Never Give Up!

It is odd how the most unsuspecting characters in your life can become mentors.

As many of you know, my father was a truck driver, therefore I had limited "Dad Time" due to the many hours he spent on the road providing for his wife and children.  The times I looked most forward to, were those Saturday mornings when he returned from his long hauls with a Dunkin' Doughnuts Bear Claw or Toasted Coconut doughnut, especially selected for me.  Of course I knew he was trying to make up for his absence, and as much as I enjoyed the treat, I even more enjoyed the short time on the sofa with him  watching The Road Runner and Wiley Coyote on those precious Saturday mornings.

Don't get me wrong, my father was an incredible inspiration to me who instilled great values, the most notable - work ethic.  Equally mentor worthy was the Road Runner, both deserving of my recognition for intelligence, expediency and ability to get themselves out of tight spots.  But with all of that being said, oddly enough, Wiley Coyote was my first recognized life mentor and inspiration.

I watched this character on TV get blown up by dynamite, get ran over by trains, get anvils dropped on his head from cliffs and a multitude of other road blocks thrown at him each and every Saturday morning.  I quickly realized that many of his cartoon competitors would not have been able to handle his challenges, yet he rose from the dust, brushed himself off and tried again the following Saturday morning.  When you are young, you think your Dad is a Super Hero that can save all, but deep down inside, you know that a super hero only exists on TV.

Well, Super Hero or not, Wiley Coyote became my first mentor in life.  He taught me that life was not going to be easy.  He taught me that major road blocks were going to be put in my way.  He taught me that I had a choice, a choice to give up, or a choice to get up - brush myself off - and try again for success.

As a kid growing up in a small Central Illinois farming community, I was unfortunately blessed with infinite road blocks from birth.  Sports took priority over education, especially any creative arts.  The safety of remaining within a small community took priority over the exploration through travel.  Limited parental world experiences instilled a rigid acceptance thought processes in the majority of the population.

Screw it, let's cut to the chase, I grew up in a narrow minded redneck community of morons.  Their minds absolutely could not process anything beyond their severely limited experience.  Anything outside of that, terrified them and was adamantly condemned to protect what they considered their safe world.

Wiley taught me safe is boring!  Wiley taught me stepping out on a cliff is exciting!  Wiley taught me, you may fail, but if you dig deep you always can find the courage to get up and try again.  Wiley taught me, just because one thing doesn't work, it doesn't mean that something else won't.  Wiley taught me fear prevents you from traveling outside your comfort zone, which is where a better life may exist.  Wiley taught me, renewed energy comes from trying.  Wiley taught me, NEVER FREAKIN GIVE UP!!!

Wow, how lucky I was as a child.  Awesome father, safe town and well provided for ... yet, something told me deep inside - Escape!  Wiley Coyote instilled that courage to leave the safety, to leave the known and to explore.

To each of you who have uttered the words, "We've tried that and it didn't work", I am so sorry that you have so easily accepted permanent defeat.  For those of you who have uttered the words every week, "Thank God it's Friday", I am so sorry you can't see beyond your present unhappy state.  For those of you who have uttered, "No one understands", I am so sorry that you have isolated yourself from human comprehension.  But, most of all, I am sorry that you don't realize that if life sucks, you are the only one who can change it!!!

So, as Wiley Coyote taught me ... take the anvil off of your supposedly smashed head, pull yourself together having been blown to pieces from your unnoticed hard work and get up from under the bus that everyone has thrown you under .... and try again!

Or stay there, and know, IT SUCKS TO BE YOU!