failing failure is something everyone in here will avoid at all costs it’s the
here will avoid at all costs it’s the
here will avoid at all costs it’s the reason for buyer’s remorse it’s the
reason for buyer’s remorse it’s the
reason for buyer’s remorse it’s the reason we dread bad hair days it’s the
reason we dread bad hair days it’s the
reason we dread bad hair days it’s the reason we ask that impossible question
reason we ask that impossible question
reason we ask that impossible question do these jeans make me look fat I can
do these jeans make me look fat I can
do these jeans make me look fat I can honestly say that there have been plenty
honestly say that there have been plenty
honestly say that there have been plenty of times in my life where failure
of times in my life where failure
of times in my life where failure actually has flown me forward into new
actually has flown me forward into new
actually has flown me forward into new opportunities new ways of seeing the
opportunities new ways of seeing the
opportunities new ways of seeing the world new ways of thinking I’ve I can
world new ways of thinking I’ve I can
world new ways of thinking I’ve I can say this as someone who’s learned to
say this as someone who’s learned to
say this as someone who’s learned to embrace failure as a way to move forward
embrace failure as a way to move forward
embrace failure as a way to move forward I see failure as part of all of our life
I see failure as part of all of our life
I see failure as part of all of our life experiences it’s just part of what we do
experiences it’s just part of what we do
experiences it’s just part of what we do we all experience failure at some point
we all experience failure at some point
we all experience failure at some point so maybe we’re looking at this failure
so maybe we’re looking at this failure
so maybe we’re looking at this failure thing the wrong way
thing the wrong way
thing the wrong way I’ve learned to embrace failure by being
I’ve learned to embrace failure by being
I’ve learned to embrace failure by being comfortable making mistakes that’s why
comfortable making mistakes that’s why
comfortable making mistakes that’s why I’m here doing this failure doesn’t
I’m here doing this failure doesn’t
I’m here doing this failure doesn’t always feel good it never feels good at
always feel good it never feels good at
always feel good it never feels good at first but after a gallon of ice cream
first but after a gallon of ice cream
first but after a gallon of ice cream and a lot of Tears I take the time to
and a lot of Tears I take the time to
and a lot of Tears I take the time to reflect and that’s when the magic
reflect and that’s when the magic
reflect and that’s when the magic happens I realized that I’ve made
happens I realized that I’ve made
happens I realized that I’ve made families mistakes before and the world
families mistakes before and the world
families mistakes before and the world didn’t stop spinning I’ve learned that
didn’t stop spinning I’ve learned that
didn’t stop spinning I’ve learned that there’s always a new direction when I
there’s always a new direction when I
there’s always a new direction when I was a teen growing up I had a dream of
was a teen growing up I had a dream of
was a teen growing up I had a dream of being a best-selling novelist and
being a best-selling novelist and
being a best-selling novelist and teaching out of New York College and
teaching out of New York College and
teaching out of New York College and living in a chic Manhattan apartment
living in a chic Manhattan apartment
living in a chic Manhattan apartment this great dream right well life had
this great dream right well life had
this great dream right well life had other plans for me in the 20 years after
other plans for me in the 20 years after
other plans for me in the 20 years after that I got married twice I got divorced
that I got married twice I got divorced
that I got married twice I got divorced twice and I had two great kids some
twice and I had two great kids some
twice and I had two great kids some people might see that road map and think
people might see that road map and think
people might see that road map and think what a bunch of failures but I don’t see
what a bunch of failures but I don’t see
what a bunch of failures but I don’t see it that way I see myself as family
it that way I see myself as family
it that way I see myself as family forward with intention
when I was about 40 years old I lost a
when I was about 40 years old I lost a friend who was close to my age and it
friend who was close to my age and it
friend who was close to my age and it kind of hit me hard being aware of your
kind of hit me hard being aware of your
kind of hit me hard being aware of your own what mortality can do that because
own what mortality can do that because
own what mortality can do that because we go through our days not thinking
we go through our days not thinking
we go through our days not thinking about that right so I decided to tackle
about that right so I decided to tackle
about that right so I decided to tackle a bucket list item and ride the tail of
