Holy moly, good morning everyone. Wow. Why is it that I have a chronic shortage of working pens?! I’m sitting outside a Starbucks on Menlo Park, just wanted to get some good old fashion pen-and-paper journaling in before I enter my deep work session… the ONE pen I brought with me ran out of ink, so I went inside Starbucks asking for a pen, they gave me one, and that one ran out of ink before I could finish my first sentence in my journal! I am frustrated, so I decided to vent on this blog. It be like that sometimes– little trivial things bother you and send you into a RAGE.
Don’t worry, I have calmed down some. I love pen-and-paper writing, I find it more cathartic than my fingers racing over the keyboard (if you’re mad, you can scribble and write big, heavy letters). But this will have to suffice. Rant, concluded.
How are you all doing? It’s a special day today– 11/11. I am superstitious and spiritual, and whenever the clock strikes 11:11am, I set a silent intention to the universe. Help me find a boyfriend. Help me build a successful company. Help me write a best-selling book. Failure is not an option for me. I am tired of living with a chip on my shoulder; achieving excellence, but never quite being THE BEST. What is it with my fixation of being number 1? Is the view really so great from the top of Everest? Success has consequences as well.. you have to sacrifice a lot to get there. My intention for this special day is to be present, and try not to envy those who have thus far achieved greater “success” than me.
On another note, it is Veteran’s Day today! I personally know several people who have served in the military… Navy SEALS, marines, officers. They have sacrificed SO much to serve our country. For those lucky enough to return from war, many emerge with battle scars– physical, mental, emotional. There is a high rate of PTSD, substance use, and mental illness amidst veterans. If you are a vet, or know one, I encourage you to check out NAMI’s veterans support groups. Social support is integral to the healing journey– reach out to those who can help. You deserve to live a happy, healthy life, especially with everything you’ve done for us civilians.
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Since this is a wellness blog, I’ll let you in on a mindset that helps me whenever I don’t feel good enough.
Instead of quantifying success by objective metrics (money, clout, followers), I think about the impact I can make on the micro level. Did I perform an act of service today? Did I make someone happy? Did I make someone smile? Even if that’s just one person, it counts. I try to cherish the little moments that make up a lifelong journey.
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with one single step.”
If I work hard every day, making incremental progress as I build my empires, brick by brick, that’s what counts. Don’t lose sight of your mission. Stoke the flames of your passion, and know that you will have good and bad days, and embrace the uncertainty. That’s what makes life exciting! And that is the ultimate gift of youth– you can dream as widely and vastly as you dare, and you have time on your side. I am grateful for my youth, and I strive to make the most of my brief time on Earth. Here’s hoping I will live to 100 so I can do everything I ever wanted to.
Well, it’s time to get to work. Thank you for reading today’s reflection and rant. And once again, Happy Veterans Day.
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