Are you heading in the wrong direction in life?  I think a majority of us have gone through some growing pains throughout our lives and have taken the wrong turns here and there.  It becomes a problem as you age and you let life pass you by without feeding your dreams, ambitions and progress towards where you see yourself in life.

I personally have turned my life around when I came to the realization  that where I was in life was not where I had expected it to be and if I had continued on, I would see my life being lived not even close to my potential.  I had too much fun and made that too much of a priority.  I had basic goals and didn't innovate myself, but just did enough to get by.  I guess you can say that when I do something, I do it well and during that phase in my life, I chose to have fun but life catches up to you.  Friends, family and others the same age as you or younger move forward in their life, career and what they offer to the world in their own unique way.  In each of us there is a desire to do more.  I have seen people who have lots of potential, yet waste it away and dig themselves into holes that I think will be very hard to get out of.

I came to realize that I had to turn myself around and it happened during a very horrific incident and till this day, I am not really sure why that incident made me change.  Let me share with you what happened.  I was taking a lazy mid-afternoon nap and was dreaming away, deep slumber...  I saw myself in what had seemed to be a coffin or wooden box.  I reached up in my dream and pulled on a string that was a single lightbulb.  I wasn't afraid, but I was just there....  I began to shake frantically and was awoken by screams and loud voices coming from outside my apartment window.  I took a peek outside my balcony window and saw a man lying on the ground.  The screams were coming from his co-workers, who were earlier doing a roofing job.  My apartment complex was only 3 stories high and I was shocked to see a man lying dead still on the ground outside my window.  I began to feel very sad, yet very disturbed based on the dream I had during the incident which kind of connected me with the whole event.  I then pulled out a cigarette and took a long drag, and in my mind, I asked myself, "what am I doing with my life"?  Even though I had successfully completed the air force and was attending a University at the time, I felt as if I didn't give it my all, my best and that I was just doing enough. 

I made a commitment to myself that very day to do my best at whatever it is that I do.  The hardest part was the first step, which is the step in the opposite direction that I was heading.  I believe that since that day, I have turned my life around and completed my undergraduate with high honors, challenged myself, set career goals and became a better person with each passing day.  My family was in awe of the recreation, but it did take time but the steps I took in the right direction led me to success after success.  I had stumbling blocks and obstacles along the way, but these served as learning opportunities for me and I welcome them.  I look around at what I have now and I am blessed to have what I have.  I know in my heart that I can accomplish more as we all have the abilities to improve and accomplish more, it is just a matter or taking the right steps and taking the path that is best for you. 

I still can't understand why that day when I witnessed death in front of me along with the strange dream turned my life around.  Maybe it just symbolized my life where I was alive but probably good as dead and  in my coffin but didn't realize it until I turned on the light to see.  It made me think about how precious life really is and if I were to die right now, would I have been happy with myself?  I don't think you should wait to have such an event happen for you to turn your life around, but you can simply ask yourself, "what am I doing with my life",  "am I where I want to be or have thought I would be",  have that long hard conversation with YOURSELF a brutally honest conversation and don't kid yourself but be honest and find the direction you have been on and if that is the path you want to continue on.  You can make excuses or you can make a better life for yourself, you choose which one you want to take.