I'm Gonna Be An Astronaut

That's me telling a fellow third grader what I'm going to be when I grow up.

I also wanted to be a fighter pilot screaming across the sky in an F-15 fighter jet. That dream was heartlessly crushed by my doctor when he realized I failed the red/green color blindness test.

"You can't see that? Well, I hope you weren't wanting to be a pilot or an electrician when you grow up!"

Pretty sure he gave me a shot that day too. Jerk.

Being a fighter pilot was my dream. In fact, I still have a framed photo of an F-15 with steps for how to become a pilot written on a McDonald's napkin. My dad got it from a test pilot he met in a local McDonald's just down the street from McDonnell-Douglas (now Boeing) in St. Louis.

It didn't work out, obviously. Which is probably a good thing, because I've seen inside those cockpits and they aren't really made for a 6'3" "big-boned" gentleman such as myself. I'm more the large vehicle type...

Anyway, my desires grew from that point and changed, changed, and then changed again. Can you tell I didn't listen to my internal advisor for a really long time? Big mistake! It cost me years of progress and loads of student loans. When I finally started listening and engaging with that part of me that knew what it wanted all along, the puzzle pieces of life started fitting into place.

I realized that my passions were already pointing me in the right direction and all I have to do is follow them consistently. That's what I've been doing for the past several months and I'm coming to realize the power of following your passions wholeheartedly.

See, they made me quit my job to build a media company from scratch. They've connected me with incredible people in both online and local communities. They've helped me feel valued for what feels like the first time in I don't know how long, and they've humbled me as they've resonated with others in ways I never dreamed they would.

I don't know what my future holds, and I certainly can't know what your future holds, but I can encourage you to embrace your passions. Spend time with them. Meditate on them and listen to them. They are what drive you and the amazingness that makes you what you are.

If you haven't started following their lead, you're missing out...Don't wait anymore! Move into them, lean into them and watch what happens!