1,2,3 for Week #16

1,2,3 edition for you, for this week. It was a pretty tough week, which means probably most of the below was inspired by some of that struggle just to get by. Hope you enjoy this week’s choices.

The smallest things can make the biggest differences. Sometimes I have found myself taking that for granted lately. Moving at 200 mph I’ve missed what’s great around me. I’ve taken a lot of hits from people’s words this past week. But, I’ve also learned. For example, from my self practice of meditation everyday, I’ve learned other people’s words come and go. I’ve trained myself thankfully to filter what is good and what is bad from other’s words directed at me. By distinguishing what is helpful I have found I can let the rest go. Putting a minute or two to the side each day to filter the day’s words, before going to bed, I’ve started to learn to let go of what’s not helpful. This has given me a more restful evening and a better start to the next day.
Two articles that I have this week that stuck with me mirror the expression of thought in (1) above. The first one by Austin Kleon is a regular creator that I like to follow. In Pointing at Things he explains is conceptual art. It is just “pointing at things” which he states “the artist sees something and they point it out so you can see it too” with their craft. Slowing down to what’s around me I’ve been able to grab some of the best things as you can see above with Rainbow. The second of the two is about goal setting. I really don’t believe in short term goal setting. I think really what you’re doing with short term, is building into the long term. Short term goals, winning them, are just to me milestones to the bigger goal you’ve wanted to achieve all along. What Marathon Running Taught Me About Long-Term Goal Setting is Meredith’s simple great ideas on mastery of the unreachable like reorienting yourself if you fail so you can try again and not quit. The biggest goals require teamwork and are not a solo journey. And, lastly, working hard for something you love. Something you love doesn’t come easy, it’s a journey to get to. Long-term goal setting is that journey.
The three quotes that stuck with me this week are very fitting too. Actually, I would say they made my week possible as I played them over and over, just to get through it all.

“You got to stop looking to other people to tell you who you are.” – Sam Wilson, AKA The Falcon
Not complicated, yet I find myself doing this to myself which holds me back from truly being okay in my own skin. When I stop expecting everyone else to tell me who I need to be, listen to what my inner self says I should be, only then can I reach my potential. Not the version that everyone else wants me to fit into.

“In life, you can either choose the merry-go-round or the rollercoaster.” – Unknown
With one, you get the safety and consistency – but it’s predictable and boring. The scenes don’t change, the people, on the ride don’t change, and it goes nowhere but in circles. With the other, you get the highs and lows. Sometimes you will go fast, and at times painfully slow. It’s exciting and it’s terrifying. In one moment, you will feel like you are on top of the world and at others, it will feel like your world is completely upside down.

“We can’t always get what we want, but you will get what you need.” – Garth Brooks, Unanswered Prayers
Sounds like a Rolling Stones song I’ve heard before. Simple. And, of course very true. Something happened where we just stopped being happy with what we need versus what we want. I think the pandemic has definitely taught me the lesson of that.

My wish is you find something like I found in my week that helps to push you through. Even when it seems it is going completely sideways for you, there is something to learn, so lean in. Look, listen, and ask.

✌🏻 Shawn