Picture it
Four miles above the Earth’s surface
Between the sun and the curve of the Earth, your existence comes into perspective
Moments away from freefall
Faster than sound; out of control
Every memory from womb to death rushes through your head like a lightning storm of adrenaline
Blood rushing to your brain
You feel alive; so alive
The most pure feeling; mind, body and soul as one
Alone with the whole world looking up
Closer to the surface and reality
This surreal epic journey about to climax
You will hit the surface with life and death flipping a coin to see who wins the prize
It is so clear in the blindness of your fall
This is judgment day; the ultimate decision; the infinite risk
Speed picks up
All control diminished
All feeling gone
I cannot explain this
As you reach the moment where you are in absolute absence and only the forces defined by biblical words know your fate, it becomes a fairy tale of wisdom and horror
We have reached the end
Ground grows closer
The impact will hit soon
It all comes down to this moment
First voice in the morning; last at night
The energy that lights my candle
Whispers of friendship have blossomed into endearing love
But wait, time can destroy this union of destiny
It is about you now; it has to be for you are the flame that lights the sun
The world has shrunk to a small space reserved for you and I
Life is a journey traveled alone until the soul runs weary, rests on a stone and relies on the comfort of another to continue the path
Let’s just be
You and me
Alone, together for all eternity
I want to bleed your love
Did I say I love you?
I am a fool because I have not said it enough
I am a jester because I exposed my weakness with my words
My fear is your strength
You hold me in your arms with the power of a thousand armies
Your sword pierces my will to live; your words conquer this momentary bliss
Hold me til I die and then hold me a little longer
My paranoia is that someday I will fleet away to a pond of loneliness
The water will quench my thirst, but the drought of your absence will send me to this grave
I’m a lucky man
For just one moment I found you
Locked in your eyes I found the answers to questions too distant to reach
You are the shelter that will save me from this storm
With this power you can release me and destroy me
To my knees I go and wait…
If you want be free
If you want to fly
If you want soar high above the clouds
If you want to kiss the sky you cannot be afraid to fall
Hug the clouds, look down, let yourself go
The risk is the greatest temptation and insurmountable fear
The reward so high, the perish do severe
Are the wounds too deep?
Is the pain to relentless?
Does foreboding nightmare reign in your blood?
Walk through the valley of heat
Crawl through the forest of doubt
Open your eyes and the horror disappears
Failure is a hallucination
Break through the mirrors and the image of success
To breathe in the air of amazement is a narcotic blessed in euphoria wonder
The blood warm, shivers cover the skin and the spine tingles
A rainbow now fills the sky as you lay at the end basking in the golden pot
Life is unpredictable, surreal, beautiful, magical and enchanting with each moment and each breath
It is the music, the sunsets, the long slow kisses, the rainbows, the emotions, the risks, the adventures, the smell of the flowers, the glow of the stars, the warmth of the sun, the coolness of the spring breeze. It is the snowfall in winter and the leaves of all colors in the Autumn. Every turn is magic. We are mystified by our actions.
Why then do we waste it in the safety of our comfort zone? How often do you think about death? Once is too much. It will happen. It is a course of our life that will eventually greet us. Why then stop the amazing journey that is life with the thought of something you have no control over?
Take a moment to let that sink in.
When we are young we want to fall in love.
When we grow up we want a great job.
When we get older we want financial security.
When we retire we want a place to relax and play.
Now let us look between the lines.
Dreams
Passions
Desires
Goals
Achievements
Remember all those amazing ideas running through our heads?
Of course you do.
What are you waiting for?
I don’t know either.
This truly complex thing that houses blood, organs, muscles and a brain is a remarkable thing. More importantly, it gives you options to soar to the clouds.
It takes a strong person to be a dreamer. It takes a strong person to take the leap and pursue those dreams.
What fascinates me is that we lose ourselves in fantasies, action films and supernatural and rely on cinematic magic to help us escape our own lives, even for a few brief moments. The irony is that all the magic is around us. It is in the ability to breath in life each day. It is watching a human life grow. It is watching a plane fly through the sky and defy gravity. It is watching men watch us from space. It is about the endless possibilities available.
Maybe if we put the guns down, stop the hatred, look pass the prejudice, take those dreams we write on paper and take a chance. Even if each of us took one risk. Just one. That is 6.3 billion risks. We may not all achieve the goals we are looking for but just think about what a great world it would be if just a small percentage of those risks become realistic dreams. Wow.
Don’t wait for a catalyst or life changing event to get off your ass and become the person you want to be.
