Throughout the year, I will be listing quotes that I have found interesting or witty and will explain what they mean to me.  The quote may have reminded me of a funny story, elicited a certain emotion, or inspired me to do something.  Hopefully the quote and my explanation can connect with you on some level, too.

Here goes.

“Hide not your talents. They for use were made. What’s a sundial in the shade?” – Ben Franklin

This is a pretty simple quote but its simplicity resonates with me.

I have found that as a human race we are often afraid to use our talents to the best of our ability.  We get caught up in the mediocrity and daily rituals of the world and we forget that we were given certain talents and abilities in order to impact others.  Or, what happens more often than not, fear overtakes us.  Thoughts of failure, disappointment, and struggles fill our minds and block out any positive thinking that might have come over us.  At this point, we just don’t bother to use our talents because we rationalize that wasted talents are better than failed talents.  Wrong.

Failure is a fact of life and it is through failure that we experience growth and development.  Failure improves our talents and never destroys them.  Negative thinking and the fear of failure destroys talents.

It is my hope that I will begin to use my talents more often as the year progresses.  I am trying to avoid the fear of failure and fully utilize my abilities to change my world.  I am currently engaged in helping Folk Media, LLC with blogging and community outreach.  I am a people person and a writer so I feel that my talents are used well in my role.  I will also begin to use my passion for video and video editing more throughout the year as I volunteer at my church.  I am starting small but the possibilities are endless.

What are some talents that you have not been using?  What feelings of failure are you harboring that are weighing you down?  I challenge you to spend some time reflecting on those questions and, if you feel comfortable, share with us.

The term “bucket list” is pretty common these days.  In case you’ve never heard of it before, it means a list of events or activities you’d like to take part in before you “kick the bucket.”  There was a fairly good movie made of the same name a few years ago starring Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson and the idea of having a “bucket list” caught on.  At the time, I didn’t really think much of have such a list, mainly because you never know when you’re going to leave Earth.  Why rush to get tons of things done in a span of two or three years when you could have just spread it out?

But, then I got to thinking, “Why not just make a list of things you’d like to do sometime in your life?” So, I did it.  Well, kind of.  The best part about it is that I’m already able to check one thing off of my list.

If you’re expecting a firm list of items that I’d like to accomplish within my life, you’re going to be somewhat disappointed.  Right now, I only have a few “things to do” in my mind, not on paper and as I mentioned before, one of those items can be crossed off – giving blood.

My church recently hosted a blood drive and at first I was reluctant to give because of fear.  Not of needles, but of just the process overall.  I didn’t know how much they would take or if I would be the only one giving.  It turns out, all my questions were answered and I was in good company for the whole process.  It made me feel great looking down at the bandage on my arm and knowing that I will save a life one day.

The other items on my “Big Picture Things To Do” list will come over time – getting promoted to a management position, getting married and having a family, and meeting the President of the United States.  I’m in no rush to complete these activities because I know that they will come in their own time and if they are part of my life course.

I challenge you to create a “Big Picture Things To Do” list and work toward accomplishing all of the items on the list.  There is nothing like the feeling of accomplishment and a sense of completion.  Why not dream big?

I recently had an awesome interaction with a fellow banking customer at my local chain.  I had just finished donating blood and needed to cash a check that I recently received.  As I was approaching the glass doors, an older gentleman crossed my path and simply stated, “Good afternoon, young man.”  Here is how our conversation continued:

Eric:  “Good morning, sir.  How are you today?”
Bank Man:  “Well, I’m actually not too good.  None of the ATMs are working that I go to.  It makes me want to switch banks.”
E:  “I totally understand that.  If that happened to me, I would want to put my money in a bank that had working equipment.  Hopefully this ATM is different.”
BM:  “I hope so, too.  You know, you’re a first class kinda guy.  You just turned my day around.”
E:  “I enjoyed talking to you, too and I am glad I turned things around for you.  Have a good day!”
BM:  “You too.”

As I continued into the bank, I couldn’t help but smile.  Just by listening to this man, I played a part in turning his day around.  Believe it or not, empathy can truly turn a conversation around. You don’t need to get results or do anything, just listen and empathize.

This conversation made me start thinking:  What if we all empathized with the bigger picture in mind? Would our daily interactions lead to better moods?  Would we become servants and not selfish?

Random Encounter Challenge: Try empathizing and listening to someone today that you encounter, whether it’s a stranger or the person in the cube across from you at work.  See  if it increases the value of your interaction and your relationship with that person.

Did you take the challenge?  If so, how did it work out?  Have you empathized in the past?   What results did you see?  Tell us below in the comments!

I’m proud to say that yesterday, my girlfriend and I celebrated our three year anniversary.  The time has flied by since July 26, 2006 but I can, without a doubt, say that the past three years have been the best of my life.  I’ve only lived just over two decades, but from what I’ve experienced, they’ve been the best.  I’ve learned a lot along this journey, too.  I haven’t arrived at this point wondering, “How did I get here?”  I know how I got here and I know why these have been the best three years of my life.

1.  Saving Isn’t A Bad Thing.

Before dating my girlfriend, I was horrible with money.  Yeah, I had a few investments but nothing serious and my savings account was a joke.  However, when I came into contact with her high values concerning money, my empty pockets began to overflow with money.  I learned how to manage my money and realized that saving money isn’t a bad thing.  Simply because I have it, doesn’t mean I need to spend it.  In the past three years, my savings account has become a comfortable emergency fund, I have begun saving for retirement, and I am more aware about the whereabouts of my money.

2.  Laziness Is For The Birds

In the years before I met my girlfriend, I was not the most productive person on the face of the Earth (not saying that I am now but…).  I had no desire to do anything – I wouldn’t work very hard, I wouldn’t get done my school work, and I would hardly help around the house.  If you looked up lazy in the dictionary, you’d find me.  It was getting to the point to where I was promising people something and never, ever delivering.  However, my relationship with my girlfriend began to change things.  I saw her high level of respect for her job (although she didn’t like it all the time), she displayed a desire to learn, and she kept promises.  I knew I needed that and I adopted those values as my own.  Now, three years later, I can proudly say that I give 100% each day I am working, I have changed jobs and promoted, and I have a 3.85 GPA while pursuing an online degree.

3.  The World?  I Don’t Need No Stinkin’ World!

This is one of the hardest things I used to struggled with – approval from “the world.”  Now that I look back on it, I don’t even really know what I considered “the world.”  Sure, everyone wants to be accepted by their friends and family but I knew that no matter what I did, those people would accept me.  Once I started dating my girlfriend, I ditched that thinking and realized I needed to become Eric, not everyone else.  I dropped the fashion trends, I stopped watching all of the shows and movies everyone else was watching, and broke the mold of routine and lived for once.  I didn’t have to be like everyone else.  I needed to be me.  Now, I have started a blog with consistent readers (thank you, guys), began to volunteer at my church more, and climb the corporate ladder.  Those things may not appear to be daring or bold, but they are for me compared to who I once was.

So, there you have it.  Three years; three truths.  I have learned a lot more and continue to learn as we progress through our relationship and progress as people.  As those lessons come, I will continue to share them.  Here’s to three years of reflection and here’s to many, many more.

What can you reflect on?  How have you grown as a person in the last 2 or 3 years?  Let us know in the comments!