Yes, You Can!

I often tell my audiences… "Remember the last four letters in the word American.  The last four letters: I-C-A-N.  I can.  That's right!  Not I cannot, not I can't, but I can.”  I tell individuals all the time… "You are enough.  You were created by God Almighty to be extraordinary.”

Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, former Ambassador of the United States to Finland, an outstanding leader, Chair of the Board of the American Red Cross, she has an interesting take on the word can’t.  C-A-N-apostrophe-T.  When Bonnie was growing up in Louisiana, her mother had an idea.  She had Bonnie and her brother and her sister write the word “can't” on a piece of paper.  They placed it in a box, in a shoebox.  They picked up a shovel, buried the shoebox in their backyard.  Bonnie's mom told them…

The word can't has been buried forever

So Bonnie grew up understanding that hard work, God's help, and the knowledge you can achieve anything. Your possibilities are endless.  There's no such thing as unrealistic dreams, only unrealistic timelines.

Someone said that God made mothers because he can't be everywhere. Well, I love my mom, and I know that you've loved yours. You love yours.  I thank God Almighty every day for putting my mom in my life.  She helped direct me on my life's path, and Bonnie's mother did the same thing for her.  It started with a shoebox and a shovel.

Today, Bonnie is one of America's greatest leaders, built a great communication company, has done amazing things in her own life.  She does believe in the art of the possible.  She buried the word “can’t.”  She believes in the four letters: I-C-A-N.  I can. We all can.

For some, there are obstacles and hurdles, and they need assistance, and help, and guidance.  I'm not suggesting life is easy, I'm just suggesting life is what we choose to make it.  Have a great week.