a bucket list item and ride the tail of
a bucket list item and ride the tail of the dragon that on my motorcycle the
the dragon that on my motorcycle the
the dragon that on my motorcycle the tail of the dragon is an 11 mile stretch
tail of the dragon is an 11 mile stretch
tail of the dragon is an 11 mile stretch of road between Tennessee and North
of road between Tennessee and North
of road between Tennessee and North Carolina in the Smoky Mountains there
Carolina in the Smoky Mountains there
Carolina in the Smoky Mountains there are no guardrails no safety bars no
are no guardrails no safety bars no
are no guardrails no safety bars no guarantee that you’ll get through it
guarantee that you’ll get through it
guarantee that you’ll get through it without getting hurt or worse I was
without getting hurt or worse I was
without getting hurt or worse I was worried about it cuz I was still a
worried about it cuz I was still a
worried about it cuz I was still a relatively new driver but my brother
relatively new driver but my brother
relatively new driver but my brother just told me write it in your own way
just told me write it in your own way
just told me write it in your own way don’t listen to what other people have
don’t listen to what other people have
don’t listen to what other people have to say so that morning we started up the
to say so that morning we started up the
to say so that morning we started up the mountain and those turns started
mountain and those turns started
mountain and those turns started immediately about halfway through I
immediately about halfway through I
immediately about halfway through I started to realize how physically
started to realize how physically
started to realize how physically difficult it was going to be taking one
difficult it was going to be taking one
difficult it was going to be taking one turn after the next after the next my
turn after the next after the next my
turn after the next after the next my eyes wandered off to the side of the
eyes wandered off to the side of the
eyes wandered off to the side of the road into the woods and for a split
road into the woods and for a split
road into the woods and for a split second I thought about what would happen
second I thought about what would happen
second I thought about what would happen if I go off the side of the road and
if I go off the side of the road and
if I go off the side of the road and before I knew it there I was on the
before I knew it there I was on the
before I knew it there I was on the wrong side of the road heading to some
wrong side of the road heading to some
wrong side of the road heading to some trees and then I remembered something
trees and then I remembered something
trees and then I remembered something else my brother told me keep your eyes
else my brother told me keep your eyes
else my brother told me keep your eyes on the road
so I turn my head and now I’m back out
so I turn my head and now I’m back out of the turn safely again yeah right so
of the turn safely again yeah right so
of the turn safely again yeah right so simple keep your attention to what’s
simple keep your attention to what’s
simple keep your attention to what’s right here right now don’t worry about
right here right now don’t worry about
right here right now don’t worry about the what-ifs and the catastrophes those
the what-ifs and the catastrophes those
the what-ifs and the catastrophes those things haven’t happened yet it’s just
things haven’t happened yet it’s just
things haven’t happened yet it’s just not worth it so needless to say I
not worth it so needless to say I
not worth it so needless to say I survived and I only did it the one time
survived and I only did it the one time
survived and I only did it the one time my brother went up in 2000 more times
my brother went up in 2000 more times
my brother went up in 2000 more times that day I was just happy doing it once
that day I was just happy doing it once
that day I was just happy doing it once I was still processing my near-miss with
I was still processing my near-miss with
I was still processing my near-miss with those trees the next day we decided to
those trees the next day we decided to
those trees the next day we decided to go on the chera hole a Skyway it’s a
go on the chera hole a Skyway it’s a
go on the chera hole a Skyway it’s a mile high scenic route Road in the Smoky
mile high scenic route Road in the Smoky
mile high scenic route Road in the Smoky Mountains also I’m in the front because
Mountains also I’m in the front because
Mountains also I’m in the front because I’m the new rider and my brother is
I’m the new rider and my brother is
I’m the new rider and my brother is behind me and we’re riding along and all
behind me and we’re riding along and all
behind me and we’re riding along and all of a sudden I see a bear standing in the
of a sudden I see a bear standing in the
of a sudden I see a bear standing in the road he’s big I mean he’s on all fours
road he’s big I mean he’s on all fours
road he’s big I mean he’s on all fours and he’s like this tall so he looks up
and he’s like this tall so he looks up
and he’s like this tall so he looks up at me cuz he hears my bike coming and I
