It’s Tuesday morning, and I’ve been up and going for hours.
No brag. Just fact.
I’m not sure what this day is supposed to produce.
But I do know what I’m thinking and hearing.
I’m tuning into those voices that speak – and tuning is important!
All are changing me today.
It’s those voices on the inside – echoing through the years.
No condemnation or regret. Just Wisdom. Direction. Choices.
Warning’s for the Gotchas. Walk the narrow path, and avoid the broad way.
No matter who, what, or when they speak: “Let’s do life better.”
Those voices from my past are speaking to me.
Family, Friends, Teachers, Coaches, Mentors, and Preachers.
The words, thoughts, messages, encouragement, and admonishment.
They are not a pile but a well; I draw from their deep.
The names grow fuzzy, and the lessons are faded.
But the depth of the words hung on, showing me to me.
I remember the personal voice of some that helped me grow.
And the directional changes I’ve made because they spoke so clearly.
I am who I am because I’ve heard, listened, and grown.
Not all voices I heeded effectively, but I’ve never ignored the words.
The voices lay out a direction, and I choose what’s most important.
I am, after all, plain ol’ me. I want to be the best “me” that “me” knows how.
Maybe I didn’t catch the drift. Distracted, I go another way.
Or I failed to comprehend the importance of the words.
Back then. Yesterday. Yesteryear. In my youth and young adult age.
Even now, I’m confounded to hear present voices speaking words of nuggets.
But today? Right now? Are you anything like me?
Those voices are speaking as clearly today as though I heard last Sunday.
Across the miles and through the years, they raise a sound for me.
Again, I get to make a choice. Are they important enough to listen to again?
Can I give you a hint? A secret way to think this through?
Though books and songs are upgraded because the language doesn’t fit our time,
The words I choose to hold onto are those eternal sounds
That needs no changing with the times. Timeless messages work all the time.
Find your voices, and repeatedly groom the sounds you choose to hear.
Drop the sounds that don’t help you grow. They are jangling your mind loose.
You’ll never become your best if your mind is out of focus.
Through the weeds of noise, trace that sound that feeds you best.
My bride and I love to hear the old songs we grew up with.
We have a few common threads. There’s something to hear from each of us.
Uniquely, we like to share. But then we each have something special.
It speaks to us individually. Not for the other. Those earlier voices are mine.
The voices you choose to hear will speak to you so uniquely.
Listen and learn. Grow and become. It’s never too late.