Attempt The Impossible
Hey Wonderful Readers,
I helped a bumblebee get out of my laundry room and return to freedom yesterday. In the process, I noticed how tiny its wings were in comparison to its large body and watched in amazement as the little flapping wings lifted the bee up off the windowsill and through the open window into my yard.
My up-close-and-personal moment with the bee piqued my curiosity, so I googled bumblebees. One of the entries I clicked was a quote by Mary Kay Ash, “Aerodynamically the bumblebee shouldn’t be able to fly, but the bumblebee doesn’t know that so it goes on flying anyway.”
Her quote on the courageous little bumblebee got me thinking how imprisoned most of us have become by our own little wings (aka limited belief systems.) Unlike the bumblebee, most of us humans use our our little wings as excuses for not even trying. At least once a week, someone tells me why what sounds like a great idea will not work. “It can’t be done,” she or he says. I respond with, “What makes you think that?” Because she or he says, “It’s not practical” or “it’s never been done before.”
That’s just a cop out, a fear of trying something unknown. Much easier and safer to say, “It can’t be done.” Why not believe everything’s possible? From my own experiences in life, if you think something can be done it can be.
I wanted to stop some rezoning from taking place in my town. Lots of people said, “It’s a done deal, don’t even bother to try.” In my mind, there are no such things as done deals. I hooked up with some other folks who believed we could stop it and we proceeded as if we could. It worked.
When you believe in your mind and your heart that something can happen, then you start acting in ways that make that possibility a reality.
Is there something you’d like to attempt but those close to you or even you yourself keep saying, “don’t bother, it can’t be done?”
Muse Thx,
Giulietta
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Beautiful, G.
For years it was a fear of failure that kept me from actually writing the novel I kept promising myself I’d write. Some of my family still thinks I’m nuts for inverting my life to do it, but most of my friends have been beyond supportive, and have been for a lot longer than I’ve been willing to believe.
Maybe faith in each other is sometimes a requisite to faith in ourselves.
Also, if bees developed the same fear of failure, we’d have some serious cross-pollination problems to deal with… Thanks goodness bees don’t have problems with neuroses.
You da best.
Hey Michael,
Congrats on inverting your life to write the novel. Like how you say that. More folks might consider inverting their lives.
I absolutely agree with your line, “Maybe faith in each other is sometimes a requisite to faith in ourselves.” Trusted friends can often see what we can no longer see in ourselves.
Bees just get on with it! Pretty colors they are.
Thx. G.
I love the bee story, Giulietta. I think anything is possible, but I also hear a lot of clients say “it can’t be done.” What they’re really talking about is being uncomfortable with the unknown, with uncertainty. Because who among us really knows what will happen next? Good or bad. The future is just a mystery, that’s for sure. So I find it’s helpful to get comfortable with that mystery, and not force knowing. That way, whatever happens will be good! Thanks!
I love your analogy of the bumblebee. It’s so true. If it weren’t for little (and sometimes big) risks we take each day nothing meaningful would be done in this beautiful world of ours. We need to remind ourselves that each of us has the ability to make a small difference.
A lovely post, Giulietta!
Patty,
Yes, get comfortable with the mystery! That’s the ultimate life challenge, isn’t it? Most of us are drawn to mysteries in book or the movies, yet unable to unwilling to relax and go with the mysteries of our own lives. It’s actually quite powerful to see yourself as the hero/heroine of your own life going with the unknown flow!
Thx for stopping by …
Tracy,
That’s a great way to put it – the meaning in our lives comes from taking small and big risks. And all our little risks strung together makes a difference. Love that!
Thx, Giulietta
Giulietta –
i love bumble bees, and I love this post. I’m a firm believer that everything is possible and I’ve seen it happen with my own eyes too many times. Sometimes all it takes is for people to come round to believing this and then everything changes. Thanks for a super post!
Phil
Hey Phil,
I so agree that all it takes is to start believing it can happen! Then the magic starts … Am paying more attention to bees now. Thx G.
Your story is an inspiring visualization of how a bumble bee, of all things, can achieve a seemingly impossible (aerodynamic) feat. It must take tremendous energy and will power for it to keep going on those fragile wings. Shows how the impossible is not impossible – if you really want to accomplish something, but that energy, determination, and the “I can do it” spirit has to be there.
For most of my life I was what I would term an accidental achiever because someone pushed or pummeled me in that direction when I’d have rather stayed back. In latter years, I’ve wasted time, lingering in my comfort zone, and making up excuses to myself and to others for why I haven’t achieved much with my writing. Fear of repeating past failures or of facing a wall of rejection? Guess I’ll never know unless I attempt the impossible. Thanks for your motivating piece.
Hey Penelope,
Accidental achiever – hmmm. Something a lot of folks can probably relate to. I’ve read your writing and it’s amazing! Send it out with confidence. Many great writers were rejected and/or submitted their novels tens if not hundreds of times before acceptance. It’s been said that Faulkner couldn’t get anything published today.
Just writing takes guts. I look forward to reading your book.
Giulietta
This week, I wrote an “I want” list, that also included a list of what “I will” do to help make it happen. I left it on the kitchen counter for my husband to read. He was also energized by my willingness to take ownership of the things I want for our lives. The great thing is, they are things he wants, too, and just seeing it written out on paper– a bold proclamation– has already helped us set some wheels in motion! ps- Love your blog. I’m a proud subscriber! This comment has inspired a post for my own blog. Thanks, Muse!
Hey Angie,
Glad your comment inspired you to write a blog about it. One of the reasons I comment so much on others blog is that it gives me ideas for essays, blogs, etc. It took me awhile to realize this benefit from giving! Kinda one of those win-win situations.
I look forward to reading your post. The wanted “want” list sounds excellent. Put it in writing as they say. It does wonders.
Thx. G.
What a great post! I found you via Phil’s blog. I agree – there is no such thing as a done deal.
Looking forward to more from you.
Marianne