Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Leap Away.

Day Five since I fell running (and leaping) in the woods. I'm just starting to feel a bit better today and I think I've concluded that I should keep my feet firmly on the ground. Until next time. 

Seriously, I know that I'm clumsy and I know that I will probably fall again but when I get the urge to leap....most of the time, I do it. I'm a girl of the heart, of the emotions with a good amount of sense that was hammered into me throughout my youth by my father. Thank God he was a strong willed man because I am definitely a strong willed girl. 

Fear is healthy for us, it makes us question if what we are doing is right for us, is right right now, etc... But when something larger than your sense of fear pushes you forward, you should at least give it a good listen. "Do one thing every day that scares you."~ Eleanor Roosevelt said. Great quote, but how many of us can actually say we do this everyday? It's almost impossible in a normal life. I wonder if Eleanor Roosevelt could claim this to be true of her own life. But I like the idea. Pushing past our own boundaries, leaving the door open a little bit to a new idea so that at least that new scary idea is a consideration. 

In The Artist's Way, he talks about this room of our mind and asks us to "gently set aside our skepticism - for later use, if we need it - and when a weird idea or coincidence whizzes by, we gently nudge the door a little further open. Setting skepticism [or fear] aside, even briefly, can make for very interesting explorations. [...] it is not necessary that we change any of our beliefs. It is necessary only that we examine them." (pg. 51, The Artist's Way, 1992)

Examine them so that you know they are actually your beliefs, your desires. Maybe we can all use a little leaping in our lives. To not be so sure of ourselves, to not be so close minded that everyone must surely but wrong except for us. What fun is that? Knowing everything is soooo borrinnng. Sure, we may tumble if we leap...and we may have to heal a bit after... but that's being human, isn't it? 

I want to end with a quote by a beautiful leaper through life and on stage, Martha Graham, who said, "There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening, that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and will be lost." Leap away, lovelies, leap away...

2 comments:

Velveteen Rabbit said...

Good advice! I have been using the idea of setting the fear aside when you feel something more compelling in my recent consideration of "family expansion". Way to tie your little accident into a metaphor and lesson! Also.... Martha Graham was a master!!!

Erin Grove Kouvas said...

My little accident left me with a broken rib but not a broken spirit! I'm so excited to hear more about the "family expansion!" Good for you and yours and kudos to your bravery!! xox

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