As my eyes closed on flight 508, headed for Atlanta, an image popped in my head. An island. And the question some most of us are asked at some point in our lives “if you were trapped on an island, and you could have 3 things, what would they be?”
This came to my mind because before I left for world race training camp, I was looking under my bathroom sink to see if I needed anything else, when I saw my hairbrush. I yelled over to my mom “hey momma, do I really need to bring my hairbrush, it’s kind of wasted space, no?”
she responded with a quick “are you kidding me Dasia?” followed by the look, and I know, that you know, the look. So I grabbed that hairbrush and stuffed it right into my pack.
I thought of the island thing because, this morning before I left to catch my flight, I didn’t brush my hair, what’s new, and here I am sitting in seat 3D, wondering if I were ever stuck on an island, a hairbrush would NOT, come to my mind when it came to the basic survival needs on an island. Of three items, who’d actually bring a hairbrush though? NO ONE. So WHY HAVE EM. *nervous laugh* no, but really. Most of us say “my family, my friends, and food.” I’ve heard everything from people’s favorite music, to favorite restaurants, their dog Shu Shu, and so many other various answers. But as I think back to every person I’ve asked that question to, I don’t remember once someone answering “a boat, a compass, or a map of the area.”
Now, you, reading this may say “well isn’t that the obvious answer? you could leave with a boat, find out where to go with a compass, and how to get there by map.” but think about it, when/if you’ve ever been asked this question you don’t think “boat, map OR compass,” you think “unlimited sushi bar, kit kats, and your mom – or a bed, tv, and goldfish “the snack that smiles back” but for me at least and the handfuls of people i’ve asked, boat has never crossed my mind, or theirs. I jump to my most favorite things, my family, friends, and blankie that was really my moms, but I copped that at age 6, how could you say no!? What about hot cheetos, eno, and water. Music of any kind, a sleeping bag, and tent. but not a boat, oh not a boat, who’d ever waste an item on a boat am i right??!!!!!
wrong.
We hear “things & want” and our minds go nuts with, things we’ve ever wanted. A puppy for Christmas 08, or a matte black G Wagon, the new Kanye album on vinyl. We have some weird desires people.
So why, when someone asks us that very question, we list things that won’t really help us off the island?
Perhaps it’s because when we FEEL stuck in something, we BECOME stuck in that very thing holding us back. I could really be out of my treetop, nuts. Or tryin to dig deeper as to why I’ve NEVER once SAID or HEARD, oh that’s easy “a boat.”
But my question is, do we maybe enjoy being stuck? We hit this island; right, we learn about the island, we make markers, we set up our three items, we start a little campfire, kick our feet up, and we get comfortable. Eventually we forget about getting rescued because we become so comfortable with our Bon Jovi record, bed, and fully stocked kitchen, that we forget that we didn’t always belong on this island. We got there, who knows how, and now we’re stuck. We’re comfortable where we’re at and my thing is this; Why do we enjoy, life comfortably? I don’t. I refuse to settle, I realized this with the silly little question of “if you were stuck on an island, what three things would you want?” And I truly couldn’t tell you how my mind put these two things together but it. makes. sense. Some of you, wherever you may be in life, may really be stuck. Stuck in an unhealthy relationship, stuck in a town you’re not too fond of, stuck with parents that aren’t present for you, stuck with a job you DREAD, stuck with friends you may not even really like, S T U C K.
Stuck: It’s a gross word, and it rhymes with yuck, because being stuck is yuck but reading it makes my stomach turn because being stuck isn’t something I’ve never been fond of. Being stuck in a car because all of the doors are child locked? NOT FUN. Getting stuck in a walk in freezer because you just can’t get the door open, also, NOT FUN. Getting stuck babysitting for hours over the time they told you because they lost track of time, ooooh that doesn’t bother me too BaD, but I know some of you reading this, just remembered that one time, and you may not babysit for that family anymore. But my question to you is::: people, WHY ARE WE OKAY WITH BEING STUCK, FIGURATIVELY??????? WE DON’T LIKE IT LITERALLY, so WHY PUT UP WITH IT FIGURATIVELY.
For me, being stuck is an office job, a cubicle, filing cabinets, white walls, and black and blue papermate pens, they are the cheapest, but they write pretty stinkin’ well, I must admit.
