You can’t insure your dream…

It’s impossible to watch tv, listen to the radio, read a newspaper or magazine and open your mail box without seeing advertisement for insurance. I’m sure you would have insurance for yourself covering different areas of your life.

It seems we can insurance anything and everything these days. Home insurance, car insurance, health insurance, life insurance, home and content insurance, income protection insurance, there is even pet insurance. The list seems endless with what we can insure.

It gets me thinking, why do people insure things? I think its human nature to want to know things will be ok. People don’t like risk and will do whatever it takes to avoid it.Even if that means they fork out thousands of  dollars to reduce the risk of being stuck without a car if it breaks down, be assured that they can repair their home if it is affected by a flood or natural disaster, or if they chip their tooth while eating a chocolate coated ice cream and need emergency dental work they can without hassle!

Its seems the society we live in avoids or prevents risk as much as possible, but in the odd chance that something may happen outside of our control, that even then…we are covered.

But there is one thing we cannot insure. Its living out our dreams. There is no guarantee, there is no way you can risk everything to “give it a go” and be guaranteed that it will work out as you intended.

I wonder whether that is why so may people do not dare to step out and “give their dream a go”. Perhaps people see the risk, see what they have to give up and back out because there is no guarantee that what they hope for and work for will happen.

But that’s half the joy of seeing dreams realised, is knowing you risked everything to “give it a go”.

If you are waiting for guarantees or to know every step in your journey of achieving your dream before you step out….you will never make it, achieve it or enjoy it.

If you dare to ditch the insurance and fantasy of having some kind of guarantee that the dream you have will be achieved and actually just live it, enjoy the journey and risk whatever it will take to get there…you will achieve it and much more.

 

What will they say about you?

This weekend I visited the cemetery.

A place like this is not one I really like to be at, one I want to visit or one that ever makes you feel happy! But this visit left a significant impression on me.

One of the most impacting things as you walk around is seeing the names, dates, and remembrance quotes on people’s headstones.

There was not one headstone that was engraved with the persons investment portfolio, how many cars and houses they owned, what they did for a job or what their bank balance was.

All that was written was their name, the date they entered the world and the date they left. Many of the headstones also had a quote inscribed the an attempt to sum up the person’s life. Such as “ In our memories and in our hearts”, “A son, a husband, a brother, a father, A friend”.

It got me thinking, what would people I leave behind choose to write on my headstone? I was yet again reminded that life is not about what we accumulate, what we are known to the world by in terms of career and status. What we leave behind is a legacy. You and I choose what that legacy is.

When my days on earth are done, Id like to think that my life continues to echo on earth. and that how I lived my life left a lasting and impacting impression.Not just to my family and friends but to the community I lived in.

Id like to see something like  “ Lived life to the fullest”, “A life well lived”, “Lived with no regrets”, “A life lived with purpose”….

What do you want to see on your headstone?

…and are you living a life that would ensure people who are left behind would say the same?

 

Who am I to be great?

Don’t ask youurself “Who am I to be great”

Ask “Who am I not to be”.

You are important;You can make a difference,when your time comes

Act.

 

Always be your best

ALWAYS BE YOUR BEST

When you think it doesn’t matter
if you fail or pass the test.
Keep in mind the reason why
you should always be your best.

While the whole world may not notice
if you tried to give your all,
there is a person in you
to whom it matters if you fall.

That little voice inside you -
which directs your thoughts each day -
will make the final judgement
if you won or lost each day.

Never can you fail yourself
if you give it all you’ve got.
The world extends a hand to you
when you give life your best shot.

For all that really matters
when you’re finished with your test,
is not the final score at all -
but did you do your best?

Tom Krause