Dance on the brain…

When I published my book of poetry a few years ago, I couldn’t think of a more appropriate title at the time than ‘Dance in the Rain,’ but I was thinking on a variation on that title this week when I remembered something I read once from Mark Twain.

 

The simple piece of advice from Twain was this:

 

“Take your mind out every now and then and dance on it. It’s getting all caked up.”

 

While my title came from a point of no longer wanting to sit waiting for the storms to pass, I have been thinking more and more about Twain’s comments in terms of our capacity – and need – to grow.

 

There’s no doubt in my mind that the author had realised how easy it is for anyone to get comfortable in a rut and to settle in a certain way of thinking and performing.

 

What I’ve learned however is that we must always need to be open to new learning, new ideas, to fresh thinking.

 

Because when we do that, we allow ourselves the freedom to grow. To understand that when we destroy any self-imposed limitations we are giving ourselves the permission to improve.

 

I was also thinking on that over the past week with all the recent discussion over colleges and college courses.

 

When I studied arts (English and History) at UCD all those years ago, the old joke used to go along the lines of – “What do you say to an arts student with a job? Cheeseburger and chips please!”

 

The school of thought at the time (and to a large extent now) is that an employer would be better served by someone with a degree in business, maths, science, engineering or technology, due to their more distinct ‘skill sets.’

 

But more and more employers are coming to now seek out humanities graduates, not just because they have a wide range of transferable skills, but because they are often more open to use their imagination to question and challenge conventional wisdom.

 

I once heard it said that you can never learn how to grow.

 

You can only learn how to learn how to grow.

 

Yes, you may need a second to think that one through.

 

Basically the suggestion is that none of us will ever be able to learn all there is about personal growth.

 

Instead, we must make sure we lead a life that keeps us curious and sharp and aware of what is around us.

 

We need to keep an open mind, to draw nourishment from the world around us, to try new things, expose ourselves to new learning, new adventures.

 

If we don’t then there is no doubt that we will find ourselves in a life of routines, find a rut that we’re comfortable in and then just settle for that.

 

When we’re settled and comfortable, growth is a lot less likely to happen.

 

So that’s when we need to take heed of Twain’s words, shake off the dust and cobwebs.

 

When we need to dip our toes in new waters, fresh challenges, new adventures.

 

When we need to – Dance on the brain…

 

 

Dipping My Toes

 

It does not matter how much

the sands have shifted

under my feet.

 

Or how wide the ocean is

that I may soon have to cross.

 

I have brought myself here,

right to the edge.

 

And in this moment I know,

I am dipping my toes

in a brand new adventure.

 

(Liam Porter 2017)

 

The point of a pencil…

While in a shop this week I noticed all the back to school supplies and for some reason, a packet of pencils caught my attention.

 

I have always liked pencils. I feel a connection when I’m using a pencil that I really should have when I have a pen in my hand.

 

By that I mean, even though I know I can erase it, I still take more time with a pencil in my hand.

 

I give myself those extra seconds to think about what I’m going to do next – and what I need to do, so I can get it done right.

 

As I stood in the queue at the shop, I began to think about all the students who had got their examination results this week. Started to wonder about their next adventure into college. Started to hope that they could all find ways to fulfil their amazing potential in life.

 

My mind wandered to the Netflix series ‘Last Chance U’ and the influence in the first two seasons of that show, that academic adviser Brittany Wagner had on the students with her constant question – “have you got a pencil?”

 

For anyone who has not watched the show, I highly recommend it, but I am sure that those who have (and this is not really a spoiler) will agree that Brittany’s pencil question stems from the fact that she really does cares so much about those students.

 

She wants them to succeed. To fulfil their potential.

 

As someone who has been involved in voluntarily coaching youngsters for more years than I care to remember, I found it interesting while watching ‘Last Chance U’ to find myself relating more to the caring ethos Brittany Wagner showed than the traits shown by the successful coaches in the show.

 

I think it’s because I’ve come to understand over the years that caring is a vital ingredient in any success.

 

I was reminded of a piece I once read, about a newspaper reporter who had secured an exclusive interview with the devil.

 

Determined to find out what type of techniques the devil liked to use most, the reporter asked if it was dishonesty, lust, jealousy? He went through a whole list.

 

“No,” said the devil. “The most useful weapon I possess is apathy.”

