Sundays

By Jarvis Tait

Delve into the pages of 'Sundays,' a profound guidebook that invites readers on a holistic journey of self-discovery and fulfillment. Rooted in the author's personal revelation of living distant from his true purpose, this book serves as a compass to navigate the terrain of passion and purpose, offering practical insights and transformative steps.

At the heart of this book lies an epiphany, a realization that propelled the author to share his transformative journey with readers seeking their own path to fulfillment. The narrative is deeply personal, chronicling the steps taken to break free from the chains of denial and embrace the authentic self. Whether it's breaking away from unfulfilling jobs or liberating oneself from relationships that no longer serve, 'Sundays' unfolds as a companion in navigating life's crossroads.

Structured as a week-long journey map, each day of the week is endowed with a unique significance, serving as a building block in the process of uncovering one's passion and purpose. Through a blend of personal experiences and actionable advice, the book serves as a guide to not only identifying one's true path but also taking decisive steps towards it.

'Sundays' paints a vivid portrait of the week as a transformative voyage, wherein every day contributes to the tapestry of a life well-lived. Readers are led through a labyrinth of self-discovery, equipped with insights to harness each day's potential to propel them closer to their goals. The author's personal anecdotes resonate deeply, underscoring the book's authenticity and the unwavering commitment to inspiring others on their own journeys.

Whether you're at a crossroads, seeking redirection, or simply aspiring for a more purposeful life, 'Sundays' extends a guiding hand. It provides a comprehensive roadmap, underscored by the message that every day holds the power to steer you toward your passion and purpose. This book is a testament to the boundless potential of self-awareness and the transformative journey it ignites.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Dec 29, 2023
• ISBN: 9798350922301

Book preview

BK90081311.jpg

Sundays

©Jarvis Tait

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Print ISBN 979-8-35092-229-5

eBook ISBN 979-8-35092-230-1

In memory of Beanz, my beloved furry buddy

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: MONDAYS ARE BANANAS

Chapter 2: TUESDAYS ARE NUTS

Chapter 3: ICE CREAM WEDNESDAYS

Chapter 4: OH FUDGE THURSDAYS

Chapter 5: FRIDAYS’ CREAM

Chapter 6: SATURDAY SPRINKLES

Chapter 7: CHERRY FOR A SUNDAY

Introduction

This book presents a journey map for identifying and reaching your passion and purpose in life. I’ve structured this book to explain the unique role of each day of the week. I’ve written this book to share my view of the week as a journey map to identify and claim one’s true passion and purpose. Each day is essential in shaping your life to live according to your goal. I share my experiences and suggest leveraging each day to find your fulfillment. I will interchange the book’s tone to reflect my experiences and sometimes switch the style with recommendations for the reader. And I began writing this book at the outset of the pandemic, so there will be references to my experiences during the unknowns and life adaptations during those times.

A Sunday is officially a Sundae with a cherry on top. And the bananas, nuts, ice cream, fudge, whip cream, and sprinkles make up this unique, tasty indulgence treat. The indulgence of working on your blueprint of a new life, fueled by all the elements and morsels incurred during the week. That said, get ready to make the ultimate Sunday!

You have this one time at this thing called life. One time, and during that one time, you should stick to that one thing. I must give credit where credit is due, and that credit is given to John Keller from Keller Williams, who has written a book called The One Thing. People will ask others what they want to do, and they will say, I want to be happy. Instead, people should find their purpose, the ultimate guide to fulfilling their life. There is the illusion of happiness by staying busy with gainful employment and living a routine life. The comfort zone of security with a paycheck and living on someone else’s agenda. Did you go to college to pursue a degree in law or medicine because that is what your parents etched in your mind to pursue?

So, you may pursue a career that fulfills someone else’s desire for what they envision for you. This is a recipe for living someone else’s life and a script for what life should look like. You are consumed in fattening someone else’s agenda and bottom line. The bookends of how you live your life include what you do, how you feel, and what you think and say when you wake up. On the other end, what you do, how you feel, and what you think and say when you go to sleep. During the week, there is so much I do. Yet I constantly think I need to truly live my life’s purpose through my career. It is a slippery slope to think of the steps and directions you made and what life would look like if you chose the other fork in the road. Case in point - I went to college and majored in accounting. What if I majored in marketing or finance (e.g., other degrees I considered)? I must include aerospace engineering, my initial field of study at the University of Notre Dame. However, after 18 months of pursuing this discipline, neither my grades nor my interest reflected any success or ability to major in this degree. I often recall sitting in an introductory class in aerospace engineering during my first year (probably a calculus class) when the professor said to the class, Look to your left, now look to your right, and next year, one of these students will not be your classmate in engineering. The following year, I was one of those kids sitting to someone’s left or right.

