One day about ten years ago, I was jogging/walking in a local park.
It has a dirt trail, close to a rail road track that you can hear but not see.
Trains seldom came.
For the sake of diversity and a more intense workout, I would walk certain parts and run others. For me, sometimes intensity and sometimes diversity are excitement.
There were a few people scattered through out the trail, but for the most part it was extremely silent, except for the sound of my feet on the white, crushed rocks that marked the way. Upon approaching the running-point (that I chose) & being winded from the prior two and a half miles that lead to this moment, I began to slow down in an attempt to stall. I also began to make decisions. I would not only run despite being tired, but I would run hard and give myself something to feel excellent about at the end.
And, I decided to become a super hero who had just turned on her SUPER SONIC SPEED.
(Quiet as it’s kept, I have been a secret-super-hero for years now, so it was easy for me to “turn on” my “powers.”)
When I reached the running point,
I turned that Super Sonic Speed on, and took off!
And with every stride
I could hear the sound of a train
(an actual train) gaining speed to catch up to me.
It was like superman & I were out for a morning jog and the train decided to join us.
Suffice it to say, they could hardly keep up with me.
After passing the walking-point,
I finally began to slow down,
the trains voice began fading in the distance,
and I made a mental note that I possess the power to run strong & free
Now, I am not the fastest woman on the planet, but for that moment, I not only outran all of you, but I outran a train too.
This is the point…We can find freedom anywhere that we find the big and small things that excite us. Whether it’s ‘outrunning a train’ or curling up for half an hour with a book we’ve been trying to read for months or playing a song that dances in our soul or daydreaming while looking up at a sky that calls our name or peering out the window on a rainy day with a Liz Wright or Aretha Franklin ballad playing in the background–excitement and in turn, freedom comes in all sizes. Please don’t pass it up!
Some things that excite me are:
music and singing
dancing and daydreaming
laughing out loud
trying something a little new & a little scary
spoken word & poetry
traveling & writing…
I try to do them often,
I have to do them often,
because when I don’t,
I’m not nearly as happy as I could be.
There are other momentary things that I do that aren’t necessarily my passion, but they remind me of who I am:
horse back riding (with a spirited horse),
makes me feel free
& reminds me that no matter how challenging & painful one day in my life or one season or one decade may be, I am still free, & I can gallop with the best of them (with a little, well maybe a lot of help)
white water rafting (with a life jacket),
makes me feel bold & scared at the same time, & for a woman who can barely swim, I also feel a little crazy; but I definitely e-x-p-e-r-i-e-n-c-e the water instead of only looking at it
hiking (up a mountain),
makes me feel connected
& aware that life is better when I take advantage of the things that God made, His trees, His hills, His valleys, His sunshine & His rain
taking a painting class
makes me feel creative
& appreciative of the people who actually have a gift for this form of art
oh, and the spa! (well this one may be a passion)
makes me feel like a queen and a diva with deep pockets
and liberated thoughts,
Do what ever adventurous or not-so-adventurous thing that you need to do in order to find your passion and rediscover your excitement and dive into the third part of freedom. Feel yourself wake up again, dream again, try again, renew and go after that desire again and again and again…
-MizJAI-
FREEDOM SERIES
Freedom 1: the Beginning
Freedom 2: The way I see it, freedom is . . .
Freedom 3: every letter counts in F-R-E-E-D-O-M
Freedom 4: F-Fearlessness
Freedom 5: R-Right Relationship with God
Freedom 6: E-Excitement & Passion
Freedom 7: E-EXAMPLE That We Can Follow
Freedom 8: D-Dreams & Desires that Burn in Your Chest
Freedom 9: O-Opportunity That You Are Prepared to Take Advantage of
Freedom 10: M-Money for the Mission
Freedom 11: my summary