 

When someone doesn’t care, the knock-on effects can ripple out exponentially, often with devastating impact on someone at the end of the line.

 

A commitment to excellence must include caring.

 

It is not just about getting a job done.

 

It is also realising that what you do and how you do it, will have impact on those around you.

 

Caring is not a weakness. It is the one thing that really drives positive change.

 

JK Rowling once said:

 

“Indifference and neglect often do so much more damage than outright dislike.”

 

Caring, on the other hand, truly has the potential to change lives for the better.

 

The impact of those simple acts of interest in someone’s well-being, of those acts of kindness and consideration can be the springboard for amazing and positive things.

 

So, write this quote from Charlotte Lunsford down somewhere you can see it and remember it every day.

 

“We won’t always know whose lives we touched and made better for having cared, because actions can sometimes have unseen ramifications. What’s important is that you do care and you act.”

 

Oh. I forgot to ask before asking you to write…

 

“Have you got a pencil?”

 

 

 

 

There will always be mountains to climb

I’ve often heard what was supposed to be a quote from Plutarch, attributed to Alexander the Great, which reads something along the lines of – “Then Alexander wept, for there were no more worlds to conquer.”

 

And, I was thinking on that quote over the past week as I reflected on the words spoken by Jason Black at his homecoming in Letterkenny after he had safely reached the summit of K2 and returned home.

 

I was thinking of it in the context of having heard Jason speak a few years ago after he had reached the summit of the world’s highest mountain, Mount Everest.

 

Following his return, Jason had spoken at a charity event and I was amazed and inspired by his story so much that I had not only written a poem based on what I heard that night, but also asked Jason to come launch my book when I eventually got around to getting it finished.

 

If that quote attributed to Alexander the Great was accurate, then one might see how Jason, having conquered the world’s highest mountain, could find himself in a similar frame of mind.

 

But the reality is actually quite different.

 

You see, while the quote at the top of the blog is one that people may have often read or heard (Hans Gruber quoted it in the Die Hard movie), the truth is that when Plutarch said that Alexander wept – it was not because there were no more worlds to conquer, it was actually for the exact opposite reason.

 

Plutarch explains that Alexander wept when he heard a lecture from Anaxarchus on the infinite number of worlds. The thought of there being an infinite number of worlds upset him when he could not even be the master of one.

 

Listening to Jason – who has conquered the world’s two highest mountains – speak at his homecoming I was reminded of the fact that you don’t have to physically climb to the heights that he did, to conquer the mountains in your life.

 

Instead, life for everyone is about conquering those mountains that we time and time again  find ourselves in front of.

 

Because we all face an infinite number of mountains that – if we let them – can eventually seem like some kind of an unconquerable beast.

 

Strangely enough, Jason described K2 like an angry, snarling dog. He had to get to know it, to understand it, to be at one with it – and even when it let him ‘curl up beside it,’ he needed always to be mindful of how dangerous it could be.

 

For most of us, we’ll never physically climb a huge mountain like Jason did, but it doesn’t mean that those mountains in front of us won’t put us in a dangerous place in our own heads if we let them become unconquerable beasts.

 

We should be mindful of the words of Najwa Zebian who said:

‘Those mountains that you were carrying, you were only supposed to climb.”

 

And then, not only should we, one step at a time climb them, but we should also remind ourselves to celebrate those successes when we do.

 

Whether it is that mountain of paperwork, that mountain of laundry, right down to that step beyond your comfort zone where you push yourself to speak in public, or go back to school or just find the courage to go do something you’ve been putting off.

 

Whatever it happens to be –  when you get it done, you need to take time to remember that every single mountain conquered is a win.

 

And, you should enjoy those wins.

 

Savour the moment as a time of joy along the infinite pathway of time.

 

If you must weep, then do so with happiness at your success. Don’t mourn that you have nothing left to challenge you.

 

Because, without doubt, there will always be more mountains to conquer.

 

Footnote:

When he got to the top of K2, Jason remembered Irish climber Ger McDonnell who had lost his life on the mountain 10 years ago, by placing a plaque there that included the words of my poem “Jump for Joy.” It is a happy poem, written to match this amazing photo by my friend Evan Logan. A poem to remind us to take joy in the moment and celebrate life. I am truly honoured that Jason chose to do that, to use my words for something so special. It is a win that, weeks later, I am continuing to savour.