You may feel like you’re not getting anywhere, but there’s an easy way to see that you’re actually moving closer to your goals.
The True Power of “A Lifetime Ago”
As ridiculous as it is (and let me be absolutely, incredibly, painfully clear about this, it is ridiculous), Facebook often has a way of putting some things in perspective for you.
This past week my wife Emily and I were alerted to the fact that we became Facebook friends nine years ago! Nine years ago?! Has it really been that long?
Then again… if I think about all that has happened in that period of time… has it only been nine years?!
That’s the odd thing about the concept of time, isn’t it? On one hand you could see it as something that seems to have gone by pretty fast. For instance, I recently announced (yes, via Facebook, and to many friends’ chagrin) that the time distance between 1980 and the release of The Wedding Singer was the same as the time distance between the release of The Wedding Singer and now.
Gross.
Or (and you mid-thirty-somethings will hate me for this) I’m now older than the span of time between the end of World War II and my birth.
On the other hand, it can seem like any given span of time is so chock-full of events and experiences that it can’t possibly seem like all of that took place in that short span of time.
When Emily and I were discussing this Facebook-friending anniversary of ours, we both came to the conclusion that everything before it not only seemed like another lifetime ago, but perhaps a whole other life entirely – like someone else’s.
And why? Because of everything that has happened in the nine years since.
Because of everything we’ve done.
You may feel like you aren’t getting anywhere. Maybe it seems like you’re stuck in limbo and you aren’t actually doing anything. Not only have you not reached our goals and realized your dreams, but you aren’t even moving any closer to them as all of these days pass!
But that isn’t true at all. The thing is, as long as you haven’t given up, you’re still moving forward. It may not seem it, and it may appear terribly slow, but you are always getting just that little bit closer to realizing your dreams and your potential. The act of not giving up is in itself a move forward. Even if it’s inch by inch, day by day.
It doesn’t matter if you fly, drive, or walk – the destination is still there. And as long as you’re not stopping, you’re getting closer. It’s only a matter of time before you arrive.
And, hey, if you’re walking, think of all the sights and sounds and smells and experiences you’ll get to have that those folks flying and driving might not. Think of all those lifetimes you’ll get to stuff into nine years!
Nine years… I bet that feels like a lifetime ago to you, too. And that means, believe it or not, you’ve done stuff.
That means you’re moving forward.
And as long as you don’t give up, you will continue to do so by leaps and bounds.