The Story of Ben Johnson

Ben Johnson snapped awake in a cold sweat, his heart pounding in his chest.

He looked to see the time – 3:14 AM.

It was at that moment that his life would never be the same.

New Year’s Eve was right around the corner, and, to celebrate the occasion, Ben went to dinner with a few close friends downtown.

After finishing their meals, someone brought up the topic of resolutions. And, soon enough, they were taking turns describing  their hopes for the coming year.

When Ben’s turn came, he listed a handful of changes he wanted to make, and as quickly as the topic started, it was over.

But it would soon return.

That night, at 3:14 AM, the revelation that woke Ben was this: his list of goals for the new year was identical to last year’s.

Nothing had changed.

While most people would laugh off a repeating list of resolutions, Ben didn’t find it funny.
It was terrifying.

He knew that the life he always thought would be his was slowly slipping away…that ‘someday’ fairytale was fading fast.

An entire year had passed without a single goal achieved. Not one. Finally, he accepted the fact that nothing would ever change unless he broke the pattern.

Nothing would ever improve unless he did committed to doing something different, something massive.

This was just the fire Ben needed to stop planning for a better life and instead do something about it.

You need to do the same thing.

Rarely does life change for the better while we’re not looking. We make it happen.
But we’re scared. And we’re comfortable.

That may be true, but even more unsettling than change is regret. You may be scared,  but years from now you’ll be filled with disappointment and pain for missing out on the chance to really live.

You may be comfortable with your routine now, but eventually you’ll realize time has run out to do the things you’ve always wanted to do.

Your life will never be what you want it to be if you don’t do something about it.

Don’t sit and think. Don’t brood. Don’t consider the possibilities.

Get up. Shake off the dust. And get to work.

Because if you put your goals off another year, chances are almost certain you’ll do it for the rest of your life.