away if we let ourselves fade away.

Yes…

I’m aware that my age is starting to push into the higher numbers…but that doesn’t stop me from trying to still shine in my goals and effort.

On a door in my home, I’ve posted this:

Grow old.
Don’t BE old.

______

#3. “My life is average. I’m sick of being average.”

Another posting I have on a door:

Walk.
Walk.
Walk.

Walk my walk.

Better.

______

#4. “Do you get scared hiking across a country?”

Of course I do.

BUT deep down I know…

FEAR is a desperately cruel arch enemy whose sole intention is to steal my life. So when I feel Him creeping around in my head whispering, “Don’t do it!”… I don’t focus my thoughts on the scary stuff…but on the adventures that await.

Meeting the next person.
Around the next corner.
On the next street.
In the next town.
Over the next mountain.

I love the adventure of living.

And I’m living my life knowing it is one.

______

#5. “It’s harder to be positive in a world getting more negative.”

Well…

Good thing you and I are here then…right?

Do one kind thing for someone today.

And then after you do…find a second person.
And then a third.

The world may be turning less kind.
So let you and I turn MORE kind.

______

Closing this week’s door…

To everybody who reads this blog…

Thank YOU for reading.

And…

For those who comment and give me a glimpse into their lives, thank you for sparking my passion and inspiration.

S.

(Audio version)

Finding Purpose When Life Is Not What You Wanted.

“Not What I Wanted” reminds us that unmet expectations are often invitations to grow. Life may not always match the dream we pictured, but it still offers us opportunities to give, connect, and make a difference. Even when things aren’t what we wanted, we can still find something worth wanting — gratitude, kindness, and purpose.