DREAMING OUT LOUD

A friend and I were chatting the other day and he made a comment, the importance of which I did not realize at the time.  He said "I was just dreaming out loud." The true meaning escaped me because, at the time, we were just being silly.  "I was just dreaming out loud."  What a marvelous concept. Dreaming out loud Is a good thing in so many ways.  You see, it allows others to know and share in and encourage your dreams.  For example, when I accepted the challenge to do the triathlon, I shared the dream with many. Look at the result! About 50 people did the triathlon with me, many walking with me through the finish line after completing their own races. By dreaming out loud, Team Inspiration Texas was formed.  By dreaming out loud, I have been given the opportunity to speak to folks, either through this blog or in person, whose dreams might otherwise have been lost.  By dreaming out loud, many have been encouraged to start their own out loud dreaming, creating an environment founded in supporting and encouraging what? DREAMS!

Out loud dreaming also keeps you accountable. To yourself and to others.  When others know your dreams, you are encouraged to keep fighting for them.  If I missed a day in the gym, I almost felt guilty that I was letting not only myself down, but those sharing in my dream.  I became accountable to my dream. How cool is that?

So start just dreaming out loud.  Ignore those who aren't able to see your dreams as you do.  They'll eventually come around and hopefully start dreaming out loud themselves.  See the amazing places it takes you!

Good luck, KEEP TRYING and my best.

-Trace

FEAR, HOPE, GOALS ... AND PLAN B!

Sorry that I haven't written for a while. I really haven't had anything "blog worthy" to say.  That changed yesterday. My sweet sister, Kimberly, and her business partner, Spencer, invited me to The UP Experience, a seminar with "unique perspectives from unique people." It was amazing.  The diverse group of people that spoke each had amazing stories to share.  There was a neuroscientist, a chef, and a technology expert, to name a few.  Each had an amazing uplifting message that really made you think.  One speaker, Alison Levine, a business consultant , talked about she has climbed a peak on every continent and has skied across both the North and South Poles.  From her talk, several things became clear and are especially poignant to our work.  Fear is okay. It is complacency that will kill you.  We talk a lot about how things scare us.  Sitting around not fighting our challenges does us no good.  In fact, it only hurts us more.  Combine that with the lessons learned from Brene Brown, and a powerful observation is realized.  Brene reminded us that we CAN do hard things. She told us about Emily Dickenson's view of hope which is that "Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul."   Hope  is a function of struggle.  Goals are achieved by fighting  your fears through struggles.  Just keep telling yourself that you have a goal, it IS reachable, and  that you will get there, even if you have to Plan B it.

I am happy to report that since keeping track of my bike mileage on 7/23, I have now logged about 1400 miles on my bike.  You see, I am not being complacent with my fears. I have a goal. I WILL reach it, even if I have to Plan B it! And I have great HOPE that my goals will be realized.

Good luck, KEEP TRYING, and my best,

Trace