The Founder’s Journal
Reflections on building a methodology, developing extraordinary practitioners, reducing unnecessary suffering, stewarding a movement, being authentic and courageous, and staying true to your mission.
Just for Today, Try a Little Non-Judgment
All the while, images of the Harley Davidson bar in Pee Wee's Big Adventure are going through my head - this man looks like he could be the bouncer for the toughest, most frightening biker bar out there.
Suddenly, his grizzled appearance goes into a smile, and he says, "No worries, little lady," in a style so reminiscent of John Wayne that I look a bit harder to see if this isn't a John Wayne sighting in Jacksonville, Florida (for all you conspiracy buffs out there, sorry, no go).
He and I part ways, and as I glance back, I watch him carefully picking out a sundress for a child - perhaps a grand-daughter? I smile at the obvious tenderness of this big, burly, scary-looking man.
3 Big Relationship Mistakes - And How to Stop Making Them & Find Your Soulmate (Part 3)
3 Big Relationship Mistakes - And How to Stop Making Them & Find Your Soulmate (Part 2)
It may be very romantic to think that you are going to be the knight in shining armor or the, well, warrior princess, but in reality it is exhausting, stressful, and causes resentment.
3 Big Relationship Mistakes - And How to Stop Making Them & Find Your Soulmate (Part 1)
Then it dawned on me - there had to be something I was doing that caused me to attract the exact same kind of relationship again and again! Stressed and sick of dealing with this again, I swore off men for months, intent on fixing whatever it was that was wrong with me, and I found out that I had been addicted to making some critical mistakes in picking boyfriends - mistakes that I realized I was programmed to make, based on some unconscious beliefs I held about the kinds of relationships I deserved.
When I worked on changing these patterns, I quickly and easily found my soulmate (and now husband of more than 11 years).
My Oprah Casting Call (Part 6)
So, my gut instinct about him was right on - he was annoying, sure, but he has a good heart. Much like the real Del from Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, there is a lot to be learned from my casting call buddy: Be optimistic about life. You might have to go through 8 jobs in a year, but you don’t have to be depressed while you are doing it. You can inspire people with your life even if you aren’t Oprah or Dr. Phil, and maybe because you aren’t.
And finally, Del definitely epitomizes lesson #1: He is, in all ways, unapologetically, exactly who he is. Not everyone is going to like him, but that is going to happen whenever you are who you really are. At the end of the day, if you don’t have a few people who dislike you, you probably haven’t ever been your true self or stood up for something you truly believe in. So, don’t obsess when people don’t like you. When you think about it, you probably don’t really value their opinion or view of the world, either.
My Oprah Casting Call (Part 5)
My Oprah Casting Call (Part 4)
This certainty is confirmed with what happens next. The African-American guy sitting next to me stands up and starts his very energetic pitch. He’s dressed quite nicely in a blue button-down shirt and tie, when suddenly, he rips it off. Now, when I say “rips it off” I mean Chippendales-style, button-flies-past-my-nose rips it off. This effort reveals a workout shirt. He talks for a few more seconds and rips that off, revealing a tank top. He throws on oven mitts with a flourish and yells that his show will also include healthy cooking.
With all this disrobing he has definitely gone over time, but no one has stopped him. I look at the “casting agent” and see her write, “yes” on his form. The stripper is getting a call back.