I found myself really taken by such an insightful comment.
How many of us have been in his shoes? Can you think of a time when you’ve watched something long enough from afar that you ache to experience it yourself?
Maybe you’ve supported friends and family in their pursuit of meaningful work. Perhaps you’ve admired a colleague’s rewarding relationship or entrepreneurial venture. You can illustrate these tangible achievements in precise detail, even outline the steps necessary to enjoy them yourself, yet you go to bed each night knowing that they are all someone else’s stories.
Knowing how something looks is a vital part of the equation. Whether your goal is to get on stage or to lead a company or to grow a happy, healthy family, having a clear vision of your desired result gives you much needed direction and confidence. It is the compass that guides your actions. It is the reminder that so much is possible.
To know how something feels is to announce to the world that you’ve taken a risk, stepped outside of your comfort zone, and jumped. Perhaps you don’t yet see the net that you hope will catch you if you fall. Maybe steps 2 through 10 have yet to be determined. But you’ve taken a potentially life-changing initial leap. There’s no turning back. You’re living life, and, once you get a taste of it, your days of watching patiently from the sidelines will fade as quickly as the stage lights when the audience goes wild.
And you smile because the story is now yours.
How does it feel?