A great deal of my body of work focuses on exploring possibilities. Quite often, we have the drive and desire and certainly the commitment. But we lack the plan.
We explore the possibilities so that we can craft the best plan.
Focusing on what is truly possible is perhaps one of the most important things we can do in order to live our lives as fully as possible.
Remarkable stories abound of people that defy the odds and go on an incredible journey beyond any boundaries that were imagined. For all of us, because of the velocity of change in the world today, the skill of being able to fluidly go from here to there is what will in fact take us anywhere we wish to go. This is the true meaning of resilience.
One such story is British author, the late Dick Francis. Because his later in life season showcased his skill as a superb storyteller, it would be easy to overlook how he came to that place in his journey.
I discovered him many years ago. I was a young single Mom that loved a great story and he certainly delivered. He authored 40+ books and I proudly have them all in my personal library, including those that he began co-authoring with his son, Felix before his death. His stories were full of rich characters, intriguing plots and breath-taking endings, each meticulously researched by he and his wife, Mary. You felt as if you were being taken on a private journey with him through every story.
What bears notice is that this was in fact his second career. His first was as a horseman. A renowned and gifted jockey, he was lauded in those circles for many years.
What brought him from horses to stories? Life. Injuries, age, family – all the things that happen. So how did he do it? All of his stories were set in the world he knew so well. The world of horse-racing. The people, the places, the horses. Those pictures he painted literally came off the pages. But inter-laced were new things. New places. New characters. And always intrigue.
He had always loved a story. He transported himself from the horses to his next place in life through story-telling. It is a wonderful example of how resilience serves us as we migrate through life.
When we go from here to there, we take who we are and what we know. We use it in a different way but it remains with us. There is a comfort in that. By approaching life from this perspective, we can literally go anywhere.
The video shared below is a clip from the Memorial Service that honored him. Listen well and hear his story. Then live your own adventure. The possibilities are endless.
And never forget that there is always more value from the rest of your own story than you ever dreamed possible.
Live today like you want tomorrow to be. Live well.
About Kathi Laughman
