I'm Down But Don't Count Me Out Yet!
I've really been hard on myself as far as my life's accomplishments are concerned. I've beat myself up for not reaching the rank of general, for not becoming the top logistics manager in the field, the physical educator that I could have been and so on. I've gone through a somewhat slum in my life where from the outside things look great but only if you knew the challenges.
When I review my life and all of the potential that people saw, those things were what people saw in me. They thought I was going to be a great general, top logistician, or a leader in the physical education field. I realize now I was doing what I've ended up doing; leading, coaching, motivating,building relationships, and building the confidence of those who couldn't see successes in their lives. I enjoyed being the teacher watching my students flourish all over the country.
In review of my life I've determined that I'm not a failure because my many accomplishments. My accomplishments aren't something that I possess nor are they tangibles. My accomplishments began when I was a kid in the boy scouts, through my military years, and I'm still accomplishing now. I'm building better people.
I still have a passion for leading, motivating, and coaching a people through what is seen as weaknesses and impossibilities to their successes. I helped train, develop, and coached many of my peers to become great leaders in the military. Let's see there's a general, colonels, FBI agents, senior vice presidents of distribution in well know global companies and so on.
Now I'm at the age of retirement and what do I have? I have relationships, friends, lots of stories of successes about others, grand children, a living 93 year old mom, a great brother, and lastly a great wife who is my greatest cheerleader.
I've lost several things along the way and frankly I'm not ready nor prepared for retirement. I only have a few years before retirement and I didn't retire from the military, I've divorced and remarried, lost my health via my first and only asthma attack, and I've lost and spent my finances paying bills as a result of all of these situations.
The bright side of this coin is that I haven't lost my passion to lead, train, coach, build relationships and develop people and Wealthy Affiliate is a great platform to continue my purpose in life. I love hearing the hurts of people who have given up hope or they are so upset that they don't see another way. So when I look back at my life, hear these stories, and have an opportunity to tell people my story I can only say, "I'm Down But Don't Count Me Out Yet!"
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I feel that I have lost passion in some areas buy more focus in others. I had my strokes right after I left IBM and had to spend $400,000 of my own money so I understand what you mean there...but I didn't start building it back.
So now as a sickly old man I am happier than I have ever been.
You know your body will try to do whatever your mind tells it to do. so your mind is never idle. Keep your motivation and keep learning; that's what I'm doing and I too am happy by my achievement and just for being alive.
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What a very motivating post! It sounds like your passion is exhortation (or encouragement). I recognize it because that is what my passion/ life is all about. The good thing about having this passion is that you are able to use all of your life experiences - good or bad - to help make a difference in the lives of others. Even our challenges can be used to encourage others if we do not allow them to make us bitter or keep us down. Great post - thanks for sharing!
Thank you for those words of encouragement and wisdom. i live to share and help someone not give up because of the obstacles in life. I now understand,know, and will be humbly using my gift to fulfill my purpose.