“What keeps you?”, she inquired.
“What keeps me from what?”, I asked.
“What keeps you from following your dreams?” she implored.
So simple; so thought-provoking; and yet, too good not to share.
Next time you’re at the proverbial crossroads of transforming dreams into reality, ask yourself, “What keeps me?” I know I will.
S
Life has an oddly funny way of testing our patience, of testing our faith, of testing our resilience, doesn’t it? And for me, the last six months have been a whirlwind of life events, pushing me in new directions, both figuratively and literally. With a tremendous job offer in a city I knew vaguely well, this Minneapolis girl packed her cat; her clothes; and moved west for an adventure that continues to evolve. While my heart persistently told me to trust the path being offered to me, my head calmly reminded me to be true. The journey continues with the destination unknown, but if I can find one lesson learned, it is “to thine own self, be true”.
Of late, I’ve overheard several conversations of young women talking about how much they hate their bodies, their faces & their lives.
It’s a sad commentary on how they see themselves, but an even sadder commentary on how society places such a high value on being beautiful, on being of a certain physicality, on being of an expected “norm”.
And while I remember that adolescent angst of wanting to “fit in”, I simply didn’t fit in then and I don’t fit in now. So with the perspective and confidence that comes with age, I wouldn’t trade the “now” for “then”.
Maybe it started after being featured in last month’s Prevention magazine #loveyourbody campaign but it’s a message that I’ve manifested and lived. Spreading the message of positive body image and embracing our own uniqueness, is easy to do if we can, first, love ourselves.
It’s quite simple, but it seems that by first loving and appreciating ourselves, then we can more fully love and appreciate others.
Join me in starting a revolution which I’m calling #daretobebare and show the world that there’s nothing more beautiful than a person who’s comfortable in their own skin.
When someone emails you; introduces themselves as a writer; and indicates that they are contacting you as a subject matter expert, you read the email. Actually, you read the email, respond to it, and pick up the telephone to call the writer.
This very thing recently happened to me when a writer contacted me and asked if I’d be willing to be interviewed for an article she was writing for Humana. The piece is entitled “New Sensory Signals Bring Prostheses to Life” and I delighted that the writer so eloquently and succinctly summarized my opinion as to the importance of well-fitting and well-performing prostheses in that she wrote: “Pitt Schneider believes a well-performing prosthesis, sooner or later, can help a patient think less about his or her prosthesis. ‘It can put them back into that pre-limb loss mindset, which then ultimately helps them to accept their limb loss, move forward and know that life can go on.'”
Grateful for the reminder that we all have voices that, when used appropriately, can open eyes and educate minds.
Now, more than ever, I am convinced that when life closes one door ( or an entire hallway of doors), it’s life’s way of opening our eyes, ears, and hearts to different opportunities. It’s how the we stay-in-the-safe-zone dwellers are motivated to take the leap of faith that we may not otherwise take.
So as I embark down this path of running a consulting business, growing my speaking business, and being a part of the change that I want to see in the world, my fear has been supplanted with faith.
Here’s to being me and being Universally Limitless.
onelifeonelimb.com 