"The Wish-Idas"Written by Jo McNamara
"Knowledge of what is possible is beginning of happiness." George SantayanaIf someone had told me in my 20s I would attempt to start my own home business at 50, I would have thought they had taken some really good (bad?) drugs. If someone had told me in my 30s I would write articles that would be read by hundreds of people, I would have asked them how long they had been hearing voices. If someone had told me in my 40s I would have a business that involved using a computer, I would have laughed so hard I would need to excuse myself to change my underwear. Well, here I am...50 years old. I have started my own home business; I have written articles that have been read by hundreds of people (Okay...I KNOW my husband, best friend and mother-in-law have read them); and my home business involves computer. I say this with absolutely no conceit. I say this with wonder and amazement. This actually is ME living this life. I've dreamed of owning my own business for years; I've dreamed of writing and being published for years. I'm STILL dreaming of learning how to stop crashing computer. I don't regret not doing any of this at a younger age. I fully appreciate what is happening to me more at age of 50 because I know what a struggle it has been. I'm more humble about my "success" because I have an attitude of gratitude. I look at what I've accomplished with astonishment of a 3-year-old. When I turned 50, I realized that road before me was shorter than road behind me. There was something about turning 50 that made me come to realization that I didn't have as much time to do things I've always wanted to do. I've had dreadful visions of being 80, sitting in a rocking chair on a front porch, reflecting back upon all "Wish-Idas." "Wish I'd done this; wish I'd done that." At 50, my fear of the"Wish-Idas" became stronger than my Fear of Failure, my Fear of Humiliation and my Fear of Being Technically Inept.
| | LET OBSTACLES INSPIRE YOU: Don't let adversity keep you fromWritten by Barbara Jeanne Fisher
At one time or another, each one of us will suffer from some kind of adversity. Especially in recent weeks, many of us who have always felt invincible have seen evidence to contrary. Many of us have lost friends of loved ones, and all of us are feeling pain of loss and invasion.Some of us have experienced more adversity in our lives than others. Many of us have suffered from financial hardship, physical or mental illness, or other difficulties that never seem to let up. However, as many Americans have said in recent days, we cannot let adversity change our way of life or deter us from living. If we do, forces of evil and sadness will have found victory. And we simply cannot let that happen. Such is case in any aspect of life. From personal experience in battling four incurable illnesses, including MS and Lupus, I cannot even express to each and every one of you how important it is to look adversity in face and continue on, chasing your dreams. When I was diagnosed with my diseases, I was utterly devastated. For a time, I thought I'd never achieve my dreams of going to college, teaching, and being a writer. But with help of a supportive husband and children, I started college at age 46, graduated, and became a published author. I'm now a well-known writer, teacher, and online businesswoman. In spite of all that has gone wrong in my life, I have found success and fulfilled my dreams, and so can you.
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