Sunday Afternoon Thoughts on Being in the Right Place 01/06/13

The calendar has turned and it is now 2013. I close my eyes and wonder where did 2012 go. The older I get I swear the faster the years go by, so its even more important to take advantage of every moment. Yesterday, I celebrated another birthday, and I can't help but be humbled by all of the warm birthday wishes from my family, friends, and loved ones. I am truly at a very happy place in life right now, but I still have to ask if I am at in the right place. As I reflect on my learnings from 2012, I can't help but be excited about the opportunities that are before me in 2013. I have been thinking about several things that will allow me to continue to move forward to the place that I am destined to be. If you know anything about me, you can probably figure out what I may just start writing about. Preparing to watch the NFL Playoffs today and I can't lie and say I wasn't moved by ESPN's piece on former Ravens player OJ Brigance.(If you haven't seen it, please youtube it) OJ Brigance was stricken with a disease called A.L.S. which over a period of time caused him to lose the ability to utilize his extremities as well as his voice. At the time of his diagnosis he and his family were told the life expectancy was anywhere from 2 - 5 years, and here in 2013 they are enjoying moving past year 5. OJ became a member of the Ravens staff as an advisor and has been inspiring the organization daily even after being confined to a wheelchair and losing the ability to speak. Watching this made me think about a lot of things in my life, but most importantly what am I doing in my current place. I started to ask myself a few more questions about my place. Where is this place that I am? How did I get here? Is this the place I want to be? Am I moving or just running in place? Take a moment and think about things that have been placed in your life. Why have obstacles been placed in your path? Why have certain people been placed in your life? What are the blessings that have been placed in your life? You hear it all the time that everything happens for a reason, but often times we don't embrace what has happened as we are so concerned with the why it happened. What would happened if we understood our place and moved forward to exist in the place until we outgrew it? Maybe sometimes we are still in the same place because we are still the same and nothing has changed about us, our circle, or our thoughts. Just something to think about. As I live my life from this day forward, I know that I am traveling on the road to the place that I am supposed be. Still finding my way, but thankful for the people along they way that are helping me get there. Here's to much success in the New Year as you get to your place. Live life, enjoy the moment, and be phenomenal always! “When we lose one blessing, another is often most unexpectedly given in its place” CS Lewis “Sometimes the best way to figure out who you are is to get to that place where you don't have to be anything else.” “There is no value in life except what you choose to place upon it and no happiness in any place except what you bring to it yourself.” Henry David Thoreau “You must try to generate happiness within yourself. If you aren't happy in one place, chances are you won't be happy anyplace.” Ernie Banks “Each moment is a place you've never been.” Mark Strand “In the wild struggle for existence, we want to have something that endures, and so we fill our minds with rubbish and facts, in the silly hope of keeping our place.” Oscar Wilde