Beyond “the norm.”

Life’s experiences are what affects and changes our lives! We must go beyond “the norm” and venture out… to see what adventures await us.

Last year, I had the unique experience of being a part of “The Coaches Training Institute’s Leadership Program”. I was stretched beyond my limits many times…challenged…impacted deeply…loved it and hated it all at the same time…met some of the most amazing people from all over the world…and most of all, it changed my life.

I met a dear man, Peter Valles, who has become a close friend of mine. We had the privilege of leading a powerful workshop on authenticity that I will never forget.

Peter passion is to write.
Yesterday I received a beautiful letter from Peter. As I opened the letter, a picture of Pete, as a young lad fell out. You could see an incredible gleam of aliveness radiating from his eyes. This intrigued me.

As I began to read the letter, I realized Peter was writing about some of his adventure stories as a child. I was captivated with his story.

Peter loved to hike. His mother encouraged this as she dropped him off at different sites reminding him…”Don’t go too far Biddy (his nickname)… and don’t talk to anyone”.
Off course being full of adventure and mischief, Peter went against his mother’s wishes…many-a-time.…simply because adventure burned in his soul. To discover “what lay beyond” the familiar path drove him, and Peter has many stories to tell from his experiences.

Peter’s heart is what I love so much. He believes life is not about playing it safe and being comfortable. Peter believes that the power of love is an adventure that must be freely given…often. This is when the unexpected gifts come, when you don’t expect them… and when you are willing to make a difference in someone’s life.

So OF COURSE…there is a reason to the letter and his stories!

As Peter tells his adventure stories and where it led him in his life…becoming a “Exploration Geologist” for Shell Oil Company at the age of 25, which led to explorations beyond his dreams…Peter focuses on his intention for his writings.
Peter has a personal invitation for me to once again stretch beyond my comfort zone and to blossom and grow.

The Leadership Course we took wasn’t just about learning powerful tools and doing nothing. Leadership is about taking action. It is about challenging each other…making a difference and impacting people’s lives.

Peter challenge is to join him in his walk…”to walk with him in life…to go farther than you ever have before…to go beyond your backyard…beyond what you know or what you are comfortable with?”
“Are you willing to go to the dark cave of your life…where is your Mt. Baldy to climb?”
“What will you do when you meet someone unexpectedly…when you see each other eye to eye?”
His “great wish is that you will stay with” those you meet…to “stay long enough to feel their soul…long enough for them to feel yours…just stay long enough to love them.”

Simply said…Peter’s heart is to impact lives and to make a difference!

Receiving such a heart felt letter leaves an impact… and when you are asked “Are you willing to go farther than you ever have before?… how can you not say…ABSOLUTELY YES!

What is very intriguing about living life beyond “the norm” is that each day is unique and life is lived with intention. This offers us an invitation to get off the “beaten path” and explore something new.
It can happen just by changing your routine!

Wednesday mornings I attend a networking group of professionals. There are always nuggets of learning to be experienced.
Amy, is a part of our group and works for the Gospel Mission, an organization that takes care of the less fortunate. Having Amy in our group keeps me conscious to help those in need.
As I was dropping off some things to donate, I had an interesting experience. This happened right after I received Peter’s letter. The timing of this experience was not a coincident and I wanted to tell Peter about it. If he had made the effort to impact my life, it was important to write Peter and tell him how his letter impacted me.

“Dear Pete….Today I did meet someone unexpected as I was dropping off some clothes at the Gospel Mission and I thought of you.
A homeless lady was sitting on the sidewalk as I walked up to the store. I was in a hurry, as I jumped out of my car…dressed in my business attire…I had a really busy day.
As she saw me, she lit up with delight exclaiming “what a beautiful lady you are…look at you…You are so beautiful!” Her toothless smile and radiance made me stop.
As I knelt down beside her with my bag of belongings and briefly chatted engaging with her heart, she said to me…”you know when you take those things into that store, I will never get a chance to see them again.” I could have been skeptical and ignored her…but I didn’t.
I stopped for a moment…asked her to go through the bag to see if there was anything she could use…unfortunately, nothing was her size. ALL she needed was boots…not stuff…because the winter was coming.
She thanked me for stopping…and I proceeded to drop “the stuff” off.

My path was interrupted…but for a moment. What a beautiful moment this was…to meet someone unexpectedly…to make eye contact…and to reach out with love.
Her heart touched mine…I felt her soul…which put a skip in my walk, something uniquely interesting in my morning and left me with a desire to reach out more often to someone in need.
Today was not “business as usual” and I must admit, I really like this!” Normal is often way too boring for me!

Today’s experience reminds me that when we look at life beyond what is “the norm”…beyond what is comfortable…life has so much to offer us.
It offer us “an experience”…an adventure…and this is what is not easily forgotten.
This ignites our passion, makes us alive and we become contagious!

Peter affected me…I affected this homeless lady…she impacted me…AND now am I am writing to impact someone else.
Isn’t this what changes the world around us?

Can I offer you the invitation to truly experience life…to go beyond what’s safe and comfortable and to have courage…and venture out and see what awaits you?

I WELCOME YOUR STORIES…SO PLEASE PASS THEM ON!

About the author

margie is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC, ACC) who loves to "To inspire and empower people to live their lives with authenticity, vision and purpose.”