The Few

Ikigai lessons from an unlikely source.

The ‘Slide for Life’ pictured above is two stories above a pool of water.

I haven't done this in a long time.

A conversation with a friend sparked this memory and inspired me to share it this morning spontaneously. Here goes.

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Early on my Ikigai Quest…

It was a rare cold misting day in San Diego, where they were 'making Marines.'

We were on what is called the 'Confidence Course.’ An obstacle course where overcoming physical challenges instilled confidence in us.

It scared the stuffing out of me. I was climbing these telephone poles rubbed smooth by the climbing of thousands of Marines over the years.

They were also wet from the mist and extraordinarily slick. I was on a cross beam well above the ground and had to reach out and jump to the next.

I was high up, and as I said, it was slick, and the subsequent cross bean seemed 20 ft away. I hesitated for just a second, and boom! There was a Drill Instructor 'motivating me.'

I jumped.

I still recall the feeling. "I made it!" I said to myself as I held on to that slick pole.

I was literally never the same after that.

That day I erased years of fears, doubt, and failure.

After that point, each time I was pushed beyond what I thought I could do, I’d find the inner strength to do it.

They say not everyone can become one of 'The Few and the Proud,' which is true.

I believe everyone can do and be more than they realize, becoming part of the ‘few’ that live their, Ikigai. Thankfully not everyone needs Marine Corps Boot Camp to come to realize it.

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Reflection:

What do you need?