The idea of a fixed identity has never served me.
I was once a scrawny weakling. Now I fancy myself a lean vegan beast.
I was once a disorganized abomination. Now I’m a borderline clean freak with a pocket notebook.
I was once debilitatingly shy- afraid to talk to ANYONE on the school bus. Now I approach strangers like it’s my job, and can be downright gregarious when I want to be.
I was once a below-the-honor-roll, sorry excuse for a student. But I graduated cum laude from college with special departmental honors and a 4.0 semester under my belt.
Each of those changes felt, at one time, completely impossible. And if not impossible, then damn near close to it.
But human beings are ridiculously adaptable creatures. We are pliable, flexible, moldable. So mold yourself into what you want to become.
Your innermost limiting beliefs can be extinguished.
Your most deeply engrained habits can be transformed.
Your entire life history can be re-written.
But you must commit. And you must believe.
My Dear Travis. Although lean, you were never a weakling. Although a bit disorganized, you were never an abomination and although abit disinterested and unfocused on academics, you were never a sorry excuse. I have always thought you were one of the nicest, cutest, smartest and greatest kids I’ve ever known. Now you are all that in an adult. There is no doubt that you have put tremendous effort and discipline into creating the even more fantabulous person you are now.
I witnessed a lot of this — some from very up close and some from more of a distance, but all definitely amazing, and true, and inspiring. Way to go, Trav!
What do you know, a comment from each of my genetic contributors! I love you both very much, and I credit your examples with inspiring me to this mindset. Nothing is fixed!
Thanks for reminding me nothing is fixed. Inspiring.