There are many things to think about in life: happiness, money, family, friends, where your life will be in 20 years. Dreams. What you want to do with your life, your goals. I believe you should always follow your dreams, if you're not afraid, you're not dreaming hard enough. I believe you can be whatever you want to be, follow your dreams and you have no idea where life can take you, believe in yourself.
Take risks in life, it's exhilarating. My great uncle Lanny, my hero, my inspiration in life, the guy who knew exactly what to say when needed taught me many ways to follow my dreams. Risk, he was one who taught me this immensely. The first time I was at his house, he told me to go out to the barn with him. He gave me a saddle and said, "Hope you're ready to ride a horse, because today you're going to learn." That's a risk I had to take, I had never done it before, but I got on and it was awesome. Taking risks are a lot like riding a horse, you never know what the horse is feeling or what it is going to do, you just have to believe.
One year from Friday, my uncle was diagnosed with Leukemia and passed away 22 days later. He was an alumni of Ohio State, a huge Buckeye fan. I grew up in Wisconsin, a huge Badgers fan. Him and I always talked sports. Dick Vitale, a sports broadcaster lives in the same city as he did. Now, in March, we had a memorial service for him. That morning, my aunt had me go to the grocery store to grab extra ice, as I was leaving, Dick Vitale walked in. I got my picture with him and his words for me were, "Follow your dreams, you'll get there one day, keep believing in yourself." That alone reassured me that I am going in the right direction.
I truly believe if you want something, you have to work for it, nothing is given to you in life. There are going to be setbacks, hardships, days you'll want to give up, but you just have to look at the big picture and know that someday you will obtain your goals and dreams. I believe in following your dreams and believing in yourself. Dream big, be confident, and live life to the fullest.
