Are You The Driver Or The Passenger?
In your journey through life are you the "driver" or the "passenger"?
Let me be perfectly clear what I mean about this statement. In other words, do you take charge of your own life? Do you make the judgment and set the goals for what you want your life to be like? - Or - Do you let others influence you and follow in their footsteps?
This is a very important question you should be answering. After all it is "your life" you should be the one designing it and being happy with it. So many people seem to think they should feel guilty if they aren't always following someone else's plan. Does it really make sense to please others yet not please yourself? I sure don't think so. Now I do agree you may want to compensate to some degree to please others but not to the degree of being miserable about the kind of life you lead.
It took me a few years to finally come to that conclusion when I was in my early forties. You see my Dad was the owner of a very successful family florist business. He wanted to eventually pass it on to me. In my earlier years that was an exciting thought but as I grew older I began to have my doubts.
I started working part time in the business at a very early age. That was usually during major holidays and some special functions. When I went to high school I was on the regular payroll and working as much as thirty hours a week. After two years of college I was drafted into the U.S.Army so I was out of the picture for two years. I spent a lot of time thinking during that time what I would do when I finally returned home.
On returning home, married and having a child on the way I had reservations whether I wanted to continue my career in the business. I recalled some of those times when we worked sixty hour six day weeks with no vacation time. I wasn't sure if I was ready to commit myself to that kind of schedule anymore. Besides that I had a family now that was going to be affected too.
Well the climax came one day a few weeks after I returned home from the service. I confronted my dad about the whole issue. He wasn't exactly pleased that I was demanding at least a half-day off a week and a two-week vacation every year. Eventually he relented and later I was even able to take a whole day off plus get a few other privileges too. I spent about another twenty years on this schedule but many times thinking, "do I really want to do this anymore?"
I finally reached this decision when I was forty-two years of age. I decided his business was no longer for me. My dad never really understood why I wanted to give it up even though I tried to explain why. I wasn't happy about the hours, the compensation, the stress and a host of other things usually demanded of a retail business.
The dream I had for becoming a commissioned sales representative kept popping up in my head over the years. I finally decided I was going to be the "driver" and no longer a "passenger" on my road through life. So it wasn't long before I got my first job as a sales rep. However it only lasted about eighteen months. I became dissatisfied with not only the company but the sales manager as well. I had already lined up a position with another company so I wasn't without a job for very long. I spent the next twenty years with them until my retirement.
During those years in sales I was the happiest I had ever been in my life. I earned more income during that time and was able to provide more things for my family too. Even though I traveled out of town every other week for about six years as a sales supervisor my wife was satisfied with that arrangement and so was I.
I've come to the conclusion that no matter what age you are make sure that you always decide what kind of life is right for you. In the last six years my wife and I have spent half the year in Florida and the other half in our primary home in Indiana. It was a big decision. During those times we are away from our children and grandchildren but we made that choice because we were tired of the winters in Indiana.
Once again we became the "driver" instead of the "passenger" and made a choice of the type of life we wanted to lead. Only you should decide which kind of journey you will be taking through life and how you will arrive there. Take charge. Remember it's "Your Life." Enjoy it to the fullest.
Copyright © 2004 All Rights Reserved AbsolutelySenior.com
Sonny Julius is a 74 year old retired sales supervisor. Prior to his sales career he spent 30 years in the family florist business. Becoming dissatisfied with that business he decided it was time to leave it and pursue a sales career. His interest in the internet eventually led him to write an ebook geared to senior citizens. The ebook is a guide for living the senior lifestyle.
