What motivated me to think of this post was a conversation I had with someone close to me. They absolutely hated their job and were completely dissatisfied with their life in general. An opportunity came up for them to look for a job outside the country, but the excuses just came rolling in. I’m not qualified, I will need to write a test, I have no experience in the field, etc, etc. All true, but all irrelevant. They were completely convinced that their past would be the primary determinant of their future.
‘Back To Future’ was an amazing movie in its time. It opened up my imagination about time travel and how incredible it would be to able to travel to the past with the knowledge I have today. Thankfully, it is all fiction and today we don’t need to obsess about changing things that have already happened. The weird thing is how sometimes I focus on the past so much that you would think maybe Marty McFly was a real person. (Apologies to younger generations that may not have watched these awesome movies. If you click the link it will tell you who McFly is. You are welcome).
Many people have lived through terrible events in their lives that define them today. Many people carry deep wounds and scars of demons they had to overcome in the past. All this is valid and relevant as part of the story of who we have become and there is no getting away from it. Many people carry tales of success, victory and achievement and it gives them a sense of pride and accomplishment. The victories of the past worn with pride as a reminder of what can be achieved. With one fundamental truth in all past scenarios. We cannot change any of it.
I was reminiscing with a friend about how we grew up. Both of us grew up in rural environments where we spent a significant amount of time outdoors. My friend rode a motorcycle on the farm where his Dad worked, while I had a trusty blue BMX bicycle that took me everywhere. We both loved our lifestyles back then and believe being away from devices and game consoles served us very well in making us active and social. We love that part of our past.
Fast forward to the present and we both are living in urban environments. Married to city girls who never spent any time out of town. Who grew up in environments where the TV was always on and the boys spent their time on game consoles. Our kids today live in an environment dominated by technology and seem to sympathise with the outdoor lifestyle I have always loved. But they are not really into it as much as we were. As much as I loved my past, it does not mean this will be my children’s future.
So I encourage everyone reading this today to take the opportunity to really dump their baggage and challenge their preconceptions about life. Just because you did not achieve what you wanted in the past, it doesn’t banish you from a good life in the future. You are welcome to hate the horrible things that happened to you in the past. But always make sure that you love your future even more.
300Paychecks 