10 inch skillet time. Upside the head.
On the WOW-o-Meter this was huge “get” for me. Whenever that happens I feel compelled to share.
Last week, I was in LA to work, in person, (we usally work weekly over the phone) with my business coach in order to speed the process/progress of a project I have been working on for nearly two years. In addition to further clarifying the big idea, there are all kinds of moving parts which have to fall into place to make things work. It feels overwhelming sometimes. A lot of the time, actually.
What I was hoping to get, was a plan—THE plan—action steps that would finally take me from idea to “out there”. The 10 steps that would logically and easily lead me to each little duck in a row.
This is where you would make the slamming on the breaks noise. This would also be where you would stamp your foot, return to being a 5 year old and yell, ” I want what I want and I want it now!!!……and oh, by the way, “I want YOU to figure it out for me.”
Martin Luther King did not stir people into action by announcing, “I have a strategic plan!” did he?
SO…….
See yourself like bamboo. My very patient and brilliant and now, sainted coach let me in on this secret. Focus on the dream and the details will create their own order. People will come into your life as you share your dream, who will further the process in exponential ways. I watched that very thing happen on this trip.
Bamboo has a very specific way of growing. With the planting of only one stalk (the big idea/dream), once it takes hold underground, rather than growing just in that one spot, it sends runners out in all directions(take action to share your passion with others). Under ground. For quite some time, no one can see it doing its work, day after day. Then one day, all kinds of stalks break the surface at once. Soon, it is obvious to everyone that the entire fence is lined with a plant, that historically, is known for its staying power and resilience.
People who get things done are on the move, planting seeds, making waves that they rest of us might not see. They may go underground for a while, when you don’t hear from them–but the next time you do—they seemed to have moved a mountain or two.
Think like bamboo.
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i use a combo of shea butter and aloe vera moisturizer. Works great. I use shea butter on my lips, around my eyes and nose (dry areas), My father swears by vasoline.
p.s. I dropped your name on Gina's post, Barb. ;)
I live like that…never thought of the bamboo, I painted in the we hours of the morning for six months..the next thing I knew I was being asked to open a gift shop for artist and use my work to start the project……as people would come in to my humble but full of spirit and beautiful colors I would tell people to buy my art for one day it would go international…four months later I was on a two page spread and my shop and art of a international book produced by the Mayor of our city and given to Diplomats around the world. a beautiful hardback book of our city and important places and people.
I have been in an OFF season for about 3 years I call it my S.I.T. O.U.T ( SPIRITUAL INTERACTION TIME OMITTING UNNECESSARY
TASK & TALK ) I’M NOW ALMOST PREPARED FOR THE NEXT STAGE….BUT GOD IS NOT QUITE THROUGH WITH ME YET.
Just amazing! The Bamboo theory just got reinforced! Thank you so much and good luck. I hope you stay in touch so I will know what your next venture will be!
Guess I have always been a mover and shaker….joined the army right out of high school, (absymally poor and abused, molested) got myself divorced after 31 years of abuse…fought spiritual abuse in my church, stood up and spoke out loud…….Won a women’s scholarship, because of what I wrote about what I have been through and overcome in my life……written my memoir (not published yet), wrote my book, Sanctuary of the Soul (and have amazing endorsements: Elie Wiesel, Wayne Dyer, Nikki Giovanni, Drs. Larry Dossey, Alice Miller, Clint van Zandt, Ellen Langer, Elaine Weiss, etc., etc……), back in school at age 63, published 3 times in a University journal, in an on-line psychiatric journal (no, it isn’t about ME, LOL), submitted my paper on verbal abuse to a journal and to the American Counseling Association…….etc., etc……….I will never give up trying to make a difference, as the moderator of an abused survivors’ group, and wriing to Oprah and other talk shows….FOX News contacted me………I just keep going and going and…..my mother used to say: “Can’t you just let that go” No……..passionate about doing things and making a difference. I am the most resilient stubborn person I know (that stubborness can be a bad thing, to wit….staying in an abusive marriage for 31 eyars, LOL)…. but when I found the answer (The Verbally Abusive Relationship by Patricia Evans), i took steps to get out. knowledge is power.
The drive to thrive, to be fully alive, to make sense of your circumstances and share your lessons from a place of authenticity makes all the circumstances actually have a purpose in the end, doesn’t it. Way to go……and go…..and go….
(((Peggy))); You said it, gurlfriend! I have always felt “driven”…to do something with my life, other than take up oxygen.
Hugs, Bunny (Energizer), LOL
I love this. Thanks for putting it so beautifully. And now–I’m going to pick some flowers.
You provided the words “focus on the dream and the details will create their own order” to reaffirm acceptance in my life and keep my eye on the prize. For many months, perhaps as long as 2 1/2 years, I have been fighting “what is”. I have been frustrated in my career, getting tangled up in too many variables and conflicting values. One week not too long ago, I saw the quote “success is when preparation meets opportunity” in no fewer than three places, starting with a little slip of paper inside a fortune cookie.
I know in my heart what I want to do. I know in my heart how I would like to spend my precious summers and how I would like to spend the more active years of my “old age”. In fact, I don’t really plan to retire at all. I hope to continue to teach & consult & take on projects until I can’t function anymore.
So, I got derailed. I lost my vision. But now, I am keeping my eye on the prize, and I am saying “Yes!” to anything that will support my dreams and “No!” to those things that will knock me off the path.
The book The Why Cafe is helpful in staying true to your “big five”, which is your very own list of dreams/priorities.
It’s so easy to get side tracked by the “bright shiny objects”— thank you for sharing your renewed commitment to your own best life!