While most U.S. Navy Sailors go to their first duty stations on ships, spend years at sea and have many tales of time in foreign ports, I was an anomaly. I chose to be a linguist which led me down my own career path that provided opportunities I wouldn't have had otherwise.
While in "A-school" I was given the opportunity to choose Vietnamese for my language. In the classroom a Proverb hung on the wall. Gần mực thì đen, gần đèn thì rạng. Literally translated it means, If near ink, you will be black, if near light, you will shine.
Translated a little more modern, the translations according to Carrie is: if you are around weak, lame, lazy, or crooked people you will be that way, too, but if you are near strong, intelligent, motivated, uplifting, successful people you will rise up.
The choice is yours.
This does not mean you have to disown your family or ditch your best friend of 30 years. But it does mean you have to choose which people you will allow to influence your decision making and whose advice you are willing to accept.
Choose your inner circle wisely. Do so unashamed and unafraid. Your future depends on it.
תגובות