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This has been a personal project to blog every day for a school year on goals and dreams. My hope was that I could find a group of people to work with me.
I was lucky enough to find a small, but sincere group of inspirational people to keep me company. We've been using Walt Disney's philosophies or creations as inspiration.
I am no longer blogging daily, but I am notified if comments are posted, and I'll be happy to keep the discussion going!
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Summoning the Lion on a Regular Day
The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” - Walt Disney
Today I want to wrap my head around what was probably the defining moment in the book I just published. The book is about Harold Gantert, an American Airman who spent a year in Stalag Luft III, a POW camp, for a year.
There was a defining moment which, I think, set the tone for the whole experience. When Harold's plane was flying its last trip, in flames and losing altitude, Harold had to jump.
I can't find the exact quote, so I will paraphrase here. I remember once reading something like There is no one so brave as the one who has no choice.
When Harold's plane was going down, he had to jump into enemy territory, a situation which would leave him alone because the men jump as the plane is moving, so they land in different places.
Harold helped a few of the injured out of the plane, so he was the last to jump. Can you imagine being alone in a plane that could explode at any minute over enemy territory? Now, there is a situation that does not leave a whole lot of time for mulling things over, strategizing, phoning a friend, doing an internet search for information.
It's just you, gravity, and reality.
I was talking last night with Baby Karl's Mom about_her_experience with Karl's sudden illness, which she and her husband handled with such grace and courage.
She took Karl to the ER by herself while her husband stayed with the other three children until I could get there. In speaking with her, I got the feeling that the moment when the ER doctor told her Karl would need to be intubated before his lungs shut down, she was like Harold standing at the threshold of his plane.
Nothing but a Mom, gravity, and reality.
The bottom two levels of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs cover survival needs (water, air, food, and sleep) and safety or security needs (freedom from physical, emotional, or economic dangers).
Both Harold and Karl's Mom faced a situation that could result in serious injury, consequence, or a death, but the situation had come to a crisis point that could not be ignored.
I think that when the lower levels of Maslow's Hierarchy combine with a life or death situation that demands immediate attention, the questions and fears that might slow a person down can be swallowed by this powerful lion that was there all along.
If situations don't call for immediate action, though, we can end up spinning, churning, dog paddling in the waters of indecision. We might end up drowning anyway from exhaustion because we couldn't figure out which direction to swim.
All the time, I hear people talk about how they work best under pressure. I have to admit that I, too, seem to be at my most efficient when a deadline is looming. Maybe that is because, when the pressure is on, we have no other choice.
Do you think you could summon your courage to move forward without fear, even though you may not have a crisis? How do you think such a choice might change your goals and dreams?
Bostwick, Sandra, and Jeff Edwards. From Reveille to Appell;The Story of an American Prisoner-of-War in World War II. Parsippany, NJ: UMCP, 2009.
Today I want to wrap my head around what was probably the defining moment in the book I just published. The book is about Harold Gantert, an American Airman who spent a year in Stalag Luft III, a POW camp, for a year.
There was a defining moment which, I think, set the tone for the whole experience. When Harold's plane was flying its last trip, in flames and losing altitude, Harold had to jump.
I can't find the exact quote, so I will paraphrase here. I remember once reading something like There is no one so brave as the one who has no choice.
When Harold's plane was going down, he had to jump into enemy territory, a situation which would leave him alone because the men jump as the plane is moving, so they land in different places.
Harold helped a few of the injured out of the plane, so he was the last to jump. Can you imagine being alone in a plane that could explode at any minute over enemy territory? Now, there is a situation that does not leave a whole lot of time for mulling things over, strategizing, phoning a friend, doing an internet search for information.
It's just you, gravity, and reality.
I was talking last night with Baby Karl's Mom about_her_experience with Karl's sudden illness, which she and her husband handled with such grace and courage.
She took Karl to the ER by herself while her husband stayed with the other three children until I could get there. In speaking with her, I got the feeling that the moment when the ER doctor told her Karl would need to be intubated before his lungs shut down, she was like Harold standing at the threshold of his plane.
