The Passion Pilot Light

Wow.  I had no idea how many people were in this boat with me.  When you begin a journey like this one, you can somehow convince yourself you are terminally unique.  No one ever has felt this way and no one ever will in the history of the universe.  This is my problem, for only lil' ol' me to solve.  Well, the isolation and even the reverse power of ego is a lie.  I will guarantee for every terminally unique problem you think you might have, there is someone on this planet going through something similar and maybe even textbook - the SAME thing as you are. 

I thought it would give me accountability to put myself 'out there' and confess my truth, so that every time I felt like giving up, I would have a loving circle in my subconscious to "just say no".  It's always easier with accountability.  It's why 12 step groups work. And Nutrisystem.  And John Wesley's doctrine for that matter.
If we have to stand up in front of people, real or virtual and say here's where I am and what got me here, and what I am doing to get un-stuck from this place it just works better than trying to stay on a singular secret path.  Support, encouragement, and teamwork are helpful.  Fear of facing the group with failure is incentive to stay on the wagon, too.  However I had no idea how many people are facing the same thoughts, feelings and image crisis thoughts as I am.  The ideas of like minds are creating this powerful synergy. 

Inspirational books to read, slogans, recipes, ideas, phone apps and a host of great ideas that have come to each of us individually are converging.  Instead of having 1 good idea, I can share all the wonderful inspirations that have helped us individually.  Now - we have lots of good ideas.  Share freely.  If it has helped you, it will help someone else. 

This from Kent Henderson:  A new book from Jane Pauley is right on the money for where a lot of us are right now.  It's not just a weight loss issue, a female issue, a change of life or aging issue.  It's an across the board feeling that we are devalued as human beings.  The new book is of course available at all major book outlets, online stores, etc.  It's easy to get on Kindle or Nook.  Here's an article about the book.  Your Life Calling, Reimagining the Rest of Your Life by Jane Pauley is right where I am.  The only point I disagree with Jane on is, to her, everyone does not have a great passion in life.  Everyone DOES have a great passion in life.  It may not register on the "I made a gazillion dollars and eradicated the guinea worm from Africa" scale of huge, but we all come into this world with passion.  It's in our D.N.A.  In the book Ignore Everybody by Hugh MacLeod, he writes that in kindergarten everyone is given a box of crayons.  Somewhere along the way, most stop coloring.  But one kid keeps his crayons to the critical shouts of the world to 'get a real job', and THAT kid becomes Picasso.  Or Gary Larson. Or Frank Lloyd Wright.  We all have a passion, but somewhere along the journey we buy into the way we are supposed to be, and that flame becomes a flicker, and then it becomes all but extinguished.  But...it's not out.  It's a pilot light.  That's how we are made.  So, if it's stamp collecting, or building birdhouses, or serving soup on Tuesdays at Room In The Inn, the passion pilot light is somewhere waiting for you to turn up the heat.

Today in the Journey for me:
1.  Read Jane Pauley's Book
2.  Meditate on the lost passion and let God remind me what it is.
3.  Learn to love louder than the negative thoughts.  Write 10 positive things about me.
4.  Write down 10 things that I consider blessings.
5.  Stay on the path of 1100 calories a day, and find time for 25 minutes of aerobic activity.

Thanks for the messages (both public and private), the ideas, the books, the encouragement and joining in with me on this journey.  You are of great value to me and the Creator who thinks you are about the coolest in the whole world.  Keep those ideas and helpful stuffs comin'!