. The Dessert Years .

During the past three years, the themes of The Wizard of Oz have been woven into my life’s tapestry. There were dreams in my heart I longed for and wondered if they would ever come to be — if I would ever get back on the proverbial track which would take me back to that “place over the rainbow” …

I viewed my life as derailed and without direction — or, at the very least like something in a dream sequence!

Are you off to see the wizard? Are you searching for “it” … Waiting for (fill in the blank)? Dressed in blue, companions in tow and skippin’ down a proverbial yellow-bricked road?

Now and then, we all slip into the trap of seeking “happiness” (a temporal feeling — no matter how ya’ slice it!). Seeking to be heard, understood or accepted; trying to find a wizard who will solve all our problems. We even ponder (and execute …) revenge plots in a vain attempt to make life fair.

And, sometimes “now and then” becomes a daily event. Until we get lost in the proverbial Land of Oz, in search of the person, event or thing that will (instantly and without effort on our part) get us to where we want to be.

Everyone knows Dorothy’s story in the Land of Oz: Her adventures included some little people, a good witch, a bad witch, as well as finding four unique travel companions on her way to visit the Wizard of Oz. Her quest was to find her way home. (Of course, this was the same home she whined about while she was there.)

However, thankfully her journey down the yellow-brick road provided her with a reality check. And her journey was not without its dangerous and challenging moments.

Moments of despair and hopelessness, moments when she was convinced she would never find her way back to the people who truly loved her. There were also moments of laughter, tears and fears — and of rest — sprinkled amongst her journey.

Dorothy learns about depending upon others — even serving others — and ultimately, to heed wise counsel and embrace the people she knows she can trust.

Bottom line: Most who are searching already have what they are looking for — or at least a mental map to it — even if they don’t realize it. It is the “doing” which propels us — fuels us — to our destinations.

Failure is in the eye of the beholder. And “Some people without brains do an awful lot of talking.” (as per the Scarecrow …).

And, while it is true not all failures are praiseworthy — all failures are opportunities.

And, like it or not, we are the common denominator to our so-called failures. And, we are the only people we can change. Experiences we deemed as failure (on our part or the part of another person) still offer to serve us, to strengthen and instruct us. Let’s liberate ourselves from what is past and what is present, so we can dance about what is to be!

Hmm, anyone needs some ruby slippers?

I was able to get back on the proverbial track and found the ever-elusive “place over the rainbow” … And dance there most of the time.

Your weakest key result area sets the height at which you can use all your other skills and abilities. ~Brian Tracy