Monday, September 23, 2013

Living 2 of 7

“Most people I work with spend all week just waiting for the weekend so they miss living most of their lives!”

-Mary Hernandez

Living 2 of 7

Aldolfo is a short, wiry man with a never ending sparkle in his eyes.  He has lots of energy.  In fact, he has more energy than most men I know who are half his age.  I’m not half his age.  I’m a lot closer to his age.  But, when I’m with him, I want to live as if I were his age.
Aldolfo just has a zest for life.  When we look at land together he’s the one who wants to walk every square inch of the property.  It doesn’t matter what the conditions or the weather are.  When I was last with him, he pulled a pair of boots and a hat out of his truck and widened his grin as he said, “I hope you have time.  I want to walk the property!”

“I wish I had his energy!” I said to Mary his wife.
“Everybody does!” she replied.

“He isn’t like most people I know.” Mary continued.  “He’s a dreamer and a worker.  He lives with his dreams in mind every day.  I think that’s what keeps him moving.  He just can’t wait to spend every day reaching toward his dreams.  He’s definitely not like the people I work with.  Most people I work with spend all week just waiting for the weekend so they miss living most of their lives!”
Mary began to miss her husband and got up to look out of the window to check on his progress.  She peered across the acres of dried, blowing grass searching for him.  She had no luck finding him until she turned back to the font of the house and found that Aldolfo had already changed and was walking back through the front door.

“This is it!” He said.  “I can’t wait to bring my animals here!”  His smile and gleaming eyes were saying more than the words escaping his mouth were.  I could see the satisfaction welling up inside of him and exploding through his countenance.  I also knew that this find had been a long time coming.   He has worked many years to realize this part of his dream.  And, while I’ve worked with him over many months to see this triumph, I knew he had been working toward it over a much longer time.  Here’s what I noticed about his amazing approach to life while I’ve been working with him:
Aldolfo knows what he wants, and while what he has today is not perfect, he keeps his eye fixed solidly on daily progress toward reaching his dream.  He’s able to hold the perfection inside, where it remains perfect and unaffected by the outside world.  Nothing on the outside can convince him that he doesn’t already own his future today!

Second, because of the way Aldolfo holds his dream, he knows he is capable of individual brilliance.  At the same time, he also knows and accepts the fact that he’s human; he isn’t brilliant all day, every day.  He accepts that fact, and as a result he is very forgiving of himself.  He knows that extremes go with the territory when it comes to personal achievement.  Whether you’re conducting a scientific experiment, creating art, managing a project, starting a business, or doing anything of significance, you’ll have good days and bad days.  Aldolfo recognizes these extremes and rolls with the punches.  He accepts his own low points without self-incrimination.
He simply strives to do his best.  He feels comfortable in his own skin.  He has a child-like sense of adventure and doesn’t let his own failures detour him.  He also lives the way he wants without worries such as, “what will the neighbors say.”

Finally, Aldolfo allows himself to really savor his victories as they come.  He once said to me, “When I get a chance to ride my horse, I really enjoy the ride!”
The ride of life offers each one of us different tempos and provides all kinds of exhilarating opportunities. No one can live life to its fullest by living only 2 of every 7 days.  Live each day by recognizing that time and effort are required to fully achieve your dreams.  Then, hold your dreams inside while working on them every day.  Live your life with people who will befriend and love you no matter what comes your way. And, when you get a chance to ride your horse, really enjoy the ride!

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