Second Act: Creating Your Own Story

---

Recently, I was sitting in a restaurant listening to the server chatting with a table next to us. She mentioned that she had been serving for 3 years and really was tired. She loves people and her job, but she wanted more. Before I could turn around, the patron told her that she wasn't ever going to get anywhere if she didn't just quit and take the chance on her dreams. Mind you, I have no idea what the servers dreams were but she had them. I don't think just quitting is the answer. You must plan, save, and take steps to ensure you are moving in the right direction.

With that said, how often do we settle for what we have, instead of pushing through and reaching out for our dreams? We all do it, but I am here to tell you, the second act in life is anything you want it to be.

I continued listening to the conversation and heard the server say something about owning a boutique where she could sell comic books. She mentioned not having money to open an actual store and laughed it off. She apparently loves them and wants to share that love. The patron continued to encourage her but didn't really give her any real direction on how she could actually follow that dream. Sometimes we need direction, and re-direction. Re-direction causes us to take the left turn instead of the right turn in the road of life. Turning in one direction is a step, its comfortable and common, but what if we take the left turn instead? The road is bumpy as heck, there are pot holes and broken glass all over the road but, it's still a new direction. After all, no one said the new direction would be easy.

I decided to leave a note for the server (she was my server as well) as well as a generous tip to help her start her 'second act'.

The note said: "Everyone starts somewhere. Take this $$$$ and every week, add that exact amount to it, and before the end of the year you will have enough to open that boutique. You see, you don't have to have a building to have a business. You can open it online first, offering comic books to online readers. Then, after another year, keep adding that money every week and maybe, just maybe by then you will find a small building you can rent or even buy to open your boutique. Don't skip a week, that money is your future business. That goal is your dream coming to realization. That realization is that you CAN do this. This map is a suggestion, but it worked for many others who wanted to take the left turn in life".

I left, and made sure to take a quick turn around to see if she picked up the note. She did...I hope to see a comic book store coming soon online, or even a brick building.

What's your second act idea?