The Price of the Ticket

Once upon a time, there was a bachelorette who loved her independence.  Then she fell in love with a man.  She was afraid to get married because she didn’t want to give up reading in bed, walking around naked, or reading or eating or watching or doing or listening to or working on whatever she wanted.  It turned out that those were all the things he liked about her.  Independence was not the sacrifice that was demanded.  The price of the ticket was selfishness.  She gave her heart and ended up with two hearts in return.

The gates of the universe are not locked.  Anything the heart desires can be had for the taking.  But there is a bag check outside, where contraband must be relinquished before anyone is allowed to pass through.  There is a turnstile that only spins in one direction.  To pass through the gates is to let go of the status quo.

Everyone gets the same 24 hours every day.  An hour spent in one way can’t be cashed in and spent in a different way later.  These are permanent decisions.  Time is a user fee.  Positive change can only happen after letting go of time commitments to anything that doesn’t support the change.

The cup must be empty before it can be filled again.  Everything we think we know is part of a worldview that is responsible for our thoughts, actions, and results.  Our most cherished beliefs may be the precise obstacles that are keeping us from living our dreams.  The first one that has to go is the belief that the status quo is good enough, and that it will still be good enough to satisfy us in the years to come.

Becoming fluent in a foreign language means giving up the confidence and fluency of speaking your native tongue for a temporary state of awkwardness.

Learning to sing or play a musical instrument means sounding terrible for a while.

Learning to dance or do martial arts means being clumsy and looking foolish for a while.

Saving money means giving up spending it on luxuries for a while.

Losing weight means not eating certain favorite foods as often.

Becoming fit means soreness and sweat and less time for relaxation.

Getting organized means sustaining mental focus on boring things for a while.

Complaints.  Criticism.  Gossip.  Envy.  Anger.  Procrastination.  Passivity.  Entertainment.  Everything that makes up the Comfort Zone can be boxed up and traded in for a better life.

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