Move Forward! Move Forward!

Flying on Christmas Eve is not for the delicate. I always feel like a cow being pushed through a meat-processing plant.

This year, while standing in a long line at LAX, my wife and I were assaulted by the sharp voice of a security guard who kept yelling—

“Move forward! Move forward! Do not wait in line.”

The crowd obeyed, shuffling towards the security checkpoint inch by inch, until…

TROUBLE.

Someone fell behind. A stressed-out, overwhelmed daddy was juggling the passports, luggage, and boarding passes for his wife and two kids. The result? A gap opened up in the line.

The guard marched over, devoid of any patience or humor, and barked in his ear—

“Move forward! Move forward! Do not wait in line!”

As the father scrambled to close the gap, the secret to living a successful life became clear to anyone paying attention–

MOVE FORWARD! DO NOT WAIT!

Life doesn’t care if you’re ready.

Life doesn’t care how you feel.

Life doesn’t care about your troubles.

Life is on the move at all times. If you’re smart, you move with it. Pause for even a moment and you will be left behind.

I hear what you’re thinking. Big deal. I’ve heard all that before.

Okay, Superstar. You’ve heard that… but don’t you still find yourself falling behind sometimes? Don’t you still find gaps opening up between you and your goals?

Of course. It happens to all of us. But the next time you find yourself slowing down, taking a break, or giving up, maybe this will help keep you in step…

Consider the people around you. Like it or not, they want you to move forward, too. They may even NEED you to move forward to get where they want to go.

When the father at the airport fell behind, the people behind him in line were visibly upset. They had places to go!

The crowd wanted to move forward, but he had become an obstacle. A delay. They actually wanted him to move forward more than he did!

So, while you’re busy chasing down your dreams, don’t just think of yourself. Think about your family… your friends… your co-workers… the world.

Think about what how you’ll be able to inspire and assist them when you get where you want to go. Think of how much more you’ll be able to offer and share after each of your successes.

The alternative is bleak. The fact is if you’re not moving forward, the people around you will have no choice but to pass you by to find someone else to follow or accompany. When that happens, you’ll be forced to play catch-up.

But be warned—by the time you catch up, they may not let you back in line!

As I meditated on the plight of the fallen father, I was presented with a complementary lesson at the X-Ray scanner…

I grabbed two plastic bins to hold my shoes and computer, but there was no room on the counter leading to the conveyor belt to put them down. So, I waited.

TROUBLE.

An annoyed guard shouted at me—

“Push! Push! Push your stuff ahead.”

AGHH! I had created another gap!

The plastic bins were not reaching the conveyor belt and the guard wasted no time making it clear that it was my responsibility, not his or anyone else’s, to push my belongings forward into the scanner.

The message, whether you’re talking about personal items or personal issues—

Push your stuff! No one is going to carry or push your stuff for you!

I had to wonder—do all TSA officers work as motivational speakers in their spare time? They must, because they keep yelling the same life lessons over and over… it just took me a while to hear them.

In that spirit, allow me to repeat them once more…

Move forward! Move forward!
Push! Push!

And hurry up. We’re all waiting for you.