never miss opportunitiesYears ago, when Roger Moore took over for Sean Connery as James bond, Sean Connery was quoted as saying that he would never, do James Bond again. He was tired of being typecast. James Bond opened up a lot of doors for Sean Connery, but it also left him with limited options outside of the Bond franchise.

The paparazzi had claimed open season on Connery’s personal life. He needed out. When Roger Moore quit James Bond, the producer asked Sean Connery if he would reprise the roll. He ended up doing a James Bond movie called Never Say Never. It’s advice everyone should take. Never say never.

You have no idea what life is going to present to you. If you want to lead an open, passion-filled life, you can’t say no.

I’ve heard you guys:

“I’ve got three kids. I could never have another. I’ve moved ten times in the past five years, I’m never going to move again. We always go to Florida. I’ll never step foot there again. I’ll never date somebody like this again.”

When you say “never” you’re cutting off life. There are no ‘nevers’ in life. There’s nothing permanent in life except death and taxes. A friend of mine the other day went out with this woman. He’s got two kids. He’s 45 years old, been divorced five years. He went out on a limb and the woman ignited something inside him. After one date he felt he could have a kid with this woman.

What made him feel this way?

He said there was something about her. He almost turned her down. She wasn’t his type physically and he’d had a long week at work. He was thinking of staying in and binge watching The Walking Dead. At the last minute he changed his mind and decided to go. He thinks it might be the best decision he ever made. A little background: His marriage was not great.

They were together for 15 years. They were never in love. She got pregnant in the beginning of the relationship, and they stayed together for the sake of the child. It’s a familiar story. Now that his kids are grown my friend thought he was done being a dad. He was preparing to enter his golden years. But after this date, and he couldn’t believe the feeling he had with this woman. He was ready to do it all over again – marriage, kids, all of it.

Never say never. You have no idea what life is going to bring. The example I gave is radical but it’s true. My friend almost turned the date down. You have no idea what’s coming your way. I think we need to explore life in a much different way.

Make this your mantra – Never say never. Isn’t this what life is about?

Don’t you want to be an open person?

Aren’t the greatest surprises in life the ones you thought you never wanted?

Why are you saying ‘no’ to possibilities?

Sean Connery was able to go back and do James Bond. He made six million dollars off Never Say Never at signing.  Your past does not dictate our present. Just because things were not right in our past doesn’t mean we cannot create that present with somebody else. My friend is dating this woman right now. He’s falling in love with her. He’s open to every possibility. He’s not making any promises. He’s not saying he’s going to do one thing or another. He’s just being present.

Isn’t that what life is all about? Just being present to what life can do for us. Never say never again. This one is dedicated to Sean Connery, one of the most amazing actors I’ve ever watched.