To paraphrase a long time professor at NC State,

“When all things are failing, go back to the last place you were successful and start again.”

This seems simplistic, but how often do we follow it. We allow the failures and successes to become blinders for our future.  So how do we objectively define where our last place of success was? What defines the value of that success? It is our greatest accomplishments such as completing college, or landing that job we were striving for, buy the home we dreamed of, or our children and their achievements? Maybe they all have a part in defining our success.

This idea has been rolling around in my head for almost 6 months. Why can’t I just go straight back to that point and begin a “Do Over”? Or not just re-examine my choices, change my answers, and tweak my life’s direction. I have had plenty of failures and successes. But no matter how hard I pondered, I could not put my finger on the one spot as my “last place of success”. What am I looking for? I tried making a list of good choice on one side and bad on the other, thinking that would clear things up. Not really.

As I watched a movie recently, a light bulb came on.  This movie, the Bucket list, which I’m sure, many of you have seen, simplified the process for me. Morgan Freeman asks Jack Nicholson two question.

            Do you have Joy in your life?

                                    And

           

Do you bring Joy to others?

I think this search is not about a place in time or a major event that happens to us; rather it’s about the quality of life. We all need joy in our lives. Not matter if it is as basic as the laughter we enjoyed as teenagers, or the simple happy feeling that comes when you taste grandma’s fried apple pies, or that smile from a loved one that let’s you know how much you are loved. My mission on this island and when I come to return. That is to find joy.

To quote the great Jimmy Valvano:

If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that's a full day. That's a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you're going to have something special.

My daughter and I had a tradition called Game Day Quotes which we started her freshman year in high school. My coaching days are long over and so this became our connection carrying over to other areas like tests and presentations. I am a big fan of inspirational speeches and quotes, since my own days as an athlete. I have used them all from Winston Churchill to Michael Jordon, Vince Lombardi to John Kennedy throwing in the occasional unknown. Surprisingly, it seems the roles have switched. Reed sent this to me as I started this blog while on the island. 

“The bold adventurer succeeds the best.”

- Ovid

It got me thinking over the last couple days. When I look up at the night sky about Little Cayman the stars are too numerous to count. As I was kayaking across the South Hole Sound, I turned around and saw how small the resort had become. This world is far beyond measures, so the question remains what does it take to be a bold adventurer today?

Is it getting on a plane and leaving the comforts of a home and family to live somewhere new for three months? Or, is it leaving for college and trying to decide on the direction of your future? Or maybe it is simpler like a new job, new relationship, or new purpose. 

Well I have decided that it is time to find my adventure, and in reality that might be a combination of things. When I was younger, dreaming was endless; there were no such thing as boundaries. My mother instilled this trait in me growing up. She is a woman who has always believed in me without reservations and regardless of my failures. I think I lost this somewhere along the way, but I am determined to get it back. Many men have fallen short of expectations but have moved past it to greatness. So why not me? Can I be BOLD? I look to be a bold adventurer as I look for a new profession, new ingenuity, and new purpose. 

Just finished watching the sun go down across the cove here on Little Cayman. I'm taking the advise of my youngest daughter, who says I need to read and write more it will make a better designer and more creative. So I decided to start a blog.

Not sure what I'll write, or how often I'll write but I plan to document this adventure I'm on and see if helps me decide my future direction. Open to suggestions and advise along the way.


Please read and invite others to read as well. I truly hope to exchange ideas and thoughts.

 The planning begins, Passport renewal.....chk, Photo Id......chk, List of items to pack......chk,

Set-up blog, why????????