“It’s never too late to chase our dreams.” I have said that quote many times over the years. It is not a slogan but a lived truth. Life often has a way of convincing us that our dreams expire, that ambition has a shelf life, or that missed opportunities are permanent. Yet every day, people rewrite their stories simply by making the choice that the next chapter will not look year same as the last one.
Think back to your childhood. Do you remember what you wanted to be “When you grew up”? Maybe you chased that dream. Maybe life pulled you in a different direction. Maybe, that dream still whispers to you, waiting for the right moment. For me, the spark ignited the first time I watched professional wrestling. I was visiting my Uncle Abe and he was watching professional wrestling on TV. I was introduced to a world of Wild Samoans, Moondogs, Captain Lou Albano and SD Special Delivery Jones. The energy, the storytelling and the grit hooked me instantly. I fell in love with wrestling. It was unlike anything I had ever seen. I didn’t know then but that moment planted a seed that would shape the rest of my life. Soon I realized I wanted to be one of these men. I wanted to be a professional wrestler.
Dreams don’t always arrive on a schedule. Sometimes they take years. Many times they require us to become stronger, wiser and more resilient before we can make those dreams come true. There will be those who don’t support you and there will be those that don’t believe in you. I had plenty of people doubt me and tell me I couldn’t do it. This is why I always say “No matter who does or who does not believe in you, always believe in yourself!” That belief, the kind you hold onto when no one else sees your vision is what keeps dreams alive through the setbacks, detours and even through your own doubt. Because I always believed in myself and never accepted anyone telling me I wouldn’t make it, today I am in multiple halls of fame and have received many awards and accolades for a more than 30 year career in the wonderful wild world of professional wrestling!
At the heart of every comeback is a choice. A choice to rise. A choice to try again. A choice to believe that the best chapters of your story are still unwritten. As I have said, “Today we stand on the threshold of fresh possibilities”. That threshold is open to anyone who is willing to step forward. Something else I often explain to people is “your strength isn’t in your muscles, it is in the moments where you refused to quit!” If you are still carrying a dream, whether from childhood, or from just last week, consider this your reminder: You’re not done. Your story is still unfolding and the dream that once inspired you may be the very thing that leads you to your greatest chapter yet.
Remember, It’s never too late to chase our dreams!
