An article on ZeroMillion.com bolsters this assertion.  Although it is written for business people, it is just as relevant for a mother, a retired person or anyone for that matter.  It says, “Many of us, especially those of us running small business, know how to plan and act. We make lists, we chase funding, we gather clients…we are, in fact, the marathon runners of action. No one can dispute the number of hours of sweat and elbow grease we pour into our business. The question is, how well is that approach working for us?”  Many people I encounter tell me that that approach is not working for them.  They may appear successful but they are not satisfied with their “dreamless” life.

We are as Different as the Stars

Author Dr. Donald B. DeYoung tells us that, “Even though there are more than 10 to the 22nd power (1 followed by 23 zeros) of known stars in the universe, each one is unique. No two stars have exactly the same properties. A star has so many variables in its makeup that the probability of two identical stars is zero.”

Because we, like the stars, are different from everyone else, we need to understand the unique and subtle qualities that we have been endowed with.   It is liberating to better know ourselves and those we interact with in our family, work and community environments.  Everything just works better and we are happier when we do.

Someone Who Never Lost His Youthful Zeal

There once was a man who, at 85 years of age, still sought challenges in the same way as he had in his youth.  He did not believe in retirement and those who knew him well said that he had a “different spirit” (being more fully engaged) than most.  You may know him as the biblical character Caleb.  Caleb demonstrated four key attributes:

• He did everything wholeheartedly and never held back.
• He had strong convictions and he lived by them.
• He continually loved challenges.
• He wasn’t fearful and was always ready to swing into action.

His story so impressed me that my second son carries his name.