Jack in the Box

Remember the toy named "Jack in the Box"? Oops! Sorry, I forget a lot of you are younger than I am. When I was child, I had this toy, it had a little handle on the side of it, you had to wind it around and around and around until this little hatch opened and out popped "Jack"... it was like a new surprise every time (you can shut the hatch, Jack goes back inside and you start all over again) I don't really want to discuss the toy it's self (although I'm willing ;-) I want to talk about how I see that many of our lives are sort of like that toy. A good many of us have lived inside a box. Many don't even know they are in one, and if they discover they are, have no idea how to get out, and if, and when they do, it is a big surprise.... an "Aha! Moment..." Some people see that light, then crawl back in... dismissing it as something weird and never come back out again. Some see the light, go back in, then curiously peek out once in a while wondering "What is this? "This is very interesting!" "Maybe I'll check this out!" Then come up with every excuse why not to or why they can't. Some come out and say "This is mostly better than being in the box" but live forever in the suspended state of "Well.... at least I'm not in there anymore, I'm doing good enough," "I'm better off then some" or "I'm better than I was" and then continue the rest of their lives thinking "Since I'm out of the box, I guess my life must be ok. Although, if this is all there is... maybe I'd rather go back in, I don't see anyone one else trying." Some come out because "That damn person kept winding my box" yet now out, says "Ok, I came out for you, are you happy? "Well that is just #@%$^ great, I'm here now, so make me happy, and by the way, you are responsible for my life from now on." There are people that come out and are thankful and joyous, then there are the ones that jump out "OMG... this is soooo great.... we have to get everyone else out of those damn boxes... they have to know what they are missing... it doesn't have to be the way they think!!" (Hmmmm, I'm still trying to decide which one I am!!?? ;-) The big news is that the handle on the side of the box, that you wait for others to turn, to get you out of that box.... it's an illusion... you open the box from inside... it was always there for you. Down through the years, few were spared "The conditioning." Conditioning to make us believe that everything was, is and will be a certain way. If you try to veer off that track, they laughed at you. They thought you stupid or a fool if you didn't go with the crowd... yet, as a teenager we hear "Just because everyone else is jumping off the bridge, does that mean you should too!?" Fortunately (for who, I'm not sure... except for myself) I was too stubborn to do what anyone said... I didn't have an army, I was my own army. Some of us were fortunate enough to be raised around "Cheerleaders," knowing we were as powerful as we believed we were and knew that life had no limitations, except the ones you put in front of you. Many of us were raised to believe there were limitations and you are a fool to dream, to try, to compete or to pursue..... "Don't even hope, you will be disappointed" or "Don't you know your place in this world!?" Some of us were raised believing we were a Prince or Princesses and the world revolved around us. Then some of us were raised to believe we were nothing, had no power, and that we or our lives were never going to amount to anything. .........Crap! Now that I'm on a roll.... I forgot my point.... I have to go back in the other room for a moment so I can remember what it was....... old age ;-) Oh, yea...... I'm the Cheerleader..... However you were raised, whatever you believe about yourself or life.... I ask you.... or I'll even beg if you want me to, I'm not above that..... Please.... be curious about life, open the hatch, just begin to look or explore outside this box. You will begin to see more and more.... you will learn life is most likely not what you thought or were taught to believe. Don't look at yourself as "Just a human being".... that title seems to limit people.... look at yourself as an artist, a creator of what you see. You are not only the potter... you are the clay and the wheel... What do you want to create!? ***Focus on what you do want, not what you don't want... you'll get what you focus on... so be clear about what you are believing, thinking, saying and doing. ***When you are trying to expand your life it is important to surround yourself with people who believe in the magic of life and big thinking..... oh.... and actually live it! ***Approve of yourself!! Don't allow others to be the judge of your worth.... but if you must seek approval, be careful in choosing the right audience to seek if from. ~Be Well~ Ciao, for now... Juli

"Welcome to Everywhere!"

Hello... Yes, this is my first blog post... no, this has nothing to do w/Coaching... yet, I do find it somewhat inspiring... I'm a little excited and wanted to share it... incase you didn't know, and like me, were also interested in traveling, seeing new sites. I bought the 1st issue of a new magazine called "Everywhere".... I have to say "I am very impressed!" The photos themselves are magnificent (I'm not a Pro but I grew-up around them) and the writing is on a more personal note (I'm not a Pro at that either... except the personal part. I have never been a "writer"... matter-of-fact, I was never good in English classes. I was considered slow... that was before they saw me on the road ;-) I'm writing now because it is important to me to reach you... and I no longer care about others opinions of me... actually more of the truth is, I now really like me and no longer fear what others think) anyway... The CEO and publisher of Everywhere says "We set out to revolutionize the way magazines are made. Many people believe the web is going to kill off print magazines, but we think it is just the opposite... At Everywhere our editorial process is not only different from that of every other magazine, it's the exact opposite. We have the largest staff of any travel magazine in the world, because our readers are our contributors." Yes! They say; 1)See the world 2)Document your trip 3)Upload - your travel tips and pix 4)Peer review - the community votes on favorites 5)Final selection - editors curate the best of the best 6)Publication - published contributors get paid and a free subscription. So... if you have ever had a dream to get your stuff out there (DO NOT LISTEN to that little voice that gives you all the reasons you can't/shouldn't... if the voices won't shut up... guess who you should call! No, not Ghostbusters! Yes! You are welcome to contact me... my website will be up very soon... Remember, check out the first issue of Everywhere... go to the website, click on "issues." http://www.everywheremag.com/ Ciao, for now... Juli