Jersey #9: Kentucky's Journey

There have been a lot of changes in my life recently. As such, I've been doing a lot of soul-searching; as pertains to rugby and otherwise. Along my "vision-quest" of sorts, I found this quote by one of the most intelligent and visionary men to ever live, Albert Einstein:

"If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things"


Sad...but essentially true. I don't think this means that we have to exclude people and things from being important in our lives...but I do think it means not denying oneself. Treat the people you love with respect and dignity, always. Along your travels toward your goals, meet people, make friends, love, live, indulge....but refuse to sacrifice yourself. There will be a lot of people who come in and out of your life - but the only one who remains through the end is yourself. Those who really care will support you - maybe not at first - but always in the end. And those who don't...well, maybe it hurts, but you have to leave them behind. Take them for what they were, for the happiness you may have shared with them at one point or another, and let them go. Turn around and run toward your dreams. Write those dreams down, make each step a means to an end, and refuse to compromise till you've nothing left...and then crawl the rest of the way.

If you don't make it, at least you've given yourself to a worthy cause - fought your best fight. And unlike so many people who refuse to take the risk, you'll know what you're truly capable of, for better or worse.

Friends, live your best life - not absent of mistakes or failures - but full of attempts and good intentions. Wish the best for others in the hope that they become challengers along the path toward your own best self. Be optimistic that others will wish the same for you, but don't depend on it. Sometimes the right choice can be a lonely one, but show me a man who survives and presses on in spite of all else, and I'll show you a man who dies with least regrets. Says Gandhi:

"Joy lies in the fight, in the attempt, in the suffering involved, not in the victory itself."


I, for one, will keep on fighting. I hope to see you there.