Continuing on with last week’s new maze format for the Lab-Rats, I have another answer without thinking post for them. This time it’s all about breaking free of the expected.
In my December 2006 post, Endorphin Heaven, I talked about spontaneous actions, happiness, and breaking limits and one of my favourite movies, Legally Blonde.
Once the Lab-Rats have read the post (and no they don’t have to go watch Legally Blonde, although I do recommend it as a great example of a formulaic movie transcending its genre), they’ll come back here to answer the following questions. After that, you all get to chime in and provide everyone with your ideas for some Someday Lessons derived from the Lab-Rats answers.
Questions:
Someday Lessons:
11 Responses to “Breaking Out of Your Life”
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I used to be very spontaneous. I would go off and explore something, try something new, or even just drive around and see something new. Now that I have a family and other obligations, I don’t get to do this as often as I would like, but I still get an itch to get out every once in a while.
I haven’t really had the opportunity to do extraordinary things lately, which is kind of a downer to me because I am used to jumping off a 10 meter platform, doing 4-1/2 sommersaults and hitting the water going about 35 miles an hour.
I was born an adrenaline junky. The first time I took a leap past my limits was in diving. I tried something that I had never done before, and had never been done before in a competition on a Junior level. That front 4-1/2 that I was just talking about…yea, and I nailed it. It was the most thrilling thing, next to having kids, that I had ever experienced. I think if I even tried to dive now, it would look more like a whale jumping out of the water…KABOOM!
Sal´s last blog post..Parenting Poverty
Alex, you make me giggle with the synchronicity of your posting-especially the adrenaline junkie part. It is completely ironic. How spontaneous am I? Well, after thinking pensively for about three seconds, I became a lab rat for a complete stranger across the pond. After three minutes, I decided to turn my family’s life upside down and return to school. And after running 5k, I decide I’m ready for a half-marathon. Yeah, this weekend. In Toronto. Almost the exact same route you describe in your post.
I am so analytical that if I begin to plan a new experience, I talk myself out of it. Or, it’s so modified, it’s not worth doing. To Sal’s point, spontaneity and parenting don’t always fit well together. (Unless you’re talking about sex, and then everyone’s happy, but that doesn’t exactly happen a whole lot - the spontaneity part… Oops, a different blog.)
I am excited about this marathon. It is one of those “little” somedays I’ve had in the back of my mind. When my friend mentioned it, I thought, “I can do that!” I returned to school in September and I got up everyday and ran. After three weeks of that, I wanted to set a goal to ensure I didn’t drop the running (because so often being mom can get in the way of self-preservation and being healthy). So, on a whim I said sure to a half-marathon. Problem is, I can only run 12k (pathetically) and this run is 21k. I may be posting back on Sunday with my personal-limit-shattering-moment.
Here’s something kind of cool I realized in this week’s post: When I limit my spontaneity for the sake of my family, I become mommy-cranky-pants. And I won’t even bother to explain what kind of wife I become. I think I was carrying a belief that spontaneity is not always a good example to set as a parent. Here’s my new belief: Authenticity and being true to who you really are is far more important than worrying about the impact of spontaneity.
I’m pretty spontaneous and impulsive when it comes to my own ideas. I can think of tons of examples, too! But when others spring things on me, depending on what they are, I’m more hesitant. I really need mental preparation.
I’ll have to come back to you on the other two questions…I can’t think of the answers right now!
steph´s last blog post..The Power of Being Open
I’m impulsive and spontaneous– that’s how I ended up with a jet ski this summer.
Karen Putz´s last blog post..Blog Action Day–Taking Action to Make a Difference
1. I’m so spontaneous, that I went off on a complete tangent last night and didn’t come back to respond here until today!
I don’t have any problems at all doing crazy and new things.
2. Hmm. Well, I’m not sure - I think every chance to do something new, out of the ordinary, extraordinary if you will, is as incredible as any other. So I’d say just about everything I’ve done that could be called extraordinary has been special indeed.
3. Yes, I think for me it might have been years ago, when I was part of a competitive kart racing league. I really did not know how well I could drive, and how exciting that would be. It was something I plan to do again.
Brett Legree´s last blog post..gone pillaging.
Brett - you’re hilarious. That is so me: going off on a tangent and not getting back until the next day. Thank you for the laugh.
Hi Alex,
I love the movie too! I purposely declined refereeing shifts to take a day off to meet up with an old high school friend whom I hadn’t seen for over 20 years. This happened two weekends ago.
My whole life these days seems somewhat surreal like I’m on a whole other plain. Everything seems spontaneous while I seem to be trying to put more organization to everything.
@Crista,
I’m glad you got a kick out of that - I like to think it is simultaneously a blessing and a curse
Brett Legree´s last blog post..gone pillaging.
I am an interesting mix of very spontanious and very long term planning. A few of my spontanious things have bit me back REALLY hard and I have learned to think a little more these days. But as far as the fun things in life, I can jump up and play with the best of them.
As far as stepping out farther…I would have to say, running the marathon, having kids, going back to college after being a HS drop out, starting my own company, all of these things stretched me into more than I ever had been before.
Wendi Kelly´s last blog post..My Dog Missed the Memo
I’m spontaneous in a unique sort of way. I may have my initial reservations at first but I’d also go with trying a lot of different new experiences almost pretty quickly. I used to be spontaneous in the area of sports previously but now my quest have taken a spiritual direction.
Evelyn Lim´s last blog post..Should The Poor Mexican Fisherman Give Up Contentment For Cash?
[...] notice the similarity in questions 2 & 3 to questions I posed to the Lab Rats earlier (here and here). Take a look at the answers now and then – did the change in perspective change the [...]