Hands up if when someone asks you how you’re doing you reply with, “Busy”.
I bet every single hand is raised right now.
We wear “busy” as if it is a badge of honor. We talk about “busy” as though it’s something to be proud of. We let “busy” fill the void. We allow “busy” to get in the way of living.
Somewhere along the way, we start believing that if we’re not busy, and I mean, VERY busy, that something is wrong. We feel guilt when we’re not getting things done. We look at those around us who are doing big things and fall into a state of mind that tells us we can’t possibly keep up, but that if we just stay busy, if we keep hustling, we’re doing something right.
Without thinking, we let busy get in the way of some of the best things in life.
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I don’t know how to make $100 million dollars. But I do know how to hustle and do exceptional work today that will lead to more work tomorrow.
I don’t know how to make other’s see my way of thinking on equality. But I do know that I can use the platform(s) I’ve developed to share the messages that are important to me.
I don’t know how to run a marathon in 4 hours, but I do know that it’ll take stepping outside and going for a run this morning to get there.
I don’t know how to believe in one religion, but I do know how to be curious. How to question and discover a faith that works best for me.
I didn’t know how to start a business, but I did. I never believed I’d find a woman who would love me even half as much as I love her, but I did. I never thought I’d be able to call myself a homeowner, a marathoner, or an entrepreneur at age 26, but I can.
“I don’t know how” holds us back from doing what we want to be doing. We let can/cannot hold us back from want/need. We’re unsure of the outcome – we don’t want to get burned – we’re terrified, absolutely terrified of failing, so we never take the first step.
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Back in November, I asked:
“What, in history, was made better by discrimination? When did segregation work? When was bigotry applauded by the masses?”
The question is rhetorical. The answer is, of course, never.
But here we are, with another State not only denying equal rights, but going out of their way to do so.
North Carolina passed an amendment that will alter the state’s constitution to say that “marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this state.” The reality is, there was already a ban on same-sex marriage. This now bans civil unions, too. In short, it’s a slap in the face. And it’s pretty damn terrible, when you stop and think about it.
Once again, we’re mixing church and state. And once again, we’re going out of our way to hate. We’re denying equality. We’re ruining the lives of our people simply because we don’t agree with the lifestyle. Or don’t understand it. Or are afraid.
Afraid of change. Afraid of progress. Afraid of making things right.
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…I’ve never been good at hailing cabs. Growing up in Nashville will do that to you. The only way to hail a cab in this town is to pick up the phone and tell them where to pick you up.
But regardless, I held my hand out and did the half-wave I’ve seen people do on TV as I stood on a corner in downtown Washington DC, then got into a taxi.
“Union Station, please.” I said in the most non-tourist way I could muster. And we were off.
A cab ride, a train ride, and a plane ride later, I was back in Nashville. But during those few hours of commuting, I thought, a lot. About, well, everything.
Last week I wrote about how an idea can transform into a passion, a purpose, and a religion. That in order for something to be successful, the most important component is simply giving a damn. Caring. Desire.
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In the video above we meet Megan Paska, a rooftop beekeeper hailing from Brooklyn, New York. In her own words, for her, beekeeping gives her a sense of purpose. It’s what keeps her “sane and connected to the world”. It’s her religion. It’s a passionate career that has her believing that for the first time in her life, she’s absolutely on the right path.
We spend our lives wandering around, trying to discover it’s meaning. Pondering what it’s all about. Wondering what we’re “supposed” to do.
During the journey, we spend the majority of our time not discovering our passion, but rather, denying ourselves of what really matters.
Because an idea isn’t logical. It isn’t realistic. It’ll never make any money. It won’t be successful.
But that logic is backwards. If you’re worried about the success, the money, and the fame, to validate your dreams, you’ve got it all wrong.
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