Tyler Perry, who is a famous producer, director, actor, author and playwright, has been extremely busy recently making the rounds on the talk show circuit. His popular “Madea” movie franchise is coming to an end so he has been heavily promoting the film. When someone makes the Forbes list as the highest paid entertainer for two years in a row, it is easy to forget how far that person has come. Perry has been open about his humble beginnings and the fact that he was once so broke that he was homeless and forced to live in his car for six years. Times were so tough for Perry that the car (along with all of his possessions which were in it) was repossessed. That car was a blue 1992 Geo Metro and one just like it is now permanently parked in front of the 220,000 square foot production studio in Atlanta, Georgia that Tyler Perry owns and operates. The Geo serves as a daily reminder that his dream now overshadows his former nightmare. Tyler has challenged us to each go back in our lives and find something that didn’t work out and place it near all the things that did. I accept the challenge and I am inviting you to join me.
There is a saying that goes something like this -“forget your past failures and mistakes and focus only on the future” which probably leaves you wondering why I am asking you to bring one of your failures to the forefront of your mind. The reason is simple: you have to see the dirt in order to properly clean the house! Whether you have to dig deep and really think about it, or your past failure is something that has constantly haunted you, allowing yourself to “go there” will offer you the chance to value the difficult lessons that came with your failure as well as learn from them. The errors of our pasts are the wisdom of our futures.
Perhaps you have a rejection letter from a job you applied to...or a “Dear John” letter from an ex...or the clothes that are too big for you to wear now that you have lost a few pounds...or the last pack of cigarettes that you purchased. Now you have a job that makes you happier than the rejection one ever would have; or are with the love of your life whom you never would have met if you were still with your ex; or are finally able to wear your favorite jeans; or have been smoke free for years. Keeping a reminder of where we once were will remind us of how far we have come.
So while you may not have an old Geo Metro or a movie studio to park it in front of, you can easily get your hands on a salt shaker. Go find one right now! What I am going to ask you to do will not raise your sodium intake or your blood pressure. Put that salt shaker somewhere you will see it every day...on your dresser, your mantle or your bookshelf. Each and every time you see that salt shaker, I want you to be reminded of a past challenge that you have overcome and think of this quote from another famous author and playwright, Truman Capote..."Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor”. Every time you begin to doubt yourself and how much you have achieved, look at the salt shaker. Tyler Perry will be proud of you because you are going to park your past right in front of your dreams!