The Power of One

Yesterday I had what I consider to be an "ah hah" moment.  I decided to grab some oatmeal for breakfast so I headed to McDonald's. When I pulled into the shopping center I noticed a women who was sitting in her car broke down in the middle of a four way intersection. Smack dab in the middle! It's a mean position to be in. I pulled into McD's and parked my truck and just sat there and watched. I sat there for several minutes just to see if anyone would stop and help her. Sure enough, NO ONE stopped to help this women. I went on ahead and walked over to assist her. I told her to put the car in neutral and I would just push her out of harms way. Then the funniest thing happened.

As I began to push the car a guy came out of nowhere and offered his help! So now its two of us we were about 150 feet from the gas station so we were gonna roll her car on in when TWO more guys RAN over to assist! I was like wow! Before you know it the lady was sitting at the pump and able to handle things on her own. We had done the good deed of the day thing and everything was once again right with the world.

 I walked back over to McDonald's and as I stood in line it hit me...Why was it that when I sat in my car and WATCHED the lady did no one offer to help? Remember I said earlier that I sat there for several minutes. I watched dozens of cars ride by her without as much as glancing in her direction. But as soon as I took the initiative to aid her folk came out of the wood work! I learned a lesson. I learned that sometimes it only takes you to champion a cause for things to get off the ground. Its called "the power of one".

There are many things to do and not enough doers who are willing to do them. There will always be nay sayers present. Thats their job! It basically comes down to you being willing to serve and do whats necessary. That's the mark of a leader. We have the power to change ANY circumstance we face. Here's another thing that hit me... After we pushed the car to the gas station there were people who applauded what we did. Here's the catch. They had to have been the same people who rode by and didn't offer any help to begin with. Ain't that funny? But guess what? It shows that you can win people over with your actions. I didn't help the women to be recognized. I just help her because she needed it. I got satisfaction out of helping her. Thats the power of one in action. I believe when you do those little things for others it always comes back to you. It's its own reward. Remember you can change the world through your words, thoughts and actions. You're greater than any super hero you've seen or read about. It starts with you! Do you believe that what you do matters? I PROMISE you it does! Take the first step. Stop watching... get out of your comfort zone... Walk over to the situation... and PUSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!-A. Brown

The Darkness of Complacency

Recently, I had just completed a task that should have been done. Back in the summer of June 2011, I wanted to change my light fixture in my basements' music room to something more contemporary. I had looked at some lighting and decided to go with a few options. When I got the lighting I wasn't quite sure about it and ultimately decided with a more traditional yet sleek model. The track lighting I had gotten for the basement didn't suit the room. I decided to put it in the kitchen. So after I got the wiring done in the kitchen (shout out to Vic Fub for the wiring) I was all set to put the track lights up. I decided to put it on the back burner.
 I had a light on the hood of the stove so I figured that I could get by. The stove light was ok but by no means did it do the kitchen justice. Weeks went by then months followed. I continued using the stove light eventually getting used to it. My family was used to it. It was cool. No big deal. Fast forward. Six months later. We had gone through summer, fall and now the dead of winter. I decide that Im going to finally put the track lighting up. I had went to the Home Depot in my area and gotten some advice. I set out to fix the problem! When I got home I looked at the light and decided "I'll do it tomorrow" which turned into the next day and then the next week.
Well...here we are January 2012. I finally decide this is going to be the day. I gathered the pieces, I located my drill, the drill bit for walls and I proceed to install the light.
I started getting upset because before I started I thought that this light was so complex and there was no way I would be able to put it up without causing severe damage to myself or others. But as I continued to put the light together I realized the light was not difficult to put together at all. As a matter of fact, it got so easy from placing the  strip lights on the track to drilling holes in the ceiling to mounting the toggle bolts in place, that I felt invincible!
Then the moment of truth came... I hit the switch and BAM! The light lit up the kitchen like the 4th of July! I was amazed! I stared in awe of what I had accomplished. You couldn't tell me anything! I was the man! Stuck my chest out prided by my work. I had conquered the ultimate mountain! I just watched it. Looked around. watched it. Looked around. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. I had just completed a task in about 40 minutes. My smile slowly turned to anger and disgust. You see, though I had accomplished this task, I had turned a forty minute task into a procrastination project that took over six months to complete. I had gotten so used to the old drab lighting that my dysfunctional kitchen offered that I had completely lost sight of what could have been. I had squinted so much that it was normal and never once did I question the source. I just looked at it as if it was no big deal. But guess what?? It WAS!!!
As you move through your circumstance, please understand that some of the things that have happened to you are a result of the fact that you have "put them off" til a better time has presented itself. The problem is that as you wait for the opportune time, you adjust to the "darkness" and become complacent in it. There are situations that require your immediate attention yet you wait until it turns into a daunting task. My task took me six months but some people have been procrastinating for YEARS!!! Can you imagine going through your whole life in darkness when you had the power and the option to turn on the light and see the ENTIRE time? I implore you to reconsider.
Whatever your waiting on or whatever is keeping you from your destiny, find within yourself the strength to overcome your fear or laziness. Remember your best life is waiting for you. It always has been. It's sitting there ready to shine. -A. Brown