Life Wasted

This may sound like the familiar comedy presentation 

"You may be a Redneck"

READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED

I have been thinking about the characteristics of a successful (value-added) life...

Despite the fact that I have dedicated a goodly portion of my life to understanding the components and characteristics that leads one to success...I know one thing!

Success is a difficult thing to define...

I can openly admit to the fact that I have been somewhat unsuccessful in clearly and accurately defining what success is...

Every time that I think that I "nailed" it down...it slips away!

...it is elusive...

...and rather than wasting any more of my time (and yours)... I decided that perhaps I would carve away at the whole thing of "life"...removing what success isn't...leaving us with a somewhat clearer understanding of what it possibly is!

What we do know is...

If a life isn't successful...

It is a life wasted!

Although not completely true...let's look at this in a simple binary fashion...

I call it the "net' perspective...

If a life contains more failures than successes...it is a waste...

If a life contains more successes than failures...it is not wasted...

Shifting Gears...

One of my favorite stories is about the unveiling of the statue "David."  Michelangelo was asked, "How did you build such a beautiful statue?"  To that he replied..."I did not build it...I started with a large amorphous block of marble and took away everything that wasn't David!"

Our lives are like that!

When we enter the world our options are infinite...and as we go along...we chop away at the possibilities...until we figure it all out!

Our hope is that by the time we unveil our masterpiece...it isn't too late!

The pursuit of understanding is often like that!  It isn't about what we amass...but that which we chisel away...

As I think about it...isn't this scientific method?

Back on Track...

Let's chisel away...

Let's look at SOME of those things (actions, behaviors, characteristics) that cause us to waste a life!

• If you think that you don't have anything to change...you may be wasting your life!
• If you have stopped learning...you may be wasting your life!
• If you have had a moment of aggressive nastiness...you may be wasting your life!
• If you have put someone down...you may be wasting your life!
• If you have ever bullied someone...you may be wasting your life!
• If you are not striving to build a legacy...you may be wasting your life!
• If you think that your failures are someone else's fault...you may be wasting your life!
• If you are waiting for something to happen before you can start...you may be wasting your life!
• If you don't take time everyday to reflect and show your gratitude...you may be wasting your life!
• If you do not know what you need to be doing right now...you may be wasting your life!
• If you haven't started doing something to get you closer to your goal...you may be wasting your life!
• If you do not greet the day with love, excitement and anticipation...you may be wasting your life!
• If you do not know specifically what your mission in life is...you may be wasting your life!
• If people are not positively changed by being around you...you may be wasting your life!
• If your speech contains anything negative or hostile...you may be wasting your life!
• If you think that you have to stand up for your rights...you may be wasting your life!
• If you have never failed...you may be wasting your life!
• If everything comes easy...you may be wasting your life!
• If you do not look for something nice to say to everyone you interact with...you may be wasting your life!
• If you think you can have what you got and get what you want...you may be wasting your life!
• If you are hanging with people who drain you with no return...you may be wasting your life!
• If anything that you do is illegal...you may be wasting your life!
• If you think that you are in control...you may be wasting your life!
• If you have asked for leniency or an exception...you may be wasting your life!
• If you have ever done less than you could have...you may be wasting your life!
• If you think that anything in your past gives you license to do something today...you may be wasting your life!
• If entitlement is a required component of your success equation...you may be wasting your life!
• If you do not say "thank you" often during the day...you may be wasting your life!
• If you have not been criticized for being too focused...you may be wasting your life!
• If you have never asked for help...you may be wasting your life!
• If you have never given help...you may be wasting your life!
• If you can't remember the last time you couldn't wait for tomorrow...you may be wasting your life!
• If you haven't wished that you could return to a younger time and done it over...you may be wasting your life!
• If you are NOT thankful for everything that has happened to you...you may be wasting your life!
• If today is not the "last of your past"...you may be wasting your life!
• If you do not realize your own uniqueness...you may be wasting your life!
• If you are living as if you have tomorrow...you may be wasting your life!
• If you are not in control of your emotions...you may be wasting your life!
• If you don't laugh a majority of the time...you may be wasting your life!
• If you think yourself better than someone...you may be wasting your life!
• If you say..."I am too old"...you may be wasting your life!
• If you say..."I am too young"...you may be wasting your life!
• If you are thinking that none of these apply to you...you may be wasting your life!
• If you didn't think "I can add more to this list"...you may be wasting your life! 

IF YOU READ THESE BULLETS AND DID NOT THINK..."I HAVE SOME THINGS I CAN ADD TO THIS LIST"...

IF YOU READ THESE BULLETS AND DID NOT THINK..."I HAVE SOME THINGS I CAN CHANGE ABOUT ME"...

TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT YOURSELF...AND...CHISEL AWAY!

THERE IS A MATERPIECE HIDDEN WITHIN YOU!

YES...SUCCESS IS IN THERE!

ENOUGH SAID... 

PURA VIDA!