at me cuz he hears my bike coming and I
at me cuz he hears my bike coming and I look back at my brother and I pointed
look back at my brother and I pointed
look back at my brother and I pointed that furry monster in the road and he
that furry monster in the road and he
that furry monster in the road and he says it’s okay keep going so I
says it’s okay keep going so I
says it’s okay keep going so I approached slowly and I immediately
approached slowly and I immediately
approached slowly and I immediately imagine this bears gonna get up on his
imagine this bears gonna get up on his
imagine this bears gonna get up on his hind legs and let on a resounding roar
hind legs and let on a resounding roar
hind legs and let on a resounding roar and swipe me off the mountain with one
and swipe me off the mountain with one
and swipe me off the mountain with one of his enormous paw so I keep coming and
of his enormous paw so I keep coming and
of his enormous paw so I keep coming and he only lets me get within a few feet
he only lets me get within a few feet
he only lets me get within a few feet sure enough he just turns and goes off
sure enough he just turns and goes off
sure enough he just turns and goes off back in the woods we stopped at the next
back in the woods we stopped at the next
back in the woods we stopped at the next scenic overlook down the road and the
scenic overlook down the road and the
scenic overlook down the road and the view was spectacular I mean we’re a mile
view was spectacular I mean we’re a mile
view was spectacular I mean we’re a mile up but I didn’t notice at first I was so
up but I didn’t notice at first I was so
up but I didn’t notice at first I was so excited I yanked off my helmet and I was
excited I yanked off my helmet and I was
excited I yanked off my helmet and I was shouting wow did you see that there was
shouting wow did you see that there was
shouting wow did you see that there was a real bear in the road I thought I was
a real bear in the road I thought I was
a real bear in the road I thought I was gonna die and my brother just laughed at
gonna die and my brother just laughed at
gonna die and my brother just laughed at me and he said yeah but you did it
me and he said yeah but you did it
me and he said yeah but you did it it makes me think sometimes we just need
it makes me think sometimes we just need
it makes me think sometimes we just need to slow down the progress and see the
to slow down the progress and see the
to slow down the progress and see the obstacles ahead for what they really are
obstacles ahead for what they really are
obstacles ahead for what they really are sometimes they’re not even obstacles at
sometimes they’re not even obstacles at
sometimes they’re not even obstacles at all a few years after that
all a few years after that
all a few years after that I switched gears and became more of an
I switched gears and became more of an
I switched gears and became more of an online adventurer I started playing a
online adventurer I started playing a
online adventurer I started playing a game called world of warcraft I guess
game called world of warcraft I guess
game called world of warcraft I guess some of you know what that is for those
some of you know what that is for those
some of you know what that is for those of you who don’t it’s an MMO RPG which
of you who don’t it’s an MMO RPG which
of you who don’t it’s an MMO RPG which stands for a massively multiplayer
stands for a massively multiplayer
stands for a massively multiplayer online role-playing game it’s a virtual
online role-playing game it’s a virtual
online role-playing game it’s a virtual 3d world where you play an avatar in a
3d world where you play an avatar in a
3d world where you play an avatar in a fantasy setting and you’re alongside
fantasy setting and you’re alongside
fantasy setting and you’re alongside millions of other people from all over
millions of other people from all over
millions of other people from all over the world so it was a diversion that
the world so it was a diversion that
the world so it was a diversion that became an obsession for me I spent a lot
became an obsession for me I spent a lot
became an obsession for me I spent a lot of my free time on it so much so that I
of my free time on it so much so that I
of my free time on it so much so that I joined an online group called a guild so
joined an online group called a guild so
joined an online group called a guild so I could play bigger quests and get lots
I could play bigger quests and get lots
I could play bigger quests and get lots of loot but these class could require
of loot but these class could require
of loot but these class could require the coordination of 25 people so we had
the coordination of 25 people so we had
the coordination of 25 people so we had to talk to each other inside the game in
to talk to each other inside the game in
to talk to each other inside the game in real time one night I hear this
real time one night I hear this
real time one night I hear this Australian guy talking in the background
Australian guy talking in the background
