“It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.” ~ Edmund Hillary

As I sit here, I am transported back to a moment from a couple of years back, from our visit to Mount Rainier, in Washington state.  This picture — a favorite of mine — jumped out at me.  A reminder of our summer vacation, and even more than that — what this mountain, what all the mountains of our world, can teach us. 

Our visit — just a single day, yet an awe-filled moment that will live on forever in my soul.

Lessons from the Mountain

• A mountain…it represents both a high point and a low point.  And even climbing a mountain, there will be moments where you are going up, and then need to change direction and go down in order to continue to the peak. 

  Life Lesson: Life is like this.  There will be ups and there will be downs.  The important thing to remember is that through it all, remember where you are headed on your life journey.  Have you thought about the peak you’re aiming for?
   

• Go out on a hike, and depending on where you are — there may or may not be a trail to follow.  Along the easier parts of the mountain, paths which are traveled regularly by many — trails are plentiful and in good condition.  The closer you get to the peak, or the farther away you get from places that are most popular — the less likely you are to have an easy trail to follow. 

  Life Lesson: Along those paths in life you travel, sometimes you will be on well-traveled paths.  These paths — the paths of comfort, familiarity,  mediocrity — they are paths traveled by many.  And they are not necessarily good or bad.  They just are.  And they are paths we will travel on.  All of us.  And sometimes, that is good.  Other times, though, if you really desire to reach your mountaintop, you are going to venture off the main paths.  You will have to blaze your own trails.  Venture out into this unknown territory.
   

• As you climb those mountains of your world, or even just heading out into the wilderness near you — there will be times when you fall down. When you slip on a rock.  When there’s a stream to cross, and no bridge.  When there are boulders in front of you that seem insurmountable.  And you might get hurt.  You might have to turn around.  Or you might look for another way. 

  Life Lesson: Obstacles.  They are out there in your life.  And you will most certainly encounter them as you go through life.  Will they be there on the new trails you’re forging toward your peak?  Definitely.  You will stumble along the way, in this thing called your life.  Your ego will be bruised.  You might be broken financially or emotionally.  Yet, that doesn’t mean you are finished, or that your mountain peak isnt’ attainable.  Maybe it means you have to retreat and regroup.  Or look for a different way to the top.  Or take a break.  Maybe it even means this isn’t the mountain for you.  This can be a good time for reflection, to really evaluate where you’re at.  And if you come out of that saying it’s the wrong mountain, that’s fine.  As you journey through life, what matters to you may change.  Recognizing this is an important step — so that you can be climbing the right mountain — for you.  And if that means retreating because you’re now on the wrong mountain, that’s perfectly okay.  Just as is taking a break, or retreating and regrouping before conquering the mountain again.
   

• Your mountain is there to climb, and you do.  You take paths part of the way.  You forge your own paths part of the way.  You go up, down, sideways, stall, and repeat.  Eventually you reach that peak.  And the view from the peak is an awesome one, filled with the vastness of what you can see from here.  And then you realize, this is a moment in time.  You are not going to stay on this peak.  You’ll retreat back down the mountain (perhaps traversing a new path along the way).  And while you’ll remember the peak, it’s the journey that made it all worth it. 

  Life Lesson: With effort, your mountain peaks in life are reachable.  The thing to remember, though, is that this peak is a moment in time.  The peak is not a place we stay at forever.  It’s a place to savor, for having reached it.  And in reaching this life peak, you also remember that’s it’s the journey of getting there that has made it all so worth it.  And then you move on.  To the next mountain in your life.

The mountains of your life are out there.  You are climbing them right now.  Are they the mountains you want to be climbing?  Have you taken the time to really know, deep within, if this mountain of life you’re on — if it’s the one you’re meant to be climbing at this moment?  Find that mountain that has meaning to you, and climb!

“Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So… get on your way.” ~ Dr. Seuss

by Lance Ekum

photo credit: HimynameisEuan

“Eventually you will come to understand that love heals everything, and love is all there is.” ~ Gary Zukav

Soft music. Dimmed lights. Candle-lit.

A service of healing, for all who want it. Deeply. And for whatever healing that might mean.

The time: nearly two years ago.

This was the third such service like this I had been a part of. This one, though – different. Different, as I would be in the role of “healer”…listening to people’s petitions, needs, wants, desires. And then – lift those up to a Higher Source.

Is there training for this position? Does a “healer” have to know anything special, do anything special? Did I really know at all what to do?

Perhaps the training had been on the job training from the first two sessions. Two sessions where I was fully involved, except not in this role of “healer”.

So…I listened.

