Courage to Fly

Have you written that book yet? Have you opened your restaurant? Is your new business up and running? What happened to your dreams? Do you even have a dream, or was dreaming to much of a risk?

Most of us don't take action on our dreams because we are afraid. Afraid to fail or, more often than not, afraid to succeed. How would our lives change if we succeeded, would we loose our "friends" (the people we commiserate with), could we handle the pressure of success? What if we succeeded for a short while then failed, could we handle that? What if we never succeeded, if we went after our dreams with gusto and failed miserably?

Yeah, most of us have decided either through direct thought, or through subconscious thought and inaction, that it is safer not to take the risk. What we don't understand is that avoiding risk, is indeed the riskiest thing we could do. Most of us die after a life of drudgery and with a great deal of regret. There aren't enough libraries to house the great novels that were never written, nor enough storage space to download the music never composed. The world is so much less for the feats never achieved!

Fear is a normal state of mind, we all fear that which is unknown. In order to reach your dreams, or even dream at all, it takes courage. I define courage as taking action in spite of fear. Marianne Williamson sums up the concept so well with her words "Our Deepest Fear" (from A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles) , subsequently delivered by Nelson Mandela in his inaugural speech:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

So do you have the courage to fly and inspire the world? Will you stand up and accept the infinite power that dwells within you, or will your life be yet another chapter in the great book of could have been? The choice is simple and uniquely yours to make!

Carlos A. Bauta

Stories

Have you ever noticed that the stories we most retell are the ones that first caused us angst, frustration or aggravation? Most of these stories allow us to laugh at the absurdity of the experience. Indeed it is through the laughter that we cleanse any underlying negativity associated with the initial event.

Several years ago my wife and I were invited to a house in the Florida keys, that belonged to the parents of one of her students, for the weekend. We had a fabulous time, although we did have a moment angst. Some of the teenagers had gone out on the jet-skies and returned less than half an hour later. As we saw them returning we knew there was a problem. Typically they would have been gone for at least a couple of hours. As they drew closer, we noticed sever damage to the front of one of the jet-skies. Joel had been driving with Brad sitting behind him, travelling at a high rate of speed. They were moving so fast, in fact, that Joel was not able to turn the jet-ski before they hit the very large stone brakewater. Both riders were ejected from the jet-ski as it hit the rocks, and fortunately they didn't even get a scratch. It did take several hours for the adults to finally pry the truth from the kids.

After the initial shock and fear at what could have happened we were able to laugh at their sheer stupidity. We laughed and laughed, and I even wrote them a poem which I will share with you. Bottom line is that event made it a weekend I am sure to never forget.

Lunacy of Youth
(For Joel and Brad)


On the Jet Ski rode the pair
The wind and salt water in their hair
Riding at a thunderous speed
Upon their trusted fiberglass steed

Without a trace of fear in sight
They raced on as Poseidon stood in fright
The two young men with much audacity
Soon would have a test of their capacity

No mammal, nor fish nor living bird
Impeded their way or they’d be interred
Then on the horizon it did loom
The conquering colossus that spelled their doom

Ah! The immortal question was at hand
Turn and run, or make a stand
With uncanny nerves, and no brains in stock
Indeed they impale themselves, upon the rocks!

Carlos A. Bauta

Great Expectaions

Today is a day full of great expectations! Everyday I expect great things from myself, from others, and from the universe as a whole.

Some may say that I set myself up for failure and disappointment. I think just the opposite; most of us expect mediocrity or worse. We resign ourselves to our lot day in and day out, and while stuck in our rut, are incapable of seeing or experiencing greatness even if staring straight at it.

No, I'd rather have great expectations daily and be fully aware when great things come my way.

Carlos A. Bauta