About This Page: (This is Main Street by Angie, who is working on art goals here on the blog!)
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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art by A.Daley
Please join us and introduce yourself here.
I am a rock, but I am no island.
You just can't please everyone- but you might make everyone (including yourself) nuts if you try!
I could find some way to tangentially relate this comment to Walt Disney, but I'll let the Disney theme slide for the moment. The legend that I do seem to relate this thought to is Sisyphus, the Greek God who was cursed to roll a big boulder up a hill over and over again. Every time he got close to the top, though, the boulder would roll back down the hill. And this process would be repeated throughout all eternity.
And this seems to be how a project will go if you allow yourself toget too caught up in people's opinions or feelings about what you are doing.
Sometimes the best plan you can have when you are finishing a project is to let go of how people might respond to the final product. Then let go of your own critical voice. Just decide "I've done all I can do in the time alloted and this, respectfully, is about as good as it is going to be."
I think I learned this by watching someone's example recently, and it looks like a great approach! He said something like "OK, it looks like this is done now, and I can move on to other projects?" When he said that, I could feel a release, and I wanted that same feeling!
There is something so wonderful about saying "It's done." and feeling free to move on.
When a project keeps going in circles, it can be like a Sysyphean process. Every few steps forward would result in the big rock rolling right over you.
And, since a big rock hurts when it rolls over you, you can feel pretty stunned.
But, with this last project I just finished, I've seen what it is like to have someone help me push that rock up the hill. Maybe it starts to roll down, but there is someone else to help stop it. Or maybe that someone just gave me the "Keep going" that I needed.
Or, maybe I finally figured out that the rock that rolls down that hill every time is actually me.
Some daunting tasks really leave you feeling like you are a rock! There have been a few hills that have seemed impossible to climb, and I've felt very much like Sisyphus, doomed to failure each time I try.
I don't know what makes a task daunting. Maybe it is just hard to figure out. Maybe someone keeps sabataging you. Maybe you sabatage yourself.
But something feels different now.
I don't think I was using all my resources. I don't think I had that great feeling of finishing something well in my recent memory. I forgot that I've already pushed a pile of rocks just about the size of this one up the hill.
I think all I could remember is that rock falling down the hill over and over again. When it happens enough you forget everything else.
I forgot that I am not Sysyphus or the rock. Of course I can do it!
When you have empowering people who support the journey, any hill is possible. You may have to let someone help, though.
I may still be a rock with a few things I need to get done, but I think I am done being an island.
I could find some way to tangentially relate this comment to Walt Disney, but I'll let the Disney theme slide for the moment. The legend that I do seem to relate this thought to is Sisyphus, the Greek God who was cursed to roll a big boulder up a hill over and over again. Every time he got close to the top, though, the boulder would roll back down the hill. And this process would be repeated throughout all eternity.
And this seems to be how a project will go if you allow yourself toget too caught up in people's opinions or feelings about what you are doing.
Sometimes the best plan you can have when you are finishing a project is to let go of how people might respond to the final product. Then let go of your own critical voice. Just decide "I've done all I can do in the time alloted and this, respectfully, is about as good as it is going to be."
I think I learned this by watching someone's example recently, and it looks like a great approach! He said something like "OK, it looks like this is done now, and I can move on to other projects?" When he said that, I could feel a release, and I wanted that same feeling!
There is something so wonderful about saying "It's done." and feeling free to move on.
When a project keeps going in circles, it can be like a Sysyphean process. Every few steps forward would result in the big rock rolling right over you.
And, since a big rock hurts when it rolls over you, you can feel pretty stunned.
But, with this last project I just finished, I've seen what it is like to have someone help me push that rock up the hill. Maybe it starts to roll down, but there is someone else to help stop it. Or maybe that someone just gave me the "Keep going" that I needed.
Or, maybe I finally figured out that the rock that rolls down that hill every time is actually me.
Some daunting tasks really leave you feeling like you are a rock! There have been a few hills that have seemed impossible to climb, and I've felt very much like Sisyphus, doomed to failure each time I try.
I don't know what makes a task daunting. Maybe it is just hard to figure out. Maybe someone keeps sabataging you. Maybe you sabatage yourself.
But something feels different now.
I don't think I was using all my resources. I don't think I had that great feeling of finishing something well in my recent memory. I forgot that I've already pushed a pile of rocks just about the size of this one up the hill.
I think all I could remember is that rock falling down the hill over and over again. When it happens enough you forget everything else.
I forgot that I am not Sysyphus or the rock. Of course I can do it!
When you have empowering people who support the journey, any hill is possible. You may have to let someone help, though.
I may still be a rock with a few things I need to get done, but I think I am done being an island.
0 Pixie Dust
Pixie Dust
Tags: blog, sandy bostwick, sisyphus, wave
Total Comments 12
Comments
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You know as someone being in a wheelchair sometimes I feel like an island the way people who don't know me treat me. They sometime don't how to
respond to me until they come on to this island, meaning they start talking to me and stuff. Then they fine out I'm not a plan old island (disable person). 
I'm a rock that has a strong will to do things. So don't be afraid to get close to an island you never know what's on it
0 Pixie Dust
Posted 12-19-2009 at 06:59 PM by TNTWheels 
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What a great comment! So much to think about on so many levels. I've worked around alot of wheelchairs, so I think that, after a while, you don't see them. It is sort-of like not noticing someone's shoes.
And I would consider you much more "abled" than quite a few people I can think of who are not on wheels.0 Pixie Dust
Posted 12-19-2009 at 10:14 PM by Sandra Bostwick
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I think that sometimes it's also OK- to break the rock into smaller pebbles to get them up the hill....?0 Pixie Dust
Posted 12-20-2009 at 12:48 AM by orionchika
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Really good point! I think that is what adversity does, now that you mention it. We think we are all put-together, and then trouble comes and shatters us. I never thought about it, but maybe the shattering is good for exactly the reason you mentioned.
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Thanks for the cool insight!0 Pixie Dust
Posted 12-20-2009 at 09:21 AM by Sandra Bostwick
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You are more than welcome, friend!!!0 Pixie Dust
Posted 12-20-2009 at 11:18 AM by orionchika
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Just a thought.... There are some Massively large rock structures that people have built beautiful "towns" on.... and some rocks have been recognized to be great "foundations" - ( ..on a solid rock I stand.... from a Christian hymn...) so if you are a rock - [you go girl, ] and you get other friends that are rocks around you together....what do you have....an island.....!!!0 Pixie Dust
Posted 12-21-2009 at 05:19 AM by orionchika
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I like the commercial where a whole bunch of boats pull up and start throwing rocks into the ocean until they build an island for a big party. Has anyone seen it?0 Pixie Dust
Posted 12-21-2009 at 05:36 AM by Sandra Bostwick
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Remember the passage, if you build a house on sand the house will claps and blow away, but if you build a house on a rock the house will stand up against the storm. So if we are a rock even in peaces we are still strong we just put our self together with love and so forth.0 Pixie Dust
Posted 12-21-2009 at 09:58 PM by TNTWheels
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Todd, sometimes you have the wisdom of a sage! Thanks for that!0 Pixie Dust
Posted 12-21-2009 at 10:10 PM by Sandra Bostwick
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Your welcome, but don't give me the credit if you know what I mean.
0 Pixie Dust
Posted 12-22-2009 at 03:09 PM by TNTWheels
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Ok, Todd.... then.... Thank you God!!!!0 Pixie Dust
Posted 12-24-2009 at 06:35 AM by orionchika
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Amen!!!0 Pixie Dust
Posted 12-25-2009 at 10:28 PM by TNTWheels
