Greetings from the rainy Southeast, USA.
I had a thought this morning. By the way, nothing clears the mind like a stupid and utterly pointless workout with cinder blocks, rainy weather, and running.
You should try it some time ; )
For some reason during this ordeal the movie Gattaca1 came to mind. Do you remember that movie? In case you don’t, I'll do my best to give a spoiler free highlight.
The setting was sometime in the future. Rich humans were able to select genetic traits for themselves and their progeny, almost ensuring successful lives. Poor humans on the other hand were forced to make do with the genetics they inherited the old fashion way.
There are two characters in the story who have a competition that involves taking a swim in the ocean. The rules are really easy; start swimming, the first one to turn around loses.
Well to no one’s surprise, the genetically curated human is victorious most of the time. Then one day, he loses. Shocked, he asks the old fashioned human, “How did you do it?”
The response:
What a stirring realization of what it could take, maybe what it will take…
It brings up memories of historical generals who would order the burning of bridges and boats behind their soldiers so that they had no option but to move forward.
So, with those two examples firmly in place, here’s the question: What bridges should you be burning?
Before you can do what you want to do, you first have to get through a whole sequence of things you should be doing.
The longer it takes to complete the ‘shoulds’ the longer it’ll take to fulfill your desire. Well most of the time anyway…I mean, luck happens.
Here’s a personal example. We want to replace a staircase handrail in our house. What should we be doing in order to make that happen?
Taking measurements
Ordering the parts
Learning how in the world to do this
Cutting
Drilling
Glueing
Our son was the original fire starter, he broke the handrail, the cost of the repair set the fire ablaze.
We’ve left the burning bridge behind and are venturing into the brand new world of woodworking.
Perhaps you don’t have an example easily available, if that’s the case, then you may have to manufacture some type of situation to get you moving.
Where can you make a choice and then make it almost impossible to go back?
Are there bridges you should be burning?
Gattaca,Niccol Andrew, 1997
"Don't burn your bridges" is often given as sound advice, but sometimes it's exactly what you need to do! The obvious example for me is my first wife (now ex-wife); that relationship was toxic to the core and it was a bridge that I needed to burn! There are others; when I got sober I needed to "burn the bridges" with my old drinking buddies. Some stayed friends, but there were some I realized all we really had in common was drinking.
I'm sure everyone has very similar examples.
Some bridges must be burned to move forward in life; otherwise, you'll remain forever tied to and stuck in the past.