"I'm blind"
"I never got a formal education"
"I'm an orphan"
"I'm owned by another man"
"I have ADHD"
"I'm a poor speaker"
"I'm unattractive"
"My father abused me"
Every day, when I clock in and out of work, this bumper sticker, proudly showcased on the door attracts my attention:
"No excuses, just choices."
There will always be a legitimate excuse for not doing something worthwhile. The most valuable things in life are rarely easy, and it's taking me a long time to learn that. That exercise plan you're meaning to get on, the book that's been sitting on the shelf of your mind, begging to be written, that mountain that's defying you, and that person you meant to talk to will always be threatened of derailleur by your stiff joints, lack of convenient paper, poor weather and your insecurities. The men and women who have sweetened this world have rarely been handed greatness on a silver platter. They were people just like us, who dealt with insecurities, uncertainties and faults that made their road difficult. I am convinced that the defining difference between the greats of history and their peers was that they made no excuses, but made the difficult choices to persevere, work hard and take courage.
So let's roll up our sleeves, put on our big boy pants, and get to work making the choices to do the things that are worthwhile in this life.
Excuse key:
1: John D. Rockefeller
2: Helen Keller
3: Abraham Lincoln
4: Steve Jobs
5: Booker T. Washington
6: Thomas Edison
7: Moses
8: Don Knotts
9: Walt Disney
