Start Something Stupid

We are taught to avoid doing anything stupid, to be careful, to think long and hard about things. I got the careful message loud and clear. I even hear myself saying it to my granddarling but mostly as she’s teetering on the arm of the sofa poised to fall. The “think long and hard” part stuck to me like super glue. I took it all to heart often turning my “don’t do anything stupid” into “don’t doing anything at all.”

The idea to “start something stupid” is a big deal for me and not just because my mother forbid us to say the word “stupid” in our house growning up. That’s funny, I meant growing up. It did feel more like growning up sometimes.  I’ll take a baby step and leave it n the interest of “starting something stupid”.

I didn’t come up with the START SOMETHING STUPID idea on my own. It sparked from a guest blog by Richie Norton on Jonathan Fields site http://www.jonathanfields.com/blog/how-to-stop-waiting-and-start-living/ called Stop Waiting and Start Living that touched me in my deepest reaches.

His personal, moving, heart-filled, real-life story shares the important message we’ve all heard before and think we already know, that this moment is the only guarantee we have. But this time, I heard it in a new way!

The writing is insightful, chalked full of wisdom and personal truths, one that I couldn’t shake, one that followed me into my day and beyond, his last line START SOMETHING STUPID.

I emailed the blog to my husband Bob who had just pitched me an idea to buy a small property on the main drag here and start some kind of business. Problem was we couldn’t figure out a viable business that made sense for the property.

He immediately shot me an email back “wanna start something stupid?” With all the inspiring ideas in the blog post, we shared the same takeaway, touché Mr. Albers. This particular project probably isn’t our “something stupid,” but now we are on the prowl for what is.

Those three words “start something stupid” changed us. We see the world differently, through eyes open a little bit wider, looking for what purposeful, new adventure might be out there for us.

Heading out this morning, Bob pokes his head into my office and kisses me goodbye.  I say “have fun and don’t forget to start something stupid.” As the door closes, I hear him say “how stupid???” like it’s a challenge. I’m a little scared now!

Blog Writing 101

The IDEA, EXECUTION, and PUBLISH POST button are three important elements to consider when writing a blog post. Each can terrify a beginner. But trust me you can do this.

IDEA - write about something you believe in that excites you. Something you are experiencing right now or something that you can’t get out of your mind translate well into blog posts that engage readers.

EXECUTION – short and simple is best. A three paragraph writing style similar to one I use in my Focus Phrase Process is a great structure for new bloggers to loosely follow. I say "loosely" because you may notice that this post does not conform to that style.☺ Also, remember to edit, edit, edit. Ask yourself “is this word, thought, or sentence necessary to tell the story?” If not, no matter how brilliant, lose it.

PUBLISH POST - clicking the publish post button used to paralyze me, but practice does make easier (remember there is no perfect). So NIKE (just do it!) You can always change, edit, or if you totally freak out delete it altogether. Nothing is carved in stone here, RELAX, hit PUBLISH POST and see what happens.

My guess is you will find many who appreciate your message and identify with you. Martha Beck calls them “your people.” Don’t let fear keep you on the sidelines another minute. Put yourself out there, BLOG, find “your people” and start building a tribe.

I’m hitting PUBLISH POST now!☺

LIVE YOUR DREAM

“A JOURNEY OF WORDS"- Discover the wisdom of your own words.

Are you ready to take the next BIG step toward living your dream?

Want to understand yourself better and find more meaning and direction in your life? We create our WORLD with our WORDS. Our thoughts become things. When we tell ourselves we can, we can and when we tell ourselves we can’t, well you know how that usually goes.

The words we use every day get strung together and become the fabric of the stories of our lives. Want your life’s journey to be a beautiful tapestry worthy of you? Join me, Caren4u in an online writing experience focusing on the wisdom of your own words.

Mary Anne Radmacher’s thought-provoking, inspiring words (Radmacher Focus Phrases™) begin a conversation that leads to exploration and discovery. Even if you don’t feel like an accomplished writer this class is for you. It's about so much more than writing. Write to inspire your inner strength. Write to develop a habit of using your own words to keep you focused and aimed in the direction of your dreams.

Focus Phrase writing is a small investment with huge returns. While it is about writing it is more about what you discover as you explore and write. The insight gained doesn’t end when the class ends, it lasts a lifetime.

This is a guided writing process conducted online. I offer feedback unique and specific to your writing and discovery. Encouragement and support, no extra charge, that’s just how I roll!

A JOURNEY OF WORDS begins on June 7th and concludes June 25th. $129 covers three consecutive weeks of writing Monday – Friday. Ready to enroll? Reply to caren4u@comcast.net and I will get you registered and paid.

Want a shorter class, I offer A JOG OF WORDS. $40 covers a one week preview that introduces you to the Focus Phrase writing process. At the end of the week, you can decide to continue on with me or enjoy having participated in the shorter class experience.

Here’s what some of my participants have to share about the process:

“This turned out to be a wonderful opportunity to prod my inner wisdom and to actually allow myself to creatively explore beyond the obvious. I found this to be freeing and exciting.” Anne M.

“I imagined this course would get me thinking about life choices big and small, and help me focus on my needs, but I didn't know that some choices would become very important and very clear. I've been able to set my priorities and complete some challenges that have enriched my life in marvelous and unexpected ways.” Michelle A.

Live Your Dream - http://carenalbersinspirations.com

Renaissance

I rarely see the first light of day. I’m not against it, but my natural circadian rhythm wakes me at seven thirty when the sun has made her debut and is already ascending in the morning sky. On those rare days when I do occasion a glimpse of her first rise, I know I have witnessed something truly spectacular, a birth, a new beginning.

I am seeing my own sunrise right now. On the horizon her beauty greets me more brightly each day. She emerges wondrous and whole, a perfect arc arching forward. Her appearance not coincidental, designed, desired, and now required by me. Her presence arrives as beautifully as a bird’s melodic call filling my ears with joyful songs.

It is my calling, my soul’s reach. A hand offered a hand taken, pulling me out of my past into the present where all power lives to create my future. I have answered the call and I smile now, not for the world to see, but for me.

Dream Searcher

When we are young, most of us become overly identified with our roles and carry them throughout our lives without ever even questioning them.

“Good with Numbers” becomes an accountant, “Good with People” maybe a social worker, “Good in Science” perhaps a doctor, “Good with Kids” teaches. Early on, we listen to what others say about our abilities and identify more with their assessments than we do with the vast unnamed qualities that make up our personalities.

Unfortunately, role identifications get attached to us at a very young age when we don’t fully know “who we are.” I’m sure you know many adults with varying degrees of dissatisfaction with their jobs or lives and still they cling to their original role identification unable to let go or create a new one for themselves.

I call myself a dream searcher because I dropped my childhood identity and began experimenting with “who I am.” I love trying on “new hats” to see how they fit, because fit is everything. I can be “Good with Whatever” but if it doesn’t fit my life right now, it will not fulfill me. I may stay a dream searcher my entire life, the idea does have appeal to me. It just means I haven’t ruled anything completely out yet.

Not everyone can or would want to do this, but what you can do is carve out a little corner of your life and experiment. Make room for something that has always interested you. You will be amazed at how the ripple effect of joy can overflow into other areas of your life. Before you know it, you are changed. Not because of a grand plan or a sweeping gesture, but because of your willingness to look at your world through the eyes of a child and dream.