Tag Archives: Hero

A life well lived

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Today, I was blessed to attend the Celebration of Life for someone in my extended family.  The man in question died a couple weeks ago after living a good, long life well into his 80’s.

He was a man who definitely answered the Call that was made of him.  Yet, based on what I know about him, I’m not sure he would have seen it that way.  He didn’t overtly answer the Call – he just lived as if he had.

He focused on living and giving, and that defined him in his life.  And, more importantly, it defined him with the people he surrounded himself with each and every day:  his family and friends.

Laurie was a fun and unique character.  He was known for his “groaner” jokes, oblique sense of humour and general sense of living a fun life.

In my mind, he was a master.  He got this living thing.  He fell into it, and he was a Hero – in his own life, but more importantly, he was a Hero to his family and friends.  I heard his grandchildren talk about the great times they spent with him – Poppa to them.  Rides in the wheelbarrow, Mac & Cheese after school, and flinging elastic bands around the house when they least expected it.

He did big things and little things with those he loved.  It all added up to a large, wonderful life.  He will be missed.  And, he has left a legacy that will live long beyond his own years.

A true Hero!

Getting ready to get back on Quest

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Today was another off-Quest day. I worked around the house, and took care of things not related to my opportunity search.

So, what did I learn today that is relative to myth in my life?

I learned that I too easily forget the power I have – that we all have – to live an amazing life. To be my own Hero. I so quickly get bogged down in the small stuff of life, and lose sight of my vision – the very thing that drives Hope and Abundance.

Tomorrow, my goal is to stay as fixed as I can be in that vision. To make it a habit.

And, the Quest continues …

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Well, I got back on the horse, so to speak.  Today, I was the master of my thoughts and desires, and I feel that I’ve come back.

What I learned today is that we can’t let one day throw us off our Quest for a full life.  Stuff will happen, but it does not have to define us – short- or long-term.

There’s much to be done, and I’m looking forward to getting to it this coming week.  Tally-Ho!

Today was a tough day. Not much of a Hero

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This will be a short post. I was not a strong Hero today.

I allowed myself to get stuck in the past – my fears, doubts and mistakes.

I did my best to get beyond, but it was a struggle today, and my shadow self won.

Tomorrow is another day; I have not given up. Just lost this battle in a much bigger Quest.

Today I was someone else’s Hero

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The more I learn about life and myself through this process, the more I realize that small moments in time are the stuff of life.  Yes, big events and changes are, too.  But, most lives, I think, are made of small moments and they are what add meaning to our lives.

Today was a case in point.  I was my wife’s Hero today, and it was for a small job that I completed around the house.  I fixed up our back deck.  It has been in need of repair for a while, but this weekend I completed the job – 100% from start to finish.

It truly was not a grand adventure, nor was it a life-changing task.  But, I’ve been thanked numerous times for doing this job and finishing it, too.  I did the job in service to my wife, and that’s heroic, too.

Small moments are the stuff of life.  Now, where’s that job list?

Tonight, I saw a live band (Anathema). They are Hero’s in my world.

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I just got home from a concert in Toronto.  The headline was a British group called Anathema.  It was an excellent concert by a band who should be much bigger than they are today.

Their songs are so well written, with beautiful lyrics, and amazing musicality – case in point:  A Natural Disaster.  Wonderful!

I so enjoyed watching the band obviously loving what they were doing on stage, for a very appreciative Toronto crowd.  They were in flow, and living at their very best – their most authentic selves.

I consider those who live with passion, and who are true to their higher selves to be real Heroes in this world.  We can be shown the path by those on it now.

The quest is there.  The path is open.

Bravery and the Call

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As so often happens as I go through my day, and think about that day’s post, a theme occurred to me: I have not been very brave.

I have held off on acknowledging my ideal next opportunity – for fear that if I do, then I’ll have to live up to it. That is part of my Hero’s Call. And, that reluctance has been my Refusal of the Call, as outlined by Joseph Campbell in “The Hero with a Thousand Faces”.

There are any number of good reasons for not taking a step towards that ideal, with financial concerns at the top of the list. Not far behind is fear. Followed by past failures.

But, this blog is about addressing those fears, heeding the call, and living a full life.

My ideal is to start, run and grow a business that allows me the freedom to live my life on my terms.

Issue: What business? What do I love to do that I could build into a business?

I honestly believe that when I answer that question, and take the first step, then forces will conspire to help me realize the dream. It will involve work, time, risk and luck to be sure.

But, it’ll be a brave move for this hero.

The Hero’s Quest: Departure and the hero’s refusal

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I mentioned previously that I’m reading Joseph Campbell’s “The Hero with a Thousand Faces”.  He covers  the various stages of the Hero’s Quest.  Stage one is Departure, and one of the elements of this stage is the hero’s refusal of the call.

I’ve often felt that part of my call – the call for many of us, I suspect – is to be all that I can be.  I can’t help but think that I’ve spent a good deal of my life refusing this call.  And, it has affected the nature of my adventure.  I’ve lived a “smaller” life as a result.

Sometimes, I wonder if I still have what it takes to answer the call.  Those thoughts come when I’m feeling low and vulnerable.  I do feel ready, but still feel less courageous and sure, as I hoped I’d be.

I can only imagine that sometimes that’s all I’ll have to go on.  What matters is saying: “Yes!” and figuring out the rest on the Quest.

Ok, then:  “YES!”

We’re always stronger than we think

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Today, I had to guide a consultant, by boat, to a place that is known for it’s underwater reefs. And, the trip also involved taking the boat through a tight, shallow, rocky cut called the Devil’s Elbow. Ominous!

As I pondered this trip yesterday, I was concerned about my ability to navigate the waters without hitting rock in either the Elbow, or the bay. But, I knew the trip had to be made.

I decided that I would continually visualize my boat safely moving through the water. It provided me with a level of calm when the time came to do it for real today.

The result? I made it through both the Elbow and bay without a scratch, and that occurred in less than favourable weather conditions.

What did I learn? There’s always more to us – more strength, resolve and ability than we sometimes see. Faith, hope and moving forward – without a safety net – can lead to wonderful insights into our capabilities.

Myth and the hero’s journey

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I decided it’s time I learned more formally about myth, and have begun to read Joseph Campbell’s book – written in 1949 – called:  The Hero with a Thousand Faces.

I first learned of Campbell via the PBS series he did with Bill Moyers in the ’80’s called:  The Power of Myth.  I was fascinated with the series, and with Campbell in particular.  HIs knowledge of world myth, and ability to expound on them was magic to me.  The fact that he saw value in George Lucas’ Star Wars movies as modern myth just made it all the better!

I’m hoping – expecting – to find insight that may apply to my own journey.  More on that later …