From the time I was a young girl, I’ve always known that I’m destined for greatness. I don’t say that with any form of arrogance or facetiousness… simply a quiet inner “knowing” within myself.
Some of you may say, “What is greatness?”
Well greatness, in my humble opinion (as defined by dictionary.com), means “the quality or state of being important, notable, or distinguished” … “the quality or state of being powerful or intense.“
I honestly thought long and hard about writing this article.
My “analytical self” told me that maybe I should wait until I have some tangible proof by reaching a status of importance and nobility once I’ve lived my life and accomplished some of my goals and dreams.
But my “radical faith-talking-water-walking self” told me that since I AM destined for greatness, wouldn’t it be “great” to take some people with me? Wouldn’t it be “great” to have some people who know me actually watch me on my journey and be encouraged along the way?
Needless to say, I overruled my “analytical self” and opted for the latter.
You see, normally I’m an optimistic person, but I spent a period of my life shrouded in a cloak of horrible negativity. I thought it was going to kill me…LITERALLY.
I was angry at some people for speaking lies against me. I was tired and frustrated from working long hours at work. I was always feeling sick and in constant pain due to inflammation in my body and digestive issues every time I ate something.
I was so disappointed with my life and nothing seemed to make it right.
However, one day on a cool spring morning I decided something had to change. So, I got up and took a walk to the Lakefront where I live. It was the best thing I could have done!
As I sat on the concrete steps staring at the beautiful water and looking out at the beautiful view of the city and harbor of boats, I began to pray and to ask God what was wrong with me and my life. How had I slipped into such a negative frame of thinking all the time?
I began to reflect on how I had gotten so busy and caught up with the cares of the world.
You see, in the morning the alarm would sound and I would groggily get up and turn it off, look out the window, plead for 10 more minutes and then crawl back under my comfy covers and go back to sleep.
Then I’d find myself oversleeping and jumping up and running to my closet to find an outfit for the day (I didn’t choose one the night before because I was too tired and figured it would be easier to do it in the morning).
After vacillating for 15 minutes, I would panic and hurriedly choose something to iron before I rushed to the bathroom to take a shower and get dressed.
I didn’t have time to grab breakfast or lunch (unless I had leftovers from the night before) so I would hurriedly run out the door to catch public transportation or to drive my car to work.
In the evenings when I came home, I spent my time teaching music, going to community choir rehearsals, attending Bible study and attending business meetings and performance engagements.
It was the same day after day after day.
Looking back at it now, I’m amazed at how busy I was and I can see how I was headed for major burnout (self-inflicted destruction) not greatness.
I often sat at my desk at work daydreaming about my future and imagining what I would be doing if I had the free time that I desired.
I would tell myself that I was going to make a change and start on the journey to a better life.
I’d wake up with a fresh new attitude and positive outlook and then rush right back out into the chaotic busy world that I live in. And yep…you guessed it. Before long I went right back to turning off the alarm clock, oversleeping, panicking because I was going to be late for work and running out the door.
The thought-provoking point to this story is that although I kept going around the mountain doing the same thing, I finally got a real wake-up call.
The heart-breaking news of the passing of a dear friend stopped me in my tracks.
I reflected on how life is so short and we only get ONE shot at it. The questions came rapidly.
What would I want to leave as a legacy?
What do I want people to say about me? Remember about me?
Whose life had I touched?
Was my living in vain?
Would the works that I’ve done speak for me?
A few months later my contract ended for a job and I decided to take some time off. I decided to go visit my special little place at the Lakefront. It was there waiting for me all along.
I spent days walking to clear my mind and I took a notebook to jot down my thoughts and to journal. I asked myself the tough questions:
What did I want to do in life even if I didn’t get paid for it?
What bothers me in life?
How could I make life better for just one person?
How would that make me feel?
My journal became full and I began to break those thoughts and ideas down into little actions and steps. These are now the goals to my dreams…and the birth of “Dream Trinitia Green.”
One of my all-time favorite motivational speakers says, “You don’t have to be great to get started but you do have to get started to be great.” (Les Brown)
On this road that I’m traveling to greatness, I’ve come to believe he’s right. How about you? What do you think? Will you get started on your journey to greatness? I sure hope so and I’m believing GOD just for you!!!