…I listened with my heart…

Perhaps this deeper listening is most important. Perhaps really hearing what another soul is saying…not just the spoken words, words from deep within. Words spoken with the eyes. Words spoken from the heart. Words spoken with tears, words spoken with a smile. Words that are real.

It was a sacred experience.

It was not about knowing what the right things were to say or do. It was not about being some sort of expert on any of this.

It was all about being fully in that moment…listening, caring.

Being love.

And then … being open to the words that came from my soul.

Love, in action.  Love, without jugdgement.  Love, and love alone.

What a truly moving experience. A complete focus on that moment, that soul, there with me. Our spirits locked together by human touch. A gift from the Divine.

Maybe it all seems a bit “out there”. Touch-feely. It’s not like any of this offers any physical healing, any noticeable healing.

Healing of the soul.

Disease. Pain. Strained relations. Family challenges. Suffered friendships. Lost jobs. Financial difficulties. Death.

The stuff that seems big.

Courage. Show love. Embrace the moments. Wisdom. Fears. Loneliness.

The stuff that’s harder to fully quantify.  The stuff that doesn’t have to be quantified…just heard…

Where are you at on this? Is there healing that you could use?

I have done this three times, this service of healing. Each time I’m moved to not only play an active role in the healing process, even more than that – to be on the receiving end of this healing gift

To have hands placed on me. To share openly. And then to allow the healing process to begin anew, through that healing touch of another.

Perhaps we can all use a some healing in our lives.

Wherever we are in our life. Whatever we are doing. Perhaps it’s something very specific. Or maybe something more general. When we are open to going deeper within ourselves, to seeing this bigger need for healing, always…

LOVE, in action.

Does anything really change? Am I really any different because I’ve been “healed”? Or does this just seem like some “feel good” moment, only to be quickly forgotten once I’ve left this sacred place?

I can only speak from my personal experience. And in that…I believe deeply that there truly is a healing taking place. I am changed. Maybe it doesn’t cure some disease overnight. Or mend a broken relationship the next day. Or give me that boost of courage I need to stand up for something I believe later that evening. Perhaps it’s much deeper than any of this. Perhaps that healing starts at a soul level. And in that, we experience a deeper wholeness with ourselves

And that, I believe, is love.

May each of you find a deep sense of peace within…and know that love is…

…love is the movement…

by Lance Ekum

photo credit: spacepleb

“The sun’s energy warms the world. But when you focus it through a magnifying glass, it can start a fire. Focus is powerful.” ~ Alan Pariser

~ Comments Closed ~

Like many people, I can never seem to find enough time to do everything that I need and want to do. With only 24 hours in a day and 7 days in a week, there is no way to squeeze it all into my life.

On a daily basis, I find myself struggling as to what aspect of my life I should focus my attention: preparing healthy foods, educating my son, learning how to save money and make money, enriching my prayer life, exercising, spending time with friends and family, and practicing my various hobbies. All of these are important, but by attempting to focus on all of them, I spread myself too thin.

So how do you determine what to focus on in life? To find an answer, you must first answer a series of other questions.

Questions to Ask Yourself

1. Am I Experiencing Anything That Is Life-threatening?

Obviously, if you are in immediate danger, you’ll be attending to that issue, but this question goes much deeper than that. Is there anything that is going on in your life that is going to harm you if you don’t deal with it? For example, do you have a serious medical condition that requires attention?

Consider your eating and exercising habits, as well as your mental and overall health by going to your physician for a preventative care check-up. Your doctor will be able to tell you if  you are at risk for any potential health problems and what you should focus on now to prevent them. If your doctor tells you that you are overweight and have high blood pressure and cholesterol making you at risk for heart disease and diabetes, you need to focus on making lifestyle changes now in order prevent these life-threatening conditions.

2. Are My Relationships Strained?

You may be experiencing various forms of stress in your life, but if you do not have someone whom you trust and who you know will stand by your side, you will be a lot less capable to take on the challenges of daily life. As communal beings we need each other for moral and physical support. Without a support system, we often become unmotivated and depressed.

If you find yourself saying “yes” to this question, aim your focus at repairing tense or broken relationships, especially with your spouse. This can be particularly uncomfortable if you are dealing with financial infidelity in your marriage, but be the bigger person by making the first move.

3. Are My Finances Suffering?

Once you know you are physically healthy and that your relationships are healthy, ask yourself if your finances are healthy. You can do this by examining the following:

• Do you have a budget you follow?
• Does your income exceed your expenses?
• Are you saving for retirement?
• Are you debt-free?

If you answered “yes” to these questions, fantastic. If not, then it’s time to get to work on a personal budget. You may also want to consider ways to make extra money in order to pay down debt, build up your savings, or prepare and plan for retirement.