The slope gets even more slippery if I question what my life may have looked like if I chose to attend a different university or college. For example, what would it look like if I didn’t participate in law school right after college and didn’t move to Washington, DC, right after law school? During these watershed moments, I felt I was doing the right thing and had chosen the best next steps for me in life. I attended law school, graduated after a four-year evening program, passed the DC and Maryland bars, and practiced law in DC for nearly eight years. However, a professional void existed during the last few years of practicing law. I needed to be more fulfilled and content in law practice. At this time, I started considering other professions. I began purchasing investment properties and became a realtor, moonlighting and practicing law. I ultimately ended up interviewing and receiving an offer to work for a legal information company in a sales capacity. This job was the first paradigm shift in my professional career after attending law school for four years and practicing law for eight years. I felt liberated by this change, and it afforded me the autonomy to work from home and control how and when I do my job. Unlike being a lawyer for a large law firm, where one can work eighty-hour weeks, become burned out, and be at the mercy or whim of partners that decide how much bonus one receives at the end of the year, in a sales career, there is a linear relationship between the number of sales generated, and how much one will be compensated. It doesn’t matter how many hours one works each day. They will be compensated accordingly if you make a sale(s). As my cousin’s boss said, In a sales role, I don’t care how long you were in labor; just show me the baby.

Professionally, I was in the right place during this time. Living In DC, dating, and enjoying being single and liberated, I considered myself blessed. I owned investment properties, had a healthy social life, attended church, and was involved in mentorship programs. On Sundays, I’d wake up, go to church, ride a bike, or run. During football season, I would go to a sports bar to meet up with friends and root for the Steelers. The afternoons at the sports bar bring back nostalgic memories—enjoying drinks, bar food, and camaraderie with friends. On these Sundays, during football season, I’d fill a void in my personal life if I were not dating anyone exclusively. I’d feel that it would be nice to go home with someone, or I’d find myself wondering who, of the female persuasion, I should call to spend the evening with. There was a sense of loneliness going home after spending the day with friends and not having someone significant to spend time with when I came home.

During this time, I recognized that Sundays were indeed a day of self-reflection – to assess my current state and envision an end state of what my life should look like. I also recognized that on Sunday, I realized who I am NOW and who I want to become. I enjoyed spending time with friends, but there was a loneliness in knowing I wanted to have a more meaningful relationship. I also was intrigued by hearing stories and learning from my friends about their entrepreneurial endeavors and successes. I was enjoying the comfort of gainful employment, an excellent salary, and benefits, but I felt like there was something else for me. I could make more impact professionally.

In life, it’s easy for anyone to have the illusions of success and comfort if we conform to the ideals and view of what success and comfort looks like from our influencers. The influencers could be parents, siblings, school counselors, or friends. If other people dictate our benchmark of success and comfort, we create a measuring stick that doesn’t consider what WE want in our life. We check the boxes like having a specific job, getting married, having kids, and owning a home—all checked. There is nothing wrong with any of those milestones, but there are certainly people who have all of that, but it turns out it’s not what they wanted.

If a person looks at a blank canvas and paints a picture of their purpose and passion, they will have an image of who they are. That image should be a focal point of who they should be, so everything else follows suit. For me, Sunday is when the noise of other influences or distractions does not resonate as loudly. Sunday is a day nicely insulated from Monday through Friday, the pressures of work, and protected from the busy work on Saturdays. Sunday is when you have a blank canvas to do and choose what you like. What is accomplished on Sunday is a picture of your passion and purpose in life.

These two bookends define who you are. And there is one day that truly represents who you are based on what you do on this one day, Sunday. Your life is your canvass. Do you like what you see? Like going to a museum, you will want to view paintings that interest you. An artist puts detail into a picture that may become a masterpiece, placed in a gallery for all to see and enjoy. Your life is and can be, how you view it, and a masterpiece for others to view and embrace. Though you may not live the life you want now, that can change. Change, however, is the operative word. And there are steps you need to implement to make this change. Those steps can be taken with dedication and passion to achieve change. And when you stand in front of that canvas, your image or rendering of your canvass is inspired by your life experiences, hobbies, interests, sorrow, and pleasures.

There is one day of the week that allows you time to focus on yourself. All other days, assuming you work five days a week, are filled with lots of work, and the remainder of your week is filled with lots of busy work – work that you had to put on hold while you focused on your job. Each day you go to work, you may think your day will be another ordinary day. A day filled with much work that is not consistent with your true self, and you want to do anything other than what you are doing to make a living. It is simply a job, leaving you feeling incredibly burned out and dissatisfied. You may attend meetings, make calls, visit clients, and do other work that feels like a grind without genuine interest or concern about the clients you support. It’s simply a job.

You may not have control over many things, such as the weather, the price of gas, and stock market gains and losses. However, you have control over your life and how you live it. You may have to take a job you are not interested in to make a living. You may end up in a relationship that you did not turn out the way you expected it to turn out. You may find yourself in a job, relationship, home, or other life experiences and