Everything is a choice

“Everything is a choice.” 

Several months ago, I had written the words in blue ink on a piece of white notebook paper.  The paper was tucked into a folder.  The folder was pressed into a desk drawer.  Like a long, lost scroll, the message sat dormant, waiting patiently to be rediscovered.  I found it today while I was rifling through my files, deciding which papers to keep and which to discard as I prepared for a new year.

I set the paper on my desk and stared at it.  I let my mind drift through time until it arrived at the precise moment I had felt compelled to record the thought. 

“Everything is a choice.”

A few months ago, I attended a mandatory work conference designed to make employees better.  Better employees?  Better people?  Better something else?  I really don’t remember. 

What I do remember is not wanting to be there.  I groaned internally as I thought of spending my day doing ice breakers and team-building exercises. I dreaded the thought of wasting my day being talked at.  But I had been told that the event was mandatory.  Grin and bear it, I told myself.  It’s just one day.

To be fair, I really like the company where I work.  I’m paid well. The hours are consistent. My workload is challenging, yet manageable.  People are friendly and I always have the sense that upper leadership wants to do the right thing.

But, like so many big companies, my employer has its share of Dilbert days.  I’ve come to expect and accept them as part of the deal.  My fear and suspicion was that this particular conference would be another Dilbert day. So far, my fears appeared to have been well founded.

Just after lunch, one of the presenters began to talk.  His name was Tony.  Tony was wearing a white shirt and a blue tie.  He had dark, curly hair and a trimmed beard.  He looked happy to be there.  While I can’t recall everything he said, I remember his message.  It was elegant.  It was simple.  It was true.

“Everything is a choice.”  Tony told us. 

“You can wake up and choose to accept your day as it is.  You can choose what you eat.  You can choose what you wear.  You can choose to be sad.  You can choose to be angry.  Or you can choose to be strong.  You can choose to love.  You can choose to succeed.  Our life is defined by the choices we make.” 

“Many people,” Tony said, “spend their lives arguing for their failures.  They blame others.  They criticize their circumstances.  They lean on their weaknesses.  They make excuses.  They complain about their lot in life.  They choose to be unhappy.”

“But you have the power to overcome failure, others, circumstances, weakness, excuses, and life.  You have the power to be happy and successful.” He told us. 

“Everything is a choice.  You can choose to do better.   You can choose to be better.  You can choose to act better.  Choice is the power.”

As Tony spoke, I perked up.  I listened.  I thought about the message.  I picked up my pen.  I wrote down four words.

“Everything is a Choice.”

My life is my choice.  I am not a slave to my circumstances.  I can choose to be healthier.  I can choose to be happier.  I can choose to live the life I was born to live.

“Everything is a choice.”