Months and months ago, when I was halfway through the process with my book, and I took a walk with one of my best friends and talked to him for 45 minutes straight. It was about everything that was going on, all the questions I had in my mind, the dreams that I was having of what the book could become, the people I was going to meet, the person I wanted to become, the path I was going to continue to take…the conversation went on and on and on. We continued walking, and we got pretty close to our destination up on the hill and something happened that I will never forget. I said, “So what do you think?” I was pretty much asking for his approval, disapproval, judgements, thoughts…you know what it’s like. When something incredibly new and exciting but nerve-wracking at the same time in your life comes about, you need a little bit of help with the tornado that is going on in your mind. He didn’t even look at me when he said it…he just said

“I don’t.”

We walked in silence for the next 10 minutes. This story is what brings me to todays point…sometimes, you just know.

When you have the ability to turn off all the commotion that is going on in your head and just listen to the thump…thump…thump in your chest, you are able to understand this concept. You just…know. You can’t really put a who what where when why to things…you just deep down in your bones believe in something. I have that feeling right now. The feeling of just knowing that something is going to do great. In my mind, there is no doubt of its potential…and I also entertain that its real potential may far exceed what I even think it can. But I just know…and that feeling is something I can take with me down the road of the rest of my life.

What I truly feel makes this project completely different from many things that you will read is that it is not a self-help book…there is no formula…in fact if I was ever going to give anyone direction I would tell them to make a fist with their hand, then draw out their pointer finger, turn it towards themselves…and point directly at their heart. But also, my journey will never end. There will never be a day when I so called “make it.” I am sure that people will say “Oh, he is never satisfied with what is going on around him…blah blah blah.” Couldn’t be farther from the truth. I love life for every single piece it can offer. The good and the bad. But I do not settle. And after I committed years ago to a lifetime full of writing…I must honor that commitment. It is probably the most serious promise I have ever made in my life so far.

Everything you need is right inside you to do what you want to do and be who you want to be. It comes with blood, sweat, and tears though. If you have the stomach for it, then go ahead. Expect major challenges to come at you when you are deciding that you are going to swim upstream. Trust me, they will. And you will be completely blindsided…but the obstacles are there to show you how much you actually want something. When you give up…meh you didn’t want it that bad. You just kind of wanted it. Accept the journey in its entirety…accept that there will be absolute times of hell and times of heaven…but know your outcome…and that outcome with anything worth dedicating your time and life to is this: a smile.

Be proud of who you are.

Evan Sanders
The Better Man Project