The older I get, the more my limitations surprise me. You know that phrase, “You can be anything, but not everything”? Every time I read that mantra, I find myself inwardly rebelling.
“WHAT??!?!?” screams my determined dreamer mindset. “Who says?” (That’s the playground throw-down talk coming out.)
This quickly escalates to “NOOOOO!!!!” (Tantrum.) Followed by “They LIED to me!” (Who? Who lied to you? Your parents? They told you you could be anything you wanted to be, not everything you wanted to be.)
So rationale sinks in, with a little bit of irritation. “FINE. If I can be anything, but not everything, then what do I want to be?”
That’s where the temptation to chase every bright and shiny idea comes along. Try on all hats, because they all look pretty, right?
At what point do the distractions of hat-trying-on become excuses for actually doing something? It’s safer to live in the realm of pretty hat shop than in the realm of reality, out there with the people who have actually picked a hat out, and are owning it. The people who have pushed passed some limits, and cautiously embraced other limits and used them to their advantage.
It takes courage to become who you really are.
I hear you. I have changed the way I talk to my girls due. I ask them what do you want to be (do). They usually have a list. I ask them to narrow it down. How? Ask yourself which of those things could I do everyday without being bored or feeling un creative. Plus, how can God use me through that thing I wish to do? I have tried many things too, and even dough they had not worked as I envisioned, they did teach me something. Now, with a bit more maturity & clarity, I am working on a home (small business) that’s still is not making many sales (but I pray that it will change for many sales), but I have a purpose & I trust God that this is a door that will make better use of my talents & gifts to glorify Him & reach out to others.
Beautiful words, Wanda! Thank you for sharing your story with us!
This is a really good post for me to read and re-read. Trying to do, be and fit in too much has been my life thus far. For the past few months I have been trying to hone in on who I am/what I want. Once I think I have it figured out I get terrified I won’t be able to actually pull it off! Thanks for putting my thoughts into words.