By Paul Abraham of www.headingonwards.com
There’s always a reason not to do something. The truth is for many of us, life can be hard at times, but this is when we have to dig deep and push forward.
We have to move forward away from our comfort zone and create solutions where none seem to exist.
Author JK Rowling was a single parent when she wrote the Harry Potter novels. Not only that, but she had to face being turned down by countless publishers before one would believe in her. It would have been much easier for her to have said: “I’m a single mum, I just don’t have the money or time to do this.” But she didn’t.
And where is she now? A billionaaire fulfilling her life’s ambitions of being one of the most successful authors of all time.
Yes, it is harder if you are a single parent or have challenging family commitments, but there is a big difference between “harder” and impossible.
You have to do whatever it takes and don’t give up or your dreams and ambitions.
Find another single mum or dad to share childcare with, work nights, find something you can do working from home in the first instance.
Whatever you do, it probably won’t be what you want to do but it’s not supposed to be, it’s supposed to be a stepping stone to get you where you want to go. Many people have different type of family commitments and obligations. Parents want the best for their children, but this can often mean pushing them down a path that isn’t for them.
How many people do you know who are in careers because at some point in their life they thought it would please their parents, partner, career teacher or society?
We have to be true to ourselves whilst managing those obstacles sensitively. Explain and prove to those that you love that following your own path doesn’t mean a life of debauchery or destitution.
OK, you may not do the Ph.D or become a doctor, but you’re going to be happy and fulfilled and ultimately that’s all any parent wants – even if they can’t always see it at the time.
Then there’s the age-old excuse of … age. Too young or too old.
Jordan Romero was nine years old when he climbed Mount Kilimanjaro.
Colonel Sanders was 40 before he started cooking his famous chicken – out of his dining room! And it wasn’t until he was 65 that he started franchising one of the world’s most famous fast food restaurants in KFC.
You can always find an excuse, but you can always find an inspiration too.
If man can land on the moon, there’s not much you can’t do once you’ve made your mind up and moved from talking about it to actually doing it. Follow your dream and keep going!