In addition he offers a Free 20-minute no obligation phone coaching session to anyone interested in enhancing his or her present lifestyle. Email for more information: mailto:sonnyj@absolutelysenior.com
Sonny Julius, President of S A & Associates, is devoted to teaching senior citizens "How To Have The Time Of Their Life For The Rest Of Their Life" For more information go to: http://www.thesunnysenior.com
 Google News Updated : Mon, 08 Sep 2008 08:08:57 GMT Store eases baby bottleneck - Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune - When Georgette Finnie e-mailed What's Your Problem? on Aug. 25, she was 9 months' pregnant with her first child. The expectant mom had done some research about the baby bottles she had received as gifts through her baby registry at Babies "R" Us. Hot Docs: Defending Georgia, Girls Married by 15, the Chemical BPA ... That Plastic Baby Bottle Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 12:18:53 GMT "Stand Up to Cancer" tops Friday ratings - Reuters
Reuters - By Paul J. Gough NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - The industrywide "Stand Up to Cancer" telethon averaged a modest 10.3 million viewers during its hour-long simulcast on ABC, NBC and CBS Friday. In a star-heavy telethon, Hollywood takes a stand on cancer 'Stand Up to Cancer' Raises $100M Plus Publ.Date : Mon, 08 Sep 2008 07:37:28 GMT Fla. Keys residents weigh evacuation ahead of Ike - The Associated Press
The Associated Press - KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) - As a ferocious Hurricane Ike ripped across Cuba, residents from Key West to the Gulf Coast watched the storm's unpredictable path, worrying it could hit anywhere in the US from Texas to Florida. 'Hurricane fatigue' shows Louisiana still possibility for Ike Publ.Date : Mon, 08 Sep 2008 07:20:42 GMT McCain Leads Obama 50% to 46%, New Poll Finds, USA Today Reports - Bloomberg Bloomberg - By James Kraus Sept. 8 (Bloomberg) -- Republican presidential candidate John McCain leads Democratic contender Barack Obama by 50 percent to 46 percent among registered voters, according to a weekend USA Today/Gallup Poll, USA Today reported. Convention rejuvenates GOP US campaign sharpens as McCain takes poll lead Publ.Date : Mon, 08 Sep 2008 07:38:07 GMT Hurricane Ike Crosses Northeast Cuba After Landfall (Update1) - Bloomberg
Bloomberg - By Aaron Sheldrick and Demian McLean Sept. 8 (Bloomberg) -- Hurricane Ike is crossing Cuba after smashing into the northeast of the country with winds of 205 kilometers (125 miles) per hour, according to the US National Hurricane Center. Video: Raw Video: Ike's Harsh Impact on Turks and Caico Hurricane Ike set to batter Cuba Publ.Date : Mon, 08 Sep 2008 06:56:09 GMT New Zealand compromises on India nuclear deal - Xinhua
Xinhua - WELLINGTON, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- The New Zealand government said on Monday that it got the best deal it could on nuclear trade with India. Indian shares rise more than 4 pct early Indian rupee rises as stocks rally seen Publ.Date : Mon, 08 Sep 2008 07:36:42 GMT Persistence pays off for Serena at US Open - FOXSports.com
FOXSports.com - by Matt Cronin, Special to FOXSports.com NEW YORK - About nine days after Serena Williams lost in the Wimbledon final to her elder sister, Venus, she was still killing herself, unable to shake her mind of the errors that came late in a contest that she ... Williams beats Jankovic for title, No. 1 ranking Winning US Open never gets old for Serena Williams Publ.Date : Mon, 08 Sep 2008 07:38:21 GMT Work From Home |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... Transformational Counseling is a process of assisting others to transform... Read More For the last several years, I have included on my... Read More Somebody once said that insanity is doing the same thing... Read More We live in a world filled with beliefs, values, and... Read More What are you willing to give up in order to... Read More I did a quick search on the Internet for pheromones.Pheromones... Read More "To succeed, planning alone is insufficient. One must improve as... Read More Dear friends,Whenever I read the words "effortless prosperity" a chain... Read More Most of your success in life will come from your... Read More Do you have things like a bicycle, jetski, or swimming... Read More Using affirmations can be a very powerful tool. You can... Read More The day of duck-taped glasses, suspenders and pocket-protectors are quickly... Read More Bad habits, we all have them. They keep us... Read More Re-entering the dating scene is rather scary, but as a... Read More There is nothing more motivating than reading a story about... Read More So often we hear people ask the question, "Why does... Read More One message we hear from the time we are children... Read More 1. The most important one: Have at least one person... Read More (Excerpts From The Book) Successercising "The Science Of Success Achievement... Read More Our people have no character" is acknowledged universally, at home... Read More If you could change one thing in your life today,... Read More When you make a decision, you hope it is ultimately... Read More Where does our motivation come from? What makes us want... Read More Evolution is nothing but seeking with clarity, demanding clarity at... Read More Most people want to do their life's work. Some people... Read More
Adsense
websites
Transformational Counseling - Part One
Abundance or Scarcity: What Belief Do You Choose to Engage?
