-By Jaime Willis
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it." ~Thomas Paine
Happy Memorial Day to all of us in the United States and Happy Monday to the rest of the world. If you are or were a member of the military, thank you so much for your service! We appreciate you!
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| John's Flag 1954-55 by Jasper Johns Encaustic, oil, and collage on fabric, mounted on plywood The Museum of Modern Art, New York |
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Sometimes, we let THOUGHTS get in the way of our dreams -- can you believe that? Sometimes, there is no hulking bouncer telling you that you can't go past "here" and no physical illness or injury standing in our way. Sometimes, it is just our way of thinking that causes us to stumble.
I'd like to present you with three people who didn't let their thoughts get in the way.
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| Gpa's Upright Base |
First, is my Grandpa. As you may have already read, "Gpa" passed away earlier this month. My family is still mourning his loss and celebrating his life as we talk to each other. One really cool memory I get to keep of Gpa's life, though, is the fact that he took up playing the upright bass in his retirement. Apparently, Gpa had played instruments in high school and really enjoyed music, but by the time he had grandkids, this part of his life was long past -- I didn't even know about his love of music. Until.
One day, Gpa comes home with this HUGE package. He'd bought himself an upright bass. While he and Gma were in Florida that winter, he set up the bass in the garage, took lessons and practiced regularly. Although Gpa never went on tour or even held a concert, he got such joy out of learning how to play the bass. He didn't think that he was too old to learn, or that his hands may not have been spry enough to master the strings and chords. He just went ahead and did it. What a wonder memory and lesson to pass on to his whole family!
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| Courtesy of Ernestineshepherd.net |
Second, I'd like to introduce you to Ernestine Shepherd. Ernestine woke up twenty years ago, at the age of 54, and she was just sick. Overweight, depressed, high blood pressure, panic attacks, and acid reflux. If there was a part of her body that was healthy, she couldn't feel it. That day, she and her sister, Mildred, were trying on swimsuits. Like many women, it was a pretty depressing event. Something in her snapped that day and she vowed to get her health on track.
Twenty years later, the 5'3" Ernestine wakes up each more and runs 10 miles, before hitting the gym for pushups, pull-ups, and other strength training exercises -- to the amazement of her 80 year old husband, 53 year old son, and 14 year old grandson. Ernestine is the Guinness World Record holder for the oldest female body builder. And she looks AMAZING. She didn't let thoughts about her age or her mobility or her previous health issues get in her way!
Third, maybe it's time for you to think like a little kid. Six-year-old Isaac began learning to play the piano recently, and his Dad bought him a manuscript book (think of it like a music book, without the notes, so someone can write in their own music) on a whim, thinking it would be a while before he used it.
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| Hattip: Reddit.com |
The thing is, nobody told Isaac he was "too young" to write music. So he decided to write a song. He called it "Snakes Away." Being a proud but not musically gifted, his father crowd-sourced the song to the internet, and musicians responded. There are now several versions and remixes of "Snakes Away" for everyone to share in. When Isaac woke up the next morning and his dad played him his song, Isaac was ecstatic. "[He] is dancing around like a madman!" said his father.
As you start your week this week, take a moment to pause and think if you are letting any of your limiting THOUGHTS get in the way of your own dreams. What would it feel like to let go of that thought and try for your dream?
Believe it - Achieve it!
