May 2018 14 The Rustic Lifestyle It’s heating up in the Valley. Are you ready for it? May is graduation season. Do you remember when you took that big walk across the stage? So much excitement and pressure in that moment. You’re excited to have completed your courses and for your hard work to be acknowledged. At the same time, you’re fielding the same question over and over about what your future will hold. As if that piece of paper flips a switch in your brain to clarify the purpose of your life. Regardless of if or when you graduated, you may find yourself facing that same question. What does the future hold for me? What is my purpose? I’d challenge you to chase your dreams! What is something you LOVE to do? Work towards making that your source of income! Don’t settle. Far too often we make sacrifices and compromises in life that are justified at the moment, but we become stagnant. We forget that we kicked into survival mode for a season. Survival mode isn’t the norm. It’s temporary. We must put food on the table. We must have stability for our families, but we must share our talents with the world. You! Yes, you have so much to give. You’re not mediocre. You have greatness inside that’s waiting to escape! I was a professional negotiator for eleven years. I absolutely loved what I did. Similar to a lawyer, I was paid to argue and/or schmooze people for a living. I made a very large amount of money doing it and planned to retire in that profession. All of those plans changed when my company was bought out. The new employer restructured my pay. To add insult to injury, they didn’t respect me or show any appreciation for the results I was producing. Fear of the future caused me to stay in that position much too long. I eventually did quit (and threw my hands up in the air in excitement, yelling FRREEEDDDDDOOOMMMM! like Bruce Willis in Braveheart. No, I’m not joking. It was epic!). I left and launched my own event production. That meant a step backward for my family financially. As with every new venture in life, there are ups and downs. But the excitement of pursuing my passion was worth the risk. I want you to experience that same excitement! If you’re unhappy with your current situation or don’t know where to go with your future, do something! Make a simple plan and dedicate at least an hour a day to pursuing that dream. Network. Research jobs that are in that line of work. Develop a business plan. No one will be more dedicated to your future and your success than yourself. It’s never too late! May the fourth be with you, friends! By Desiree’ Byrne, Founder of Front Porch Pickins The Rustic Lifestyle column is dedicated to sharing about all things related to country living: home décor, travel, fashion, family, faith, and more. Jim Byrne, SurrealMediaAZ.com “Ba ba, ba ba ba ba ba, ba ba ba ba ba, ba ba ba ba!”