How To Become Insane
Achieving Your Highest Potential: The Journey Begins With Self Awareness
What Do You Want Out of Life?
Pheromones Myth or Fact. Do Pheromones Work?
Aspirations Worth Their Weight in Platinum
Is Effortless Prosperity Really Possible?
How To Influence People
Do Your Things Own You?
Affirmations - Anxiety & Panic
The Modern Geek - Changing the Stereotype
Four Proven Techniques On How To Capture Positive Habits
Hot Date Tonight?
Rising Above the Average
You Teach People How to Treat You
10 Simple Ways to Honor Your Uniqueness
5 Tips To Increase Your Personal Power
Achieving Your Definite Major Purpose
Why Do We Lack Character
Yes You Can
Ego or Higher Self: Whos Behind Your Decisions?
Finding Your Passion
The Centre of Creative Powers!
Doing Your Lifes Work
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Become a Babe Magnet Without Surgery or Drugs!
"I'd like to find a partner who dances. Do you?"... Read More
Change How You Say It, Change Your Attractiveness
Language, whether it's emerging from our mind, our heart, or... Read More
The Monkey And The Spreadsheet
When the mind was fidgety, like a monkeyWhen you felt... Read More
Abundance is a Feeling
This question and answer interview was done by Kathy Smith,... Read More
Top 10 Keys to Attracting More Clients!
It's always easier to attract the things we want in... Read More
How To Get Lucky
Would you like to get lucky? There are at least... Read More
The Fastest Way To Manifest Your Desires
Is there a way to change your life condition, and... Read More
Respect Is A Four-Letter Word
One of the most important needs for every human being... Read More
Four Steps to Attracting More Good Luck
The Luck Factor rips apart the notion that luck is... Read More
Talk Your Way to Financial Freedom
Feeling trapped by lack of funds? We can learn from... Read More
Dont Let Other Peoples Walls Fence You In
"How's it going?" I asked the clerk in the new... Read More
Making New Friends
How do we make friends? More importantly if dropped into... Read More
Wanderers
How a few people become the worst victims of life's... Read More
Coping As A Caregiver
Few people are prepared for the responsibilities and tasks involved... Read More
What Did You Want To Be When You Grew Up
When I was seven years old I wanted to be... Read More
It Doesnt Take Long To Become An Expert in The Law of Attraction
One of our Faculty, Christine Edick, has been the keynote... Read More
Letting Go and Trusting The Universe
One of the most important things in Wealth Creation is... Read More
Why Doesnt This Manifesting Thing Work for Me?
You've written out your goals. You read them every day.... Read More
Doing Your Lifes Work
Most people want to do their life's work. Some people... Read More
Closing the Feedback Loop
In earlier articles, I've often spoken about the supreme importance... Read More
Do You Have an Exit Plan?
Recently, I came across something strikingly shocking, fascinating, obscure, and... Read More
Manifesting Money
You are a money magnet. Money is flowing to you... Read More
Step-By-Step Guide to Manifest Your Desires
I have been talking about manifestation for a long time.... Read More
What Is Your Legacy?
During a recent speech, I told the audience that my... Read More
Are You Living?
Disclaimer: All the thoughts expressed are my views only! Your... Read More
Attraction |