Words to Live by

I consider myself to be quite forgetful. I tend to forget things mere moments after i've read them or heard them which can be incredibly frustrating at times. That being said i've developed systems including calendar reminders, sending emails back and forth to myself and occasionally the old faithful post-it notes.

There are 2 phrases however, spoken by 2 men who've been very influential in my life, which have embedded themselves in my brain and stayed there for the good part of 20 years.

In 1991 I graduated from high school and had planned to spend a year in New York then return to Scotland to go to art school. During that summer we realized that if I'd lived outside of the UK for a year I wouldn't be eligible for the government grant which would pay for my 4 years of college. Panic set in and my parents and I frantically set about working out the details of my return to Scotland that fall. 

One of the biggest issues was that I had no place to live so as a typical teenager would I left it to my dad to figure out the issue.

The lucky recipients of my presence were Doug and Fiona McIntyre, friends of my parents, who live in the same town as my college.

I was a pain in the ass. Plain and simple. Although probably not a great deal different to many other 17/18 year olds. Irresponsible, confused and pretty scared about being a "grown up".

Doug really took me under his wing without any obligation to do so.

I remember driving in his car one night, me probably spouting off about how tough it is to be me, and how confused I am, and how hard I have it. Me me me.

Doug with all the patience in the world turned to me and said...

"You need to remember that most of the time your biggest weakness is also your biggest strength"

Wow. Deep. But incredibly useful and something which has stayed with me to this point in life.

It's easy at times for us to sit and create long lists about how useless we are but when you flip it around its amazing what you can do with your shortcomings and failures. It's all about perception.

The other statement was around the same period of life. I had been dating a girl and was contemplating ending it for the prospect of bigger and better things. (girls...but not bigger, just better)

 I was talking it over with my dad, and he uttered the statement...

"Don't throw your life away for a dream"

The obvious irony here being that my father is one of the biggest dreamers/visionaries I know.

Again this one has stayed with me to this point in my life.

Now I don't think we're meant to mindlessly settle for the status quo but it's so easy at times to let our minds drift to what our lives could be and discard all of the good things God has allowed to come our way. Still working on this one.

I consider myself to be quite forgetful..........