Deodorant and Belize

Posted by Parke Ladd on Apr 15, 2009 in Do Something You Love, Featured {Article} | 2 comments

I recently returned from a quick getaway to Belize, Central America.  I had a fantastic time; highly recommend it.  There are very few things in life which are better than an adventurous trip in which you can combine and enjoy both ocean and jungle experiences; and Belize is a destination which is casually overstocked with both.  

Options can be hard to navigate.  Where will I live, East coast or West, mountains or plains?  What will I do this evening, workout or watch TV?  Should I go to college or try something more abstract?  Do I want whipped cream on that latte or maybe just some cinnamon?  Do I really need leather interior or should I stay with the cloth?  Should I watch The Biggest Loser or American Idol?  Should I buy a house or continue to rent?  Do I really want to cut my hair?  Should I study abroad or take that internship?  Pinot Noir or chilled Riesling or a Belgium?  Should I marry my girlfriend or just maintain our status quo?  What flavor of gum should I buy?  What’s the best deodorant?  How many different types of razors does a guy need to choose from!?

Options are wonderful, but they can be challenging and/or frustrating to choose between, to figure out which one is the best for you.  

Don’t be fooled by the marketing…unless you have no choice.  When it comes to deciding which deodorant your wife is going to enjoy the most (after she inconveniently forgets to mention which one is her scent of choice) you’re in trouble, marketing will win; and inevitably you’ll purchase the one with the prettiest wrapper that doesn’t smell like a hospital.  For some decisions, the marketers have already staked their claim.  However, there are still plenty of choices throughout life which will require some serious contemplating, and your decision making apperati will almost certainly be stretched to the max because you understand that these are the decisions that will almost certainly change or redirect the course of your life, forever.  These are the decision which are best left up to you and not the marketers.

When you get up with the sun and commence upon a day that is filled with only a few options, life can be very simple.  In Belize, my choices were: a) go to the beach b) eat something delicious or c) go snorkeling.  I know, tough.  How does real life work though?  How do we discern what’s best in the midst of all the madness or in the midst of complete calm?  Let’s face it, every day we are bombarded with a myriad of choices, some important, some absolutely not.  Every choice that we make, shapes us into who we will one day become.  Recently, my wife and I have had to make some challenging decisions.  Here are a few of the criteria we used to guide us:

1.  Which choice guides us towards (and not away from!) the goals we set down on paper when we first got married?
2. Which choice leads towards distinction, exclusivity, rarity and greatness?  Which choice makes us more abnormal, away from the average?
3. Would the debt acquired by this choice be a good or bad debt?  Personal fiscal responsibility.
4. Which choice enables us to most effectively help a greater number of people?
5. Which choice is more fun, the greatest adventure?  
6. Which choice helps us live out our dreams?
7. Which choice aligns most closely with our faith?

If a decision requires these type of criteria, you’re probably making an important choice.  If not, you’re probably just buying deodorant.