COURAGE | HOPE | DESTINY | INSPIRATION | LIFE
Take Flight On The Wings Of A Butterfly
Dreams are attainable — when you follow the footsteps of those who walked the path before you.
I’m crazy about quotes. Why? Because they make me think and give me inspiration to move forward toward my dreams.
Have you ever considered visionary icons who live life in abundance? Those creative geniuses who stepped outside a box and revolutionized the world. What did they do differently to realize such amazing childhood dreams?
Take Steve Jobs, for instance. He was put up for adoption at birth and dropped out of college.
Did that make him a loser? Not at all. A creative genius, he designed technology we never even knew we needed. Few people could have that kind of impact on the world.
Here are just a few incredible quotes from Steve Jobs.
“My favorite things in life don’t cost any money. It’s really clear that the most precious resource we all have is time.”––Steve Jobs
“The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.” — Steve Jobs
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” — Steve Jobs
“Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.” — Steve Jobs
“Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.”— Steve Jobs
Randy Pausch inspired millions with his tenacity and will to live life to the fullest despite his pancreatic cancer diagnosis. He stirred my soul with his amazing determination. If you’ve never read or heard his Last Lecture––take the time…I promise you will never forget his words.
Here are a few of my most treasured Randy Pausch quotes.
“We can’t change the cards we were dealt, just how we play the hand.” — Randy Pausch
“Brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to show how badly we want something.” — Randy Pausch
“Don’t bail: the best gold is at the bottom of barrels of crap.” — Randy Pausch
“Experience is what you get when you don’t get what you wanted. Don’t complain. Just work harder.” — Randy Pausch
“It is not about achieving your dreams but living your life. If you live your life the right way, the karma will take care of itself, the dreams will come to you.”––Randy Pausch
And the most touching quote:
“Someone’s going to push my family off a cliff pretty soon and I won’t be there to catch them. That breaks my heart. But I have some time to sew some nets to cushion the fall so that seems like the best and highest use of my time…” — Randy Pausch
I could go on and on. I mean, think of his situation…here was a man literally dying of cancer, yet his attitude soared.
The world lost so much when Steve Jobs and Randy Pausch died. Both ripped from us far too soon, they lived their dreams until their dying breath.
Walt Disney’s innovation and imagination, spawned from his childhood love for drawing, captivated the world.
Bill Gates, another college dropout, ignited the computer revolution with his software genius.
But men don’t corner the market. Plenty of women also come to mind. Oprah Winfry, Barbara Walters, J. K. Rowling, Sonia Gandhi, Mary Kay Ash — you get the picture.
Age isn’t a deal-breaker either. Mark Zuckerberg was in college when he created Facebook…
And Ray Kroc, founder of McDonalds, was a 52-year-old milkshake machine salesman when he saw a hamburger stand and envisioned a whole new industry.
How about disabilities? Nope, not even frailties hold people back. Consider Christopher Reeves, Marlee Matlin, Helen Keller, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and so many others.
The point is, somewhere along my journey I realized no valid excuse existed for my inability to pursue my own dreams––and the passion of my inner child awakened.
Everyone experiences events that impact their lives, but no one has to be a victim. Which begs the question:
What did all those innovative, inspiring people have in common — and was it something I lacked?
I challenge you to ask yourself the same question.
In my memoir, Wingless Butterfly, I spoke of my friend, Jack, and how he reminded me of Eyore, the sad sack, depressed little donkey from Winnie-The-Pooh. I couldn’t help but wonder if Jack’s life might have been different had he emulated the attitude of Tigger instead of Eyore?
Oddly, when I first heard Randy Pausch’s Last Lecture, I smiled to hear he, too, refered to himself as a Tigger––and not an Eyore.
My ex-husband, Zack, convinced himself his dreams were unattainable. Whenever I encouraged him to pursue his passion, he always replied, “I wouldn’t know what to do”…or “I wouldn’t know where to start.” His pat-answers trapped him within his own comfort zone.
Perhaps hesitation to pursue one’s dreams masks underlining fear or lack of motivation. But in allowing ourselves excuses, we ultimately imprison ourselves within the parameters of our existing situation.
Break free. Take a chance. Step away from your safety nets and fly on the wings of your own butterfly.
Though I was a posterchild for a poor self-image, my fractured confidence crumbled when I realized so many others were just like me.
Inspiration from myriad people like Steve Jobs and Randy Pausch spun me toward a new direction.
I wrote my memoir…and I even played the part of the older me in the trailer. [Acting in the production was one of the funnest events I ever experienced!] Take a look at the trailer…do I look like a woman with low self-esteem? No? Here’s why.
Writing my own journal created a kind of crystal ball for me — like a glimpse into the past of my future.
I could see printed in black and white, the path I developed and where I was headed if I didn’t change my course.
I saw my dreams were attainable––but they wouldn’t just fall in my lap. I had to make choices to create the life I wanted.
Fear and lack of confidence are formidable adversaries. But eventually, we all have to face our own demons.
Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
Though he didn’t dream the quote would live on to inspire countless people to face their fears, his words rang true on so many levels.
When we visualize what life could be beyond our fear, the anxiety balloon deflates.
My advice––surround yourself with positive people and let go of the toxic negative influences that handcuff your life.
Consider what joy life could hold if you lived your dreams? If that’s too difficult to envision, then you’ve been compliant with the status quo far too long!
If you ask yourself, who is Casi McLean to give you advice, and why does she believe she can help transform the unwritten chapters of your story?
My answer is simple––I’ve walked this path before you.
It might sound odd coming from a once insecure, fearful, self-doubting child — and maybe it is––but like a doctor who feels confident he can heal a disease, I’m confident the secrets I uncovered are life-altering.
Transformation is by no means a path of least resistance, nor is it simple. But remember…
“The butterfly only emerges after struggling with the cocoon.”––Casi McLean…Wingless Butterfly
Click the book cover below and check out my memoir on Amazon. Each chapter is headed by one of my favorite quotes.
If you’re willing to risk the road less traveled and crawl through the rubble and debris of your own past mistakes––you can reach your dreams!
I’d love for you to follow me on Medium. Take a peek at my bio here.
- *Side Note: take a look at my other articles on Medium — like this one: The Thing About Dreams
Connect with me on social media and here on Medium.
Maybe you’ll discover something about yourself that might help guide you to live your own dreams.
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I love Illumination. What a fabulous publication! Please take a moment to click on these links for more stories you might enjoy: Tim MaudlinJeffHerring.com Brenda Christopher MaryJo Wagner, PhD Dr Mehmet Yildiz Vickie Trancho Jesse-Melva Johnson Sunita Pandit Peg DuchesneBenecia L. Ponder John Kremer Jacquelyn Lynn Kelda YtterdalPhilNomanono Isaacs Rick Hoefer Ellen Mogensen Dave KwiecinskiJoan Kent, PhD Roger Himes Esq. Terri Ward Nicki Walsh Susan Joy SchleefNancy H. Vest Dr Jeanne King PhD Nile Nickel Cynthia Charleen AlexanderLinda Miles Murray Thomas Anderson Andrew Poletto Dr. Sue MassimoBreakfield and Burkey Tom Antion Linda Halladay
