JUMPING WHEN THERE'S NO NET

- JoAnna Ross Contributing Writer

My favorite story about my father is the one he told me when I was having a hard time with one of my many career transitions. During one of these transitions my dad told me that when he was 40 years old, with 4 children he decided to change his career (probably more like forced).   He was a sales guy for GM or Ford and was going to be let go of or fired, so they warned him and my dad set out to find another job. He had always wanted his own business so he searched our very small town to see what was available. A sub shop or liquor store, both mom and pop places.  They picked the liquor store. GREAT! But I was only 10. The transition period was definitely brutal. My parents worked every day to learn the business and my mom wasn’t around so much. They sacrificed a lot for the 4 of us. I didn’t understand it then but now I do. Through their hard work they built an amazing life for us and they retired at age 60. I love that!

My dad is such a great role model and I don’t think I have ever told him that. At age 40 instead of giving up or being scared he chose courage, strength and faith in himself. He took a chance and it paid off. He jumped knowing there is no net. He built his own net and because of it I get to enjoy my dad when it counts. When I can appreciate it.

  He use to tell me “figuring out what you want is the hard part. Getting it is easy.” Well I never forgot those words. I think through all the transitions of my life i.e. being a kids yoga teacher, becoming a stand-up comic. Then deciding to make a children’s yoga DVD called Yoga By The Dozen check it out
I come back to his words of wisdom often.

Although my dad has never done any yoga poses EVER I always say that he is more yoga then I.