Start Kicking

I recall reading a story once. This woman was driving and got caught in a freak snow storm. The snow was so bad, that she had to pull over and shelter in place. It snowed for a little more than 24 hours. Turning her car on and off to get heat, she finally ran out of gas. She thought she better stay in the car and help would find her way to her. It didn’t. After the second night of being cold, alone, and hungry, she left her car and started walking.

The night was quickly approaching and she was not sure where she was. She walked faster and saw a sign for the next town, which was almost 10 miles away. As she continued her walk, she saw a cabin half way up a small mountain, and thought she could reach that before night fall. She made her way towards it. When she got through the tree line, she would have to cross a small body of running water to make the cabin. She went for it, thinking it would be worth the risk. Finally, she made the cabin. Boarded up and no one home.

We’ve all been screwed before. But wait, there’s more. She had to turn around and make her way back to the road. Cold, alone, hungry, and now wet…in the dark, she got to the water. She tried to cross where she entered the water earlier in the day. But with night fall, no such luck. Two steps into the water, she fell and broke her ankle. Screaming and crying with no one to hear her. She got herself out of the water and rested her back on a tree. She had a decision to make. Guess what? She grabbed a stick and slowly made her way not only to the road, but all the way to the next town. That was almost 10 miles. She was in bad shape, but she was alive. After 2 days in the hospital, she was in the comfort of her own home. She didn’t give up…

People don’t drown because they fall into the water. They drown because they stay there. Some of you are in the water right now. You have a decision to make. Sink or swim. I know it is not that easy. In fact, it will be hard as Hell. But you do have a choice. So, start kicking.