There was once a time and a place where the term ‘dance’ was synonymous with the term ‘tap-dance’. Tap was at the forefront of artistic innovation; you weren’t considered a dancer if you didn’t tap.
I sometimes catch myself wishing that I had lived in this time.
We are each, in some way, holding ourselves back.
Fear plays a role in our lives equally crucial and detrimental. It’s always there, waiting in the wings if not centre stage in our mind.
Ultimately, fear is trying to help. And it does. It stops us from casually strolling off a cliff, investing in bad business decisions, and protects us from embarrassment and humiliation. Mostly.
However, it also safeguards us (and the rest of the world) from our own selves. It prefers safety, comfort and contentment. Discomfort, uncertainty and risk-taking are not acceptable, and it will work hard to ensure we don’t go down these paths.
Take a moment to think about the size of the universe into which we’ve had the good fortune of being born.
Christopher Hitchens, the writer and orator, summed it up beautifully in the opening sentence of a speech he made in 2011. At the time, cancer had taken hold of his body – he knew he was in his final months of life.
For a few milliseconds of cosmic time, our species has lived on one very very small rock, in a very small solar system that’s a part of a fantastically unimportant suburb in one of an uncountable number of galaxies.
– Christopher Hitchens
When you view the world with time as your most valuable asset, then life will change in a way that will make your time better.
That is what you are truly spending. Every moment of every day. We are always choosing.
If we choose to take seriously the task of striving for a life of fulfillment and happiness, then we must live it, every day, starting right now.
Bringing forth the gifts of our creativity requires a strong helping of courage. In order to actually achieve some measure of fulfillment through our creativity, the most crucial and important prerequisite is, of course, that we love what we’re doing.
Burning within each of us is an endless, immeasurable supply of magic; a creative ‘fire’, if you will. If you are human and alive, you are creative. Sometimes the fire roars loudly, impossible to contain. Other times, it is barely a flicker. But it never goes out; it cannot go out.
Inspiration isn’t the problem.
If you can free your thoughts to go where they want, while remaining curious, mindful, non-judgemental and compassionate, you’ll find yourself overcome with ideas; wondrous, explosive moments where the dots momentarily connect.
In fact, the inspiration part is easy. Too easy.
During his keynote speech at World Domination Summit, the comedian / actor / writer Zack Anner openly expressed his gratitude for his best friend. Since Kindergarten, this person has been a constant companion for Zack (who has Cerebral Palsy & is wheelchair-bound). As result of the love of his friend, Zack has had opportunities, experiences and joys that would have otherwise never been possible.
Zack then set a homework task for everyone in the audience; think of someone who was there for you at some point in your life—someone who helped you grow—then, during lunch break call them, and thank them.
I called my Mum.