“You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus.” Mark Twain. I have so many favorite quotes by Mark but this one is a constant reminder to me to make sure to honor my creativity, rebellious spirit, desire to touch others positively and to never let go of something that could be around the next corner and that I would never find it or learn about it if I didn’t take the steps or be willing to learn something new. Yes, we all have limits – we don’t want to jump out of airplanes, don’t gamble and don’t believe everything we hear but this doesn’t mean we can’t be open to risk, grow and learn with guidelines, parameters, or limits. I am not telling you what you should or shouldn’t do, try or experiment with. This quote is about, yes keeping your eyes open and on the target, goal, or desired outcome, but it is also suggesting you be willing to step outside your comfort zone from time to time to make sure you are getting the most from life and giving the most to live.
“Don’t forget until too late that the business of life is not business, but living.” B.C. Forbes. You might be amazed at how many people let their career overpower their life. Yes, careers, jobs, income are important and necessary, but to spend the majority of your life in a career, job, or business that does not contribute to inner peace, joy, happiness, and contentment but rather anger, resentment, regret, or disappointment can be harmful. I have met thousands of people in my world travels speaking to audiences who indicated that if they could begin again or hit the reset button on a new or different career would do it in a heartbeat. So, you work 40+ years earning a living so you can spend an average of 8 years retired or doing what you want. Yes, the average lifespan for the average retiree at 65 is 5-9 years. The average lifespan for people who keep working, yes maybe at something different, something easier, or something they even do for no income is 10-15 years. I’m not suggesting you not retire but ask yourself – do you love what you do to earn a living or are you working to earn enough to do what you want when you are not working? Life is life folks and it will someday end. Careers or jobs are just one of many life’s activities or functions. Don’t let it rule your life. But do it till your last breath if you love it.
“On the human chessboard, all moves are possible.” Miriam Schiff. I have never been a chess player but have watched others play. Some are careful and thoughtful while others have been risk-takers and well, just crazy hoping their stupid moves wouldn’t harm the outcome of the game. Yes, any move is possible in chess and life but wisdom or your life-learning thus far, in my opinion, should play an important role in every decision, choice, or action. Consider some of the great inventors over time. They didn’t let potential failure, risk, or even the rejection of others determine their actions or the steps they took but they did calculate the costs, resources, time, and potential outcomes. They blended what I like to refer to as the; risk/reward, failure/success, long/short term, value/ costs to their decisions, choices, or actions. They lived and experimented wisely. So yes, make the moves, but make them thoughtfully, carefully, wisely, and knowing that you can control the move but you can’t control the outcome.