By: D. A. Slinkard
I am writing this article and within just a few short weeks I will be turning another year older. I recently had the opportunity to speak to a group of young people, and I made mention of the fact we are the main characters in our own lives. You cannot be the main character in my life, and I cannot be the main character in your life. It is truthful that we have the pen in our hand to write the story of our life. Not only am I the main character, but this also makes me the author of my life.
Each day becomes a new page for how the story is going to go and with the pen in hand, ready to write, we need to make sure we live each day on purpose. I am currently on chapter number 42 but in a few short weeks, I will begin working on chapter number 43. What chapter are you currently working on? In your story, with you as the author, with you as the main character – who do you want to be? How do you want your story to go? What do you want the ending to be?
Do you want to be the hero? Or, do you want to be the villain? This was the challenging question I asked this group of young people because I do not believe anyone sets out in life and thinks to themselves, “Hey, I want to be the bad guy in my own life.” Not at all. I believe what happens more often is a negative event happens in a person’s life, and then another negative event, and then another negative event, and the person begins to think negatively. Before they know it, they start making bad decisions, and one bad decision leads to another which eventually leads to a hard life.
Too many people are walking around listening to that small voice in the back of their head that keeps telling them they cannot do it. That small voice keeps telling them how they will never be good enough. That small voice keeps asking them, “What is the use?” That small voice keeps on going until it begins to get louder and louder and louder to the point at which that small voice is the only thing a person can hear. Does this sound familiar?
We need to drown out that small voice with the understanding that we can take control of today. After all, the pen is in our hand and not in the hand of that voice. We need to really think about who we want to be. We need to really think about how we want our life to go. We need to really think about how we are going to accomplish what we want out of life — take an inventory and then be prepared to take massive action.
Too many people fail in life because they do not know where to begin. Too many people are waiting for someone to come along and tell them what to do to get their life together and the cavalry is not coming. Pick up the pen – start today – start on the page you are currently on – and write out your success story.
Stop waiting for things to change because until you decide for things to be different, you are going to keep getting the same results you have always gotten. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly while expecting a different outcome. If you want your life to be different, it is time to start writing out a different storyline. Maybe there are some characters in your life that you need to get rid of. Show me your friends, and I will show you your future. Maybe you need to find some new characters who have better qualities than what you are currently surrounding yourself with.
It is time we think seriously about where we are and where we are going. If I leave out of Athens and head south on I-65, I do not need to be surprised when I end up in Birmingham. If you have not been making the right choices and you know it, it is time to start identifying what you need to be doing differently. The pen is in your hand; it is time to pick it up and begin writing the story of your life. Each day is a new page in this story – make it a great!
By: D. A. Slinkard
D.A. Slinkard would love your feedback. You can contact him at da.slinkard@gmail.com
November 14, 2024
