Source: William Goosby / Ebony J Media LLC
From the time I was a child to this very day, there have been numerous things that I’ve expressed a desire to accomplish and naysayers would shout: “You can’t do everything!” Or, “you can’t do that.” Usually, it was said by someone who did not know me well. As a child, my family members and people close to the family always encouraged me to explore and do different things.
However, the statement “You can’t do everything” could very well be true under certain circumstances. You can’t have all of the guacamole. There would be none for anyone else. I love guacamole. The same could be said about all the raisins out of oatmeal raisin cookies. Nor can you have “all” of the cookies.
Unless You Are Jay Leno
You can’t have all the cars you’d like to drive, because you’d never have time to drive them? Unless you’re Jay Leno, then you would just warehouse them.
You can’t have all the money you’d like to have, because you may have to work all the time and then what would you do for fun and to spend all that money?
What I Refuse to Believe
During my first year in law school I was shopping at one of my favorite gadget stores. That day I ran into one of my colleagues, a very well-known talk show host. As we were catching up he asked me what I was doing. After I told him I was in law school, he exclaimed: “you don’t know what you want to do!” How wrong he was.
What I cannot see the reasoning in; and what I absolutely refuse to believe, is that I cannot pursue any interest that I choose, anytime that I choose and for as long as I choose, and then move on to the next thing, if I so choose. We always have choices. If we are to change or improve our lot in life, we must have the courage to make changes as often as we desire or as necessary.
Life is a Buffet
I will never accept the idea that I have to choose one thing, one job, one career and for my entire life do nothing else. I believe this to be true for everyone, if one so chooses. We all have the power to choose. Why can’t you choose to make gizmos for a few years, then go into radio sales for three or four years, then teach for several years. Or perhaps you’d like to teach while you are in sales and make gizmos on the side, if that would please you. Perhaps, better yet, you decide to start a business. Life is a buffet. Choose what you like and what serves your highest good.
Who Makes These Rules Anyway
Who makes these rules, anyway? Who says we can’t have it all? Obviously we cannot have all things or do all things at the same time. However, most of us do plan to live for some time to come. Don’t you? Choose now to be, to do, to have all that you desire from the buffet of life. Be all that you can be and encourage others to do the same, too. And as you pursue your goals and dreams, strive to be great! “I’ll see you at the top.”
* J Thomas Smith is host of “Sunday Morning Live” on “The Real Sound of Htown” KMJQ/Majic 102.1 (9-11 cst). He is an attorney, author, keynote speaker and mental health consultant. Your comments are welcome at jtsmith@radio-one.com or jtsmith@worldfamousradio.com. Follow on Twitter @drjtsmith102 on facebook.com/jthomas.smith.12 and instagram.com/drjtsmith102.