Here is your catalyst; the sunrise.
Make tomorrow the starting point of a life worth living.
Take advantage of your gift and make it special.
That is what I would like you to take away from this.
I may lose the battle but you’ve given me the will to try
You are my sight when I have no eyes
You are a voice of reason when I am speechless
You are the guide in my journey for my legs are numb
The thorns cut my skin and blood drips on the beautiful rose in a cascade of nature and humanity
It is with passion that I say these words
It is with love I have the strength to wander into the temple of darkness
Risking the safety of all that is familiar
Stepping away from the rising sun and entering the eclipse of light
Now; the birth of a moment
Take my hand
With your gentle skin I melt into your fortress
The philosophy of sanity is your bible
Echoing the silent lessons of innovators of past
Acceptance of the end is only the beginning
Greatness is within reach and you have exalted all that is right
“Hearts and thoughts they fade, fade away. Hearts and thoughts they fade, fade away”
- Elderly Woman Behind a Counter in a Small Town – Pearl Jam
I was walking the beach one evening. The air was crisp, the waves crashed in the distance and the reflection of the stars off the face of the ocean created a mystical light show reinforcing the wonder that is all around us.
It was in the moment, deep in thought that I reminded myself of the importance of perception. We all have good and bad in our lives. It is those that can soak the positive energy that feel the presence of true happiness. We all have the ability to feel the goodness of a warm breeze and the scent of fresh lilacs. When we are overpowered by the negative, we often fall into an abyss which we cannot return from. I enjoy swimming in the positive.
In all the frailty of existence we must continue to take advantage of this gift of life. To often we exhibit behaviors of greed, addiction, laziness, routine and denial instead of embracing the endless path of adventure knocking on our door.
Each breathe is a miracle.
Every step is the beginning of a new journey.
Life is as fragile as a bird in flight guided by the freedom of the wind but subject to the poisons that surround us. As we grow, we become aware of our senses and capabilities and begin the journey that will create a unique path that will be looked back upon for generations to come. Others will learn from the choices we make. Our pathway is a personal adventure of discovery, one that will force us to make decisions that will shape the next move in the chess game of life.
Our very being is a shelter for mind, body and soul, protected from the elements but aware of the piercing pain the thorns can inflict. This being will be forever etched never to be forgotten.
How often are you asked the question “What are you skills?” whether that is on a date, an interview, in casual discussion or in a personal moment of reflection. As we are raised, our mental capacities become more aware of our surroundings and capabilities. Like superheroes, we start to see areas of excellence that sets us apart from one another. Once we have discovered these gifts, we have a duty to utilize them for good. No good for ourselves alone but the good we can bestow on others and the legacy we leave as our footsteps are washed away by the oceans powerful waters.
In the blink of an eye, life begins……
Crawling across the room, falling and laughing
Building a fort out of a cardboard box
Playing on the swings
Going to camp and leaving your parents for the first time
The innocence and passion of the first kiss
Hitting the game winning shot in the State Championship in front of a thousand screaming fans
Holding up that diploma with pride and seeing your family weep in tears of happiness
Sitting up at 2 AM writing a paper and feeling the pressure of responsibility
Making decisions about your future for the first time
First day on the job
The grief of watching a loved one lowered into the ground
Falling in love
Declaring forever your dedication to the person you will spend all eternity with
Welcoming a new life into this world as you looking into the baby blues of your newborn
Watching your children run around the house
Waving them off to school for the first time
Watching the car pull away as they begin the next phase of their lives
Sitting on the rocking chair, sipping ice tea and remembering why you fell in love in the first place.
Watching the setting sun…
Life is a dream.
It is a series of opportunities to make imagination a reality
It gives you the potential to reach for the stars or lay under them with someone you love
Don’t forget to dance…The music is all around you.
Their eyes meet from across the room. At first, a glance, then an extended stare and finally, for a brief moment, you are the only two in the entire room. It is that exact moment when you imagine an entire life together scripted in your mind and acted out in just a few seconds. It is the living dream of unconditional love and the fantasy of the dream life that keeps us energized in the pursuit of true love.
How can you not feel euphoria when you two strangers come together and find what they are both pursuing. The hard part of reality. Reality throws the curve balls that unfortunately eliminate even the great ones.
We spend most of the evening talking ourselves out of the risk. The more we drink, the more encouragement we get from our friends, the harder it seems to get. So strange this phenomenon. With divorce rates always higher than any of us want to see, it makes you wonder, what if some of these moments of unspoken bliss came to fruition.
