Category Archives: Like Living in Paradise

It’s not always easy to live in paradise.

Face it, it’s not.

Recall Robinson Crusoe, or Gilligan’s Island, Swiss Family Robinson, or even Cast Way? I hate to use fiction as an example, but (after all) the best fictions are based in reality. All of these stories are set in places that many would find idyllic, but with little to no company and no means of travel all of the protagonists just feel stuck.

They have moments when everything is rosy, and they get to enjoy being stuck in a beautiful, comfortable setting. Eventually however the quiet, the weather, or something wild animal or other pops up to challenge our hero.

The other day, I was struck by the idea of choosing your adversary.

Most of us have someone that pushes our buttons, someone that is eager to tell us what we cannot accomplish or that our work does not measure up. Sometimes that person also eggs us on, to prove that they don’t know what they’re talking about.

If you have such a person in your sphere, use them! If you don’t, imagine them! Don’t subject yourself to the reality of their negativity, but just imagine what such a person might say about the steps that you are currently taking toward your goal(s).

I’m pretty lucky. I may not have great examples, direction, education, but as a white guy, I already have advantages over many. Add that I make a decent first impression, and many doors open relatively easily to me. But there are times that I let my own negativity drag on me, and keep me from trying something or at least procrastinate until I lose all enthusiasm for a project.

There is one guy though. He is one of my favorite people on the planet. Someone, that in most regards, I look up to and hope to be like when I grow up someday. But there was a day many years ago, when he referred to me as “the Peanut Gallery”. The comment struck a thin, pointy barb straight to the heart of me. While most of me is absolutely certain that he was just having a little fun, and did not intend any slight; his off hand remark wounded me deeply, and to this day stokes a hot little fire in my soul.

That fire can help to kick me into another gear, to find energy that I forgot that I had. It can take me to a place destructive thoughts and self-doubt. But there are times I can refocus that let me drive a project that has stalled across the finish line.

So when the weather’s got you a little down or you’re feeling a little stuck in paradise, apply this trick to motivate you. Choose your adversary,  don’t get bogged down in the day to day challenges of living in the paradise you choose. Present yourself with a challenge that will bring out the best in you, the energy to keep driving through whatever is bothering you.

After all foggy days can come and go, but the sunshine seems that much brighter on the other side of the storm.

As I mentioned in another category of these posts, I have been listening (over , and over, and over) to the “Dont (just) Keep Your Day Job” podcast by Cathy Heller. I usually listen while I’m doing at least one other thing, but yesterday I had some time to sit with few other distractions and listen with intent.

I love the inspiration I get from this show, but too often the tools escape me while I’m rushing around at the day job, to Scout meetings, or just to get things done for or with the family. So, I have decided to sit and take notes (probably over and over, as the episodes are often very juicy) whenever I have the both the time to sit and the energy to focus.

Yesterday was the core of another of my very full weekends.

Friday was full enough, but Saturday morning began with a two and a half hour driving breakfast all before daylight, and ended with me return via the same route after the light was gone. There were a few minutes in the afternoon that presented an opportunity however, so I sat down to take some notes.

While listening to an episode it struck me to start a series of posts addressing one of my pet peeves. I live in a tourist community, a place that by its nature is populated by people stuck not only in a day job (that has them working while others around them are playing), but hanging by a string on on the edge the world.

While I can identify with the difficulties of living in my neighborhood, I bristle inside when I’m bumping into people that are willing to publicly verbalize that they don’t want to be here. I’m often tempted to tell them that if they are not happy, they should leave. So now I will!

Not really, I am going to start sharing and reiterating hopeful messages like Cathy and many of her guests do, in an attempt to lead the people around me to change their minds, or change their situations. I will likely add posts about things to do in this neck of the woods. I could see this turning into a podcast, possibly with a local radio show tie-in, but for now I will post here and develop my voice.

I like living in paradise, I hope you will too!