Once you have a handle on your finances, you can then switch your focus to thriving financially. Perhaps you may even want to start thinking about how to become a millionaire!

4. Is There Something I Could Learn That Would Enrich My Life?

I love to learn new things, and there is often so much on my “to-learn” list that I don’t know where to start. So not only is there a question of if I should focus on learning something, there is also the question of what I should focus on learning.

The best way to approach this is to first consider learning about anything that will enrich your quality of life. Perhaps you can learn something to help you save money, such as couponing, cooking more nutritious foods, or starting your own vegetable garden.

Also consider learning things that could enrich your spiritual or prayer life; this will bring you peace and may even be another way to discern where to direct your focus.

5. Where Do I Want to Be in Five Years?

Really, the question is, what do you want to do with your life? Is there a new career that you would like to pursue? If the profession requires schooling, training, or experience, you will need to devote some of your focus to getting that process started.

Is there a goal that you would like to reach? One of my goals is to run a full marathon at some point in my life. When the time is right for me to achieve that goal, I’ll need to make the training my focus.

6. What Are My Passions?

We only live one life, so don’t waste your time on things that do not matter to you. Does it really matter that you watch that TV show? Do you really need to spend an hour on Facebook checking the statuses of your former high school friends?

No, you don’t. You need to get up, get out, and start living. Figure out what really matters to you and make those things your focus. Don’t waste your time and energy on things that you will regret.

Final Thoughts

It can be overwhelming to think about all the ways you can spend living your life, but the key is to focus on the most important things while letting the rest fall into place.

Once you have a handle on areas of your life, such as your health, your relationships, and your finances, expand your focus to include goals and passions. Don’t overwhelm yourself by taking on too much, and know that each potential focus has its time and place.

What are you focusing on in your life?

photo credit: Jerrycharlotte

“I don’t care how much power, brilliance or energy you have, if you don’t harness it and focus it on a specific target, and hold it there you’re never going to accomplish as much as your ability warrants.” — Zig Ziglar

Focus.

It’s an interesting thing…focus is. 

At this very moment, I’m focused on writing this piece here at the Jungle of Life.  Except…except it is easy to wander, to let my mind drift elsewhere.  And when I do this — my focus shifts.  It’s not that I’m no longer focusing.  Instead, it’s that I’m choosing to focus on something else.

Perhaps the new snow on the ground outside.  Or what I’ll have for breakfast.  Or Facebook.  Or why that car cut in front of me on the highway earlier today.  Or any number of things — things that may or may not really deserve my focus.

When I do this — when I shift my focus from what I’m doing to something else — that thing I’m working on loses importance.  More than that, even — my drifting focus keeps me rooted in what has always been.

What?

Have you ever said (either aloud or silently) something like “I really want to ______.” (where the blank space represents something you have said).  And then — that thought leaves you, perhaps to never be revisited again, or perhaps to come up days/months/years down the road — with a twinge of regret for never having acted upon it.

Why?

We can all have these great thoughts of things we want to do/try/be.  And then…it is easy to fall into the trap of doing what we’ve always done.

We let our thoughts drift…from one thing to the next.

And before we know it — another day/month/year has passed, and there we are doing what we have always done.

Today, I challenge you to add some clear focus to something that has meaning to you.  Maybe it’s something you’ve dabbled in.  Maybe it’s something you have really put a lot of time and effort into already (very awesome!).  Maybe it’s something that has just kind of lingered around in your brain (and in your heart, especially). 

Up the focus!

And be very clear about this — it’s not about “upping the focus” in everything you do (there is probably not a need to be more focused on making that daily pot of coffee, for instance).  This is specifically about taking one aspect of you and upping your focus factor in that area.

This is not about multitasking your way through life — this is much more about single-tasking.  And in that — focusing on that very thing you are doing, at that moment. 

In this case, especially, though — it is about choosing one thing of meaning to you — that you will really up the focus on this year.

Some moments when you are focusing on this will be easy.  Some will be challenging.  Through it all — know that your mind is a powerful force — and that you have the choice in what that amazing mind of yours focuses on.  As you begin down this path of delving more into something of meaning to you — in the moments that you are in that space — be fully in that space (physically and mentally).  Focus.  Focus on that one particular thing for the duration. 

Do this — and your life will unfold in amazing and meaningful ways…

And it’s a good night to give…to you.

We lead busy lives.  All that STUFF we have going on EVERY day.  All wrapped around some sleep in there there someplace.

Wash. Rinse. Repeat.

♦  I’m busy — the status symbol of success.   ♦

Whoa!

Has it come to that?

The truth is — I know that I have, on more that one occasion, pulled out that “I’m busy” card (and felt that there was some level of status in that).

