Long ago, I was traveling along a dark and deserted dirt road at midnight in the Northern Transvaal, South Africa. It was late, I was dog tired and I was taking some waiters from the hotel home. The road was wet and sloped the wrong way on a bend and my old Peugeot 404 rolled into a ditch. Some waiters were thrown out of the car. I was upside down in the car, with my pinkie finger caught in the door. The door was lodged against the side of a ditch and I was trapped. Liquid was running down the windshield and over the electrics on the dashboard. I was convinced it was gasoline and that I was going to be barbequed in short order. I decided to shoot my finger off and searched the glove box for my .38 Special revolver, but it was in the trunk. Eventually, I got free, and we walked until 4am to get to transport. Had I shot my finger off, I would probably have bled to death, according to the doctor who sewed my finger up.
It was a warm, sunny spring day in Vancouver. I went for a long walk along the Coquitlam river, enjoying the beautiful forest and river. Eventually, I was tired and decided to look for a place to cross the river. Although it’s spring, the water is icy cold and about knee deep, and wide. And it flows strongly with slippery, big round stones on the river bed. The further I walked, the more I realized there wasn’t a place to cross. But I kept on walking, until I reached a solid obstruction that was impossible to pass. I had a decision to make; walk all the way back and go the long way around, or cross the river. OR, cross the river and explore the new area I was looking for. I crossed. It was icy but very invigorating.
Often, in life, we’re looking for something and we keep on looking, until we come to a crossroads. One gets tired of banging one’s head, or doors are closed, or we reach a point of decision. Sometimes, as in my stories above, we have no more options. We have to choose route A or route B. That decision will affect the rest of your life. This is a very valuable and important intersection in our lives. When I resigned from my job to start my business 19 years ago, my late friend, Louis, gave me Tony Robbin’s book and he had written on the inside cover, “Congratulations on your Independence Day!”
The best decision is usually not the easiest, safest or most popular. It’s usually hard and a bit risky. But the results are commensurate with your courage, integrity, passion and commitment. Choose the high way. Be brave. You only have one life. Be a hero for YOU. Not for others but for yourself. And your own self respect and dignity. You can find more information at www.jvwisdom.com.
- Robin J. Elliott
There Comes a Time... - To learn more about this author, visit Robin Elliott's Website.
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