I confess. Guilty as charged. I’ve lived most of my life in the land of “Never Never”. No, I don’t mean that in the “Peter Pan and Tinker Bell” kind of way. In this “Never Never” land, there is no magic, no pixie dust, no remaining forever young. The land of “Never Never” is a nasty place that keeps people like you and me from attaining our dreams. It is a land filled with negativity, sadness, and lost time. It is most definitely NOT a place someone would choose to visit, and yet it is a place where many of us spend a majority of our time. Why is that? Is it because the travel brochure advertises it as being a safe destination? Perhaps because in the land of “Never Never”, there is very little effort required of us? Is it because we are able to float along in our everyday lives, doing the same thing, over and over again, yet wondering why we are not progressing or truly happy?
In the land of “Never Never”, there is NO happiness. Instead, there are questions and self-doubt. “Why am I NOT doing what I really want to be doing for a living?”. “Why do I NOT have the marriage and family I always dreamed about?”. Why do I NOT have the willpower to change my diet and exercise habits to create the body I want?”. “Why am I NOT getting the sleep that I know I need?”. “Why do I NOT have a more positive outlook on my life?”. Friends, the answer is so simple. The reason is because, and ONLY because, we answer all of these questions with “I COULD NEVER….(fill in the blank)”. “I COULD NEVER write a book”. “I COULD NEVER have the career of my dreams”. “I COULD NEVER feel confident in a bathing suit”. “I COULD NEVER decrease my sugar intake”. Sound familiar? Our minds are so very powerful. Verbalize the negative and PRESTO! You’ve established residence in the land of “Never Never”.
It may come as somewhat of a surprise, but guess what? We’re not getting any younger. Father Time is ruthless, relentlessly ticking away, day after day, year after year. I often use the phrase “Time marches…all over your face”. While that’s absolutely true (for those of us concerned with things like wrinkles, age spots and sagging skin), it is also true that time marches all over our minds, our passions and sadly, our dreams. Remember, most of us waste a good portion of our lives here on Earth in the land of “Never Never”, NOT “Never Never Land”, where time actually stands still.
I am finally learning, after over 40 years, that the ONLY person standing in the way of my dreams is…ME! I can’t point fingers at my husband, manager, best friend or dog and say, “It’s YOUR fault that I can’t..(fill in the blank)”. While the reality is difficult to face, it served to start me on the path to realizing my TRUE potential. It’s helped me to accept those things that I can’t change (there are many), and to tackle head on those things that I can (THERE ARE MANY!). How enlightening and liberating it has been to finally realize that I am in charge!
I have made a promise to myself. I will spend far less time (if any) in the land of “Never Never”. In fact, as I progress on my journey, I may not visit there anymore at all. Sure, I may pass through quickly, but only on my way to someplace much more productive and fulfilling. When I do, I’ll be watching for friends who are, like me, read to stop wasting their lives in such a mediocre, mind-numbing place. I will take those friends by the hand and tell them to hold on tight. It’s going to be an exhilarating ride!
“I could NEVER realize my true potential”. Oh really? Watch me!
NEVER SAY NEVER 