It’s easy.  Because the truth is — we ARE busy!  And even if we’re not — it’s still not too difficult to occupy our time with those non-important and non-urgent activities that make us “look” busy (or like we’re just trying to get a short break in the busy-ness of our lives…).

Lets’ call this for what it really is — we “allow” ourselves to be busy.

And in the DOING of this — we are, at our core, neglecting something very important.

Neglecting Ourselves. 

In the pretense of our busy lives — we neglect to take care of ourselves.

By the time all of our busy commitments are done — what’s left?  What’s REALLY left?

Is there time to just BE with YOU?

Is there?

And are you?

No phones. No television. No running to that next activity. 

Just — time to be still.  (whatever that idea of “be still” is for you)

Time — for YOU.  Not because you should.  Not because you need to fill a time-chunk in your calendar.  Not because it looks good.

Do it because your life is precious…meaningful…real… (it is)

Do it because you don’t know that tomorrow brings… (we don’t know)

Do it because you are worth it… (you are)

30 Day Challenge:  Make time — each day.  Now — give that TIME to YOU.  This can be a bunch of different possibilities:  morning meditation/quiet time, a walk around the block, resurrect (or start a new) hobby, read a book, exercise, “play” outside, etc.  You get the idea — this is about deliberately choosing to give time to yourself.  DAILY.  And you are doing this — because YOU choose to.  Remember: you are doing this for YOU.  Choose, with meaning, what this will be.  And then — commit to GIVING to YOU — for the next 30 days.

by Lance Ekum

photo credit: filtran

“He who seeks more than he needs hinders himself from enjoying what he has.” ~ Hebrew Proverb

Information.  Food. Attitudes.  Drinks.  Vibes.  The media.  Thoughts.

We consume a lot.

Let’s look a little closer at this.  Consumption is something we do…EVERY day.

Starting from the time we get up – whether it’s watching the morning news or having breakfast or time in personal thought or whatever it is that begins our day…we consume.

And that continues throughout the hours of our day.The thing is…what we are choosing to consume…is it what truly nourishes us?  Or, do we sometimes (oftentimes?) over-consume?

It’s easy, isn’t it?  It’s easy to over-consume.

A Little Story About A Pineapple

I’d like to talk pineapples. 

When I was in college (wow…and that was a while ago!), one particular evening was an all-nighter, getting a project done by the time it was due (why did we wait until the last minute, anyway???).

Somehow we finished the project we were working on, and were able to get it turned in on time.  In a state of tired-ness, and fueled by coffee – my roommate and I decided to also fuel our bodies with a pineapple (sounds like a good thing, doesn’t it?). 

A pineapple – a healthy fruit!

And we cut that thing up…and ate the whole thing.

Have you ever done that?

Well…almost immediately after finishing (or really – a little before we finished), my mouth began to burn.  The acidity of too much pineapple had created a burning sensation in my mouth.  Ouch!!

A fruit – something that is filled with nutrients…and I had over-consumed!

While it might not always be so obvious, I’ve continued to over-consume time and time again – of both “good” things and “bad” things. 

And I venture to guess that you have, too.

Consumption

So…consumption…

What are you consuming?

And maybe even more important – are you consuming more than you really need?

My challenge to you, as you begin this month of November – and we approach a season that can very much be excess-filled (the Christmas season, here in the United States), is to really (and objectively) look at your own personal consumption habits. 

What are you choosing to consume?  Does this fit with the life you desire?

Don’t stop there, though – are you consuming more than you really need, and is this in any way limiting you from reaching toward the life goals you have for yourself.

Or maybe – is what you are choosing to consume – is that limiting you from identifying your own personal life goals?

Think about it.  Think about it, and be mindful of what you choose to consume. 

You CAN create the life you desire!

by Lance Ekum

photo credit: Joel Olives

“How does one become a butterfly?” she asked. “You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar.” ~ Anonymous

Comfort Zones

Mmmm…that big cushy sofa in your living room.  The bed you’ve had for ten years.  The same family vacation spot you’ve visited as long as you can remember.

There’s comfort in these “zones”. 

The j-o-b you’ve been doing for the last ten years.  The television show reruns you continue to watch.  The relationships you continue to hold onto.  The …_______ {fill in the blank}.

There’s comfort in these “zones”, too.

Let’s look at that a bit deeper.  That sofa.  You’ve had it for years.  Evenings, after a long day at work…there’s a true comfort in plopping down there.  The feel, the look, the way it forms to you…is comforting.  There’s something that draws you to that place, welcoming you in.

It’s nice, isn’t it — how you “feel” when you plop yourself down into that sofa (or whatever it is for you that’s a real source of comfort and joy).

What about that job you have, though?  The one you’ve been doing for years.  Or those relationships you continue to hold onto. 

