You're Not Going to Believe This

"...I am in the same place. Sometimes you just wish you could give up. It is so tiring. The fact that you can't is the only thing that will take you to the next level.... Or so we can't stop believing."
- Audrey Michelle

Woke up to see many more wonderful comments to the "Price of Unconditional Love" post, yet too burned out to comment back. Audrey's was the last one, and it connected so well with what happened with Taneicea, that it felt like I had to share it.

Faith....the belief in what you can't yet see, but believe will be....could be...might be......if we could just hold on a little longer...

Taneicea did an extra project...and then asked if she could present it to the class. I couldn't believe it! She is deathly afraid of speaking in front of others, yet wanted to face her fears. She did well for the first few minutes, then crashed as you can see. A great victory, because by challenging her greatest fear and taking a chance on believing in herself, she has reached a new and higher failure point. Like lifting weights, she can handle heavier challenges, and it takes more to stop her now.

More adults are afraid of public speaking than they are of dying. When you die there's no more fear. When you feel like you're dying in front of others it lasts for what seems an eternity.

I'm more than proud of her for doing this. She has gone to a higher level of living, growing brighter versus shrinking into the shadows.

This wasn't pushed, it was loved into existence. Loved for everything she COULD be seemed to have found a way into her, and is beginning to sprout, just when it has seemed too tiring to continue the planting and watering of those seeds....a lesson that constant positive thinking and this thing called unconditional love is a powerful way to make humanity more powerful.

Not only was I impressed with Taneicea's newfound courage, but the respect and support of the entire class for her. Yesterday they became the first class all year to have 100% recorders for music class.

Nick asked his mom, our terrific room parent, to buy two extra for those who didn't have theirs. This class is a brilliant example of what can be accomplished, created and manifested when each individual goes all out and gives their best, while focusing on what we can give to and learn from each other.

They are a true microcosm of what the world could really be like if the rest of us did the same.

"The highest honor and the deepest gratitude you can pay me is to turn your attention from me in the direction in which I am pointing - The Child." - Maria Montessori

This isn't about me. I am an introvert with a heart bigger than his shyness and fears, and a passion to use his short time on this planet to give what he has to make the world a better place, an incredible place, a fun and more exciting place to live in and playfully run on top of our globe.

I am surrounded by heroes, from Liz and Serenity's generosity to the class, to readers' CPR-like comments breathing life back into me.....and the beautiful young warriors like Taneicea, Nick and all members of the class...reminding me how simple it is to live fully, that I share back to you.

Live fully today....like we did when we were young and hadn't learned how to be afraid, how to stop believing, how to give up. Live today as if you were actually alive, by remembering how alive you felt when you were young. Live fully and free!

(Guess who was taking this picture of me challenging her back in November to live fully and free...Taneicea...showing proof that every little thought and seemingly random and insignificant action adds up to make a big difference...if we believe long enough)

....Sometimes you just wish you could give up. It is so tiring. The fact that you can't is the only thing that will take you (and others) to the next level....