Oscar Wilde once famously commented: “There is only one thing in life worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about”……which is why I was incredibly impressed by the 20 year old Australian I heard about on Christmas Day.I went to some friends and the man of the house recounted how most of his family now lived in Melbourne, Australia, and had done so for nigh on 20 years. He had visited and had a wonderful time but not nearly as good as his young nephew Joe who was now travelling across the UK and Europe.
“I was so impressed by his philosophy,” he said. “He is a qualified tradesman and works for a few weeks before taking his cash and heading off to exotic and interesting places like Madrid, Paris, Berlin and so on. It’s not just that,” he mused, “but the mindset he has chosen to adopt at such a young age.”
My generous host recounted how the young man in question had once commented, “do you know uncle, there are two types of people in this life, those who talk about others and those who are talked about. I decided early on that I wanted to be talked about for all the right reasons.”
What a fantastic philosophy. Here was a young man who had got off his backside, travelled to the other side of the world and decided to take it by the throat. He intended to visit those places, hitherto in his childhood story books, and return home, secure in the knowledge that he ‘did it’. He wanted to be the person that people looked upon in awe, with envy.
Have you ‘done it’? Fulfilled your dreams and ambitions, travelled, or simply done those things that you have talked about but never actioned for some reason? Life really is short but, remember, it is never too late whilst ever good health is on your side. People in wheelchairs have conquered amazing challenges as have people with false limbs. Parents with young families have been to exotic places, lived on islands, done wonderful things. So, what’s stopping YOU? If you want to blame your husband, wife, lack of money, lack of XYZ, then you’ll still be watching life go by in another 20 years. Make it happen and don’t live a regret. Be Joe the Australian.