Life is filled with choices. Big or small, they all have the ability to impact us.
I’ve heard people say, “He’s so lucky.” Or, “Everything great comes her way.” Even though good fortune may play a small part, it’s hard work and perseverance that takes on a much bigger role. Goals don’t magically happen overnight. They aren’t reached through pure luck.
I read a post by Danny at Dream Big Dream Often, that inspired me to think about this. You can find his thought-provoking piece here. He talks about how he’s been fortunate in his life through hard work, commitment, and a strong character.
I’ve also been fortunate and feel blessed. I have a solid, wonderful marriage. Our daughters are happy and have become amazing young adults.
Maybe on the surface, it appears as if it’s always been easy for me. But it hasn’t. Many people don’t notice the hardships I’ve endured. They may not realize the dedication, time, and effort I’ve put in to get to where I want to be.
For instance, a great marriage doesn’t just happen. It requires much communication, compromise, patience, and understanding. Raising children to have morals, compassion, and a strong work ethic isn’t a simple task.
My life is a compilation of all the decisions I’ve made along the way, and continue to make.
Choices help shape the people we become. Our decisions help determine if we live a fulfilling, happy life–or not. Along our journeys, we decide:
Who our friends are.
Which college to attend, or not.
Which career to pursue.
Who, and if, we marry.
To stay in a relationship or not.
Where to live.
How many children to have.
How often to exercise.
What to eat and drink.
How much money to spend on cars, clothes, and houses.
To procrastinate or not.
The list goes on and on. But when we come to a fork in the road, each one of these can affect us and those around us.
I tell my daughters, “Remember to make wise decisions!”
I often remind myself of that too.
First image courtesy of here
Second image courtesy of here
A moving and an inspiring post.
Hardwork and perseverance does play a major role to help achieve our goals.
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Thank you! Yes, they do. I tell myself this often, especially when I feel like I’m being lazy or procrastinating. Or complaining that something isn’t done… maybe it just means I need to work harder at it. Thanks for your nice comment! 🙂
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Even I try to motivate myself the same way, but it rarely works on me. 😛 lazy lazy lazy!
Loved your post. I am going to try harder 🙂
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Me too 🙂
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Wow! This is truly a thought provoking question and I think it involves a lot of serious contemplation.
I tend to be of the variety of thought that says, “A lack of a decision is a decision”, but couple that with, “It is better to shoot for the moon and miss, than not to shoot at all.”
But one of the biggest lies, I feel society tells kids, for example, is “You can be anything you want, if you just put your mind to it.” I struggle with that, having lived it myself. There are absolutely no guarantees in life, but we can certainly hedge our bets by aligning ourselves a long a course of action that gives us the highest percentage of a success rate.
But I do agree, that we have 100% control over the decisions we make – even if we don’t have control of what puts the decision in front of us.
Great post! I love it! ❤
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Thank you so much. I really appreciate your comment and wonderful insight. I totally agree with you… no decision is a decision. And yes, maybe someone can’t be absolutely anything, like if someone isn’t athletic at all, they probably don’t have much of a chance of becoming an Olympic athlete. But… if that person doesn’t try, doesn’t put forth an honest effort, he or she will never know what might have happened. And maybe working toward one goal will lead us down another path that was completely unexpected… and more rewarding than what we were working towards. Thanks again!
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Ah, perfect spin! I love the positive perspective and I had not considered that. Thank you for pointing it out, it made my day a little happier. 🙂 ❤
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Oh, I’m so glad! You just made my day happier too 🙂
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So true!
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Reblogged this on DREAM BIG DREAM OFTEN and commented:
Are you following Peace From Panic?
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Thank you!☺️
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It is always a pleasure!
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I can’t always choice between left and right because I never know what’s ahead, but if I go straight I will end up where I want to be. On the straight and narrow path!
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There you go, I like that! 😊
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This is a very thought provoking post! And a timely one. I just wrote two posts on the topic as well. However, mine were of specific decisions. I love that you covered the decision making process and the types of decisions we are faced with.
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Thank you! I’m going to check yours out too. Thanks for your kind words 🌺
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Hi Lydia, I just popped over to your blog. I thought it was so funny that we had both named our posts Decisions, Decisions… because originally I had two other titles and kept changing it, then left it at this. I enjoyed reading about your decisions. Best of luck with all of it!
