Little Engine That Could

Yesterday was a nice relaxing day. I’m still in Buffalo until tomorrow morning, and today we are heading to the Falls and the Casino (don’t worry Mom and Aunt Fran I won’t spend too much). After getting Issy’s oil changed I rode around Buffalo, which has its good and bad parts but overall is a nice place. It’s a good mixture of suburbia and city life. If you’re on the border of 21 it would be a cool place to live with Canada being so close. Katie, my friend from back home and wonderful host, took me to this place called Duff’s which is one of the first few places to start making Buffalo wings, it wasn’t the first but Katie assures me she’s tried them all and Duff's is the best. I haven’t tried the rest, but they made a Buffalo wing that Emril would have enjoyed. Today though I wanted to talk to you all about a dear friend of mine, her name is “Kim Possible” (she will know who she is and think that “name” is hilarious everyone else won’t get it sorry).

Kim in my life is the “Little Engine that Could” not in the sense that she can accomplish what she wants. She can for sure, but we’re speaking in a different context here. Kim is very gifted and has high aspirations that I believe are within her grasp. Now like I said a while ago in the post “Why are you doing this”

I am not telling you to quit your job, leave school or uproot everything. But sitting down and figuring out the different avenues that will get you to your ultimate goal is the first step.

This little Engine Kim “Could” do this. She is in a position to start on her path, but is afraid to make that jump that sacrifice, because this is something she has wanted her whole life, and if she fails then what? I don’t have the end all be all but I do know a few things that have helped me and hopefully they can do the same for you.

My Aunt Fran has given me one of the greatest pieces of wisdom, which is so simple but necessary. “You don’t have a plan until you have a backup plan.” If you want to play in the NBA and you work your hardest, but still have not made it. Maybe your back up plan is coaching, or Refereeing as far as you can go. If playing was your dream, being as close to the game as possible to have that feeling it gives you may be your secondary goal. This would be the “Shooting for the stars and landing on the moon route.” Maybe being close to the game isn’t what you’d like If your primary goal didn’t work out; it’s either all or nothing. In that case most people have more than one interest, find out what you are passionate about also and maybe have a few ideas on how to get there if the go to plan doesn’t work. Failure to plan is simply preparing to fail. This is the Eggs in two baskets route.

(My high school dreams of playing professional basketball didn't work out but making my college team was an great accomplishment)

*Side Note: Man this post has me spouting all kinds of quotes and clichés if you know me at all this is actually how I speak, quotes inspire me and I use them in my everyday life.

The Mirrors in your life are your greatest tool you just have to be able to focus enough to see in them. I think Kim is a very talented and creative person which will pay off tenfold on the road she will eventually venture off on. But she doesn’t see it. I see it, her mother see’s it but she can’t. If she could just look into her mirrors and see what we do I’m positive that this transition would be much easier for her. Everyone is insecure in some way, everyone is afraid from time to time it’s how we deal with these emotions that separates the weak and the successful. And I know being 23 that we listen to what our parents have to say less at times because they are your parents, they have to tell you you’re great. Take a look at the mirrors track record though, if they’ve been honest even if it wasn’t what you wanted to hear I would certainly see them as a great mirror

Like I said my friend Kim Possible is very gifted and can be driven when she is able get over the hump. In this case, because of her insecurities and the monumental size of her goals is on the cliff but needs that nudge to actually take this leap. Hopefully this post inspires her and those like her who’ve taken the time to read this. Taking your shot and missing sucks, it’s very painful and I know from my own personal experience. But I’m 100% sure that it’s much less painful then not taking the shot and regretting it forever. Start Shooting.

One Mile at a time.

P.S.

I challenge Kim Possible to at least start down that road by the end of this coming week. Starting September off on the right foot. JUST DO IT EVEN NIKE WANTS YOU TOO!

(Remember when you were younger, and your worries were making sure not to miss power rangers and were you gonna have a tasty snack for lunch. Lets chase this rainbow see where it leads us)