Take a Leap...
This is the theme my daughter chose for the journal she is about to ship around on a circle journal journey. I love this theme. I love the fresh idea of making a decision to do something, and just leaping in head first and doing it! I love the adventure and excitement that it affords...
I love living.
So much of my life I have spent preparing for something. I remember in college... mulling over my classes and many subjects to be studied and learned about... mapping out how much time to spend on each subject and when to study for each class. The crazy thing was that I spent so much time planning and preparing that I had little time left to do the things I was planning to do.
I did this with all sorts of things. I lived in the future... not enough in the present. I planned exercise programs, study schedules, scripture study plans, daily and weekly goals and living routines where I would integrate a time and day to accomplish particular goals etc.; but I wasn’t always DOING these things the way I wanted to...
Now that I occasionally spend less time and energy getting all my ducks in a row or preparing to be ready, I occasionally find myself just diving in and doing the things I desire to accomplish. I may not know what I'm doing; I may not be prepared; I may fail over and over again in the process of trying to succeed – but now... I Am Living a little more. Now, I am learning. Now I am failing... and I am succeeding a little more, too...
I recently came across a video that describes exactly what I am trying to say...
Doesn't that just put things into perspective and cause you to want to take a leap of faith and at least try to go after a dream... even if you might fail?
I have a new dream I have been working on. Actually, my real dream has been to be a figure skater. I haven't actually tried that yet... But I am doing something similar. I'm plunking around on in line roller blades and having a great time with it! I know I really need to bite the bullet and get some ice skates to use out on the lakes in the winter time. Do you have dreams that you haven't tried to turn into reality yet?
"Few can reach the magic strains,
And noisy fame is proud to win them.
Alas for those who never sing
...but die with all their music in them."
I am sure that we all have music of some kind within us… and we never can prepare to sing without simply singing! I remember as a child in music class at church. The chorister told me she couldn’t hear me singing. I told her that I couldn’t get the sound to come out. She said to me… “…then just SHOUT!” So I SHOUTED… and low and behold... the sounds came out – and on key! I could sing, and didn’t even know it. :D We may never know some of the sweet sounds within us until we find the courage to bellow them out!
I have learned in life that I had abilities that I didn’t know about simply because I hadn’t yet taken the leap and "shouted out" so to speak. Now and then I will SHOUT; I've never yet regretted it. Sometimes though, I regret the shouts that I have only dreamed...
I wonder what other sounds are hiding within me. This journal theme has me wondering about them, and striving to look at my life to ask myself what other areas I would like to Take a Leap and grow in. What else do I want to learn about? What else do I desire to become? A great Culinary Chief, perhaps? A Scriptorian? Historian? Figure Skater (I know it sounds crazy, but I really hope I am not too old for that!)? Photographer? Poet? Motivational Speaker? Athlete? Personal and Family History Writer? All of the above??? :D
Life is so full of possibilities.... just waiting to be ceased. Imagine the possibilities! Are you ready for an adventure? NO - not "are you ready?" instead ask yourself, "am I willing to go on an adventure despite the fact that I don't feel ready? Do I realize that it is in trying to do... that I gain skills needed to become prepared to do? Do I have the courage to risk failing? Do I have the guts to get back up after failing and 'try, try again?' "
Sometimes I forget who I am and what I am capable of. It is so easy to see others as amazing, and to doubt our own abilities. But I know who you are and that you are capable of amazing things; do you? Do you know who you are and what you can do? Take a leap! You might be surprised at what you discover! ;)
This is the theme my daughter chose for the journal she is about to ship around on a circle journal journey. I love this theme. I love the fresh idea of making a decision to do something, and just leaping in head first and doing it! I love the adventure and excitement that it affords...
I love living.
So much of my life I have spent preparing for something. I remember in college... mulling over my classes and many subjects to be studied and learned about... mapping out how much time to spend on each subject and when to study for each class. The crazy thing was that I spent so much time planning and preparing that I had little time left to do the things I was planning to do.
