"If you're climbing the ladder of life, you go rung by rung, one step at a time. Don't look too far up, set your goals high but take one step at a time. Sometimes you don't think you're progressing until you step back and see how high you've really gone."

~ Donny Osmond

Life is full of surprises for all of us. What we thought our day was going to turn out to be is very different from the reality of what the day becomes. The same can be said for our life in general. I was raised to be a diligent, hard worker that seeks excellence in everything. Many times that bordered on perfectionistic behavior because when I was too directed in my personal behavior, situations or environments would arise that I was totally unprepared for and had no clue how to respond. Frustrated, I had planned a direction for my life and then expected to execute it perfectly, only to see someone “change the rules” and not go according to my plan. Finding myself with no alternate course of action, I would flounder until I could find a way to move forward with the new set of rules. This didn’t change much when I went to college as a journalism major. I expected to graduate with a degree, write books and retire comfortably. None of those things happened…“someone” changed the rules. I could have chosen to say the ladder of life was pulled out from under me; instead I chose to look up and see where I was going. I chose to avoid a fall, pursue whatever my life was becoming and refused to be afraid of the heights I could encounter in the future with a different climb. Today, I own a successful company with a great staff and have many experiences and friendships I could not have had otherwise by choosing to be unafraid of heights. Interestingly, life gave me back what I had in the beginning. I am writing for a local magazine, working on a book and teaching what I have learned. I challenge you…look up, climb without fear and see where you go….it may be toward everything you want…and more.

 Thought: The difference between merely existing and truly living is the difference between just knowing your values—and   incorporating them into every decision you make... and every action you take.