Dreams, Fears, & Freedom…Don’t Just Take My Word For It
|
Terri Wingham is the founder and CEO of A Fresh Chapter, a cancer survivor, and someone who believes that we are not defined by the most difficult aspects of our story. |
Did my last post irritate you? Were you at sitting at your desk, trying to accomplish the 752 things on your to-do list when you saw my email or the Facebook link to Live As If This Is All There Is? Did your fingers tighten around your coffee mug as you read about how I chose the word “free” as my mantra for the rest of the year? Did you snort and think Hah! Freedom?! I don’t have the luxury of feeling free because my boss is breathing down my neck and I should have finished my PowerPoint presentation for tonight’s board meeting two hours ago.
Or, maybe you read the post once your two year old finally settled for his 20 minute (but you wish was 2 hour) nap and your six year old hadn’t yet arrived home on the school bus. You had a clean socks and sheets tangled around little pairs of jeans and t-shirts on the couch beside you, and a package of chicken defrosting on the counter (and no idea what you would turn it into for dinner). Did you think “F You Terri”. Stop rubbing your freedom in my face! It’s great that you’re so free, but I have a massive mortgage, a cranky husband, a dog who pees on the kitchen floor; and children who will soon clamber around me and whine about when I’m going to take them to the park.”
If you secretly felt like punching me and then you quit reading, I get it. I would not have read a blog like A Fresh Chapter two years ago. Back then, I thought airy fairy, “live your best life” messages were great in principle but didn’t relate to my life. Other people could dream big dreams and talk about freedom, but I had rent to pay and the careers of 350 technology consultants to take care of. (more…)
Comments (17)
“Fear is just an emotion, not my dictator,” I really like that. I’m trying to listen to that little voice more closely and sometimes it’s still really hard to “hear what its saying,” but at least now I’m paying attention to it and trying to figure it all out. I guess that’s a start.
Thanks Nancy – That is an amazing start! None of us have this all figured out, but it’s all about the journey (at least that is what I keep telling myself).
Big hugs,
Terri
That story of the person reading your blog…you know the one who’s cursing the dog peeing on the floor, the kids whining about going to the park, the laundry piled on the couch…it sounds uncannily familiar. Wonder where you might have had some of those images from?
Awesome post!
I get my material from everywhere 😉 Although the dog one was about you. Lots of love, T. xo
Thank you for this incredible (and challenging post). Freedom can be a scary idea for me because just thinking about what it would be/feel/look like reminds me of the hard choices I need to start making. For me, freedom is rest. The path to freedom is more boundaries and more “no.” Not easy, just necessary. Thank you again!
Brene,
What an honour! Thank you for your very honest comment. Looking forward to hearing you speak next Friday in Vancouver.
I know I asked you this before..but how did you get inside my head? Seriously, your posts could be you talking directly to my fears – it’s incredible how you do this each week!Thanks for the info on the intriguingly named Mondo Beyondo..looking forward to checking it out.
[…] me on the patient’s feelings about post-reconstruction surgery”. I have to keep asking Terri Wingham if she has somehow managed to crawl inside my head, because her recent posts have spoken so directly […]
I love the image of our fears rubbing their hands in glee (great imagery), then being disappointed when the dreams prevail and become reality.
Thanks Nancy! Love your blog too. Look forward to keeping in touch. xo
“It is the way you were meant to exist. If you stop to listen, you’ll realize that your heart has been telling you so all along.”
I try so hard at times to ignore what my heart tells me.
This is so very validating….
Lauren
Terri! Love the writing! Maya Dimapilis is a good friend of mine….I noticed her post about you and ended up here.
Peter – so nice to hear from you. Thanks for your comment. Will send you a note once I finish moving and have a bit more time!
[…] I wrote a post called Dreams, Fears, and Freedom, where I told you about the online course, Mondo Beyondo, and shared some inspiring words by […]
[…] Chapter in my life, but the question I keep asking is, Why Not? Why Not Dream Big Dreams? Why Not Face My Fears and Choose Freedom? Why Not Meet Interesting People? Why Not Live As If This Is All There […]
[…] and shiny word I want to choose for 2012. You see, late last year, I thought my word might be FREEDOM. But, here’s the thing…you should be careful what you wish for. I have never felt more […]
[…] her often: Martha Beck on Metamorphosis; Learning to Ride the Wave; What Are Your Three Words?; Dreams, Fears & Freedom; and The Happy Children of Unhappy Endings (wow maybe I should give Martha a contributing author […]