Hey Listeners, Happy Friday to you all, and thanks for joining me today as we kick off the weekend ahead. For today's segment, I have something a bit fun and a little more lighthearted for us to dive into together. So today I want to talk about the keys to life. Sounds big and mysterious, right? Well, I'm going to share a speech with you all that breaks down the keys of life into two simple things you can do to set you up for success. The ideas I'm going ot share today, are simple, but also deep. First I'm going to share a very special speech I heard years ago, then share my take aways from that speech, and then, open it up to all all to see what keys of life have helped you set you up for success in your life.
So few years ago, 2005 to be exact, I was caught off guard by an amazing speech given by Will Smith on none other but the kid's choice awards Nickelodeon, and it struck me because it was very simply stated, but so very profoundly deep too. And I had no idea at the time, that this simple speech would set a framework with how I structure my life from that point forwards. It's something that lives rent free in my head, and that I have spent nearly 20 years using it as a backbone to start, and restart the things in my life that have propelled me forwards. I hope you all take this speech in, and see both the simplicity in his words, and the value he teaches us about setting a foundation for ourselves, no matter where we are, or what age we are in life. Here it goes:
I’m gonna say something that I want you to remember for the rest of your lives, okay, I want you to listen closely. I’m giving you the key to life right now. This is the key to lifeThe key to life, the key to life, is running and reading. Alright? Now listen, I’m very serious. The key to life is running and reading.
Alright, now, why running? When you’re running, when you’re out there and your running, there’s a little person who talks to you. And that little person says, “Ohh , I’m tired, my lungs are about to pop up. I’m so hurt. Ohhh, I’m so tired, there’s no way I can possibly continue.” And you want to quit. Right? That person–if you learn how to defeat that person when you’re running–you will learn how to not quit when things get hard in your life. Running–alright–that’s the first key to life.
Reading! The reason that reading is so important: There have been millions and billions and billions and gazillions of people that have lived before all of us. There is no new problem that you could have–with your parents, with school, with a bully, with anything–there is no problem you could have that someone else hasn’t already solved, and wrote about it in a book.
So, the keys to life are running and reading."
I remember little me, watching this on TV and feeling like I was called out and also given a blueprint on not only where to go when I need to figure out life, but how to talk to myself when the little voice inside of me was trying to control an outcome. It had never been presented to me that I had a say or that I could also empower myself with information. It was exactly what I needed to hear to know that I am in control of me, and I get a say in my life. That doesn't just start with outward circumstances or people, but it starts with conquering that little voice inside me, and knowing there are people out there that have gone through it, and can help guide me towards a solution, the future, and new choices I can make for myself as well. Now, 20 years I have carried these keys with me in my life, so I wanted to share them with you too. I also wanted to open it up for our listeners today, so you could share some of the keys to life you have carried with you as well. So if your out there, listening, feeling like you'd like to share some advice, some perspective, or even some knowledge you needed at some point to help yourself out, feel free to hop in and share: what keys do you all carry?
