Be Brave Not Safe

Becoming a parent was the most extreme, life-changing experience I’ve been through. And, it was ALL for the good. Actually, the GREAT!!!

I recall when learning that Cindy was pregnant with our first son I felt a little, well, overwhelmed. I had many questions like:

• Am I ready to be a dad?
• Is now the “right” time?
• Will I be able to afford the added expenses including dealing with the reality that we decided to become a single-income family, so Cindy could be home with the kids?

We found a “little” comfort in acknowledging the fact that people have been having children for thousands of years. And, why are we so different? So, stop worrying and get to it!

Before we knew it, we had 4. And, we are SO glad that we got’er done – EARLY. More on that, soon…

Looking back, we can say that everything came together through a TON of teamwork! However, we certainly weren’t convinced of that early on 🙂

As you may have read, in a prior post, it was about this time that I enrolled myself in an ongoing personal development program, which I’ve called my Boot Camp Experience (read about it by clicking here). This, along with the numerous productivity disciplines I implemented to drive myself, were all for a purpose: my new, highest priority. To provide for my family.

A key concern was, however, maintaining a “balance.”

Providence ALWAYS moves…

Shortly thereafter I came across the following quote in a magazine.

PRIORITIES – A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove…But the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.

It was presented in the image below, which I cut from that magazine, put in a frame and placed on a bookshelf in my bedroom, so that I would see it EVERY single day.

This brought a tear to my eye almost every time I viewed it because that little boy in the picture represented each of ours. And, I not only wanted to make sure I provided for their “material” needs, but also that I would be there for them – personally.

The ever-important balance…

So, why do I say that becoming a parent was the most extreme, life-changing experience for me? Before I answer that, I’ll say that I would imagine this was ALSO the most extreme, life-changing experience for MANY others who have had children.

You see, it served to fully jerk me into the world of ACCOUNTABILITY and RESPONSIBILITY. Because, I now had people (including a helpless little baby) fully dependent on me. No more screwing around. This is now serious.

Fast forward…

Over the last several years, as the boys have grown as tall, or taller than, me, this framed picture somehow slid to the back of my bookshelf.

Recently, Cindy and I were doing some “deep cleansing” of our house in anticipation of a large family gathering. It was at this time that we came across this framed picture. What a rush of memories, in terms of what it represented to me through-out the years and how important an image it was to keep in the forefront of my mind.

I took the faded picture out of the frame and scanned it for this post, to memorialize it. The cheap, dusty frame went to the trash.

In closing, use care to consciously set your life priorities (mine are outlined in an earlier post: Mind The Balance). If you do, and stick with them, you will, you MUST realize the outcome you desire.

What happens if you don’t set your life priorities? Well, quite honestly, someone else will. And, guess what they have planned for you? Not much…

All the best!