Day 34 - Two Little Words - Slow Down

What the world needs now... 

​A few years back, our twenty-something daughter ran back into the house to grab something before she jetted off to work in her sporty sedan.  “Be careful!” I cautioned, “And don’t speed.”  

She didn’t bat an eye and said, “I’ll get there when I get there.”


Ahhhh… so true, so true.  But, of course, whether or not she drove like a speed demon, the same would be true: she would get there when she got there.


​At any point along the equator, the earth is rotating at just over 1000 miles per hour.  Interestingly, as one travels north and south from the equator, the rotational speed decreases to the points at the poles, where the rotational speed is near zero.
 
I find the preceding fact to be a fascinating statement about life here on earth.  

In particular, sometimes it seems like we are all going nowhere… fast.
 
Some time ago, I caught a glimpse of a television program called “The Secret Millionaire.”  As the title implies, the hero of the hour-long show is an "undercover" millionaire who visits various non-profit organizations, and conducts extemporaneous research to see which, if any, of the organizations deserve a portion of his charitable donations.
 
In one sentimentally mushy part of one of the programs, one of the directors of a non-profit organization said, “We get up, come out here every day, work hard, go home, and then get back out here again the next day.”  She punctuated her lamentations with one final statement.  

“It’s hard!” she said (or words to that effect).
 
I was immediately struck by her fondness for pointing out the obvious.
 
Of course, most of us get up, go out every day, work hard, come home, and then get back out there again the next day…. and the next day… and the next day.  But I would not characterize day-in and day-out as “hard.”
 
Of course, I am not she, and she is not me.
 
But we both share a spot somewhere on this earth, where we are all going nowhere fast.  Now when I say “no where,“ I mean that in the geospatial sense.  Specifically, you and I started life on this planet, and I have high confidence that we (you and I) will end our lives somewhere within these vast oceans or miracle-laden continents.
 
So, in that sense, we are going nowhere… fast.
 
How fast?
 
I guess that all depends on where you live on the surface of the earth.
 
It also depends on how you view your self, the world, and exactly how the two entities relate together and one to another.  For example, if you believe you, your self, has what it takes to blow past any realistic goal you create, you are well on your way to creating a whole new world.  Moreover, if you believe the world is on your side, get ready to rock your dreams. 

Simplistic?  
 
No.  
 
Powerful?  
 
Yes.

But what I can say here that will absolutely, unequivocally absolve you of all doubt… and simultaneously launch your faith in S.E.L.F. beyond what you have ever thought possible?  
 
Should I offer a money-back guarantee?  Considering the cost basis of this e-course, I’d say, “Ok!”  
 
But that would not absolve you of all doubt… would it?
 
What if I gave you 33 two-word combinations that provide a solid foundation for dissolving doubt?  
 
Oh… wait; I’ve already done that.
 
What if I told you that people at the equator are rotating at 1000 miles per hour, while people in Iceland are rotating at speeds far less than that?  Would you believe me?
 
In reality, you have no more reason to believe me on one FACT more or less than the other.  In fact, the only reason you believe anything is because you choose to believe it.  Yes, we’ve already discussed this concept of belief (faith)… and the impact that belief, commitment, and faith has on our lives.
 
But this is the e-note for Day 34 of “40 Days and Two Little Words.”
 
This is PRIME TIME.  
 
We are 5 days from the final e-note, and I need you to slow down and take a penetrating look at what we have discussed thus far.  I won’t provide a specific review of the previous e-notes.  However, I will, instead, offer you these morsels to chew on:
 
If we can so easily believe in the concepts of night, day, and time itself, why is it often difficult to believe in something we know far better than theory: our self (?)
 
I’ll tell you why:  
 
We need love.
 
And we need it on a scale that is truly incomprehensible.  
 
Do you know how much love we need?  
 
The scale is incomprehensible because it’s infinitely different for each of us.  
 
Only YOU know what fills you up, and only THEY know what makes THEM feel loved. 
 
However, in the grand scheme of things, I can tell you where we absolutely, unequivocally must start giving and simultaneously receiving the love…
 
…and that is with our self. 
 
We get up, go out every day, work hard, go home, and then get back out there again the next day…. and the next day… and the next day.  
 
For what?
 
I have my answer.  

               ...do you have yours?
 
Is it for the fun of it? 
 
Perhaps it’s for the hell of it?  
 
               I doubt it.
 
Some say “It’s for the money.”  

I say, “Millionaires likely have as many challenges as the rest of us… and, perhaps they have more.  After all, money can cause as many problems as it appears to solve.”  And on this path called life, we really need to slow down and ask ourselves why we think what we think; why we believe what we believe; and if we love ourselves as much as we could or should.  
 
I’m not talking about conceit or even confidence.
 
I am talking about a pure joy to be where you are.
 
Because as much as we would love to zip along the fast lane in life, we are where we need to be, when we need to be there. 
 
We’ll get there when we get there.
 
SLOW DOWN.
  
Why?

Lord willing, I'll tell you tomorrow.

Believe me.

Aloha,
John  
 
Your mission for today: 
 
    1. Go for a 30-minute walk... and walk slowly.
    2. Say these words, "I love you, (your name here)"
    3. Repeat Step 2 more than 30 times.
    4.  Journal your thoughts about this experience.
  
Forgive. Focus. Find. Accept. Adapt. Achieve. ®      

John H. Clark III is an optimistic realist.

Principal consultant at The PIE Group, and Executive Director of TeenBuilding USA, [a non-profit 501c(3)], John believes better development of leaders is what we (all) need.  And to be better organizations, we need more good leaders, not followers. To build better leaders, we must start with the individual (you, she, he, and me).
 
Described as “an innovative leader,” John teaches leaders, organizations, and individuals how to inspire each other. With a bold goal to inspire a worldwide community of optimistic realists who continuously accept, adapt to, and achieve the bold and beautiful concept of The Ideal Life, John is leading a movement to inspire people to apply his trademarked mantra {Accept. Adapt. Achieve! ®}.
 
An innovative business manager and retired naval officer, John is fascinated by leaders and organizations that make the greatest impact within their organizational culture and within the “real” world — people who “get it.” Over the course of his life as a military leader, corporate mentor, and innovative content creator, John has discovered a wealth of insight about how we think, act and communicate within our respective work/life environments. As a career naval officer, mentor, educator, and optimistic realist, he has devoted his life to sharing insights to assist in our quests to become better at what we all do – live @ work!
 
An optimist with a penchant for writing about realistic solutions to the challenges of everyday life, John is the author of 3 books: a leadership-development insider, The Ideal: Your guide to An Ideal Life, a teen-focused guide, Getting Out: Expert Advice for Today’s Teens, and the Christian-based book, God’s Heartbeat: A Powerful Premise for Leading a Christian Life.
 
He delivers a unique and refreshing point of view to life's seemingly overwhelming situations. 
 
Through books, blogs, and everyday conversation, John's message resonates with an empowering blend of ideals that enrich, uplift, and “authorize” people to set and achieve goals far beyond current mindsets.  His trademarked phrase is a winner:

Review the previous 33 Two Little Words HERE