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Wednesday, February 4, 2015

The Best Time And The Second Best Time

Oddly enough over the past few days I have come in contact with several people who have intimated to me their time has past.  Their dreams were not realized and now it is simply too late.  They told me "I could have done this, I could have done that.....Why didn't I finish school?  Why did I pass up that opportunity?  Why didn't I take the job with all the security instead of gambling on myself?  Why didn't I have children, get married, get divorced....why didn't I eat better or exercise more?


"The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, the second best time is today."



I believe it is never too late.  There was a time I did not think I was capable enough, smart enough, or healthy enough to start a business.  But we had to, there was no other way to make a living.  After searching for jobs my husband and I discovered we were largely unemployable.  And facing the fact the recession had cleaned us out the future looked pretty bleak.   So we started our own business, and we have had some brilliant successes, and also made some pretty big mistakes.  But we keep going.  When things don't go our way we just say....

"Now what?  So What."

Does this take work?  This kind of care free attitude?  Yes we start over every day.  Every day we pray, we read, we tell ourselves we can do it.  I believe God wants us to succeed.  Believing that has helped me a hundred fold.

Last night I asked a very successful, hard working colleague of mine if he ever wanted to give up.

"I wanted to quit day before yesterday.  But I didn't because I can't.  I just get up the next morning and start over.  I believe that, and because I believe that,  solutions come, panic wanes and emergencies abate."


Our journey began with realizing what we had to work with.  What do we already have?  Well, we can cook, we can entertain, we have nice serving pieces, a sense of style (love adding that)  Raymond is a brilliant floral arranger, and we have great friends.

Catering...our little business was born.  We gave it the whimsical name of Ray Ray's.  That was my husbands nickname as a little boy.

It has not been easy, but doors have opened, word is slowly spreading and we do better all the time.  As the saying goes above, we built a windmill.  There are a million reasons to fail.....but we won't. God wants us and you to succeed.  He helps us build a windmill.





We are starting now to make a brand new ending, in a life we never expected to have.  When I hear people say, "I never thought my life would turn out this way,"

I want to ask them "Isn't it great?"

....please understand, that is how I feel on a good day.  But many, many days I haven't felt that way.  I have sat in a puddle and thrown dirt on my back, I have been resentful life didn't play out the way I imagined...I have cried, screamed into my pillow, bemoaned my fate and been angry as hell.

But I am better.

And as we get better at what we do I am not as nervous....that's a simple word, the truth is I have been terrified at times.

I am not as angry as I was.  Still very far from where I want to be, but at least I am on the path.

Build a windmill....you can do anything.


18 comments:

  1. Thank you. We are also starting over. After 30 years of employment with the same company my husband lost his job at age 62. He tried looking for new jobs for 6 months, but we have decided the same as you that we need to go with what we already know. We are actually signing the papers this week to start a new Corporation. We are going into the bee pollination business. Scary. And still a little angry with the company, but getting better each day. I guess we should just build a windmill...

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  2. You will be a huge success!! I promise! And when you get discouraged call me...don't ever talk to people who will discourage you. There is a great quote I refer to from Marianne Williamson, I am sure you know it. Be strong and enjoy the journey!! Build that windmill!!!

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  3. Perseverance is so important; it's what keeps us upright and reaching for our dreams!

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    1. Not giving up is hard, it would be so much easier to sit down by the wagon and let the wolves eat us....but where is the fun in that?

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  4. I still wonder if I can make it, out of the corporate world and I have to pinch myself so I can remember that I am doing it.
    This is great advice and yes, be with people that celebrate you and want you to succeed, not with people that will never be for you.

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    1. So glad to have such great company on this journey....it has been painful at times, but I have grown...reluctantly

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  5. I believe that we make our own success! We own our own destiny and we control it!

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    1. I do too, we just have to believe we can do it, and then get busy!

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  6. Or what sometimes looks like a trial, turns to be a blessing. But it can look very challenging on the bad days. You are building a windmill (love that quote!)

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    1. I came to a place where I realize God doesn't give me trials, or challenges or even tests. But when those trials, challenges and tests come, and because we are on a fallen earth they will come, if we stay calm and have faith...His solutions will come. I am building the windmill with His direction and then He sends the wind. Love you my friend!

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  7. Great attitude. I find greater happiness in letting go of regrets. (I could work a little harder on giving up worries about the future.) So much more joy by living in the present. Thanks for your inspiring words to help direct me down that path.

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  8. It's never too late and I love your stick-to-it attitude, Donna. It's going to carry you and Ray-Ray a long way.

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    1. I sure hope so......I am not afraid of work, I can lay down right beside it and go to sleep!!

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  9. My mom always says, when a door opens (or when we choose to open one) don't walk, run through that door!

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  10. Those quotes are perfect and I firmly believe it's never too late to go for your dream.

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    1. Thank you....I work at it every day. My default emotion seems to be....well not joy

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