Things you do because you’ve always done them — and there’s comfort even if there isn’t joy. 

There’s a comfort in the knowing that it’s (whatever “it” is) there.  (good or bad)

And the whole thought of stepping out of that comfort zone…well, it feels really daunting.  That, and — you know — maybe that “outside your comfort zone” thing you’ve been thinking about…well, what if you look like a great big fool when you try it.  What will everyone think? 

Hmmm.…

Yoga

Perhaps it seems strange to segue into yoga from here.

Let me explain…

I’m not unlike you.  I can quickly get pretty damn used to those comfort zones in my life.  And, well…some of them are good.  Some also hold me back, though.

Let’s go back a couple of years…

The idea of trying yoga is something that has kept appearing before me.  And I’m drawn to it — and to the whole mind/body connection.  There’s this thing, though — it’s outside of my comfort zone.  I’ve never tried yoga — certainly not publicly, in a class.  I don’t have any of the equipment.  The few people I personally know who practice yoga are all female.  Whoa!  Lots of comfort zone red flags.

And guess what?

Because I allowed myself to be limited by the walls I built up around my area of comfort, I also let the opportunity to practice yoga elude me. (can you relate?)

Change

Change.  It happens every day.  Sometimes it happens around us, and there’s nothing we can do about it (think road construction, the new family that moved into the neighborhood, etc).  Sometimes change is presented to us — and from our “comfort zone”, we accept it (think new responsibilities at work, a new time for your favorite tv show, etc). 

How about getting out of those comfort zones, though?

When we actively choose to change, and to make those changes — we ARE actively stepping out of our comfort zones. 

Back To Yoga

Think of a time you have actively chosen to make a change in your life…to step outside of that comfort zone.  How did it go?  Even if it didn’t go as well as you had hoped, I’m sure you can still take something from the experience (especially when it’s something that’s spoken from your heart). 

About a year ago, I chose to step outside of that comfort zone I had created — the one around exercise and what I could and could not do.  I signed up to participate in a weekly yoga class.

Was it scary? 

Think of that first day going to school, or your first day on a new job (especially when you don’t know anyone).  Yep, it was pretty much like that.  Thoughts going through my head:  would I look like a fool, what if I couldn’t get into some certain position, would I look like a novice amongst experts, would I feel out of place, would I slow the class down…

And guess what??

They were just that — thoughts in my head!  In fact, I walked into a class (and instructor) that welcomed me.  When I didn’t “get” one of the positions, help was right there.  When I couldn’t do some things (okay — there are just certain positions my body is not ready for yet!) I also realized there were others there as well. 

Today I continue practicing yoga, at the same studio I began at one year ago.   The shift:  by actively choosing to change, this place of fear and unknowing has went from feeling like it was too far out of my comfort zone to try — to today where it is a comfort zone.  And this new comfort zone — it’s one that I actively look forward to, much like the bed I sleep in. 

What’s It Mean To You

So, actively look at your life.  Be honest with yourself and see the comfort zones you are allowing which limit you in some way. 

How can you change, to step away from these places and more fully into the comfort zone of your soul?

by Lance Ekum

photo credit: 27147

“We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.” ~ Mother Teresa

What are you doing right now? 

Does it feel small and insignificant?  Does if feel like you are really doing (being) something worthwhile, worthy?

Perhaps.

Or…perhaps not.

Sometimes you’re on your game, and firing on all cylinders.  You stand tall, you plow forward with determination, you’re “on”.

Sometimes, though — your moments are really very ordinary moments.  And, in those moments, you may not feel like that droplet of your being — that moment in time…that it matters all that much.

Have you ever felt that way?

Just A Drop

In the ocean of this thing called life — and everything going on in it (just think of every thing going on, at this very moment!) — does your little drop really make a difference?  And, especially, when it’s just an ordinary moment of your day?

“Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.” ~ Ryunosuke Satoro

You matter.

Your moments matter.  Every one of them.

Every single one.

No Ordinary Drop

“I’ve seen a jillion miracles. They’re all around. Every green leaf is a miracle. Not long ago, I noticed a leaf falling. It floated down on the porch, and it was brown and kind of wrinkled. I thought, Boy, that’s a shame. It was once beautifully green and now it’s all over and gone. Then I got to thinking. It beautified the world, then it fell off and will go back into the earth and fertilize and grow many more green leaves. And I thought, I hope I can contribute like that.” ~ Jimmy Dean

Every drop that is your life — the biggest of drops that make big splashes all the way down to the smallest of drops that seemingly are unnoticed…they feed the ocean of you, the ocean of humanity. 

No drop is just an ordinary drop.  Your life is extraordinary.  Your life…is amazing. 

