You can't be a political strategist without being at least an armchair psychologist.  As such, I find I have many opinions, some of which are surely wrong, but a few interesting observations.  Tonight, I will share one thing about which I am certain, and this is the hardest battle anyone faces in motivating either others or themselves:  belief in the possible.

I cannot tell you how many times I've talked to people where the conversation goes "I would love to see this happen Tom, but you know it never will."  With a sigh of resignation and the belief that it is good sense, the person goes off to make a decision they don't like, but think is necessary.  Desire is replaced by duty, satisfaction with resignation, and we call this maturity.  I call it folly.

I've learned there is a power in life that comes only from those who are able to live according to their own beliefs.  It took me many years to realize that it is a bad bargain to support something that is not what you, especially if you do so because it is not bad as something else you don't want.  Each of us has the amazing potential to reshape our future and the world around us simply through standing up for our beliefs.

So, this is my challenge to everyone reading this:  put down the twelve step program, and be the person you want to be, create the world around you that you want, and refuse to accept anything as impossible.  I guarantee you will feel a million times better failing in what you care about than you will succeeding where you don't.