Stopped "Dead" in My tracks

     I've been busy putting one foot in front of the other.  You should see the mounds of miscellaneous stuff I got rid of from the piles I talked about last time.  However, recently I have stopped right in the middle of the path and can't seem to get any forward momentum.  I am standing on the shore and looking for the sharks in the water again.

     I attended a session with a life coach back in April.  She said that one of the ways to find out what you are supposed to be doing with your life is to review what other people constantly ask you to do.  I was sharing this with a group of people, when my friend, Beth says, "But what if I don't want to be a caretaker?"   Good point.  The people around her were seeing a special quality in her that were leading them to ask her to do something she wasn't particularly passionate about.  I think there are situations in our lives that just because we can do something doesn't mean we necessarily should do it.  That's interesting thought...

     I watch X-Factor.  Mostly because I am a singer.  Secondly because I almost tried out this year.  I knew my vocals weren't strong enough, and frankly, neither was my back, so I decided to skip this year.  The talent is monsterous.  Big, big voices. Chistina Aguilara, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston voices.  Good thing I stayed home.  I'm not saying I'm not talented.  I'm saying I'm not talented that way.  I have a very unique voice and style and that is definitely not it. These contestants also have a tireless passion for their singing that frankly makes me want to take a nap.  There's that word again: "passion."

     I have a feeling my friend Beth also likes to induldge in a bit of reality TV, like I do.  Recently she was talking about the "passion" of the people participating in Project Runway, wishing she too could have that kind of passion about somthing.  So, here we are, back to what may be the core ingredient for "star-fishing."  I can't help but wonder if this is why I have been stopped "dead" in my tracks?  Am I lacking the drive necessary to continue?  How do you muster passion when at the end of the day, when all you may want to do is crash (a thought I must attribute to my friend, Dianne)?

    Awhile back I talked about the ability to say "No" to things.  It's alot about knowing who you are and what you've said "yes" in your life to.  Isn't it though maybe just as much about who you aren't?  I'm a singer, but I honestly do not have a big X-Factor voice.  Beth may be a caretaker, but not in the way that people are asking her to be.  Just because we can doesn't mean we necessarily should, but it may lead us to understand, if we think about it awhile, what we should be doing.  I think once we know that, finding that will to keep going will be the easy part.

    Before going deep sea fishing, it would help to be a good swimmer.  Be sure of who you are, who you aren't, and that you'll have the "life vest" to keep you afloat.

Happy Fishing!

--Red

Put One Foot In Front of The Other

    So when I wasn't reading Shakespeare, I was watching Christmas Rankin and Bass animated specials.  This blog's title particular reference comes from "Santa Claus is Coming To Town."  For those of you unfamiliar, watch here before reading http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9jeh4mA5us&feature=related.  

     I'm reminded of this song as I try to start on the things I should be doing in the spirit of "grabbing the starfish."  It's been a bumpy road.  I'm still recovering from the back issues I had back in July, and some nights it's hard enough to get out of a chair, much less write in a blog, sing, etc.

  Sometimes I get sidelined by all the "have to's" in life.  When I talk about sidelined, I mean that in a very huge way.  I would say, without a Doctor's opinion, you  know, other than Dr. Drew and what I see in my millions of hours of reality T.V. watching, that I am a bit Obsessive Compulsive.  Not to the point where I can't get out of the house for two hours because of all the rituals I have to perform or anything, but there are definitely parts of my personality that point in this direction.

  There are piles of "stuff" all over my house.  Small piles, but piles nonetheless.  Things I need to go through, file, possible throw away. These piles are not always visible.  They aren't just on top of the stereo or table, but they exist in the filing cabinet, in the closet, and in the guest bedroom.  In my head somehow these piles carry a sense of urgency.  The sense they need to be dealt with before I can think that I have free time to pursue the things I really should be doing with my life.

   Yet the piles are still there....

   That's what made me think of the song.  This view of my very small little world may have made me sit longer in the chair than I actually needed to heal my back.  It's all very overwhelming.  All the things I've let go undone.  So, then additionally when I'm overwhelmed I have the tendency to do...well...nothing.  I have to stop looking at the piles as it all has to be done right now in one fell swoop.  I need to stop thinking of "grabbing the starfish" and something that happens right away all at once, with no regards for the steps that need to come before...

    Hhhhmmm...the steps... 

"Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you’ll be walking cross the floor
Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you’ll be walking out the door

You never will get where you’re going
If you never get up on your feet
Come on, there’s a good tail wind blowing
A fast walking man is hard to beat

If you want to change your direction
If your time of life is at hand
Well don’t be the rule be the exception
A good way to start is to stand"

     The blog is noticably shorter. I'll also be signing up for some voice lessons soon.  No need to overwhelm myself...just need to start something....

     They may be small steps, but at least I am walking.  Now which pile do I go through first...

Happy Fishing!

--Red