Today as we finish out this month I wanted to share one last thought for Memorial Day and one last thought on creativity, too, as inspired by this quote from Robert Reich: “True patriotism isn’t cheap. It’s about taking on a fair share of the burden of keeping America going.”
Life isn’t easy. We keep asking for it to be and expecting that our requests will not only be heard but answered as well. Yes, there are things we can do to make life easier for ourselves, but there will always be challenges and obstacles we’ll face. They’re good because they help us grow and learn new things and make new connections, but they also can put a lot of stress on our lives and relationships. One of the ways to make those challenges easier is to work together. On a day like Memorial Day we’re all reminded of what it is to be a team, be part of a country, and challenged to do better.
The only way the world will improve and we’ll enjoy our lives even more is if we make a point of doing things differently. You’re familiar with the definition of insanity (doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results), it’s one that we’ve talked about before and is well known, yet there are so many people who believe it’s not insanity and keep trying the same thing.
To what distances are you willing to go for your passions and for the country you call home? Are you willing to make some small changes like trying to waste less energy and being more conscious of how you’re treating others? Are you willing to work long hours and try things that others may call crazy to share your creativity with the world? Change starts with the few and grows to the many when others see what an awesome difference the changes you’ve made have had on your life.
Are you willing to do what it takes to be great? Don’t give up because it hasn’t happened yet, keep trying things and telling others what you’re trying to do. There are people out there who believe what you believe and can be that source of encouragement you need when things get tough, and you can be an encouragement for them as well.