He had a 7 year plan

Over the years of writing the Daily Dose I have heard some amazing stories from people who read these emails.

Of people who have given up the jobs, of people overcoming unsurmountable odds to achieve goals, selling houses to travel round the world. And I'm sure if we counted up the number of pounds people have lost we could probably make several new people as a result...

Well, a couple of weeks ago, one of the readers of the daily dose sent me an email. I asked if I could share his story with you, thankfully he said yes ...

I'll let Kevin take over:

I am a computer security / development consultant working on contract to ----------------- in New Zealand.  As well as working full time, with a family and teenage daughters, I am attending university doing a part time postgraduate study.  I am working through a seven year plan to transition out from behind a computer on a desk to working in outdoor education with at risk youths.

As part of my studies, I have had to do more writing than I am comfortable with.  And added stress this year has been the earthquakes in my home Christchurch.  Earthquake fatigue is a whole new syndrome.

My last university assignment to complete my course was interrupted with a request from my best friend to build a "boat themed coffin" for his terminally ill father who was previously a fisherman, a person who never paid much attention to what was conventional.  As with anybody who's best friend asks for help, the answer was of course.  Well the coffin was built in time, but the last written assignment was not.  Life does not always accommodate all that we need to do.  Fortunately the university was supportive and said to apply for an extension.  The response is not back yet, but it does not matter, I did my best."

And that is all that matters - we do our best. It may not always be good enough for some people, and I hope the University granted the extension. But that is all we can do, and that is all we can ever hope to do... OUR BEST.

In my subsequent conversation with Kevin, I asked if he had any photographs of the boat shaped coffin - and yes he did. As I remarked to him, maybe there should be another career consideration - themed funerals. We all know we are going to leave our earthly bodies at some point in the future - what a wonderful statement to make. I may have to go, but I am going to go out in my own way ... Would you like to see the pics?

Kevin, you are an inspiration, and with a fixed time line to make the transition, knowing what steps you need to take and by when, there is no doubt you will achieve any goal you set your heart and mind to.

Can you say the same thing about your goals? What about your longer term plans? I think we can all learn a lot from people like Kevin.

Elle

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