We all have a unique mindset and outlook on life. 

It’s what builds our character, forges our attitude and drives our behavior. 

It’s what makes us, us.

It’s honestly one of the most beautiful things about this life — in all of its glory, shame, and obscurity. 

It gives us the strength we need when waking up each morning, and peace of mind when falling asleep each night. 

It’s. Simply. Beautiful.

Sure, some of us have the ‘right’ mindset, while others have the wrong ‘outlook.’ Some of us have a ‘good’ attitude, while others have ‘bad’ behavior. 

But it’s not about being right or wrong. And it’s not about being good or bad. 

It’s about being better. Every single fucking day. To the point it never stops. 

It’s about making an honest effort to learn a little more about yourself — and your surroundings — than you knew yesterday. 

It’s about finding your passion — your staple. That thing only you can provide this planet with. 

It’s about being you.

Unfortunately, most people don’t chase after what they truly want in life.

Some people aren’t chasing the right thing, some don’t know how to chase, some aren’t ready to chase and some are simply too lazy to chase. 

Trust me, I know — because I used to be all four. 

My entire life I knew I loved to write. I started writing for fun in the 7th grade and it quickly grew into a daily necessity. 

I remember the first poetry contest I won in 2009 — I was so fucking proud of myself. 

I remember the poem I wrote for a hunger project in high school that was read at a charity event for homeless people.

I remember the long nights I would spend just writing — sometimes about nothing, other times about everything. 

Writing was one of the few things I absolutely loved doing, and the only thing I couldn’t get enough of. Yet, once I graduated high school, what did I pursue? What did I chase?

Architecture. 

Not writing, but architecture. 

It took me two weeks to realize that architecture wasn’t what I wanted out of life. I dropped out of college after one year — and then what did I do? 

Framing — I went from wanting to design homes to building them. 

Not writing, but framing.

Then I moved over to retail for a few years, running a kiosk at the mall, housekeeping, managing a gym, I mean the list goes on. 

Of course, the one thing not on that list? 

Writing.

I didn’t know what I was doing. I didn’t think I was ready to pursue a writing career. At times I was just flat-out lazy. 

Ultimately, I was chasing everything except the one thing I was supposed to be chasing.

I wasn’t chasing what I wanted in life, but I loved settling for the next best thing. 

Why is that?

I know I can’t speak for everyone, but for me it was my mindset — my outlook. 

I always viewed being a writer as a dream of mine, but I never made it a goal and therefore had no real reason to chase it. As long as it stayed a dream, that’s all it was ever going to be.

I knew how to dream. I was good at it. 

I knew how to set goals and achieve them. I was good at that, too.

But, oh boy, did I suck at setting (and achieving) the right goals. 

Looking back at my life, I never dreamed about managing the backroom of Bath & Body Works, but it quickly became a goal of mine once they hired me as a seasonal stock associate. 

Eventually, they gave me that promotion I had worked so hard for. 

I never dreamed about working in the fitness industry, but the moment I was hired as a part-time housekeeper at David Barton Gym, I made it a goal to one day be named General Manager. 

After two and a half years, that happened. 

I always dreamed about making a career out of writing, but I never made it a goal. As a result, I had never really accomplished much with my writing until 2019. 

Somewhere along the way, I started to observe, and I started to learn. 

I had a realization that came to me in a rather funny way. I’m going to share it with you because it made me laugh, but it’s also true.

I started to think about this young kid named Mason Ramsey. 

Some of you know him as Lil’ Hank Williams, others know him as the kid that started yodeling in the middle of a WalMart for no goddamn reason. 

But he had a reason.

So, what did I find so special about this kid’s story? 

For me, it was the simplicity of it all.

It was funny, it was pure, it was random, hell it even sounded pretty damn good — good enough that if you google the word ‘Yodeling,” Mason Ramsey is listed with some of the all-time greats.

But it also went a lot deeper than that, for me at least. 

This was nothing more than a kid with a talent. A strange talent, but a talent nonetheless. He didn’t know if anyone would enjoy his talent, and he sure as hell didn’t care where he got to display that talent. 

He just wanted to share it. 

And that’s exactly what he did. 

He stood in the middle of a damn WalMart and started yodeling Hank Williams’ hit song “Lovesick Blues.” 

It took Mason just a few days to garner over 25 million views online.

Now, I’m someone that loves to find the moral of the story, so that’s exactly what I did with this one. 

I realized it doesn’t fucking matter what your talent is, it doesn’t matter how or where you display it, and it doesn’t matter who’s watching. 

Showcase it. Display it. Be proud of it. 

Mason Ramsey once said, “If there was a zombie apocalypse, I would use my yodeling to kill every single one of them.” 

You need to have that type of pride and confidence in your talent.

It’s your talent. It’s what makes you, you. 

And if you need to stand in the middle of a WalMart to get noticed, then stand in the middle of a fucking WalMart and get noticed. 

That’s what Mason did.

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In September of 2019, I left my job as General Manager and decided to bet on myself. 

It was scary. 

At the time, I didn’t know if it was the right move.

But I finally built up the courage to pursue my writing full-time. It didn’t take long for me to realize this was a move I should’ve made eight years ago. 

And I couldn’t help but think about all the people who are probably in the same position I was. 

I see you. I feel you. I was you.

If you have a dream, that’s fine. It’s actually great, fantastic. Dreams are good. Dreams are beautiful and I’m all for it. Keep dreaming. Don’t stop dreaming. Dream like you may never wake up. 

But don’t stop there. That’s not the end of the road.

Because dreams — they don’t come true. 

They do, however, spark that little fire inside of you that gives you the power, the strength, and the wherewithal to eventually turn that dream into a goal. 

Then, and only then, will that dream turn into reality — but it must, first, become a goal.

So, yes, keep dreaming, but only if you’re prepared to chase. 

And keep chasing, but only if you’re chasing the right things — with the right mindset.. 

And if you don’t know what to chase, just start yodeling in the middle of a fucking WalMart — eventually, you’ll figure it out. 

We’re human, we always do.