Would you like to live an extraordinary life? A life beyond the normal, tame world where the vast majority of people dwell, a life where what seemed impossible before suddenly seems imminent?
Who wouldn’t like to live that kind of life? The funny thing is, it’s a lot more achievable than most people think… which is why they sit there and ignore it, not reaching out to take hold of something that is within their reach.
I have fallen into that trap myself, and in fact, am just now climbing out of it. I went into computers, and programming specifically, because it pays well and I have a talent in that area… but it’s never been what I really wanted to do, what brings out the passion inside of me.
Most people are the same way… they settle for a job that they are good at, and hopefully pays well, or at least pays enough to get by. They have an average life, even if they seem successful by the world’s standards (ie nice car, nice house, etc.).
Some people, on the other hand, lead extraordinary lives. It seems like they have a magical touch, churning out success after success, overflowing with energy, and apparently just blessed.
In reality, though, they are just ordinary people, who do something unusual… they hold on to their dreams, embrace their passions, and never give up hope.
I read a book while going through my recent plumbing problems about the importance of doing so, a book which reminded me to let my passions, which had been suppressed for so long that they were a shadow of a memory, out to breathe and grow stronger. I’ve felt a difference in myself already, with more mental peace and less feeling of being stuck in place.
The book was written by a man who has lived a life by those principles… he built a school in the inner city Pittsburgh that teaches gourmet cooking, advanced photography, ceramics, and other things you wouldn’t expect to find in poor neighborhoods… and the school provides all of those things without charge.
That man is Bill Strickland, and the book he wrote, that I read, loved, and recommended to many people amongst friends and family, is called Making The Impossible Possible. It’s all about living an extraordinary life by following your dreams and not letting go, by embracing and encouraging your passions, and by never, ever letting go of hope.
It doesn’t matter what your dreams and passions are, or whether they are “respected”… it doesn’t have to contribute to your outward signs of success, and you don’t have to do it for a living. Your passion might be cooking, and you may simply whip up new recipes for your family and friends. It may be writing, and you may start a blog with only 32 people coming to it in the entire first month.
It doesn’t matter how big or small you start off (or stay, for that matter). It doesn’t matter if you are good or bad. The mere fact that you are, in fact, embracing your passions will make your life seem brighter, happier, and more fulfilling.
The funny thing about embracing your passions, though, is that even if you don’t intend for it to happen, other, more worldly signs of success often follow. Your friend that you cook a new recipe for may rave about it to his friend, who happens to be in a position to recommend it to others, and the word may spread until you end up hiring others to make enough of whatever it is to keep up with demand. Or, in the case of the blog, you may end up 7 months later with 60,000 visitors in one month.
Tomorrow I’m going to write another article that is inspired by the same book… mentioned in passing was one of my beliefs about self improvement that differs considerably from what most people will tell you.
For those of you who are interested, this is the book:
