More than $10 Shoes

The other week I heard about a kid's shoe sale in Maplewood, NJ- close to our home. The store, Tic-Tac-Toe, carrying high-quality children's shoes which usually sell for at least $40 each, was selling their old stock for $10 a pair. I decided to check it out, knowing that my 3 kids need shoes and sandals for the upcoming spring and summer.

I got there early, just as they were opening, expecting the hoards to arrive. The owner, a lovely man, took his time helping me find what I needed, going through the piles of boxes under this year's styles. He picked out what he thought seemed the best and greatest deals. Shortly, more and more folks arrived with kids in tow. He greeted them, but did not abandon me to deal with all these other customers. He even went in the back to find more shoes for me.

I asked him what inspired him to have this sale- especially since it had gone on for at least a week before I made the pilgrimage. He said that he wanted to give back to the community and that he wanted people to come out and see eachother and talk. He felt his duty to stimulate the economy.

I was impressed by his generosity, his courage, and his care. It is another sign of what the possibilities are in this time in our economy. We can focus on what we are losing or what we are gaining. We can focus on all the problems or what creative solutions we can imagine. We can panic and hoard our stuff or we can give more to others and in that generosity realize how much we have to give.

When we are focused on winning and losing, we are in our head. We are limited in our sight. We are not seeing the infinite possibilities. When we are not concerned with what we win or lose, we are heart-centered. We are seeing more and more of what is possible. We are expansive. We are who we are meant to be.

So, I thank this man from Tic-Tac-Toe. I thank him for reminding me why I'm here, why we are all here. Not for the bottom-line and acquiring the large pile, but to feel the joy of ourselves and others, perhaps in the face of child with pink, sparkly sandals.

Which way have you been viewing this time in history? With dread and moments of panic or with inspired ideas of opportunity and hope? Are you hoarding or giving? Are you feeling grateful or are you complaining? What story do you want to tell yourself and others about what's going on? Leave a comment, if you'd like...

Life on Wire

I saw Man on Wire this past weekend. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it. It is the true story of the famous high wire crossing between the North and South World Trade Center Towers in NYC by Phillipe Petitt. I remember it happening and hearing that the performer got arrested immediately afterward. As a child, I couldn't understand why they would arrest someone for doing such a miraculous, incredible act. My parents tried to explain that it was highly dangerous and someone could have gotten hurt or killed. My brain said "But, no one did get hurt and it was spectacular..."

As an adult watching this documentary and the six years of planning and replanning, and practicing, and traveling, and talking about Phillipe's dream, I gained a new focus about what's important about this event. It is a story about manifesting your dreams- even dreams that seem completely crazy and impossible. Even dreams that seem like they could kill you or destroy your life in some way if they do not work out the way you want.

Phillipe seems to have access to a part of himself that we all have, but most of us dare not go. His soul calls him and he must follow. He is obedient to his passions because he knows that following his dreams is the secret of living a full life. He follows even in the face of death and sees death in pursuit of his dreams as the only way to go.

He also inspired all the people he needed to make his dream come true. Those who helped him seemed to almost put their own lives on hold to plan with him. It was as if his soul was breathing life into theirs. They had little explanation for their devotion- some for the adventure, some for the inspiration, and others had no idea. Once again, when you have a strong enough belief for something, people appear to help you.

I started to think about my own life. Am I dreaming big enough? Am I living my life on wire? Am I doubting my course or am I strong in my belief? Am I afraid to take that step out beyond the safety zone or do I feel I must move forward with my dreams? I challenge you to ask these questions. I challenge you to watch Man on Wire and have it inspire you to step out a little at a time in between the buildings...