This is my testing ground for new ideas. A place where I practice. Some of my ideas wither here and others end up with their own little space in the blog-o-sphere.
I had the most delightful experience last night. To be honest I was not really looking forward to it and almost cancelled. But I am sooooo happy that I didn't.
The first problem was that this engagement required that I leave my house at twilight on a Sunday evening. I don't know about you but that's the time that I want most to be settling by butt in some cozy position on my couch and zoning out in front of the TV.
The second problem was that my man was under the weather so I was going stag. And thirdly I was heading to a local bar, one of the last places I really want to go by myself (it's kind of a toss up between a bar and the grocery store.)
The reason for my adventure was to meet some friends that I hadn't seen in quite a while. They were in my neck of the woods to see a local performance by Josh Blackburn. I had never heard of him and frankly since I was going alone and felt I should maybe be doing Nurse Betty detail rather than hanging out at a bar on a Sunday night, my plan was to see my friends for bit and then make an early exit back to my couch and my gimpy boyfriend.
But you know how plans go sometimes, right out the window. Three and a half hour later I was sad when the show ended. I bought myself a new CD and went on my way. I had thoroughly enjoyed the evening. My reasons were two-fold. Firstly Josh is an amazing musician but secondly and equally important to solopreneurs or entrepreneurs like myself he is a vivid example of living your dream full on no holds barred.
If you look there are lost of examples these days available to us on the internet and TV, you can read magazine articles and listen to radio show about people going after their dreams but they feel so remote somehow. Don't get me wrong I still find their stories inspiring. But it is an amazing feeling to sit literally just a few feet away from someone with this kind of energy, enthusiasm and love for what they do. If you are in the Denver area you should really try to see him.
As I muddle through my own entrepreneurial endeavours I wish for this kind of tenacity and dedication. And I am thankful for my enjoyable evening and the inspiration it continues to provide.
We all change. It is inevitable. But there is willing purposeful change and then there is the kind of change that we are forced into. Some of the changes we are forced to accept come from outside of our control, we all get older, people come and go, our job goes away. But then there are the changes that we choose. Should I move to a new place? Should I take that new job? Should I start my own company? Should I learn to skydive? Should I take that risk and try what I have always wanted to do? Should I start believing in myself just enough to nudge myself in the direction of my dreams?
I believe that those purposeful changes are the ones that make all the difference in our lives. It's has been said that everyone hates change and I suppose that there is some truth in that. We all like to feel comfortable and safe. Familiarity offers us the this false sense of comfort and safety. But every yin has is yang and the yang of not changing is boredom.
I believe to stave of the boredom we need to make consistant purposeful intentional efforts to change ourselves. I am not saying that I am always good at doing this only that I believe in it. At any rate I have made what seems like a big change to me for the year 2011. I have started a new blog. This idea seems a little crazy to me since I haven't been very good at keeping up with one blog but it feels right and so I have done it. I am still planning to keep up this blog as my main site but I will no longer be posting any crafting or DIY project to this blog. They will be posted at my new blog Upcycled Design Lab. It is a little scary and daunting to think about keeping up two blogs but it is also exciting.
Ok so I didn't decide to move to another country or anything but not all of our changes have to be big ones. Go ahead and try it yourself make that little change today you never now where it might lead you.
We have all heard this message before but I don't think that we can ever hear it enough. There are so many great lines in this song to remind us that life is a gift we should never take for granted. Every second really does count.
I am a relative late comer to find this YouTube Video but if you haven't already seen it you should check it out. It is silly and completely frivolous. For all of us attempting the entrepreneurial route there is an extra bonus when you hear the story of how this video came to be made.
The YouTube link to Where the Hell is Matt. I confess when I am feeling like I have been sitting at my desk too long I play this video and dance along with Matt. It's a good little mini workout to get your blood circulating. I have the advantage of only having the cats and dogs watch me. You might get some funny looks from your co-workers but who knows maybe they will join in.
It's hard to live each moment when our minds are cluttered with thoughts of yesterday's successes or failures and tomorrow's hopes and dreams but we should still try: because right now is all we really have.
For all those times when I feel like I am doing everything wrong and still somehow miraculously heading in the right direction. The Long Way Around can still gets you where you want to go and if life is a journey who is to say which route is better?