I did this with all sorts of things. I lived in the future... not enough in the present. I planned exercise programs, study schedules, scripture study plans, daily and weekly goals and living routines where I would integrate a time and day to accomplish particular goals etc.; but I wasn’t always DOING these things the way I wanted to...
Now that I occasionally spend less time and energy getting all my ducks in a row or preparing to be ready, I occasionally find myself just diving in and doing the things I desire to accomplish. I may not know what I'm doing; I may not be prepared; I may fail over and over again in the process of trying to succeed – but now... I Am Living a little more. Now, I am learning. Now I am failing... and I am succeeding a little more, too...
I recently came across a video that describes exactly what I am trying to say...
Doesn't that just put things into perspective and cause you to want to take a leap of faith and at least try to go after a dream... even if you might fail?
I have a new dream I have been working on. Actually, my real dream has been to be a figure skater. I haven't actually tried that yet... But I am doing something similar. I'm plunking around on in line roller blades and having a great time with it! I know I really need to bite the bullet and get some ice skates to use out on the lakes in the winter time. Do you have dreams that you haven't tried to turn into reality yet?
"Few can reach the magic strains,
And noisy fame is proud to win them.
Alas for those who never sing
...but die with all their music in them."
(I'm sorry, I don't remember the author... tomorrow, I'll call and ask my dad)
I am sure that we all have music of some kind within us… and we never can prepare to sing without simply singing! I remember as a child in music class at church. The chorister told me she couldn’t hear me singing. I told her that I couldn’t get the sound to come out. She said to me… “…then just SHOUT!” So I SHOUTED… and low and behold... the sounds came out – and on key! I could sing, and didn’t even know it. :D We may never know some of the sweet sounds within us until we find the courage to bellow them out!
I have learned in life that I had abilities that I didn’t know about simply because I hadn’t yet taken the leap and "shouted out" so to speak. Now and then I will SHOUT; I've never yet regretted it. Sometimes though, I regret the shouts that I have only dreamed...
I wonder what other sounds are hiding within me. This journal theme has me wondering about them, and striving to look at my life to ask myself what other areas I would like to Take a Leap and grow in. What else do I want to learn about? What else do I desire to become? A great Culinary Chief, perhaps? A Scriptorian? Historian? Figure Skater (I know it sounds crazy, but I really hope I am not too old for that!)? Photographer? Poet? Motivational Speaker? Athlete? Personal and Family History Writer? All of the above??? :D
Life is so full of possibilities.... just waiting to be ceased. Imagine the possibilities! Are you ready for an adventure? NO - not "are you ready?" instead ask yourself, "am I willing to go on an adventure despite the fact that I don't feel ready? Do I realize that it is in trying to do... that I gain skills needed to become prepared to do? Do I have the courage to risk failing? Do I have the guts to get back up after failing and 'try, try again?' "
Sometimes I forget who I am and what I am capable of. It is so easy to see others as amazing, and to doubt our own abilities. But I know who you are and that you are capable of amazing things; do you? Do you know who you are and what you can do? Take a leap! You might be surprised at what you discover! ;)
Wonderful, inspiring post! I need to take a leap, I just am having trouble choosing a direction :)
ReplyDeletehttp://fragilemouse.blogspot.com/
My problem is I have too many fingers in too many pots. Sooo many things out there I want to try and learn. So, I'm not very good at a lot of things but it sure is fun!
ReplyDeleteI'm with Rachel, I want to do a lot, but where to start and time???? I just don't have it right now!
ReplyDeleteLadies - It doesn't have to be anything big. Sometimes the best leaps we make are small changes that enrich our lives for good. And they don't have to take a lot of time. A few minutes here and there goes a long way!
ReplyDeleteFor example, taking a leap could include engaging in an activity that you love doing to help you stay active and fit, even if just 30 minutes a day... or going to bed early then waking up to study the scriptures or a particular subject etc. These small things make huge differences in our lives. A very small leap that I want to make is taking time to write "snal mail" again. I love getting letters in the mail, and rarely ever get them, so perhaps I can bring this small pleasure to another now and then.
Good luck! :D
Corine