America's Main Street. The Mother Road. Route 66.
For years I've been fascinated by Route 66. Not simply for the nostalgia but for the glamour and, yes, the tackiness of it. Themed tourist traps, themed destinations, independent and individual places all vying for motorists' business and dollars. For over 30 years it connected small towns from Chicago to Los Angeles and provided inspiration in dark times.
I've also been fascinated by the resurrection of Route 66. The abandonment and rebirth of the Mother Road is nothing short of amazing. She had only been fully complete before the stirrings of a newer, bigger interstate system was conceived that would eventually eclipse the original. Still our Main Street was not to be forgotten.
In 1984 a small group of people banded together to keep her and her memory alive. Now, over 30 years later, she's very much alive. This road, over 2000 miles one way, captured the hearts and imaginations of this country like no other road ever did, or has since.
As I researched the history of Route 66 I came to realize we could learn from this. Through the face of adversity she has persevered and so can we. All we need is a support group of people who love us and want to help. And this group must include you. Even if you're the only one in your group, as long as you don't give up you will survive.
Now, I know you're thinking, “But this is a road. An inanimate object. It did nothing for itself. Others did all the work. How does that apply to me?”
My answer is: Exactly what I said. The highway had a support group. We all need a support group, but we must all be a part of our own support group. Route 66 may be an inanimate object, but it also provided the inspiration for the support group. Without that inspiration, there would have been no support. You provide the inspiration, the reason for being, for your group. You provide the reason for yourself.
Even if you don't believe in yourself, odds are there is someone that believes in you. I know it's kind of corny, but the old adage “To the world you're just one person, but to one person you are the world” is true. You may not know who, but to someone you are their inspiration. Their reason for being. You may not know why, but they look to you. They believe in you.
Shouldn't you believe in yourself?