So many questions run through our minds during these bar/club/coffee shop hours…
1. Should the guy approach the guy or can a girl make the first move?
2. What if his/her friends don’t like me? Then I don’t have a chance no matter what.
3. What line do I use? Or should I be myself? Or is being myself a line?
4. What if he/she rejects me?
5. What if the great speech in my head doesn’t come out right and I sound like a bumbling idiot?
6. What if we have nothing in common? Should I lie?
7. What if he/she is not looking to get picked up and they are just hear to spend time with friends?
8. What if he/she likes one of my friends better?
After all those questions race through your mind, is there any reason to even try?
Of course there is!!!
Life’s greatest rewards comes from the greatest risk.
You can second guess life all your want, but in the end we will continue to breathe one day at a time until our bodies decide not to. Life will move one minute at a time and we will continue to make decisions at work and home that affect every aspect of our lives. So why is the prospect of saying hello to a complete stranger so frightening? I don’t know either. Make it a homework assignment the next time you go out, to say hello to a stranger and engage in conversation. But if you see someone that makes you hair stand on end and gives you feelings you cannot control, you had better make that move otherwise you are going to live a night in regret if not longer.
Maybe if a few of us start taking this advice, more soul mates will truly find their partner.
“Life is not about discovering our talents; it is about pushing our talents to the limit and discovering our genius.” – Robert Brault
“Nobody ever drowned in his own sweat.” – Ann Landers
“Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“If you can dream it,you can do it.” – Walt Disney
“Promise yourself to live your life as a revolution and not just a process of evolution.” – Anthony J. D’Angelo
“To the question of your life you are the answer, and to the problems of your life you are the solution.” – Joe Cordare
“Seventy percent of success in life is showing up.” – Woody Allen
“In response to those who say to stop dreaming and face reality, I say keep dreaming and make reality.” – Kristian Kan
“Dreams are free, so free your dreams.” – Astrid Alauda
“Plant your own garden and decorate your own soul, instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.” – Veronica Shoffstall
“Don’t let anyone steal your dream. It’s your dream, not theirs.” – Dan Zadra
“Dream as if you’ll live forever. Live as if you’ll die tomorrow.” – James Dean
“People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed only if there is light from within.” – Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
“I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.” – Pablo Picasso
“The promises of this world are, for the most part, vain phantoms; and to confide in one’s self, and become something of worth and value is the best and safest course.” – Michelangelo
“Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers.
The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently.
They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo.
You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them.
About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things.
They push the human race forward.And while some see them as the crazy ones,
we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world… are the ones who do.”
“It hurts to love someone and not be loved in return, but what is the most painful is to love someone and never find the courage to let the person know how you feel.”
- Unknown
What if he doesn’t life me?
I’m not making the first move?
He won’t actually like me if I am too aggressive, so I will be very subtle?
I just can’t tell what he is thinking and I don’t want to ruin what we have.
We had such a great night and I thought we were finally going to kiss
I like him a lot and I want to take our friendship to the next level but just don’t know how
How many of you are wandering through life living out the character in a sitcom? It can be one of the zany slapstick sitcoms of the 70’s or the more wholesome 80’s or 50’s or even the risqué 90’s/00’s but the bottom line is that too many of us are waiting for the show to be cancelled before the boy and girl come together.
It is a nice ride, but when the cancellation occurs in life it is just a little too late.
I do understand that centuries of tradition and values have embedded this belief system that a girl should never ask out a boy or even dare we say kiss him first. As ladies, you are to sit back and let the man court you. Don’t tell that to Agent Walker on Chuck or Sarah Connor who bore the savior to the world. Last time I checked these beautiful heroines saved the world, looked fantastic and got the man.
Throughout the last several weeks, I listened to stories of unrequited love. Hoping, wishing and praying that the boy notices how much the girl likes them and begins what they hope is a romance to last the ages. Just a quick update, they haven’t gotten there yet. Many of us all to often wait for traumatic events to make life altering changes (i.e. World War II, September 11, Tsunami…) but even that is momentary. We may see a baby boom but long term inner strength is short fleeted.
We all want love, yet too often we settle for security, a home, several children and an empty set of eyes to stare at each night. Girls grow up dreaming about the perfect Barbie life but somewhere along the line, they forget to go after it.
What saddens me is that each day of waiting and living out this mental relationship fantasy is another day of life slipping away without the comfort of your dream bubble.
