Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: JFK, settling for less than your best, inner strength, inspiration, email signature, sig files, quotes
I’m a quote collector. Since all of us were born as individuals, we each have something unique to offer the world. As such, I believe we all can benefit from the wisdom of those who came before us. And yes, before you ask, I am one of those annoying guys who have quotes in his sig file on all the emails I send out.
For a long while, I had a quote attributed to John F. Kennedy that read, “once you say you’re going to settle for second, that’s what happens to you in life.” It was, it is, my mantra. I decided a few months ago to change my signature quote on a monthly basis so that I could play Dalia Lama to all those I know and spread the inspirational quotes to all those I encounter. (Gosh, when I type it out like that, I even annoy myself. lol)
After the JFK quote, I decided to go with a less formal quote from Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure that read, “Be excellent to one another!” It was fitting, I thought, because at that point I was running into a lot of people who were jerks and I thought my sig file might encourage people to be nicer or, at the very least, make those Gen. X-ers and some older Millenials get a nostalgic chuckle at my expense.
This month, September 2008, I reminded people of Abigail Van Buren’s (better known as Dear Abby) sage advice that read, “The less you talk, the more you are listened to.” My rationale was that sometimes we find wisdom in the most unlikely places and when this quote popped up on my gmail, on a day where I felt totally uninspired, I thought it was some sort of cosmic sign telling me to shut up more. So, I used it as a daily reminder.
It is now the end of the month and I have another tough decision to make…what should October’s quote be?
While I was mulling it over in the back of my head, I was entertaining a job offer with Los Angeles’ top public affairs firm. The salary left a lot to be desired but, given the tough economic times, I thought of settling for less than I deserve. Many of my friends thought it was a good idea but the idea grated me and every time I would go into an interview somewhere else I would be told, “We like you but you are overqualified.”
I almost caved to the pressure after the stock markets crashed and my Mom kept calling me frantically saying, “Kevin, I wish you’d reconsider this. This is what the preview of the Great Depression was like.” And while I realize that her parents had to live through the Great Depression and the World Wars, I refuse to believe that the situaton is as dire as it sounds. When I was on the verge of giving up, someone close to me emailed me a note with the subject “Food for Thought.” The message was a simple one-line quote…from JFK! My signature file had made a difference as I had hoped.
That email gave me hope and made me realize that you should never settle when it comes to your dreams and reminded me that no matter how bleak the situation may seem, there is always someone who has it worse than you.
Today, the JFK quote has made a permanent return at the bottom of my email and who knows how much more inspiration his message might provide in the future.
I believe that people are blessed with certain gifts upon creation and the purpose of life is to discover and use these gifts in order to make a difference in the world. If we live up to our “destiny” then we will leave this world a bit better than we found it. We will also be content with ourselves upon death because we know that our lives were not in vain. If we do not follow the path that was set for us, we will live a life that is full of obstacles, impassable barriers, to our happiness and this mental state is the state that we will be condemned to throughout eternity (also known as hell.)
Throughout my life, I was many things. In high school, I was a Crusader. In college, I was a centaur then a bulldog. Now, in graduate school, I am an Explorer. I was once told that “coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous.” If that maxim is true, then maybe all these mascots were omens from ones who have passed before us. We all change throughout our lives and as we change we grow. Sometimes we go forward on our path; sometimes we regress or go backward on the path. Either way, life is about staying constant.
As I continue down the path that was meant for me, I realize when I look back that part of me is a crusader. I am willing to fight with my life for those ideals and virtues which are close to my heart. Part of me is a centaur. Someone whom is interested in the humanities and observes over time the patterns of that which is around them. Centaurs are known in the mythological realm as the most intelligent beings who have ever lived. Part of me is a bulldog–when I want something with all my heart I go after it then chomp down and never let go until I get what I want. However, as I grow, I learn that I am also part explorer. An explorer is one who journeys into parts unknown in order to complete his quest and to quench his thirst for knowledge.
Each of these mascots are more than symbolism to me. They are part of who I am–part of my identity. As I venture forward on my path, I have come to some stumbling blocks and I have a choice. Do I stay there and figure out how to move forward or do I step back and wait for “AAA” to assist me? I could tell you what course I would take but, truth be told, this answer is different for everyone. Everyone of us has a past and if we don’t you are in the process of making one for yourself. The decision you need to make is whether or not the way for you to go forward is by going back the way you came.
Hi everyone,
My name is Kevin A. Barry and welcome to my blog. I started writing Kevelations circa 2001 as an e-column that I would send my friends and select colleagues. As technology changed, I tried to change with it but never had the time to create a blog. As I get older, I realize you only have time to do what you MAKE time to do and thusly, I was committed to turning Kevelations into a blog this year.
As I sit at a coffeeshop in West Hollywood working on new media strategies for potential clients, I realized that if I am seeking balance in my life, I should be working on strategy for myself, not just others. Hence, I finally took the time to create the blog version of Kevelations.
This blog will give you insight to my thoughts and lessons I learn as I grow and evolve. Some of these things you may not agree with and may be controversial but I was always taught that if someone isn’t pissed at you that you failed as a leader. I’m not planning on trying to piss anyone off with this blog or its content, rather am just recognizing that it may be a reality. So, settle in, fasten your kerchief and do whatever you need to do to relax as we are about to start the journey into my mind. (Oh, and beware of the cobwebs that you might find there as I would hate lose some of my synapses just because they are in your way!) xx
