How Will You?

How Will You Give Something Beautiful to the World?

“…the tragedy in life does not lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach. It isn’t a calamity to die with dreams unfulfilled, but it is a calamity not to dream. It is not a disaster to be unable to capture your ideal, but it is a disaster to have no ideal to capture. It is not a disgrace not to reach the stars, but it is a disgrace to have no stars to reach for.” ~Benjamin E. Mays

Raise your hand if you have “goal burnout”. If you, like me, cringe at the thought of one more goal. One more thing to add to an already overfilled to-do list, and one more reason to feel guilty. I get it. This post is not about guilting you into setting another goal. This post is about reminding you that there are 60 days left in 2018. 60 precious days. 60 days to finish what you started, get complete, and clean your house to prepare for a new guest…2019.

Last week, I took 30 yoga teachers-in-training to a human cadaver lab. We got to see the miracle of the human body, thanks to some wonderful teachers who donated their bodies to help us learn how to live…better. What does this have to do with goals, and 60 day deadlines, and your stress about it? Read on…

Each of those people we viewed in the lab had a life. 70, 80, maybe 90 years of a life. They had habits that we can now see by looking at their bodies. They loved, and they were loved. They worked, and maybe they played. Their bodies show the joy and the sorrow they lived with. I look at them in awe, and wonder what stars they reached for. One thing I am certain of…if any of them could have the 60 days that lie in front of you, I would bet they would live them fully. My guess is that at the end of the day, they would want to know they gave something beautiful to the world.

As we head into Fall, and begin to wrap up this year, I’d like to invite you to join me in a collective effort. If every one of you who are reading this post took this on, imagine what a difference that would make. So here goes:

1. Sometime today, take a few minutes to write down one thing…one beautiful thing you would like to give to the world. Is it art? Music? Food? Are you a teacher? Could you commit to serving someone for the next 2 months? Connect with a neighbor more deeply? Mend a relationship? Is there a volunteer effort you’ve been thinking about? Pick one. Write it down. Be clear and detailed, and create a plan for creating your beautiful gift.
2. Email me and tell me what it is and I will check back with you to see how it is coming.
3. Post about your declaration on social media. Get loud about it so you’re accountable.
4. Promise me you won’t take this on as a task or burden, but rather as your unique gift to the world.

If you’d like some inspiration and help in creating a new vision for 2019, consider joining me and a bunch of really great people for a Visionary Leadership and Yoga Retreat on Kauai November 28-December 4.

Let’s do this. Let’s make the world a more beautiful place.