Australian guy talking in the background so I was really excited because not just
so I was really excited because not just
so I was really excited because not just because of the accent he had a nice bass
because of the accent he had a nice bass
because of the accent he had a nice bass sound to his voice and I’m a child of
sound to his voice and I’m a child of
sound to his voice and I’m a child of the 70s so I immediately thought Barry
the 70s so I immediately thought Barry
the 70s so I immediately thought Barry White it was really funny because to me
White it was really funny because to me
White it was really funny because to me he was playing a female alien that was
he was playing a female alien that was
he was playing a female alien that was really small and truth be told I was
really small and truth be told I was
really small and truth be told I was playing a seven-foot night off for a
playing a seven-foot night off for a
playing a seven-foot night off for a really long purple hair so like I said
really long purple hair so like I said
really long purple hair so like I said it was a fantasy game so pretty soon he
it was a fantasy game so pretty soon he
it was a fantasy game so pretty soon he and I start talking and those became
and I start talking and those became
and I start talking and those became cell phone calls and Skype sessions and
cell phone calls and Skype sessions and
cell phone calls and Skype sessions and about six months later I decide I’m
about six months later I decide I’m
about six months later I decide I’m gonna go meet this guy in person now I
gonna go meet this guy in person now I
gonna go meet this guy in person now I left out an important detail he’s really
left out an important detail he’s really
left out an important detail he’s really in Australia 10,000 miles away in
in Australia 10,000 miles away in
in Australia 10,000 miles away in another hemisphere so I grabbed my
another hemisphere so I grabbed my
another hemisphere so I grabbed my passport and I decided I’m gonna get on
passport and I decided I’m gonna get on
passport and I decided I’m gonna get on a plane and go meet him for the first
a plane and go meet him for the first
a plane and go meet him for the first time my friends were like are you nuts
time my friends were like are you nuts
time my friends were like are you nuts what kind of middle-aged women woman
what kind of middle-aged women woman
what kind of middle-aged women woman gets on a plane travels 24 hours to go
gets on a plane travels 24 hours to go
gets on a plane travels 24 hours to go to the other side of the world to meet
to the other side of the world to meet
to the other side of the world to meet some guy for the first time
I go and and it was good
I go and and it was good fast-forward to the present um Alan and
fast-forward to the present um Alan and
fast-forward to the present um Alan and I actually got married and we’ve been
I actually got married and we’ve been
I actually got married and we’ve been married for six years now I’m sure when
married for six years now I’m sure when
married for six years now I’m sure when you see this on YouTube he’s gonna be
you see this on YouTube he’s gonna be
you see this on YouTube he’s gonna be really embarrassed um but I’ve learned
really embarrassed um but I’ve learned
really embarrassed um but I’ve learned to be comfortable with making mistakes I
to be comfortable with making mistakes I
to be comfortable with making mistakes I always learn something every time from
always learn something every time from
always learn something every time from every mistake I’ve ever made and failing
every mistake I’ve ever made and failing
every mistake I’ve ever made and failing forward just takes you into a new
forward just takes you into a new
forward just takes you into a new direction it’s a detour it’s not the end
direction it’s a detour it’s not the end
direction it’s a detour it’s not the end of the world
of the world
of the world I always dust myself off after making a
I always dust myself off after making a
I always dust myself off after making a mistake and I look around there’s always
mistake and I look around there’s always
mistake and I look around there’s always a new direction it might not be what I
a new direction it might not be what I
a new direction it might not be what I expected it might even be the most
expected it might even be the most
expected it might even be the most difficult thing I have to do but I do it
difficult thing I have to do but I do it
difficult thing I have to do but I do it it’s a it’s a it’s a new direction that
it’s a it’s a it’s a new direction that
it’s a it’s a it’s a new direction that I didn’t think of what I personally
I didn’t think of what I personally
I didn’t think of what I personally challenge all of you today to think
challenge all of you today to think
challenge all of you today to think about is that failure is really progress
about is that failure is really progress
about is that failure is really progress in disguise thank you for sharing this
in disguise thank you for sharing this
in disguise thank you for sharing this time with
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