Field of Dreams

I found myself standing on the corner a few blocks away from my home, shivering in the cold, regretting the commitment I had made to myself at the dawn of a new year some time ago. To put it accurately, I stood at the intersection of, "I don’t feel like doing this today and I don’t feel like doing this ever again." There was clearly a reason why I had failed at keeping my resolution many times before. A stream of ghostly steam escaped my mouth with every exhaustive breath I took as I struggled to get the frigid air into my lungs after a grueling two mile run. Old man winter was a feisty brotha. He laughed obnoxiously at me. It didn’t matter though, it was the cost of sticking with it. 

I had made a commitment to better myself and that included running every day no matter what. I deemed it a mission that I refused to fail. More than just keeping fit, I made a promise to myself that I'd never get too comfortable or take my health for granted. The only way to keep myself in check was to hold myself to the fire. Whether it's a desire to get fit or chasing a lifelong dream, you've got to make a decision about what you want out of your life and you've got to stick with it. The level of your commitment will be tested without a doubt, and depending on how you respond to that test, will ultimately reveal just what you're made of.

At the beginning of a new year, millions of people decide they’ll take charge of their lives. It's become a ritual that bonds each of us together, collectively, as we each gleefully greet the year full of high expectations. Imagine all of the journals and social media posts that contain promises made with the noble intention of bettering oneself. Why do we often fall short of our dreams and goals? Why does the soil within our field of dreams end up being starved of our best consistent concerted efforts even with our high hopes?

The war between ourselves and our innermost desires rage between the two ears the good Lord placed upon our heads. This proverbial tug o war of feelings, commitment, and follow-through challenge us deeply. "I'm finally going to do it. New tear, new me," we say believing this time will be more than another round of empty promises baked with good intentions. Often times by March, the zeal is nearly gone anyway, only leaving a mere fraction of what was. This is what we must fight against.

We’re all on a quest to better ourselves and to fulfill the desires of our hearts. We weigh the options. We plot our course. We brave our emotions. Friends, I encourage you to give it all that you have this year. You must choose to believe that finally, you'll be standing in the winner’s circle. It’s time for your field of dreams to be rich with success, overflowing with bountiful accomplishments in 2019. May we all bask in the glow of achievement through intentional follow through, commitment and resolve– braving the odds one day at a time. It all begins and ends with making decisions that place you closer to your goals no matter how difficult the path may become. When the going gets tough, persevere. When the thrill is gone and you’re tempted to slip back into old habits, fight through it. Our field of dreams will not be left unattended this year. Raise your glass, let’s toast to the powerful person you’re becoming. Here’s to a New Year of greatness, health, success and love.

Have you checked out my novel, Digging Deep WIthin: A Story of Courage and Liberation? It can be found here.