That's Just The Way It Is...

Over the past couple of weeks, I've heard this phrase over and over, "that's just the way it is."  Every single time, it's made me cringe.  There's so much defeat in that statement! 

In my opinion, "that's just the way it is" is a sentence of repetition, status quo, and death.  Instead, I see things as "the way it could be."  "The way it could be" is full of hope, renewal, redemption, and future.

This morning I came across an incredible video of a guy (Knucklehead), who was stuck in a life of "that's just the way it is," but instead, chose to live a life of "the way it could be."  His life is a victory dance!  Instead of letting life happen to him, he made it.

Enjoy!


Knucklehead - Director's Cut from Greg Brunkalla on Vimeo.


Peace,
Ross

Someday Means Never

Last week I made a post about truly living, taking chances, being willing to fail in the pursuit of your dreams, etc.

This week I wrote a song.

Its a discussion on the ill-fated situation that most of us fall prey too. It's a song about the intoxicating blandness that is comfort (and I'm as addicted as anyone!). Comfort blurs passion and dream beyond recognition to the point that its nearly forgotten. Comfort is plateau and status quo. Comfort is "the way we've always done it." Comfort has to go!

So here's a song/poem about dreaming and doing nothing about it. Enjoy!

Someday Means Never
(c) 2010 Ross Christopher Donaldson

(Chorus)
Someday means never, I know
Someday is clever lies
Someday means I don't want to
Someday never happens


(Verse 1)
You've got your dreams of what to do
Carry them out and be
Freedom looks and stares you down
Do it now or die slowly

(Verse 2)
Tomorrow comes and next year's here
Comfort killed the great belief
Triumph lost to complacent
The slow death set it (the slow death set in)

Bridge
I chose this way
I chose to be
I lost my dream
And comfort is hell

2009: bad, fair, or good? (hope in expectation for 2010)

CNN.com ran a poll asking how you'd rate 2009 - bad, fair, or good. The overwhelming vote went with fair.

Fair is dangerous. Fair is content. Fair is status quo. Fair is un-memorable. Fair is luke-warm. Fair keeps us comfortable without the push of any sort of urgency, and is too easily repeatable.

In my opinion, fair is the worst place to be.

Think about it...bad gets your butt in gear to make improvements. Good makes you analyze what went right and pushes you to create more of those good experiences. Fair just happens again and again, not bad enough to inspire change, not good enough to push you (and others) further.

Don't have a fair 2010...go out on a limb, take chances, pursue your dreams, and embrace the fact that you might fall hard doing what you believe in and are passionate about; but also be prepared for the best year ever!

Peace in 2010,
Ross