Tuesday 28 January 2014

Doing Ridiculous Things

Do you ever do things when you have no idea how they will turn out? Part of the reason for doing it is to see what happens. Sometimes, it is a risk to do these things that I am talking about. Often it is taking a chance somehow. Of course, it does not always work out the way that we want it to. But there is always learning that happens and perhaps an interesting story. I have a few somewhat ridiculous things that I have done as of late, with various results.

Thing one, there is an author named Bob Goff, who wrote an interesting book called Love Does. I would recommend reading it. At the end of the book, he gives his phone number and says that you can call if you want. Of course I am going to call, how interesting! I wanted to see what would happen. We played phone tag a little and I sent an email instead. He answered a question that I asked and then said we would follow up at an event, that it turns out I can't go to. (it has an exclusive audience of which I am not, I asked (twice)). But it turns out that he calls back, which is neat.

Then I tried applying to a job that I don't technically have the qualifications for. In the end, I was not able to apply because I do not meet those qualifications, but it was worth it for taking the risk and for seeing the support that I do have.

I emailed a friend to see if they knew of people in the area to connect to. They gave me a person to email who has now connected me with several others. Funny how things happen. You never know. And you can't plan for it. One foot in front of the other, one interesting risk, then the next. Some work out, some don't. But the ones that don't are still good for the adventure, the learning, and the growth. They are also good for stretching yourself enough to know that you can take the risk. On to the next one....

Thursday 9 January 2014

Secret Life and Knowing You


I went to the movies on Friday and saw "The Secret Life of Walter Middy." It was fantastic! It was beautiful, amazing scenery, fun camera angles, and a wonderful story. He changes during the movie, but really he does not change, he just lives out who he is and always was. Other people could see who is was from the beginning, even when he was living out less.

He lived a life in his mind, a life where most of the adventure was fantasies in his mind. He was not really living in real life, he had no experiences to speak of. Then he started living out adventures. In his story, the adventures were quite dramatic, to the point that he had to touch a person around him to make sure it was actually real. 

One part that I found very interesting about the story was that the people who were around him during that transformation saw the real him from the beginning. They knew who he was even when he did not or did not live it out. I think this is really true for all of us, as we learn who were are more, as we live life more, we are not changing ourselves as much a just living who we are and have always been. 

I had that experience. After living in England for a few years, I thought that I had changed dramatically. I came back to the states and got to meet up with college friends who I hadn't seen in a while. They made comments about what I would do in a situation or what I would like and I was shocked that they were right. How did they know?! I thought I was so different. The truth is, I was not so different, I was more me. The difference for me was that I knew who I was better. I hadn't changed, I just started living as me more. 

Grown Up Jobs


I am not sure why this idea has stuck with me for so long. But I have an idea in my head that a "real" job involves an office, hours that are Monday-Friday and is doing something that seems serious or impressive.

I have not had that type of job. I also know a lot of people who have not had that type of job. I would look at each of those people and I would think that they have a real and official job. But I have trouble thinking that when I look at my job. I like my job, I like what I have gotten to do in the years that I have been there, I have grown and I have helped other people to grow, I have benefits, and I get paid a decent amount. So really, what is not "real" about that? This is something that I am working on this year. Perhaps, it is just a mindset that I need to change.

When I was young, I thought that grown ups had passed some point in their life in which they were officially a grown up. That meant that they knew what was going on in life. The older I get, the more I realize that life is about learning as you go. The adventures and experiences that you have in life teach you how to proceed with the next step, day, phase. As life progresses, we learn what we need to know, when we need to know it. Our past experiences form us into who we are. Then we do the best we can at the new experiences that come our way. No one has life figured out, we just figure it out as we go. I like this idea because you are always learning, always growing and never stopping. It also means that there is no some magically point to get to. Life is about the here and now. It is happening here and now.