Are You Living on a Dead-End Street?

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

This is the street where I grew up in a small town on the Missouri River.  I snapped this picture as a reminder to me of where I came from as we pull up stakes and head out on a new direction in our lives.

Oh, this dead end street was a safe playground for the six rowdy kids who lived in the house at the end. It was our ball diamond, our bike path, the space for hopscotch, freeze tag and  carefree days.  No thru traffic meant we were free to play without caution – without dodging traffic as we played from sun up til dark.

This street was the setting for my little brother’s broken collarbone that came from a fall from our red wagon.  It was where I stubbed my toes and skinned my knees as I taught myself to ride a bike.  It was where each one of us kids were carried home in our parents arms to meet our siblings.  It was the street of first dates and goodnight kisses at the front door. 

It is also the street where each one of us left home and started a new life on our own.

There’s only one way to travel on a dead-end street if you want to go somewhere …you must venture out – straight up the street.  Then, and only then you get to choose whether you go right or left. 

Sometimes, life feels like being stuck on a dead-end street. 

Maybe it’s because you are working in a job that sucks the very life out of you; or that you are in a relationship that pulls you down instead of lifting you up; maybe you have tried and failed so many times that you are crumpled in a heap without hope of rising; could be that your dream is being extinguished by friends and family who don’t understand the passion and vision that is driving you to soar.

There’s only one way out from that dead-end street.  And, it’s up to you to walk on, and keep walking on – for as long as it takes, no matter how difficult it seems. 

Don’t underestimate your ability to do this.  Most of all, don’t allow circumstances outside of you, people surrounding you, and media shouting at you that life sucks and you just have to learn to accept what is.

You were born for greatness – you can be, do and have whatever you believe you can.

And so you venture out and turn in a new direction.  Then BAM! you find yourself on another dead-end street.  That’s just part of your experience to help you continue to grow and expand and become the most awesome evolved version of YOU. 

You’ll face another moment when you make a decision to stay stuck or head out again. 

Keep heading out…keep going.

Here’s to walking on,

Bruce and Trisha

P.S.  We’re here to help you get off your dead-end street.