dealing with life
Takeaway: Life is unpredictable, throwing you curves at random times.
Sometimes you will be prepared. You will dust yourself off and carry forward.
Other times, life will blow all the air out of you, knocking you down and leaving you wondering what just hit you. At that time, all you can do is recover, readjust and keep carrying forward.
No matter how prepared or unprepared you are, forward is the only choice.
I can’t believe I have met with 40 people for Coffee with John, not counting repeats!
I am incredibly grateful to all the individuals that have met up with me. Thank you!
Many of you I only had met once or twice before. Thank you for your time and for being brave to join me in the journey of conversations. I look forward to continue connecting and having great talks while we share a moment together over coffee/tea.
The takeaway from Coffee with John #40: we sometimes tell ourselves, “I am too young, old, or inexperienced,” keeping ourselves from taking a leap to experience something new.
We think because of our age or lack of experience we can’t do this or that. Or we think that we don’t have much to offer or contribute. That’s all rubbish.
We all have value, bringing our unique experience to the table. I know I have to remind myself of this all the time. Don’t let your age or perception of lack of experience keep you from doing anything. I salute those that, despite their reservations, take the leap and jump into something completely new or totally beyond their comfort zone.
You inspire me.
Takeaways: honor your word.
I truly appreciate when people say what they commit to doing. “I will let you know soon,” “We will make it happen.” We casually make these type of commitments but never follow up.
So it’s great (and refreshing) when people actually do follow up, even if it’s just to say that they can’t follow through with their original intention.
Another takeaway, it’s key to have self-value and expect others to treat you with respect. That might mean taking a bold stand like uprooting and taking a whole different path in life.
The takeaway: don’t over think situations, especially things that are beyond our control.
We over think things, making a mountain out of a molehill. Sometimes we just need to be open to the experience and be as best prepared as we can.
From a few weeks back, Coffee with John. This was my #37 meet up but my first Coffee with John in NYC. The takeaway: you need to let go of the past to move forward.
Coffee with John #36
Takeaway: We all have these notions or benchmarks of what we are supposed to be. Those beliefs dictate our actions and behaviors.
The price is that we mask ourselves and pretend to be someone or something we are not. Be honest to yourself and your being; don’t try to comfort or fit into a specific checked box. As that Bob Marley song says, “free yourself from mental slavery.”
Yes. Different occasions require us to play certain roles but, if you are constantly lying to yourself and others, then you must confront yourself.
In some rare cases, being honest with yourself might mean breaking away completely from what you know. It might mean changing careers, taking on new responsibilities, confronting fears, pursuing that long-lost passion, ending certain habits, among a hundred other things.
I hope we all find the courage to find our true selves. And, in the process, our true passions. Of course, don’t go breaking the law now because deep down inside you believe you are a fun, loving criminal.
From a few weeks back (falling behind with my posts):
Takeaway: Be receptive and open. Don’t come to a situation with your jar filled. Let it be empty and overflow with new information.
Of course, if you need to be prepared for a situation, be prepared. Still, don’t come with assumptions or preconceived notions. Let go of it all and be open to the experience.
Coffee with John #34
What is power?
The definition can vary, depending on different variables and who you ask but I like Merriman Webster’s definition of power as the “ability to act or produce an effect.”
That echoes the takeaway from my penultimate coffee meeting. We all have the power to act and change the course of our life at a given point in our lives. Not to say that it’s always easy or without herculean efforts but the ability is there, sometimes hidden or unnurtured.
We have the ability to act.
Takeaway: just as life hits you with unexpected realities, life also gives you welcomed surprises like finding a $1 as you step out of your car or having a great conversation with someone you only met a few weeks back.
Takeaway: life is full of unexpected turns.
You might have your plans but life itself has other plans stored for you. All you can do is forge forward and embrace what life puts in front of you.
What other choice do you have but to be brave and keep on rolling?
Coffee With John 