Of course there is the risk. I know you are rolling your eyes saying “I am afraid to take the chance because if he doesn’t like me back I ruined everything” Isn’t being in love without the other one knowing and bringing mental anguish to yourself the ultimate tragedy? Each day you fight this war with yourself is another day to question yourself. How often do you ask yourself if you are attractive or good enough for him without realizing in the end it doesn’t matter?
The beauty you seek and the reinforcement you need will never come from a boy. It is a self awareness and this will create a domino affect that will raise your confidence, your awareness, your happiness and ultimately that feeling of beauty will show in your glow and your actions.
Stop waiting and hiding in your safety corner. If the feeling is there and the feeling is strong, follow your impulse.. You may be surprised with the end result.
“The greatest risk in life is taking the chance on life.”
“Let us praise famous men and our fathers that begat us. All these men were honoured in their generations and were a glory in their days. We are here today to give thanks for the life of Harold Abrahams. To honour the legend. Now there are just two of us – young Aubrey Montague and myself – who can close our eyes and remember those few young men with hope in our hearts and wings on our heels.”
Lord Andrew Lindsay – Chariots of Fire
Yesterday afternoon, Derek Jeter, right off the disabled list, danced his way into the history books acting out a script that could have been written by Aaron Sorkin and directed by James Cameron. It was a poetic journey as the Captain of the New York Yankees became the first player in pinstripes to strike 3000 hits in his career as he launched a home run decisively into the outfield bleachers. As 54,000 fans and millions of viewers stood to honor the man and the achievement for over five minutes, it was clear that this was not an isolated moment in sports history. This was a moment, drafted in the stars and played out as fairy dust fell from the heavens. Derek would go five for five including the game winning hit on this day, but as he hugged each one of his teammates and remembered those that were not there with him, he embraced a moment that will forever be in his and our hearts.
Derek danced.
Life is dictated by responsibility. Responsibility for the financial well-being of ourselves and our families. Responsibility for defining the morals that we bestow. Responsibility leading a life that our parents had set for us. Out of respect and admiration for our upbringing, many feel the need to “pay back” our parents with a life of moral solitude.
Yet, are we risk adverse because of the fear of harm or the perception that if we step into the unknown we become vulnerable and thus open the door for predators to take advantage of our weakness.
The human mind is a challenging foe whose very existence is our greatest challenge. It numbs the senses and imparts the lessons of routine, comfort, stability and patience.
If you collect all of these thoughts, they are nothing more than barriers to the Dance.
We are a civilization that for millions of years has thrived on innovation. The ability to create what does not exist has set the standards for everything from fire to space travel.
The most memorable successes occur when our backs are against the wall, the resources are limited and your only support is the will to know you can accomplish anything.
“Success means having the courage, the determination, and the will to become the person you believe you were meant to be” – George Sheehan
You are the will, compassion, fortitude, and strength to release the greatness within you. We are raised to dream; to reach for the stars and accomplish anything. Life shouldn’t interfere with the innocent notions you had as a child. If anything, life should strengthen the desire to want to meet and exceed those goals. All of us, whether wealthy or poor, receive an invitation to the dance. Some go, some don’t, some stand in the corner while the very few who know that it is an honor to stand alone on the center of that dance floor and shine will become greater than even their own imagination could visualize.
To be free to spin, jump and twirl and see things in this world that only you can see; what a thought. It is that perception that will carry over into the next generation and history will remember you, the shy boy or girl that dared to step on that shiny floor and let your soul be naked for all to see.
It is time to dance.
Reach into the pockets of that dress or suit and find that list you created that has you reaching into the unknown and let it out. Don’t give up, don’t let go…Just make the unthinkable happen and enjoy the ride.
Writer / Blogger / Social Media and Talent Acquisition Consultant / Life Geek / Photographer
Human Resources, Talent Acquisition, Global Social Media and Marketing Solutions including: organizational development, team building, change management, compensation structural development and implementation, social media and talent community development, growth and advancement, training, rewards and recognition, recruitment, attrition control, affirmative action administration, labor relations and M&A.
Trainer
So You Think You Can Interview - ProNet August, 2010 Personal Branding and Social Media Resources - ProNet June, 2010 Personal Branding and Social Media Resources - Lee Hecht Harrison July, 2010 Personal Branding and Social Media Tooling - Lenova Women in Leadership September, 2010 Your Life Bag - ProNet October, 2010, The Effects of Social Media in the Workplace - Carolinas Payroll Conference November 2012
Published Author
Sonni's Abyss (June 2008)
A Beautiful World (February 2011)
This Time Around (Scheduled for February 2013 Publication)
