| "body"> | | | | pursuits. |
| Impressions. What an interesting concept. To think | | | | All of this helped me to grow into the person I am, |
| that others have an initial assumption of who I am | | | | but the added adventure doesn't mean that I don't |
| when they meet me and that I have the same for | | | | struggle with feelings of worry, doubt, fear and being |
| them. I've often wondered what type of first | | | | just average. See, the thing is, no matter what I |
| impression I give to the people I meet. Quite | | | | push for, someone else is always ahead of me |
| frequently I encounter individuals who feel I am | | | | pushing even harder. I LOVE that. I always have |
| rather bold and I often hear, "I could never have | | | | something to reach for and someone to help guide |
| started my own business." Or, "I'd never be able to | | | | my way. |
| backpack for the weekend or climb like you do." | | | | How you feel about yourself is all in your perception. |
| Others listen to my seemingly exciting tales and | | | | I guarantee that you witness people who seem to |
| return the favor with a story of visiting Nepal or | | | | do more, give more and be more. I think it's safe to |
| Thailand to climb the big stuff. Wow...I've never done | | | | assume that people look at you with the same |
| that! | | | | observation. This statement packs a big punch and is |
| I don't talk about these experiences to make my | | | | easy to skim over, so don't disregard it: always being |
| choice in lifestyle seem exotic or unreachable. On the | | | | the middle person leads to a very definitive feeling of |
| contrary, I have a confession to make. I often feel | | | | being just average. What a great place to be! Don't |
| just average. Starting a business and climbing rocks | | | | let this feeling discourage you, just put it in |
| are not activities that happened without fear, I | | | | perspective: this means that you are both striving for |
| promise you that. More often than not, I feel like a | | | | more and reaching back to help others who want to |
| mouse, not a tiger. Isn't it funny then that to some | | | | grow. Think of it as a team approach. |
| of you my lifestyle seems fiercely adventurous, and | | | | Remember that just as important as having mentors |
| to others it's just mediocre? | | | | and teachers, it's also important to look at your |
| We all have our own style of living. I'd be willing to | | | | contribution to the world. You've done extraordinary |
| bet that we all feel full of courage sometimes and | | | | things in your life. Think about the people who come |
| completely average other times. This is my story of | | | | to you for advice, expertise or compassion. Reflect |
| finding the extraordinary in the well, ordinary. I hope | | | | on some of the comments you've heard from those |
| it helps you to answer the question, "what's so | | | | who look up to you. |
| special about me?" | | | | You might be reading this thinking, 'I really haven't |
| At first sight, I'm your typical girl next door. I have | | | | touched anyone and I can't think of someone who |
| average brown hair, average brown eyes and an | | | | has said positive things about me,' or even 'it makes |
| average build. I'm of average age and stand at an | | | | me uncomfortable to acknowledge myself for things |
| unremarkable 5'4." When I was younger, my | | | | I've done well.' In truth, there is always someone out |
| vacations were ordinary travel tales of beach hours | | | | there that has looked at you in a positive way |
| logged. My friends and I got into typical trouble - | | | | before. How many times have you admired |
| nothing that would allow even a small gasp to escape | | | | someone's fashion sense or response to a |
| from our elders. Until the age of 23, I'd never really | | | | conversation in a meeting? Those are small moments |
| done anything extraordinary in my life - at least not | | | | of high regard. They happen all the time. |
| by my definition. I felt the potential inside of me | | | | If you can't pinpoint when someone is acknowledging |
| though. I had a longing to experience new things and | | | | you, it's time to amplify those traits so that others |
| a serious interest in adventure. | | | | can't help but point them out. Think of someone you |
| So, I listened to that longing. I made "the list." Shifting | | | | respect. What traits do they have? What are some |
| perspective, I began to see the world differently - | | | | of the things they participate in that you've always |
| more from the eyes of the adventurous person I | | | | wanted to do? You probably find it easy to |
| wanted to be and less from the passion-less | | | | understand why you aspire to be more like them |
| homebody. I listed out 20-30 things I'd always | | | | right? They embody whatever it is that you |
| wanted to do. Things like 'eat foreign food' and 'go | | | | appreciate about them. How can you begin to move |
| skydiving.' I still reference that list to this day...and add | | | | toward that vision? |
| to it! | | | | I'm not suggesting that you become an exact |
| My goal was to be more like the adventurous people | | | | duplicate of this person, but rather, start playing in |
| that interested me. I desired a fearless lifestyle. I | | | | their world. Find your own world through the example |
| made the decision to start intentionally beginning new | | | | of others. Tiptoe into those waters and see what |
| adventures. As my perception of the world changed, | | | | feels right for you, then do more of it! Make a list. |
| so did my interests, my hobbies and my behaviors. | | | | Start easy. Get to know your passions. Before long, |
| Each time I tiptoed into a new activity, my fear of | | | | you'll have plenty of people wanting to be a part of |
| the unknown bothered me less and less. I met more | | | | your experiences, wanting to show you new things |
| and more people going on even crazier adventures | | | | and again you'll find yourself feeling a bit average...but |
| and began inviting a few novices to join me on my | | | | in the most adventurous way! |
