Don’t let fear dictate your life, ‘But’ ‘Can’t’ and ‘Because’ are the most used words in our language. I want to, But. I wanted to be someone, But. I Can’t… Because I had to take care of my Gran/grandad, mother/father, wife/husband, sister/brother/child. I would have… But I had kids. I wanted to… But I had animals. I would have, But I never had the money, I lived in the wrong area/country. My boyfriend/girlfriend stopped me, I got pregnant, was homeless, had an accident. I was ill/disabled, no transport, too young, too old, in prison, uneducated. My toe got stuck in a ceiling fan, my guinea pig died, my pet snake handcuffed me. I threw my baby out with the bath water, a butterfly battered me with it’s vicious wings and I lost the strings to my bow… And not just one but all these scenarios happened to me, so I never stood a chance in life, I just wasn’t that lucky.

Maybe next time eh! So many excuses, then we tell our kids to go out there and grab life’s opportunities, because we never did! But our kids learn from the best, from us, we are their teacher and unwittingly teach them the same fears. So whatever our life long excuse and famous last words, I wish I had, will be inevitable, will you join the crowd or forge your own path. So many kids look at their parents and think, I’m not going to be like them, I want more in life, I’m going to be successful.

But very few achieve any real success as they follow the same footsteps, finding one excuse after another… there was always something that stopped me, life just isn’t fair etc, etc. And me too, when opportunity knocked I wasn’t brave enough to open the door, I never walked away from what held me back, I listened to teachers, family, friends, partners that always told me, that is not for you… you wouldn’t survive in that industry, you’re wasting your time and money pursuing that path, you’re not tall enough, clever enough, young enough, confident enough, brave enough or rich enough… you need money to do that! We have all heard these encouraging and inspiring words from our allies, and if we make something of ourselves those very same people say, I knew you would!

And now I realise that was just their own fears projected onto me, the fear of losing me to something bigger, better, richer whatever, something beyond their grasp of normality, preferring to keep me safely tucked under their wing because it’s so dangerous out there. We want to fly the nest… that urge inside is our spirit saying, go, jump, fly, you know you want to. But we step back from the edge at the last moment, and admire those who leap from the comfort of our prison, our poverty, dissability, as we are all disabled. As the mind and fear is our greatest dissability we start to die on the inside as our life becomes our personal groundhog day.

We prefer to grab a beer and some popcorn and watch those who did fly, on stage, in the cinema, radio. Or reading the latest famous authors novel in front of a fire, in the comfort of our cosy armchair, as it’s cold outside. Let the entrepreneur go and get wet, we will stay home and let the books of the fearless, those who braved the storm, faced failure and took their chances transport us into a world we never dared step foot in. Then we see the wealth, travel, ease and luxury and wish we had tried… but we had a family to keep remember. We were told we have ideas above our station, that ambition is all very nice, but it’s not practical, so go get a proper job!

Don’t try and make millions, go work in the local factory for a pittance, at least you’ll have a job for life, stability. But you may never afford to move out of your parents home, yet while stuck with our parents it’s the perfect opportunity to freely follow our ambition. But there’s no time, the minute we leave school we need to get any job, because we must be responsible and pay our way now. Room/board, food and laundry service isn’t free you know! Well it was for 16 years so what’s changed? But suddenly we’re abandoned unless we cough up… where’s the unconditional parental love now? So I never made it because my parents took my wage, oh how motherly of you, lol. And Clint Eastwood was told by a film studio he would never be a star because his Adams apple was too big… seriously!

Imagine if he had given up just because of that advice, a man of great expression missed in this world. We all have something different to offer, as so many ordinary people are becoming, becoming Youtube sensations, influencers, because of their personalities and authenticity. So what gifts and talents are you hiding in your comfort zone? What are you afraid to reveal to the world that may lift you from poverty, that would free your soul and see you soar above the crowds. Like the great Marlon Brando… the Godfather, don’t let your last words be, I could have been a contender!