This past weekend,  the John Marshall Class of 1991 from Rochester, MN celebrated our 20 year reunion.  Friday and Saturday were spent catching up with various classmates at different events, realizing how everyone has grown, and celebrating the successes (and failures) that we have all enjoyed over the past two decades. Graduating high school is similar to being born. Everyone graduates with the same diploma, and pursues whatever path they choose to take. Some chose college, Medical,Law, or Dental School, some pursued vocational training or the military, and others joined the workforce or started a business.  While some people may have different advantages or opportunities than others, we all shared the same starting point, just like a newborn.

I visited with a couple of people who had a few situations in life that didn’t go quite as they planned, and they acted as if that was their crummy hand that had been dealt to them. “I guess that I’m just going to have to get used to not having what I really wanted,” commented one person. My response to them was, “Why the hell not?” Does life go sideways sometimes and suck? Yep. Are there setbacks in professional and personal situations that can make you feel like your world is falling apart? Yep. Do you have the opportunity to change goals and switch direction in life? Yep. Why would you throw in the towel and just be a spectator in life?

I’d imagine that you weren’t a natural born walker, talker, or bicycle rider, but you kept getting back up and going until you mastered the skill. For example, I was convinced that I’d be a rock star after high school. The other guys in my band felt that they could be as well. Over time that goal changed, and that is fine. I’m pictured with a few of the guys from my band…20 years later. Not one of us is a rock star, but we have become a “rock star” architect, investment banker, speaker and author, IT guy, and insurance agent.

Here are a couple of things to keep in mind as you journey through life:

1. It’s OK to change course. Don’t worry what others think about what you do. It’s your life, not theirs. Pursue your passion.

2. Embrace failures, and learn from them. Whether it is a relationship, job change, or some other life altering experience; understand that you can bounce back from any setback. Would you discourage a child with the same nasty self talk that you say to yourself?

3. Work on yourself, not just your profession. Jim Rohn says, “You can’t hire someone to do your push-ups for you.” Only you can work on yourself. Schedule it.

Maybe you have fallen out of touch with the people in your past who really meant something to you. Technology makes it very easy to reach out and stay in touch with someone. You don’t need a reunion to relive great moments…you can create them every day!

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