You are here — HERE — on earth, in human form!  How amazing is that!  How breathtakingly amazing — that you are here, having this human experience!

Every drop that is you — every one is part of something much bigger…part of this thing we call life (and more than just your life — part of the greater life of this whole cosmos!)

May the drops that are you bring meaning into your life…every single one of those amazing and extraordinary drops…

“Success means doing the best we can with what we have. Success is the doing, not the getting; in the trying, not the triumph. Success is a personal standard, reaching for the highest that is in us, becoming all that we can be.” ~ Zig Ziglar

It’s a warm Sunday afternoon.  The breeze by the lake quickly disappears as we wander into the forest.  Under the canopy of trees, it’s cool though.  With a bounce in our step, we begin our ascent toward the most picturesque view in the park. 

{…the easy moments on our path toward success…}

Some rocks to climb on, a large hawk flying overhead, a few other fellow journeyer’s on this hike.

The Climb

A turn and we are moving upward.  The forest begins to give way to a steep upward climb — a climb highlighted by large boulders and open skies.  A narrow path leads upward, large stone steps.  We curve back and forth, slowly getting higher and higher.

{…the success journey often has moments where it becomes an uphill climb…}

We pause, replenish our bodies with water.  We pause, and reflect back down to where we have come.  We pause, and take in that moment — seeing where we have reached to.  A look forward, and we see continued steps, no end in sight.

{…when we stop on our success journey, we give ourselves time to reflect and re-focus…}

The climb continues.  We are hot, our legs not wanting to take that next step.  We continue on.  It’s easy to think about what the view will look like once we’ve reached the top.  What about each step along the way, though?  We notice the trees growing out of the rocks.  We notice a chipmunk near another tree.  We see that hawk again, this time much closer.  We see the rocks — all these rocks.…

{…success is in the whole journey, not just some perceived peak…}

We reach the top.  Surrounded now by foliage, and no majestic view in sight — there is still this sense of joy, of accomplishment, of bliss.  Even though we fully expect that our journey (on this path) is not reached, we still savor the accomplishment of the climb we have made.  A glance back, at these steps we’ve just climbed…a smile…a knowing that we have persevered, a knowing that we did not back down from the challenge of this climb.

{…take time to savor the path you have traveled, and the steps you have taken to get where you are…}

The Summit

We continue on, the path now much easier.  Soon we reach a gorgeous rocky overlook.  For many minutes, we just explore the area…climbing, sitting, walking.  Others are here also — a stopping place to take in the amazing views. 

{…soak in the success that you have created…}

The Journey Continues

Our journey doesn’t end, though.  We cannot stay here forever.  We move on, working our way back down a different path.  Many people are coming up, to see that view we saw.  We offer encouraging words here and there. 

{…share your knowledge with others, so they may too experience their own success…}

We reach the trail head, our bodies sill warmed up from this hike.  The nearby lake is calling out.  It’s time to play, to splash, to have some unstructured fun! 

{…take time to rejuvenate and have some extra fun…}

Later on that day, we again explore another trail.  This time, we take a wrong turn, and soon find ourselves in the middle of the forest, no trail in sight.  We wander, looking for the trail we had started on.  Eventually we find that trail.

{…sometimes you will get off track.  That’s okay.  Take time to adjust your bearings.  And remember, also, that these off-track adventures often lead to new discoveries…}

We return home, our day filled with memories, and with all sorts of moments we’ll treasure.

{…wherever your journey takes you, remember that this is YOUR journey.  Savor what you are creating…}

Note:  This story was developed from actual moments spent together as a family at one of Wisconsin’s true treasures — Devil’s Lake State Park.  If your journey ever brings you through central Wisconsin, a day (or longer) at this park is joy and fun all wrapped up together!

“The purpose of life, after all, is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experiences.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Today I have Greg Ryan with us.  I met Greg in June of this year, during our time together working on the play “Our Town”, which we both performed in.  Greg is here, sharing what this acting experience has meant for him.

Greg and I had a couple of scenes we were in together, and I’m really tempted to keep calling him Mr. Webb (his stage name)!

With that…Greg (errr…Mr. Webb), take it away!

An Actor’s Experience

Community Theater is an odd bird.  Some people don’t consider it “real theater” because it’s not performed on one of the big-name stages.  The productions are often found in high school auditoriums or back-rooms that you could walk right by if you weren’t looking for them .  This production of “Our Town” was at SummerStage, an outdoor theater in the middle of Lapham Peak State Park, about 30 minutes outside of the Milwaukee area.  It’s a lovely theater, but it’s definitely in an odd location off the beaten path.

