“I don’t know if Momma was right or if, if it’s Lieutenant Dan. I don’t know if we each have a destiny, or if we’re all just floating around accidental-like on a breeze, but I, I think maybe it’s both. Maybe both is happening at the same time.”
Quick – name that movie. Yep – you guessed it – none other than the one and only Forrest Gump. If you have not watched Forrest Gump lately, I recommend you do. What a fascinating story.
Back to the point, I happen to think Forrest is right. However, I don’t think he is correct in the conventional way that you might assume. As you know, I am a spiritual person. I love God and believe He knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I believe He loves me – and I believe He loves you too. But this particular post has nothing to do with a theological debate. This is about people and how they live.
My life experiences and my study of people have led me to believe that there are many people that are floating around accidental-like on a breeze. They are the ones that go to work just to go to work. They spend several hours a day watching television or playing video games. They are not in control of their diet – rather their diet is in control of them. Their spiritual life is stagnant or non-existent. They spend many hours per week on social media, but not because they are the director of social media marketing at a firm that requires such. The last time they worked out – it was by accident. This same person has thousands of dollars of debt and is still racking-up credit card debt. Their relationships are not making them better. They don’t have a mentor, a vision, or a dream with an action plan. And the thought of investing in and reading a book that will enhance their personal and professional development – NEVER.
You get the picture. In fact, many people come to mind that fit that description. Some of them probably work with you (I hope not). Then we have the other side of the coin. The ones who think they have a destiny. Now painting this picture is much more difficult because there are not many of them. They are the outliers in the normal spectrum.
Let’s just say that their ‘wheel of life’ as we say in Carnegie is moving them forward. Spiritually, they are devoted and hungry for more. They work purposefully. Cable television – they don’t have it. Video Games – nope! They are aware of their physical condition and striving to improve their health. Social Media, only for growth and expanding their brand – not for wasting their life. Financially – little to no debt and plenty of cash in the bank. Generous with their “retained earnings” – you better believe it. They have a dream, a vision, and have successfully surrounded themselves with people who will push them towards achievement.
I am convinced that we are on this earth for a purpose. Everything we do matters. We have the option of floating around all accidental-like on a breeze as our friend Forrest asserted, or we can do the opposite. Hear me on this, I am not saying that if we have a plan then we won’t ever experience any deviations from it. Life throws us curve balls and we have to be prepared to embrace the obstacles and adapt accordingly. I assure you that the person without a plan will not be able to handle the curve balls thrown their way.
As we look at the two theoretical people described above, I know which one I want to be more like– do you?
-CK