A Spirit of Adventure

"Ineffective people live day after day with unused potential. They experience synergy only in small, peripheral ways in their lives. But creative experiences can be produced regularly, consistently, almost daily in people's lives. It requires enormous personal security and openness and a spirit of adventure." ~Stephen R. Covey

Wow.

As those of you following my blog know, I've been focused on finding inspiration in my life as I'm recouping after my eye surgery. My surgery (& ensuing headaches) have certainly put me in a 'No Bull&^%$' state-of-mind, to say the least! I suppose that is because it has been such a struggle with all these %$#@ headaches. Fortunately, I'm 'seeing' progress as I figure out my limitations & how to work around them.

When I was younger I was a rules-follower. That's how I was raised, and that's what one did to fit in. By now I've figured out that being true to myself works better because I'm playing to my strengths, not to someone else's ideals. And by experiencing the personal security that goes along with trusting my instincts, my natural sense of adventure and openness feel stronger than ever. And it feels good!

While I still struggle with headaches, eye-strain, dizziness & some (understandable) fatigue, I'm making it a personal challenge to test my limits & see just how much living I can get away with. I'm still doing all the right things (eating healthy, exercising regularly, expanding my mind with learning & projects, socializing, meditating, etc.), and yet my 'No Bull &^%$' Fly-Zone is allowing me to seek out (and find) daily inspirations. This world is SO vast, and holds so many amazing things... and I want to experience as many of them as I possibly can.

So tell me, what speaks to your sense of adventure? What makes your heart & mind take flight & soar? Tell me...

What do you love passionately? What can make you adapt and push through any obstacle in your path?
Tell me... http://tinyurl.com/yg8dg8l

Adaptation

"It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change." ~Charles Darwin

Well, it certainly is good news that brother Darwin asserts that it is the most adaptable that survives, not merely the strongest nor the most intelligent! My best friends will describe me as many things (I am human, after all), and strong and intelligent are always part of that equation. Fortunately. And while the past several months since my eye surgery have been an interesting challenge due to the &^%$ headaches, I'm proud to state that I am definitely adapting!

What has helped me the most has been finding inspiration anywhere I can be it in nature, literature, movies, music, and people. Love is also a large factor. What I love, I love passionately. Always have. And I'm proud to have wonderful people in my life whom I love and love me, too.

And while these *&^% headaches used to scare me, I'm not frightened anymore. I know I am loved, and through my friends' eyes I have learned to see my own strength, intelligence, and adaptability. When the pain gets really bad, it's okay to feel it (even if it makes me cry), because it reminds me that I can see again. And that's the most amazing thing. Ever! There's so much beauty in this world, I'm eternally grateful to see it. A million thanks Dr. Stephen D. McLeod of UCSF...

So tell me, what do you love passionately? What can make you adapt and push through any obstacle in your path?

Tell me...

What Inspires You?

"It's so hard to find someone to admire... now I'm gonna try to improve my life." ~Madonna

Now that the 2010 Vancouver Olympics have come and gone, and I no longer have my friends to cheer for in that arena, I realize that I'm a little bored and in need of more inspiration.

While I still have daily headaches, I'm definitely managing them much better. I now understand most of the triggers that cause my headaches, which means I can avoid them, or minimize my exposure to them, thus avoiding the really crippling ones. Bright lights, for example, trigger pain, so by wearing clear sunglasses the effect is diminished. Granted I feel self-conscious about wearing sunglasses indoors or at night, however I can't be bothered by what the world thinks. I'm tickled-pink to be that much more active again! And while I'd much rather report that I don't have daily headaches any longer, I'm stoked that they are much less intense than before. Yeah!

And since I'm much more active, life is looking up -- pun intended! I'm able to exercise much more regularly (yeah, endorphins!), and my social life is picking up again, too.

And I'm still amazed each day when I meet someone else who has gone through some physical trauma, particularly those who have also suffered a traumatic eye accident. It's fascinating to hear their stories, and to commiserate with them about their recovery process. Talk about finding inspiration!

So tell me, what inspires you?

Where are you getting your inspiration from that makes each day better than the last?

What is it that makes you smile, even when it's difficult?

What inspires you to become a better version of yourself?

Tell me...