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Most definately hard work ,perserverance, will power and an aim..
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Yes! 🙂
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Beautiful.
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Thank you 🌷
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You may have heard this before, but I’m going to share it because I love it:
Three frogs were sitting on a log when one decided to jump in the water?
How many frogs are left?
The answer is three. The one frog made the decision, but didn’t take the action. A decision is worthless if you don’t follow through.
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I love it! I haven’t heard that version, so thank you for sharing! 🐸😊 And its so true.
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Really relatable post. It’s come to my attention that a lot of people think I’ve had/got it easy. Psh. I am here to enjoy my life, and I do my best to live consciously, to choose carefully, because life throws enough crap at us all, we needn’t add more to the pile!
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Amen to that! Glad you can relate. I like how you put it… you’re here to enjoy your life and choose carefully. That’s how I try to live 🙂
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So very true, all of our decisions, good or bad, shape us. Wonderful thought provoking post.
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Thank you Miriam! 💜
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Well said and it actually makes me wonder to what point things that we think just happen are actually unconscious decisions made by us…
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That’s interesting… Now you have me wondering … 🙂
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This was an amazing piece. It smacked me in the face this morning. LOL. I needed to read it. I loved it when you said “My life is a compilation of all the decisions I’ve made along the way, and continue to make. Choices help shape the people we become. Our decisions help determine if we live a fulfilling, happy life–or not.” So true.
So often we forget that.
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Thank you!! I’m so glad you connected to it. I appreciate your kind words, you made me smile 💕🙂
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Very good points…a good read 🙂
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Thank you! 🙂
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It all comes down to your mindset. Luck to one person may only be a lottery win. To another luck may be watching a sun rise. It is all perspective. Luck requires effort if even to go purchase a simple lottery ticket. Great article. Thank you for sharing!
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Thank you! I like hearing your perspective, what you say is so true. Yes, even luck requires some effort 🙂
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I believe life is a gamble. But, saying that, we all know right from wrong, so hopefully we make the right choice at the time. If we discover the wrong choice has been made, we have the choice to rectify it and make that choice a ‘right’ choice. Life is not easy, and no matter what we choose in life, it has to be worked on, no matter what it is, it will never ‘just be perfect’ so work is required to make it the best we can make it. This probably doesn’t make a lot of sense, but at the end of the day. We are in control of our destination, our future…and it is all about choices.
Beautiful inspiring post Jenny. Have lovely weekend 🙂
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Thank you Lynne, and this makes total sense! Even if something hasn’t gone right, it’s up to us to decide to act on it, to attempt to change it. We’re in control. Sometimes that’s actually intimidating. I appreciate your insight! Hope you have a nice weekend too 🙂
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Thanks a million 🙂
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🌷😊🌷
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Thoughtful post, Jenny. I think the most important decisions we can make are determining by what values we are going to live our lives. From reading your post, I can tell that your values have informed all of the decisions you have made. Yet, we can never make all the “right” choices, you’re absolutely right that it isn’t easy, and there are no guarantees. I am abundantly blessed that I was born a white woman in the US and even had the opportunity to choose to go to college and grad school. If I really stop to think about it, I am astounded by all the resources at my disposal and the privilege I enjoy, which I did nothing to earn. In the end, the only decisions we really have control over are the decisions of our hearts and minds – to have faith or not, to have hope or not, to love or not. Even in the worst circumstances, the “success” of our lives is determined by these things, not whether we ever fulfill or accomplish our dreams.
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I love what you said Lulu. Like you, I’m very blessed with the life I have, and the childhood I had. Not everyone has the resources that I’ve been fortunate to have, and I’m sure I’ve taken those for granted. But no matter what your circumstance is in life, there are choices to be made that will lead you down the “right” or “wrong” path. As you mentioned, the decisions of our hearts to be filled with faith, hope, and love. Or not. Thank you again for your wonderful perspective, I appreciate it so much! Have a great week ahead 🙂
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Excellent post thanks for sharing
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Hi Jenny, Your post provides very helpful guide for people who need it. That’s wonderful. Is Mental Health Writers’ Guide a special group. Thank you for checking me out and read my About. I will be back to read more of yours.
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Thank you so much! I appreciate your kind words. Nice to meet you 🙂
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I find it much more peaceful to view destiny as being determined by fate rather than choices. Interesting read 🙂
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Thank you! 🙂
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