Sooner or later, you’ll leave me behind.

You will stop reading my writing. You’ll unsubscribe from my blog. You won’t be watching out for what I have to say; you’ll stop leaving comments and “Liking” my posts — you will even forget my name and my face.

Eventually, you’ll leave me. It will happen some day… maybe soon.

No, this isn’t a self-pitying ballad of an abandoned soul; it’s no testament to struggling artists, or a desperate attempt at reverse-psychology to trick you into showering me with reassurances and It’ll be OK’s :)

Eventually, you’ll leave me. Because that is my goal.

Some day, maybe soon, you won’t need to catch a daily message on our Facebook page. You won’t have to await a boost of inspiring thought. Some day, hopefully soon, you won’t require a “push” to pursue your grandest dreams — those quietly lodged deeply within your soul, longing for your sincerest attention and desperate to be fulfilled.

I want you to leave me, because it means you’ve decided to stand and take up the torch, yourself.

Eventually, you will become your own beacon of light and inspiration. And you won’t need me anymore.

You see, I’m not here to get you hooked. I don’t try to sell you on your “needing” me, my words, my services, or any angle. Why not?

Because you really don’t need me, or anyone else: your existence, your life, your wishes and your dreams need no validation, qualification or justification by anyone else other than you. You know in your heart what you should do in your life — and, truly, the incredible amount that you can achieve. Don’t ever let anyone in this world try to convince you that you “need” them, their approval, or their validation.

You don’t. And you not needing me, my blog or my writing is indeed my intent. My sole aim. My truest mission.

You, in as little as simply Being can and will shimmer with positive light and determination to do good. And each step you take upon a broken sidewalk will shake the world with vibrant, rippling waves of life-changing energy and  resonate in every soul you pass; each smile to a stranger a brilliant spark of earnest chance and focused hope for our world.

I don’t want to stay here forever. Not because I don’t love and appreciate you (I do) or because you’ll ever feel unwelcome to return… but because you have your own path to tread.

My writing will never chain you down — or the five-thousand more who visit each month — or anchor you to wharf, far away from from the brewing storms across the horizon… I write to inspire you to sail away. Far away. On your own. With your own crew on board. With other ships in tow. To whatever ends you wish to pursue, wherever the winds of life will push you.

Some day, hopefully soon, you will leave me behind.

Because if not, then I’m not doing my job.

And I’ll have to fight even harder, more determined than ever to achieve that goal. Remember, to live “from within” means to harness your innate strengths and gifts — those that already reside within you. It’s about recognizing that you need nothing outside of yourself to pursue bold and daring goals or to reap greatness in every moment.

Living “from within” means to realize how much good you can do in this world simply by choosing to — and sticking to it, and keeping at it.

You can and will, in due time, become your own self-sustained powerhouse of genuine good, of compassionate giving and indiscriminate love — a peaceful soldier for truth and harmony. Of this much, I am certain. And no matter what comes of me, you and yours will be just fine.

My 2-Year “I Quit” Anniversary

Today marks the two-year anniversary of when I quit “that job” I’ve told you about many times before: working alongside a rising state politician.

Know what the bummer is?

I didn’t even have that dramatic, exclamatory “I quit!” moment. It was more like a hyper-condensed, defensive explanation. Like a, “these-are-all-of-my-reasons-why-I-think-I-need-a-change-and-don’t-think-we-should-keep-doing-this,” kind of moment.

Sometimes I feel like I talk about quitting that job too much. After all, I try to encourage you to leave the past behind; be liberated by the present; take advantage of opportunities; and to sow the best future for yourself, your loved ones and the world at large, right now.

But really, quitting was not so much about the job as it was the only way to pacify the war being waged within: a conflict of me against myself.

And in that moment of truth — a monumental, no-going-back decision — I decided to abandon continuing a lifestyle that I knew I would forever detest: an excuse-laden existence where my dreams took a back seat for wrong reason after wrong reason, leaving me completely misaligned from my purpose.

Two years later, I understand better than ever why I had to take that leap of faith. And I hope, deep down, that expressing my story to you (over and over!) might help you take a similar leap, no matter what it is, or how old you are, or what you dream you can achieve.

Thank You!

Today, I want to take a moment to express how deeply I appreciate you.

Thank you for stopping by, for reading, for ever leaving me a note, chatting with me, dishin’ together on Skype or sharing stories by email. It has been beyond a humble honor and joyous pleasure to meet you, to hear about your journey and to share a moment in life together with you.

I wake up excited each day to tackle new ideas and projects, challenge myself to inspire you in new ways, and to make personal connections with men and women across the globe. And, I’m very excited for what the future holds. But in the end, my goal is to only help you along your way, so that you may forge your own path and thrive in whatever you must do in life.

Eventually, you’ll leave me. And that’s exactly why I’m here.

“A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, and they say: we did it ourselves.” ~Lao Tzu