If you don't live your life, you don't get to see amazing things like this.
- I used to get angry instead of figuring out what the problem was
- I used to take too much medication
- I used to be scared of things
- I used to withdraw and say “no” a lot
Many things have happened in the past year(and preceding 11 years). These are a few of the significant events that pushed me to be a better person. Some people ask my how and why I am such a happy person. This addresses that as well! Here they are in chronological order -
“You are what you’re missing”
- 2007 – The main thing that got me to wake up and get over my fears was having and beating cancer. That opened me up to seek means of possibility outside of my comfort area. That was only a start.
- 2007 – Tony Robbins’ Ted Talk and “Get The Edge” program provided me with the knowledge that there is a life way more fun than what I had previously been living. It also taught me to explore the feelings that I feel and why I feel them, giving me more control over myself and ultimately letting me choose happy over anything else(it’s way more fun than sad or scared, right?)
- 2007 – A conversation in which my friend Megan asked me over and over, “What do you get scared of?”. To which I finally responded, “I don’t know”. She also said “You are what you are missing”. The next week I found myself comfortably out of my comfort zone. I am forever thankful for that conversation.
- 2008 – Benjamin Zanders’ Ted Talk and book, “The Art Of Possibility” taught me to believe in things again and be curious like a child. To simply BE. Favorite quote, “You can always find the answer to any problem within yourself”.
- 2008 – Playing live music again. “Nothin’ like the ol’ life purpose that you haven’t done in 8 years!” – me, to myself, just now. Playing music for people is the greatest anything I can feel. It combines my favorite things in life, Music and sharing. I spent years only HALF living my life purpose. That half has become whole and I am now musically complete.
- 2009 – Happiness
In the past year I have opened up like a Saigon whore. Ok, not that dramatic. Still, I feel amazing and love everyone around for supporting my (no longer used) silly reasons for not doing things. I love making people happy and feeling whole. I rarely say no to anything these days. Saying yes to things opens up incredibly endless opportunities and possibilities.
About that lawnmower…
Yesterday I was cutting the grass and the ol’ lawnmower was acting up again. Turns out, it wasn’t self propelling anymore. Which isn’t too bad, I don’t have a problem pushing it except that since it’s supposed to go by itself, it was adding resistance. I only had a few hours before I had be in Lowell. I start to get frustrated. Want to beat the crap out of this thing. Anger building, anger building, which is my usual response to things like this…until now.
After a few more passes up and down the yard. I think to myself, I should explore this feeling. Why am I so angry? Well, this thing isn’t working. Why isn’t this thing working? (stupid machine, why don’t you ever work!) Well! If I had taken care of it last year when it wasn’t doing well, this wouldn’t be happening. BAM, my bad. What next? Well, I still have an hour and a half before I need to get to Lowell. Ok, maybe I can take it apart and figure out why it won’t self propel any more? Sure! I go inside and grab my tools and get to work. Take it all apart, learn tons of stuff about how a lawnmower works(awesome!) and get it back together. Turns out the problem was in a split outer shell of the hose that contains the line that gets pulled back to engage the the self propeller-ing. I rewrapped the line so it had a bit more tension coming up the handle, finished my water, and jammed the bottle in between the line and the handle, giving it enough tension to work. I think it can be fixed with a couple hose clamps. EASY!
When you figure out what emotion you are having and why you are having it, the right thing to do will present itself to you.
Take away – When you figure out what emotion you are having and why you are having it, the right thing to do will present itself to you. I got to learn and I had a good time doing so, and still got to Lowell on time!
I love my life!
ps, the reason for this post was to explain how I’m cutting my medication AGAIN and soon will be taking NONE! Didn’t quite get there, so there ya go!
<3 Kev
Tags: fun, happiness, Inspiration, learning, Music is my life