Nothing but a Mom, gravity, and reality.
The bottom two levels of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs cover survival needs (water, air, food, and sleep) and safety or security needs (freedom from physical, emotional, or economic dangers).
Both Harold and Karl's Mom faced a situation that could result in serious injury, consequence, or a death, but the situation had come to a crisis point that could not be ignored.
I think that when the lower levels of Maslow's Hierarchy combine with a life or death situation that demands immediate attention, the questions and fears that might slow a person down can be swallowed by this powerful lion that was there all along.
If situations don't call for immediate action, though, we can end up spinning, churning, dog paddling in the waters of indecision. We might end up drowning anyway from exhaustion because we couldn't figure out which direction to swim.
All the time, I hear people talk about how they work best under pressure. I have to admit that I, too, seem to be at my most efficient when a deadline is looming. Maybe that is because, when the pressure is on, we have no other choice.
Do you think you could summon your courage to move forward without fear, even though you may not have a crisis? How do you think such a choice might change your goals and dreams?
Bostwick, Sandra, and Jeff Edwards. From Reveille to Appell;The Story of an American Prisoner-of-War in World War II. Parsippany, NJ: UMCP, 2009.
0 Pixie Dust
Pixie Dust
Tags: harold gantert, jeff edwards, maslow, sandra bostwick
Total Comments 6
Comments
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It's that fight or flight kicking in..... I know it so well....LOL.0 Pixie Dust
Posted 02-06-2010 at 04:48 AM by orionchika 
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Good point. FIght or flight makes us sharper, more alert, and quicker. I used to be the ultimate adrenaline junkie, skiing, mountain climbing, and choosing careers that would keep the adrenaline pumping with just the right amount of drama, challenge, and risk.
Now I am getting a bit old for that, but I wish I could get that alert ALIVE feeling without a crisis. Hmmmmmmmmmmm sounds like a blog topic!0 Pixie Dust
Posted 02-06-2010 at 09:03 AM by Sandra Bostwick
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Driving can get to you at times But i still drive I know the boss is look after us when we feel fearful I feel safer knowing that he right there.0 Pixie Dust
Posted 02-06-2010 at 12:15 PM by TNTWheels
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I totally am the same Sandy... That is why I also skied, left home after HS - moved away to Europe- joined the Army, became a paratrooper(Airborne), worked in the Emergency room and ICUs.... I seem to do very good work when under pressure....but give me too much time to do something... I think of too many choices of how I want to get it done.... and maybe make a wrong choice. But tell me it has to be done yesterday - I snap into a zone and get it done and and make very good decisions.... Interesting!!!0 Pixie Dust
Posted 02-07-2010 at 05:40 AM by orionchika
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We are the same. I've worked in a couple hospital crisis units, always have had three or four part time jobs in very different areas, got my weapons of mass destruction/hazmat certificate, learned how to maneuver in a Hazmat suit during a 3 day training where I was one of the only non-fire or police men, got a disaster counselor certification. One summer I even signed on as a temp cruise director on a steamboat in the Mississippi, just to see what it would be like.
I don't recall if I mentioned it, but I also call it "The Zone". I used to be real good at working the zone, but, as I mature, it seems that I am much more "fully present". I used to be able to get a mental vacuum and be fearless. Now I always seem to carry my usual way of weighing pros and cons, considering various options, and strategizing. I THINK that makes me less impulsive and more prone to making well-thought-out choices, BUT it is less effective when you need to shoot from the hip.
I'm not sure if that is age and wisdom or just age and slowing down.
For example, I don't think I will ever do a seriously treacherous ski mountain ever again because, in the back of my mind, I will always have the thought that if I break my leg, I won't be able to work. That makes me hesitate to put myself at just risk for fun.0 Pixie Dust
Posted 02-07-2010 at 09:14 AM by Sandra Bostwick
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thats a good one!0 Pixie Dust
Posted 02-09-2010 at 02:13 PM by bryan w
