“DO YOU HAVE THE RUNWAY YOU NEED?”
By Jane Dovidio-Gagliardo

As we all start to find our way in life, our path to walk, I think sometimes we lose sight of what we really want to accomplish. In the beginning, we try to stay focused on our passions and our goals. We really do. But then we meet what I like to refer to as “the influencers or the distractors” that can really knock us off our own RUNWAY. They either have a hidden agenda because they find us to be a threat to them or they feel we would be better off doing what they feel is right for us. And if these are people we love, we will find it hard not to do our best to please them. But eventually, we do find our way back to our own RUNWAY and continue our journey. But with every step we take, are we sure that we are on the right RUNWAY for our life? Well, this is a question that only we can answer for ourselves.
There was a study done at Stanford University by phycologist Carol Dweck and Gregory Walton where they found that people who followed their passion and walked only on their RUNWAY were less successful in life. Why? Because according to the study of 500 participants, people who followed their passion, had less tolerance and interest in anything other than what they were passionate about. They seemed to be incapable of wanting to learn anything outside of what their passion is. I’m not saying you shouldn’t have a passion or walk your RUNWAY. But, in the process of pursuing your passion, remember to keep an open mind. Learn, absorb and embrace new ideas and new people that come and go in your life. If we as humans would take in and learn from all that happens to us, good, bad, and ugly, we would be more evolved, more interesting, and more understanding of the world around us. Can you imagine what we could share if we continually kept an open mind and open heart.
So, as you think about your own RUNWAY of life I leave you with this quote: “Ask Yourself If What You Are Doing Today Is Getting You Closer To Where You Want To Be Tomorrow.” (Unknown)
Stay Safe Stay Strong Stay Fearless