Even though I’m over 50, I’m still relatively new to acting. So when a director casts me I experience a flurry of emotions.  I’m initially flattered since the director is essentially trusting me with the production. In my short tenure, I’ve seen firsthand how one actor can jeopardize an entire production. This memory helps the flattery to fade and I turn my attentions to my next emotion: worry.  Can I actually do it?  Can I memorize my lines?  Can I really BE this other person?

Underneath all these questions is the reality that I’m putting much of the rest of my life on hold during weeks of rehearsal and, finally, the play’s run.  For the next two months or so, many evenings and
weekends revolve around the stage.  Actors spend less time with friends and family; even their careers can get upstaged.  Will this decision affect their long term relationships?  My wife wasn’t all that happy when I took this role because she felt that summer is such a long-awaited time in Wisconsin and we’d miss out on activities we’d normally do together. Luckily, after she observed me falling in love
with this play, she became more understanding and supportive.

Of all the plays I’ve acted in, none have made me think more about being human than Our Town.  It’s rather amazing, considering that during the read through I thought it came off as corny and dated.  But
the more I rehearsed and saw my fellow actors assuming their roles, the more I realized that the play is timeless.  Sure, some of the words we spoke may have been from the early 1900’s but the thoughts
that they expressed still ring true today.  How do you feel about a newborn baby?  Or when you discover that the person you love actually loves you back?  How would you feel if both your children died before
you did?

Connie Gehl, the actress who played my wife in “Our Town,” needed to cry during the performance.  Her sorrow was so convincing that I, as her husband, was compelled to comfort her so she was not alone in her grief.  Her performance pulled me in and, I believe, helped me truly embody my part as Charles Webb.  It was just one of the wonderful aspects of this production.

Memories and Emotions

I’d like to share two more wonderful memories of this show.  I was moving furniture from the stage to another building.  One of the younger actresses stopped me and we chatted pleasantly for a moment.  She said that she just loved interacting with all these creative people and she obviously was including me.  Still feeling like a newcomer to the theater, I was inwardly surprised and flattered.  Am I actually an actor?  I guess I am.

The other moment occurred during the wedding scene.  I play the father of Emily, the hesitant bride.  At the beginning of the scene, she’s scared and looks to her father for reassurance.  After a little
father-daughter chat, I kiss her forehead, drape her veil over her head and walk her down the aisle.   Well, I walked my own daughter down the wedding aisle about three years ago.  This is a privilege
that fathers of girls have enjoyed for centuries and it may be the only time I ever do that in real life.  But because of this play, I was able to relive the experience during every performance.   And my
“real” daughter saw the show, too.

When a show ends, I experience more emotions.  Sorrow that the production is finished.  Perhaps, relief too.   I commuted about 40 minutes to the venue, but the majority of the actors live out in the
Delafield area so I may never work with or even see many of them again.  I’m wistful when I realize that these people have passed through a brief part of my life.

Although I do feel sorrow,  gratitude is the emotion that over rides all the others.  I’m grateful that Diane Powell cast me in this play.  I’m grateful that I was able to work with Ethan, Mason, Amanda,
Connie and Lance as well as the rest of the cast and crew.  I’m grateful that we had good weather for all of our production dates. I’m grateful to the audience who usually laughed at the right times. I’m grateful to my body and brain for hanging in there and allowing me to physically and mentally handle the part.  I’m grateful to my wife, Brooke, for supporting me in a very personal endeavor.  I’m grateful to Facebook because it allows me to know some new friends even if they turn out to be temporary.

Well, on to the next audition.  I’ve just been cast in a new one act play, but I’m confident that this production of “Our Town” will stay with me until I play in my own real life funeral scene.

You can keep up with Greg at his personal website — Our Next Thing, and on Facebook.

“For of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: ‘It might have been!’” ~ John Greenleaf Whittier

Do you ever have those things that float around in your heart…things that make you say “what if…”…

What if...I joined this new group I’ve heard about?

What if…I went on that trip, all by myself?

What if...I tried a new sport?

What if...I ventured out in my own business?

What if...I listened to my heart?

…the courage to be yourself…

Do thoughts like this bounce through your head (and more importantly — through your heart)?  And does that bouncing go anywhere?  Or does it stay locked within the recesses of your heart and mind?

What If

What if, instead of just thinking these thoughts, we did something about it. 

What if we didn’t know what that next step looked like, and took it anyway.

Life is awful funny, that way.  Call it serendipity, the Universe acting on our behalf, God answering our prayers, …

Our thoughts, along with some sort of action in their general direction…well, pretty amazing things begin to happen.

Our Town

For a couple of years, the idea has bounced around in my head (and heart).  What if…I tried my hand at acting?

