Whether it’s Columbus, Erickson or Indigenous Day, its a time to say “Yay for new adventures!” What Columbus has to do with not getting mail or the bank closing is a mystery but what matters is the concept of discovery.

Lets take a moment to personalize this idea of discovery. If I asked you to describe yourself in 3 words, could you do it quickly? You will surely not say cancer victim. You may include survivor, but I hazard to guess that you do not even elude to an illness. When did you discover yourself? Was it when you were tested by a life altering threat? Did you find that you are strong? When you went to school and were able to help a classmate who struggles. Did you admit you are smart? You may have worked out, lost weight and become more physical and self assured. Do you see confident? Have you taught, spoken, advised developed a plan and see yourself a leader?

At what time in your life did you enter into discovery of your own uniqueness and strength? Have you ever taken the time to consider how truly amazing you are? In 1492 Christopher Columbus did not discover a new world, he set out with profound bravery to expand the old world and in doing so demonstrated that exploration changes lives.

All the sacrifices, pain and suffering endured led to adventure and honor still recognized over 500 years later. Don’t think for a minute that your own trials and efforts will evaporate. Your strength, discovery and exploration of your legacy will last for generations to come. You will have constructed a life to be revered. Fortitude will be ingrained in your children’s children and they will have wisdom, laughter and love because you sacrificed, learned and grew. This is not to say they will never suffer, but there will be a strength they didn’t know they possessed. You are the blessed result of your own ancestors and their profound life discoveries.

The Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria may have been vessels of ambition, but your own personal discovery of faithfulness, hope and love are destined to last forever. Take a moment now to think of three words that describe you and in doing so discover your own new world.