I’m Not Unstoppable

I’m not unstoppable. I’m not invincible. As a force to be reckoned with, I’m barely a blip on the radar. 

My body can’t stop bullets.  One tiny piece of steel or copper traveling at a high speed can end my life, or change it forever. One diagnosis, one accident, one evil action on the part of another individual can bring everything to a screeching halt.  I’m fragile.  I can’t control whether my heart keeps beating, even though my life depends on it.  I lose sometimes. Sometimes I lose a lot. I don’t win every single day.  Everything I value could be taken away in an instant.  Well, almost everything.

This is reality.  This is mortality. So what will you do?

When faced with these facts many people (the majority?) choose to alter their path toward safety.  Hide under the bed. Don’t climb high mountains.  Never take unnecessary risks. Take the path most traveled.  Follow the crowd. Be suspicious.  Don’t trust anyone.  Make it all about you and your safety.  Build walls around yourself to keep the danger out.  That’s one path. I have chosen a different one. 

While embracing my mortality, I choose the path of adventure – to walk the path less traveled. Fear stops dreams.  I don’t want to live in fear.  If I fail, it will be while moving forward.  If I fall, I will get back up.  I don’t want to get to the end of my life and know that I played it safe.  I held things back.  I didn’t pursue.   I don’t want to lose everything, but I won’t allow the fear of losing it to hold me back either. Great things are done by mortal men.  We are all mortal men(and women).  But not all mortal men do great things.  Only those who choose to press ahead with boldness and courage.  

The difference is the word “If”.  If, after recognizing the fact of your mortality, and the risk that comes with truly living, you stand up and move forward — you will be a doer.  You will be a difference maker.  If the unthinkable happens it will find you striving, not hiding under a bed.  That is the path less traveled, but it is not untraveled.  If you go down that path, you will meet other brave souls, and forge friendships and connections with conquerors, not cowards.  It’s a smaller group, but better company. 

I’m not unstoppable.  I’m not invincible. But I’m not hiding.