I wrote recently about how sometimes I need to stand alone.  Others, for a number of reasons, are not available to assist me.  A true test of who I am.
But it occurred to me that sometimes others can actually be against me.
I have seen this in families who may have been successful.  One kid does not want to follow in the footsteps of running the family business.  They just do not have drive in that direction.  The drive may be some pursuit that does not make heaps of money.  Maybe a select few make a living in their pursuit, but for most it is a drive of passion rather than a drive to make a kazillion dollars. 
I read of one guy who was a successful businessman, but unhappy.  He took a different position (not as high profile and what to some would be regarded as a “lowly” job) suited to their temperament.  They had never been happier.
Not only can my motivation be misunderstood, but people who do not know me may be looking for me to fall.  We are famous for it in this country.  The “tall poppy” syndrome.  It is so easy to justify my lack of success by pointing to others who have attempted something different, and it has come unstuck.  There seems to be solace found in the familiar.
I have mentioned before how fleas were placed in a sealed bottle.  The fleas jumped to the lid and no further.  After a while it was possible to remove the lid and the fleas continued to jump only to the height of the previous limitation.  Freedom may beckon, but the security of the known has to be left behind.
A key for me is doing something because it is in my heart to do.  As is so often said it is better to try something and fail, than to try nothing and succeed.  Failure to me is to not give it another go.  I will always care and love, and I will always pursue my heart’s desire.
There will be those with me and those against me.  No matter.  When I want it and know it is right for me, I do it anyway.

I hear it so often, “I just want to be heard.”
One of the things I remember most distinctly when I headed an organization was someone saying to me “I just wanted to let you know what I am thinking.  What you do with it is up to you. “
I felt my role was to do such things in my job.  I was responsible for letting the boss know, on a monthly basis, the state of play of our operation.  I felt big time my role was to tell it like it was.  Sometimes that meant sharing good news and at other times it was not so good news.  The content was less my concern then stating the facts.  My role I felt was simply to let those who make decisions know how things were so that responsible decisions could be made.  I was not there to say what someone wanted to hear but to say how it was.
I was reminded of this by something I read in yesterday’s James Clear email.  To me this sort of thinking applies to me. “The thing to focus on is the pattern. If you hear something once, don't let it wreck your mindset. There are many ways to view the world and not everyone will agree with your approach.
But if you're hearing something repeatedly, think carefully about whether the feedback is right."
As I have indicated before, everyone’s voice is important but not everyone’s voice need be acted upon.  The important thing to me is to approach matters sensibly.  If I close my ears to everything and insist my way is the only way I will potentially miss out.  By the same token if I follow all I am told I can easily lose sight of my goal.
To me taking things onboard matters.  That does not mean I do everything that anyone says.  It does mean though that I listen.  So often the right way is a combination of ideas.  Ignore and I may miss out.  Do everything and I may miss out.
But one constant always remains.  Listen.

Thank you for the birthday wishes.  I am settling in to being this age.  If you had of asked me my age a few days ago I would have given a different answer. 
But the clock has ticked over.  What was inconceivable to me at 20 has happened.  It is now the present reality.  This is me in real time.
I do like birthdays for the presents.  Ok I had dreams of giving gifts on my birthday.  Not stuff I went out and bought but acts of kindness.  Sort of reversing things to make a birthday a time to give rather than receive.
Nice thought.  I did that.  But I got stuff too.  Win win I reckon.
And it goes on.  My bro is coming from the Sunshine Coast today for lunch with us for my birthday.  Plus he is bringing a present.  Ok he asked if I wanted anything from my favourite bookstore.  I told him what book I would like, and he was getting that.
As someone I know said, people coming is a good chance to clear up.  That is what we are doing today.  I mentioned to Merril I feel like a 7/11 man today.  If we start around 7 to when my bro arrives at 11 we will get stuff we want to get done done.
But I do refuse to get carried away.  Stuff we want to do is stuff we wanted to do anyway.  Well some of it.  There is other stuff, but I reckon we should let that stuff mature.  That is really hard for me to say – NOT.
So I have had my birthday now.  Someone at some point was asking when in the year my birthday was.  I had given three dates but someone was onto me.
I am gaining momentum.   Soon I will be rushing headlong into my blankety blank year.