Quote 1: Be Brave Enough to Break Your Own Heart. -posted on Facebook by Amber Bradley Virgillo
Discussions regarding change typically talk about how difficult it may be. How scary it may be when we are faced with the unknown. Unfortunately, we associate change often times with leaving the bad and hoping the change will bring about the much wanted good we dream of. This is not always the case. Have you challenged yourself to leave what is good to reach what is great?
I took Amber’s quote to heart and asked myself, am I brave enough to break my own heart? Initially I did not have a resounding YES as a response. I pondered it. Commended Amber for her bravery. Then the job offer came in. I could take a marketing job and leave my much loved career of teaching middle school language arts. I have devoted my entire professional endeavors to mastering the art of teaching. I even earned my masters, so I would be well rounded in my skill set to inspire kids to be their best. To dream. To believe they could achieve their dreams.
I sucked in all the bravery I could muster, broke my heart, and accepted the marketing job.
As I packed my teaching boxes and sorted the items, my heart was breaking. I held the tears in, but I just wanted to bawl like a baby. I am so going to miss the ridiculous impulsive things these hormonally challenged students do. I am so going to miss the chance to be that one person the student has who believes in them. Who sees the good in them. Who won’t let them disappear in the crowd, but demands their very best. I am going to miss those big dopey smiles when the kids achieve and their own perspective of themselves changes. I am a teacher at heart, but I need to be brave enough to leave the good and strive for the great.
The new job is the great I am hoping for. It offers financial freedom to provide for my family. It challenges me to learn new skill sets and reach my full potential. So I will pass the challenge onto you, are you brave enough to break your own heart and start a new chapter in your life’s story?
Quote 2: Struggling and suffering are the essence of a life worth living. If you’re not pushing yourself beyond the comfort zone, if you’re not demanding more from yourself – expanding and learning as you go – you are choosing a numb existence. You’re denying yourself an extraordinary trip. –Dean Karnazes
Humans by nature are drawn to being comfortable. We naturally avoid being uncomfortable, yet as this quote so eloquently reminds us…if we pursue being comfortable instead of accepting struggle and suffering we miss out on a worthwhile life. We do cut ourselves short of growing and maturing into the fullness of ourselves. We limit our potential when we settle for being comfortable. If we become comfortable for too long we start to become numb. Numbness no longer prompts us to change or improve situations. We become passive. No longer infused with passion or hunger for more in life, we slowly slip away. So don’t labor to be comfortable, work to struggle for a life worth living.
Quote 3: If you can’t fly, run. If you can’t run, walk. If you can’t walk, crawl… –Martin Luther King, Jr.
Forward progress is our only option no matter what. Don’t judge yourself if your progress is slow, recognize you are still moving forward. I use this often when I am running. I remind myself, I am moving forward. Each step is closer to the finish. Closer. Closer. Closer. What we know of momentum helps our forward progress, for once in motion we are more likely to remain in motion. Just crawling even walking can be so discouraging. We can doubt that we will ever arrive at the finish line. Recognize the progress you are making, even if it is just getting out of bed. Keep moving, for you will eventually fly again.
Week 7 & 8 WO: Week 2 and 3 of training complete.
Please visit the attached link for the charity I am racing for: http://www.scope.org.uk/ To donate please go to: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/lelandlearns
Thank you for the support!!