A week ago we had a beautiful evening here in St. Louis. It was dry for once and the temperature was holding in the 50's. Spring was peeking through, it was a perfect night to build a fire in the pit in the backyard. Over the past two years that I have lived in this home I have had several trees brought down by Mother Nature so I have plenty of wood. It was going to be a perfect night to burn through some of that old shade and enjoy some red wine, good music on the outdoor speakers and a little time to think.
What came to mind was most interesting. I found myself watching the fire and flames climb. My fire making skills represent my years as a cub scout, not a boy scout so it always takes me a little longer than it should to get the fire going. I know the "teepee" trick and so I implemented that along with a few pieces of junk mail to be my ignitor. The fire would ebb and flow. Sometimes it was a roaring fire, then it would die down to a very low flame. When I mixed up the timbers and logs it would ignite again.
This reminded me of people and their careers.
At some point someone lights a fire underneath you. Maybe it was your parents, maybe it was the fact that you needed to pay rent, maybe you just have that internal drive...but a fire is lit. Just like the flame your career climbs. You keep reaching for the stars. Finding your way higher and higher. When combined with other flames (other people) the two seem to get better, bigger, stronger. This was collaboration. The flame seemed destined to own the fire pit, the office, the city. But then, there was no where else to go. The flame had climbed to the pinnacle of the log. And with that the flame started to lose some of its steam. There was no more drive as there was no more to conquer on this path.
Then, out of nowhere comes this outside force. In this case, rearranging the firepit. New logs, unburned logs were now touching smoldering flames. The flames saw new opportunity. Many of them went for it. Burning brighter again. Sometimes even brighter than they had ever experienced before. The cycle repeated itself. Flames joined forces with new flames to form bigger and better flames that devoured the logs faster and faster. Then, again...seemingly nowhere to go.
"This is so much like life" I thought. People (me included) have so much passion, desire, drive to be the best then over time it seems that the best didn't get you where you thought it would. All of a sudden, something happens. Life is shaken up a bit. Maybe you did it on your own, maybe someone did it for you, maybe the environment just changed and there was a new opportunity just waiting to be "burned".
When you are burning up the track, reaching higher and higher, don't forget to look for that next opportunity that may look like it is taking you off track. It may take you higher than you ever thought you could go. Remember, fires would burn out before burning through all of the wood if no one was there to shake it up a bit. Be your own outside force, or don't be afraid when someone else is that force in your life - it may help you to your new path.
Serge
SergeTraylor.com
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