It really does scare me that that’s where some people will end up. Comfortably living, and that in itself, makes ME uncomfortable. I feel like some of us will end up settling, with a mediocre job, a wife or husband that may not treat us the way we deserve, we’ll go to college to get a degree, and most of us will end up with a career completely different than what we studied 4 years for, and people, I don’t know about you but my skin is CRAWLING at that thought.
We as people, as people that are ALIVE, don’t deserve life comfortably. We deserve adventure, and whimsy, true love, a job that we absolutely ADORE, we deserve passions, and dreams at EVERY AGE WE REACH, new ones AND old ones. We don’t deserve routine, the same thing, day in and out, the same fight with your boss about not answering that call correctly, or whatever it is bosses and employees fight about. I do, in fact, understand that some people like routine, creatures of habit if you will, they don’t do well with change, they may enjoy their office job, but somethin tells me, some part of you people that do enjoy your comfortable life WANT MORE, out of life in some way. And you, my friend, reading this::: this is your push. This is us on a plane about to jump through the clouds, through the blue sky, and fall and fall and fall, or sky dive, when i begin counting down to 3, and I just push ya on 3. 3- *push, fall* “AHHHH” I know you can see it too, don’t read this and think i’m crazy. BUTTTT- this is your sign. You, YOU – deserve more out of life. No matter the age you are, you’re only growing older so why not start now? Check that thing off of your bucket list, visit another country, see the world, meet people, eat ice cream in Italy. I DON’T KNOW, DO SOMETHING YOU’RE ON FIRE ABOUT!!!!!!!!
For me, it starts with this plane i’m sitting on, a few thousand feet off the ground, headed across the country, to a place i just moved from, to go to training camp, for this 5 country 9 month mission trip I’m about to leave for. Headed to training camp, to get a little taste of what life abroad will look like, challenges we may face, and to experience life. to it’s fullest. With people, who have the same desire as I do.
We don’t want challenge, we don’t like it, and it sure does scare us, we don’t want a boat, because how do we get back to land? we don’t want to be helped because, we got this and we’re fine on our little island. But my question is where does the experience come in? Where do you get the most out of life? What do you gain wisdom and knowledge from? Not by sitting in your double nest eno, on that little island. Why not just jump? What are you afraid of? You have to figure it out, you gain that knowledge by wanting it, it won’t grow legs and walk to you, you find wisdom and knowledge through EXPERIENCE. Get yourself a boat, ride the waves, figure out how to use the stars as a way to tell direction, get to an island, look around, and on to the next. You’re gonna go through storms, your boat may flip, you may feel like you’ll never get to wherever your going, but people… It’s not about the destination, its far more than that, it’s the journey. (so cheesy and so corny, but oh so true, you know it)
So i challenge you all, each and everyone of you, reading this very blog, enough of comfortable life, get out there and give it all you got, don’t expect not to fall a couple of times or come up short, it’ll happen, but know, you can do this. If you’re already on your journey, livin’ it up, ENCOURAGE SOMEONE WHO ISN’T. Encourage someone who you know for a fact, is settling. We as people, must help one another, this isn’t a zombie apocalypse, it’s not an “every man for himself” type deal. This thing- life, we don’t have a manual, the big man upstairs? yeah, He’s got this. He knows where we’re going, where we’ve gone, and how we’re getting to the next place. Don’t take control of it all, let the wind take your sails wherever, and learn to appreciate that. Don’t run from opportunity because you’re more comfortable at home, go on. Fly little birdy. I believe you’re capable of big things, huge things, so flap your wings, and jump.
I prayed over this blog, hard, that you my friend – you, my stuck lil pal, open your eyes and experience life. As it should be lived. That you read that title again and remember that we can chose to get off that island and on the water, but YOU have to make that choice for yourself, no one else will do it for you.
Thank you 10 bags full for reading this blog. Whoever you may be, if I know you or I don’t, I cherish you, and I encourage you, and above all, I believe in you. Just as you believe in me. You didn’t read this for no reason, if you’ve donated or contributed in any way whether it be prayer, donations, or uplifting words. I’m thankful for you. More than you’ll ever know. I hope you have the safest, and most fun 4th of July comin up here in a few days. Head to the pool, or beach, watch some fireworks, and eat a hot dog or four. And always always remember i’m so thankful for you.
xxxx dasia o
