Kirk Nugent

Forest Gump believed that Life is like a box of chocolates, because you never know what you will get. However Forest wasn’t the brightest bulb on the porch, his was a character that if you stood close to him, you could actually hear the ocean. Life is more like taking a trip on a commercial airline carrier. When you show up at the airport, in order to get to your destination you have to check in. Not only do you have to check in, you have to declare where you are going. If you don’t check in and make that declaration, even though you are at the airport, you don’t go anywhere.

Checking in and making your declaration is what you’re doing with your journal and scrap book. Most people spend all their lives at the airport, never checked in, then at sixty five they declare, “This is not where a wanted to be.” Checking in is simple and it’s easy, for God’s sake, better yet, for your sake, please check in.

Let’s use the example that you’re in New York and you’ve checked in and declared that you’re going to LA. Just by making that declaration, you also by default declared that you’re NOT going to Boston, that you’re NOT going to Chicago, and you’re NOT going to Miami. You’ve just decided that even though there may be a million and one other cities to visit, today they are not on your agenda. This is extremely important, because people will come along and show you beautiful brochures of the night life in Vegas and the beautiful beaches of Miami. They will try to get you to go where they are going. Stay on your agenda! Stay on your flight, you know where you are going, leave the frivolous tours to those who are on vacation, you’re on business.

There are two sides to every coin. So once you’ve decided that you’re going to live a purpose driven life, on the flip side you’ve also decided that you are not going to allow friends and family to deter you. You are not going to spend your week nights in front of the television. You’re not going to spend all your weekends in the club. You are not going to squander your money on meaningless trinkets that society holds sacred, and you’re certainly not going to entertain toxic relationships.

While you’re checking in, you will be asked, “How many bags are you checking?” Most airlines allow you two pieces, anything more than that and they charge you. Same thing in life; show up like you’re Erykah Badu on your way to do a “Bag Lady’ video shoot and you will be severely taxed. In other words, you must leave most of your issues at the door. You must be able to drop the baggage of the past, the baggage of resentment, the baggage of needing to fit in, the baggage of insecurities. Too many baggages cause us to become distracted. Remain distracted long enough and you’re delayed, remain delayed long enough and you’re denied! You’ll be sixty five in the airport complaining that you weren’t breast fed long enough. Release that baggage and let’s go!

One interesting fact about the whole baggage situation is that you can show up with only one piece of luggage and life will still charge you. You know why? Because that baggage is overweight. You might show up with only your insecurities, but too much of the same issues, and Life will tax you. Can’t get on the plane with that; so be certain that you are constantly monitoring your thoughts for excess baggage.

It is possible that you could have the majority of your house in order and still be denied. Let’s assume that you’re persistent, you’re diligent, you’re resilient, but you’re traveling with a great deal of self doubt. That one piece of luggage is enough to get you distracted, delayed and denied! The more baggage that you show up with, the more it slows you down. The less baggage that you have the faster you will be able to move, the quicker you’ll accomplish your dreams.

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