Muse Upon This:
“Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by
the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.
So throw off the bowlines.
Sail away from safe harbor.
Catch the wind in your sails.
Explore. Dream. Discover.”
--Mark Twain
What is something you have always wanted to do? Something you might have admitted only to your journal? Imagine having it still undone five years from now... How does that feel? Is it time to begin? Is it time to let the wind catch your sails? Is it time to explore? Dream? Discover?
8 comments:
My life became dramatically more vibrant the moment I threw off the bowlines. Instead of being reactive in my life, I became proactive. I began to choose what I wanted and actively go after it with excitement and inspiration. Some of the big ones: beginning a new company based on my beliefs of how we can work; publishing my book; going to Las Vegas to study with a James Arthur Ray; and leading a retreat to Costa Rica. (And that was just the last 12 months!)
Was it scary? YES!!! And I also knew not doing anything at all was scarier. By the way, I now find the new things I commit to as begin exhilarating. Fear and exhilaration have very similar physiological effects so when you feel fear, think of it as excitement!
I dream of spending more time doing the things I love to do (and of traveling in Europe with my husband). Why don't I feel motivated to really blast forward on these dreams?? Maybe because I have made some positive movement on the first dream and it feels so much better. The second dream is wonderful to think about but I also love to be at home. The question I am asking myself--"Will I have regrets if I don't accomplish my dreams?" That question helps me make decisions about making changes in my life.
I have always lived my life without regrets. As opportunities presented themselves, I asked myself if I would regret passing it up. If the answer was "Yes" then I did it regardless of any fear I might have. My focus now is to invite the opportunities to my life. I had always wanted to participate in a yoga retreat and to travel abroad. Now I am going to Costa Rica doing both!
Tracy, I love the questions, "Would I regret passing this up?" What a fabulous way to make decisions! Looking forward to having you in Costa Rica...
I also like the idea that if you consider whether you regret something later that it pushes you toward it a little more. I don't feel like there is much I regret in my life so far and most of the time I do just go for it. Many of my fears have existed around money, which is where I "batten down the sashes". Many of my dreams are being pursued in one way or another, or are I'm "in the process of" I recently decided that I'd love someday to belly dance professionally. I get a chance to try it out later this month when I'll actually dance on stage for real people (not just those in the mirror!) Exhilarating!
I have wanted to travel to France in July to experience at least one stage of Le Tour de France. It always seemed like something that was not necessarily impossible - more like, improbable. One of my favorite sayings is "Anything is possible". Guess what - it's true! Planning is in the works and I could not be more excited for a great adventure with my husband in July of 2009! And Lance is back!
I realized recently that I don't have enough adventures in my life lately. I don't want to look back and say that my greatest adventure was..well, forgettable. So, I have made an adventure list of things that I want to try this year (snow boarding, kite boarding, rock climbing, pilates,...maybe even extreme knitting).
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