You ever notice that when you go to a familiar restaurant you always order the same thing. You may have a few different things you order but you rarely explore the other options on the menu. I went out for dinner last night to a restaurant that has probably changed its name 7 times in 10 years. Even though it has changed several times the menu has always been the same. I wondered to my self a few weeks ago I was trying new foods when presented with the same old options of a burger and fries. It is amazing how you will just stay on the old worn path and not explore whole new worlds.
I followed up the dinner with going to the movies (which I have not done in some time) and seeing Alice in Wonderland. It was a delightful movie. I have always enjoyed the experience of “going” to a movie. Larger then life people, far off worlds, and sensing the energy that comes from other people’s laughter and tears. I am going to share a few insights from the movie and my past few weeks.
The main character struggles with an identity crisis are they “the” Alice. It is something that only they can answer and must find that answer from within. While I was at Vancouver I often struggled with the question when people asked “What do you do?”. I know it is just a way of making conversation and not meant to be a great philosophical idea but maybe it should be. Near the end of the trip I found the answer to that question. “I currently running a website called chasingdreams. Right now it talks about my dream of seeing the Olympics in Canada but soon it will become a place for others who want to chase their dreams to gain a helping hand and tell their stories”. I have for years had big dreams, as William Shanter said “Big Country, You Dream Big, you have to in a land that is the final frontier”, as much as the Games was one dream, the time away gave much needed time to work on other big dreams.
So over the last week I have started laying out the ground work to chase other dreams. Looking in to an accountant, booking doctors appointments, laying out the book design, speaking to Hillside’s youth group about the trip, were some of the little steps that will lead to much bigger steps. If nothing else I came away from watching Alice in Wonderland with skip in my feet and passion in my heart.
I mention in earlier posts that I had thought I had gone “mad” by planning the trip on the drop of a hat. Well….
Have I gone mad? – The Hatter, I’m afraid so. You’re entirely bonkers. But I’ll tell you a secret. All the best people are. – Alice