Stoke up the flames in the belly, says  Deborah Storer. After all, it's your life

Want to get back that burning desire for life?

In the 1960s, Tony Lepore had a dream and that was to be an actor or a performer. However his parents told him acting was only for people who are special. So Tony buried his dream away.

As he grew up, he had pent-up feelings he didn’t know how to release.

Sure enough he tried. He joined the army and survived the Vietnam War, but came back still carrying this burning desire.

He needed to get it out, so he took a job as a policeman in Providence, USA. It wasn’t his dream, but at least it would involve adventure.

He began doing night duty, however in 1981 he moved to day duty to direct traffic. He did it for two years, until one day he became bored.

He remembered a candid camera show on television where an officer in the ’50s flamboyantly directed traffic. So he started to add a bit of move and groove to his routine.

He added half a spin and some fancy arm movements. Before long, he grabbed the attention of the media and made the front page of the local paper: "Making Traffic Flow with Flair".

In 1984, the ‘Dancing Cop’ was born. Tony was on fire, absolutely enjoying himself. I guess Tony ended up being a performer after all.

We all need to learn from Tony Lepore because we all have that burning desire within us. It’s just a matter of letting it out. Why? Because being able to express yourself freely is the greatest need of every human.

Maybe you aren’t aware of that burning desire within because you have been suppressing yourself for so long now – suppressing your emotions, your dreams and your needs.

Maybe someone told you that it can’t be done? Maybe someone said a long time ago that you were not good enough?

Thomas Edison said: "We would literally astound ourselves if we all did the things we were capable of doing."

Imagine for one moment that you have come to the end of your life.

Will you be filled with regret, wishing if only you could have had more fun and did what you really wanted to do?

Will you die with the music in you? Or will you be proud that you have lived an extraordinary life, where you had the time of your life? The choice is yours.

In the movie The World’s Fastest Indian, based on a true story, Burt Munroe said : "If you don’t have a dream, you might as well be a vegetable."

We all need to have a dream. We all need to have something to fight for.

If you don’t, you die within. A dream keeps us alive! Not just existing, but really living!

If you want to turn your dream into reality, it will all depend on whether you are willing to do the following:

1. Get uncomfortable. If you want to live a quality life, it will all depend on the amount of uncertainty you are willing to experience. Learn to love the unexpected and take more risks!

2. Make things happen. Some people wait for things to happen, others make things happen. It’s up to you to make your dreams come true.

Some people wait for things to happen, others make things happen. It’s up to you to make your dreams come true.

3. Ask quality questions. Your mind is an extraordinary resource that can provide all the answers, ideas and solutions you need to live your best life.

4. Take time out. Those who rush through life miss what’s most important – you! Take time out to de-clutter your mind and gain peace.

5. Believe in yourself. Even if no-one else believes in you, you need to believe in yourself. Remember what Christopher Morley said: "There is only one success – to be able to spend your life in your own way."

What is your dream? More importantly, what are you doing right now to achieve it?

Singer Jon Bon Jovi said on 60 Minutes a few weeks back: "Some people say, ‘I could’ve, I would’ve, I should’ve’, yet I say, ‘Go for it’."

 

 Deborah Storer is a motivational speaker, author and coach. Click here to read more about her.

 

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