Wholehearted Human

“A wise man will make more opportunity then he finds.”
– Francis Bacon

I love this quote because it’s a testament to action. To doing something. We cannot simply sit back and wait for that perfect moment when everything is just how we want it.

Claudia and I kept putting off starting a family because it just “didn’t seem like the right time.” We were waiting on a number of things including the purchase of a particular business.

The problem was we were working on this purchase for a long time with no real progress or definite feedback from the seller. There were bits and pieces, enough to keep us hopeful. We reviewed the financials and I was meeting with an advisor too. However, the seller was stalling.

So, we waited. And waited. And kept waiting… I’d talk to him again but couldn’t get anything concrete out of him.

This went on for FOUR years! Four frustrating long years!

We FINALLY decided we couldn’t put our lives on hold any longer and went forward with starting a family. Sheesh!

Since then, everything has changed! We’re no longer going to buy that business, my relationship with Claudia is SO much better than before, we’re happier, and we feel like we got our lives back. Oh, and I didn’t even mention that we have a beautiful son named Jude!

We were waiting for everything to be perfect and were living this empty miserable existence. When we finally took a step of faith, things got so much better! No, we’re not rich yet… money is much tighter than ever. Our world is still spinning pretty fast after the birth of Jude. There now seems to be less time in the day to do more things than I ever had to do before.

But, you know what? I’m happier than I’ve ever been. I feel more alive than ever. For sure! There’s, really for the first time ever, a real purpose and passion in my life. Our future has never looked brighter!

When’s the last time that someone sincerely encouraged and supported you? I bet you remember. I bet it made a significant difference in how your day went if not the next couple of days.

Was there a time that someone encouraged and supported you in a change you were trying to make, a venture you were starting? I bet in those often frequent moments of doubt and fear, that person, those words pulled you through. They gave you your belief and hope back. The courage to go another day.

Because you know how much of a difference it makes, let’s you and me be that person. Let’s be those words!

I’ve commited to doing that at least three times a week and would love it if you joined me.

Are you in?

I like trees. 

I think I need to be more like a tree. 

They let their leaves fall at the end of a season. That alone is amazing! They let go! Many of my leaves are so old they could be put into a museum, prehistoric.

I like trees. 

I like how they keep growing. Nothing stops them (unless they die).

The roots push through the foundations of houses, break apart ‘unbreakable’ concrete, bend steel beams and twist through pipes rendering them useless. Always growing towards what? More nutrients, more LIFE!!!

I like trees.

They are understated. They don’t show off. They seem humble and deeply wise – like a grandpa that has lived a long full life and has sparkling eyes.

Trees are wounded and scarred and broken and they just keep growing! They LIVE!!!

I think I want to be more like a tree.

I like trees.

This morning I completed the first activity of the I Don’t Care Project: Running With My Shirt Off. 
(Video of activity will be posted next week… after Apple fixes our computer!)

How it helped: 
– it invigorated, energized, and motivated me!
– taught me that once you get out and start whatever the challenge is, it gets easier. The fear of what others think lessens.
– taught me that the doubts and fears only get worse with putting it off(was going to do it a day earlier but used the irrelevant excuse of our computer crashing to wait a day).

How it hurt:
– I’m insecure with my shirt off and I ran down the main street in the center if my own town during the morning rush.
– It was 37 degrees this morning! My fingers strung for AT LEAST 30 minutes after I got back!
– I ran 2 miles when I hadn’t run in 3 months… feeling very sore.
– The thought actually crossed my mind that I might get arrested for indecent exposure (or for being illogical and stupid) when I passed a police officer. 

Look for the video sometime next week. 

Post your suggestions for “uncomfortable situations” in the comment section of the IDC Project page. We need more ideas! 

So, this is day 4 of our 365 days and last night our laptop bit the dust!!! Well, it might come back to life… it is at the repair shop. Who knows.

So, how the heck do you keep a blog updated with no computer?!?! That’s exactly what we are wondering! For now I’m using my phone with spotty wifi service…and if need be we will trudge through rain, snow, and hail to keep posting! (Or just go to the library.)

So why does it seem like you always get kicked while your already down? I’m not just talking about the computer… since we set off on our quest, strange things keep happening. Our car died, and is sitting waiting for the time and money to repair it… our furnace needs fixed, it keeps heating the house up to 73 and Michael goes down and bangs a couple pipes each night which seems to set it straight till the next day. I’ve gone through 3 phones because they keep locking up. And multiple other little things.

These things, aren’t much in and of themselves but stacked up one after the other, day after day it tends to break you. They just pick away at your resolve, your joy and determination…till you want to give up!

And so my post today is about PERSEVERANCE!!!! And too often when the going gets tough we throw in the towel instead of putting our heads down, gritting our teeth and charging forward. Forward into the mess, the foggy confusion, the unknown!

It makes me think of the scene often replayed in Lord of the Rings… one of the characters is making one last heroic effort before they will most seemingly die. They charge forward screaming, waving their sword frantically, hair flying, eyes ablaze with determination. And then, at the last moment…they are of all things rescued! But not without a few bumps and bruises. And a wiser look in their eyes. They faced their fears, the challenge, the ‘resistance’ head on and won!

This is how I want to approach hardship…or ‘the resistance’ as some call it. Those things that are thrown at us to try to discourage us, get us off track and into throw us into despair. When we are discouraged…we are exactly what the word states- we loose our courage. We give up. And my voice, the voice I have been created to use for good goes quiet. When I  give up the battle is over and I am not the victor. I have not come out on the other side. I have not come away with a wonderful story to tell, of trials and hardships and how I overcame them.

Therefore, I declare though computer-less we will not be thwarted! We will not be taken out…we will PERSEVERE …we will go on!!!!!!

I’ve been struggling a lot lately with enjoying the process of things. I get so stressed out about all the things that we want to do, all the dreams and goals we have, and so often just all the stuff that needs to be done.

If it’s true that success is the progressive realization of a worthwhile goal, then it would be better if I learned to enjoy the process. Plus, I wouldn’t be so stressed all the time!

How to be successful:

1.  Set goals – long range goals

If you don’t have a target that your aiming at, you’re never going to be able to hit it. You’ll simply be reactive going to and fro wherever life might take you. Also, the difference between those that are truly successful and those that aren’t is how long-range their goals are. The addict thinks hour to hour, the successful entrepreneur thinks at least 3 -5 years out.

 2.  Implement

Work backwards and plan out the steps that are going to get you there. For example, if you want to be earning a little extra income on the side in 3 months, what do you need to do this week to get you there?

3.  Acknowledge the little things

Give yourself credit for the progress you’re making! It SO much easier to point out the negative aspects. “I still don’t have any strong leads for my side project.” “I haven’t added (fill in the blank) to my website yet.” It would be better to acknowledge the things that you have already been able to accomplish. Doing the little things everyday and every week will get you to where you want to go. Just remind yourself that you’re making progress.

Acknowledging the little things and remembering that you WILL reach your goal if you just keep at it helps with the stress and helps you enjoy the process.

rise365 officially launches in just a few days! Subscribe now and stay tuned.