Of course, this thought without action..it’s like a seed without soil.  The possibility, the potential of that seed is great.  Although, without the action of placing that seed in some soil, and providing some nourishment — nothing happens.

{have you ever had thoughts that lie dormant?}

Fast forward to early June of this year.  {and recall…this idea of thoughts coupled with action}  For some reason (I don’t recall at all anymore), I land upon the website of a local bookstore.  That bookstore website has a link on its site to a small outdoor theatre at a state park near our house — SummerStage.  I normally would just move on, except for some reason, on this day, I’m compelled to click that link.

Our Town, by Thornton Wilder, will be performed at SummerStage this summer — and there is still a need for actors.

{the easy answer is to say — I’ve not done anything like this in forever}

{the easy answer is to say — rehearsals have already started, it’s too late}

{the easy answer is to say — I have lots of other “things” to do}

{the easy answer is to say — nothing…} {the easy answer…is to do nothing}

The easy answer, though, is it really the easy answer?  Is it, when that answer pulls you away from something that tugs at your heart?  Perhaps that easy answer is an answer that’s become the default too many times? 

Perhaps that easy answer is really the difficult answer — every time, taking you one step further from your dreams, your desires, you bliss. 

So, I choose this (difficult) easy answer…the easy answer that speaks from my heart, the easy answer that might feel difficult and yet — it’s the answer whispering from my soul…

And So It Begins

A week later, I find myself showing up for rehearsals — and with a role to play.

Life is awful funny that way…

Between that time in mid-June and now — my evenings have been with this group of actors, creating our performance of Our Town.  A group of people from all different walks — together creating memories, fulfilling dreams, making a few mistakes (I speak personally on this one…), having fun…

{how are you choosing to answer?}

The Culmination

We have just finished up our performances.   It’s a bit strange to think I won’t be spending my evenings with this amazing group of people — something we’ve done for the last several weeks. 

…and the journey continues for each of us…

As I reflect back, I’m reminded of a line near the end of this play ~

“…Oh, Earth, you’re too wonderful for anyone to realize you.  Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it — every, every minute?“

We are here on this earth for a finite amount of time.  What tomorrow holds, we know not.  And yet, it is so easy to live our lives as if tomorrow will always come.

Your Call to Action

Choose to listen to that voice which speaks from your heart.  And if the thoughts that voice brings up, if they are ones that maybe scare you just a little bit — choose to act. 

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.” ~ Theodore Roosevelt

Dare to dream. 

Dare to be uniquely you.

Dare to step out of any boxes you’ve created for yourself.

Dare to live…really and fully, live…

photo credit: Jason A. Samfield

“Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside awakens.” ~ Carl Gustav Jung

Life coaching.  What is it, anyway?  And what’s the value in having a coach?

In the spring of 2010, I began working with life coach Laura Neff. 

Laura recently asked me some questions about our time together — questions that really touched upon my experience in having Laura as a coach, and in the real and tangible benefits of having a life coach.

You can read it here ~ The Jungle of Lance (a peek into the coaching journey)

~ Comments Closed ~

photo credit: Werner Kunz

“Become a possibilitarian.  No matter how dark things seem to be or actually are, raise your sights and see possibilities – always see them, for they’re always there.” ~ Norman Vincent Peale

May 22^nd, 2011

A tornado tears through the city of Joplin, Missouri – one of the deadliest tornadoes on record. Over 100 people lose their lives, many more are injured, and physical destruction is evident everywhere.

Can you imagine how difficult that must be? And with so much devastation, how do you even begin to recover?

Today

The people of Joplin have begun this process of healing and rebuilding — with renewed strength in what is possible. These citizens and all the volunteers helping out are true examples of the power of the human spirit in action.

There is still much to do – the destruction that happened in mere minutes will take months and possibly years to fully restore.

Today, you have the opportunity to help support this healing and rebuilding that is happening in Joplin.

Together with friend and colleague Tess Marshall, we have teamed up to create an e-book. 

Love Care Donate

This is no ordinary e-book.  This is the collective effort of over 60 writers from throughout the world.  Writers uniting together and bringing hope to Joplin. 

Every one of these writers has contributed a favorite article to this e-book, creating a wonderful collection of stories.  Stories of inspiration, humor, growth, and love. 

Today, Tess and I are asking for your help. 

Please visit the Love Care Donate, a donation page we have created to raise funds to support the Heart of Missouri United Way in their mission to bring caring funds to the good people of Joplin.  In addition, you’ll find information on how to receive this Love Care Donate e-book, our gift to you. 

There is much hope in a future filled with possibility.  Together, we all can make a difference!

With deep gratitude,
Lance and Tess

To all our contributors, thank you!

Design by Sue Alexander ~ Inspired Type