Go Forward

"Walk that walk and go forward all the time. Don't just talk that talk, talk it and go forward. Also, the walk didn't have to be long strides; baby steps counted too. Go forward."

This is an excerpt from "The Pursuit of Happyness," by Chris Gardner. I saw Chris's story on 20/20 several years ago and was glued to the movie starring the amazing Will Smith, but I had never read the book. With a gift card in hand, yesterday the kids and I split it three ways and we each picked out a book or two. I wanted something inspiring, but I didn't want another self-help guru selling me the latest and greatest Band Aid to mend my bleeding soul.

Then Chris's story hit me, and Amanda and I spent several minutes scouring the autobiography section until we finally asked for help. For the longest time she couldn't understand why we were looking for a title with the word "happiness" spelled wrong. Why didn't they just change it? she wondered.

I couldn't wait to get home to begin absorbing what I knew would be an amazing story of a man who was in far worse shape than me, but endeavored to be amazingly successful in his personal and professional life. I came across the above quote and it resonated through my core. Go forward. It was an *ah-HA!" moment.

A chorus of angels sang the Hallelujah Chorus as the heavens opened up and shone the most beautiful rays of light upon my sleepy head as I sat in the on the floor of the sweltering laundry room. That happened for reals...not really but it felt like it..and if you must know, I was sitting in the laundry room because I didn't want to put lights on while the kids were trying to sleep. You gotta do what you gotta do.

Anyway, Go Forward. It applies to everything! When I think that going for a run won't do me any good, I realize that a run, as opposed to no run, will make me go forward. Maybe just a teeny tiny bit, but it is forward. Being idle, being frustrated, being stressed out and feeling helpless does nothing. Moving, trying, applying myself, figuring out ways to make it work, and having hope, are about moving forward.

Like Chris Gardner, that has become my new mantra. Go Forward!