
You can't believe how sore you are from just stretching, but if you keep it up, you become more flexible the next time you dress in pajamas and take out your mat.
No, this isn't about my new online Yoga Studio, so don't worry.
Once stretched, the muscle accommodates the new activity and becomes leaner. It does not go back to its original shape unless you never use it again.
A baby puts her mind and body through the most rigorous stretching and growing regiment of anyone at any other age. I have never seen a baby go back to not knowing how to crawl after she has finally crawled to her stuffed animal . . . not knowing how to run after she has run into her daddy's arms.
Even though we adults know how to crawl and run, and now choose to drive, we can still stretch and grow our minds and bodies in new ways. Let's focus on our minds right now.
I have many friends and acquaintances who have accomplished small and amazing things, and no matter the success of these accomplishments, once reached, they are never forgotten . . . never unreached.
~ A woman who battled her husband's adultery and divorce, then her own breast cancer to now lovingly continue to raise her two daughters while nurturing her community based business.
~ A man who had difficulty emotionally connecting due to a car accident that damaged a small part of his brain, now lovingly raising his daughter with his wife of 15+ years.
~ A woman, and mother of four, helping her daughter find balance through mental illness, and using this hard-won knowledge to help others throughout the world do the same.
~ A woman who has always been surrounded by, and felt in herself the entrepreneurial spirit, but who's first business failed, helps others with their own personal stories, which is what she loves.
~ A woman lost a loved one in the tragedies of September 11, 2001, and now helps others find peace with loss.
Each person's creativity guided them uniquely through each accomplishment, and helped them grow to the next. Once divorced, you cannot undivorce - once injured, you cannot uninjure - once an entrepreneur, you cannot unentrepreneur. You can remarry, repair and restart, but the original experiences never disappear as if you waved your wand and said, "Obliviate!" These experiences seep into your every cell, and help your mind and body stretch and grow.
Now, the word "creativity" may have scared some of you, and made you automatically decide that this post does not relate to you, it only relates to those few gifted with "creativity".
You are so wrong.
I challenge you to look closely at yourself, at your life thus far, and find something you have accomplished that did not require creativity.
Creativity: (n) the use of the imagination or original ideas
Are you going to tell me you have never used your imagination or had an original idea?!
Did you ever write a report in middle school where you had to use your own words to make an assessment of something? HA!
Did you ever talk to your kid about why he needs to share, and used a personal experience to illustrate the power and purpose of sharing? HA!
You have the creativity and experiences to stretch and grow beyond where you are right now. Please don't wait for a tragedy, or near miss of one to provide the impetus to do so right now. Please don't sit back after hearing of a friend's new accomplishment, and say, "WOW! I wish I could do something like that."
Jump In!
What is your idea?
What is your current dream?
Stretch and grow using your creativity right now. You won't regret it.