July 8th: Choosing the Road

     There are times in our lives when we have to take a step back and look at what we're doing. Sometimes it is just a moment of reflection when we realize that what we're doing is not the very best use of our time. Other times, it is forced on us by physical limitations as we get older or circumstances that we simply can't control despite our best efforts.
     When do we redirect our resources such as time, money, and talents and how do we know that we shouldn't push through and keep the battle going? After all, when we originally set out on the pathway, we were probably clear about what we wanted out of the journey and were totally prepared to commit everything we had to get to the end of the task.
     Perhaps it is a reexamination of the things that are really important to us that makes us falter. On the other hand, we may still have the fire to continue, but find ourselves lacking the skill to do what we need to. Moving out of our comfort zone, we reach for stars and find that we can only touch the sky.
     Whatever it is, we absolutely MUST keep one thing in mind. If we have failed to complete something, that is where it ends. It doesn't mean anything, and we just need to be ready to move on to the next challenge. So many successful people in history had massive numbers of failures before they had that one breakthrough that made the difference. Failing at something does not make you a failure. Move on. Push ahead. Above all, continue. One thing is certain, if you stop trying, you cannot succeed.
    I wonder how many wonderful things have been lost that were within a person's reach because they stopped making the attempt just short of the goal. We can do it, and we will.