not all who wander are lost

When I was young I had a passion for writing. I was told I was good at it. It came naturally and I enjoyed it. When it came time for college, I went the engineering route because that’s where the money and jobs were. Being a creative person in a technical field definitely had its advantages. The ability to write and communicate was always in demand so I felt actualized on both sides of the brain. The leadership training I gained during my years in the Air Force was also a plus. Looking back, even though it wasn’t my most authentic self, it was still a pretty good self, and I worked hard at each job. When I got my first dog, Mr. Blue, I was intent on socializing him. So I signed him up to go to a tremendous doggie daycare, DogBoy’s Dog Ranch, in Austin, Texas. For four years he romped through the fields learning how to play and be a joyful canine. I’d drop him off and he’d race into the pen to join his friends. I wished, each and every time, that I could run into the area with them and spend the entire day playing rather than going to my J.O.B. But could I pay the bills hanging out with dogs all day and sharing all the amazing things we can learn from them? Fast forward ten years. As part of my journey, I wound up back home in Pennsylvania running Tremendous Life Books, the premier publisher of motivational and leadership material. I can’t say it was planned, but I’ve always subscribed to the mantra, “Not all who wander are lost.” I’ve never been one to pass by an open door. As Yogi Berra so famously said, "When you come to a fork in the road, take it." So now I am a writer. And I get to bring my dog (now dogs!), to work every day. And my dog wrote a book. And we’re going on a six-city book “pawtograph” tour. And I get to give speeches with my dog about leadership and our various journeys throughout life. Had I not had all those “detours”, I wouldn’t have much to share. Sure I could go on and on about how much I love my dog, but so could every dog parent. So in the end, despite all the wandering and forks in the road, I wound up exactly where I am supposed to be with my best friend by my side! All those previous industries and experiences helped me discover the most authentic version of myself. Best of all, I get to spend my entire time focused on the things in life that matter most to me, and make enough money not only to pay the bills, and to give back to some tremendous organizations. I’m finally running and playing in the field where I was meant to be.