Friday, December 28, 2018

Using My Imagination - #65

At New Zealand's Wangapeka retreat center there were many cups to choose from. I imagined the choice was a one time event and that I would be expected to use this cup exclusively for the duration of my stay. With that assumption in mind, it took me a long time to decide which cup would be the best one for me. In retrospect, one reason the Focus cup clung to my fingers was that I imagined it  would help me pay attention to my intention to discover the shamanic world view.  

 While most people grabbed a different cup for each meal, I jealously guarded my Focus. On a day filled with insecurity about the upcoming quest, I hid Focus on a messy kitchen shelf behind the handwritten signs signifying gluten free food.   

 In my imagination, the cup was helping me. When I returned home and opened The Aware Athlete book we've been discussing, I appreciated, in a new way, this sentence:

 "Our imagination is the most powerful most basic, gentle, creative, and universal entry point into the process of true fitness."

 I could have cheered! This imagination stuff is fun as well as helpful in becoming fit! I was so glad that I had the imagination to capture the still life you see above.  

 As we come to the close of 2018, I leave you with these questions:

Is imagination a skill or is it more like a muscle you can develop?

 I would love to know how you think about and use your imagination. Please reply to this email as the comments section isn't working all of a sudden. When you make a comment in the email, I will cut and paste it into the comment section.

 CLUE: This morning I have been challenged to list the ten best things that happened in 2018 and I invite you to do the same. My inspiration comes from WomanPause Newsletter by Diane Gottlieb.

 Thanks for exploring the mystery - Nicky Mendenhall



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14 comments:

  1. BethDecember 29, 2018 at 6:39 PM

    Nicky,
    This was wonderful! I really enjoyed reading this. I felt your apprehension and playfulness in your words, and I would have coveted and hidden the cup, too!
    I can't seem to sign up for the newsletter. I get taken to a google doc page or something that won't allow me to do it. I'll try again tomorrow.

    Thanks for sharing ; )
    Beth

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    1. nicolaDecember 29, 2018 at 6:41 PM

      Beth - thanks so much for your specificity telling me how you felt reading the post. That's exactly what I hoped would happen for readers and coming from you - a writer yourself - it means so much to me.

      I hope you can sign up tomorrow - if not - or if anyone else is having problems - please let me know.

      Delete
  2. RuthDecember 30, 2018 at 10:53 AM

    Ruth Kneile


    beautiful, Nicky!

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    1. nicolaDecember 30, 2018 at 11:07 AM

      Thanks Ruth! Happy New Year to you and your family!

      Delete
  3. Nolan HiattDecember 30, 2018 at 11:10 AM

    I have read this a couple times and even looked up the definition of imagination and the top 10 events of the year. And I still don’t have an answer to either. Sure interested in what you think.

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    1. nicolaDecember 30, 2018 at 11:15 AM

      Nolan - I love hearing from you! I am impressed with how hard you have worked figuring out what imagination & top events are.

      The thing is, I want to know what you think about imagination and what the 10 events were for YOU. I'm wondering what happened in our family system - the farm/church community - that left us both so reluctant to think of what we think, let alone express it because I could have written your reply. I always go looking for what someone else thinks. I hope we can discuss this here or privately - just let me know. Thanks again to my favorite bro.

      Delete
    2. NolanDecember 30, 2018 at 11:34 AM

      Nolan Hiatt
      11:32 AM (1 minute ago)
      to me

      The thing is, I want to know what you think about imagination and what the 10 events were for YOU. I'm wondering what happened in our family system - the farm/church community - that left us both so reluctant to think of what we think, let alone express it because I could have written your reply. I always go looking for what someone else thinks. I hope we can discuss this here or privately - just let me know.

      I copied the above so I could refer to it while thinking about my answer. I never would have guessed that you feel the same way. I feel safer getting the others opinion before expressing mine, I think because I don’t want to offend them, or make them uncomfortable. I don’t know if the cause of this is in our background. I think imagination is the ability to dream and think it leads to discovery.

      Feel free to post and still waiting to hear your thoughts.

      Delete
    3. nicolaDecember 30, 2018 at 11:42 AM

      Oh Nolan - that was the weirdest feeling to read my own words in your message before I realized that they were mine. It is interesting that you say you never would have guessed that I feel the same way though I think my reasons - at least on first thought - are different and less noble than your.

      Your reasons are about protecting the other or your relationship with them. I think I don't want to express myself because I am afraid that I will look stupid. Do you ever worry about that?

      I like your words about imagination. I hadn't thought of it as the ability to dream and then even more than that - that it can lead to discovery. Those are new ideas that I want to think about so thank you.

      I think somehow we were trained to look for answers. Most questions don't have simple answers......

      Delete
  4. Barbara BoydDecember 30, 2018 at 2:00 PM

    Love this, Nicky! Happy New Year to you and your family, too.

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  5. Dan BlankDecember 30, 2018 at 2:08 PM


    Nicky,
    Okay, I love the honesty of the cup, how you hid it! That feels so real. I totally resonated with that. The only thing that I would have liked to see more of in the post is CONTEXT.

    Like, what is "New Zealand's Wangapeka retreat center” ? You don’t really paint that picture for me. Otherwise, nice work! Thank you for the kind words on the Mastermind, I really hope to work with you again in it in the future!!!!
    -Dan

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    1. nicolaDecember 30, 2018 at 2:11 PM

      Dan - Thanks so much for your comments. Good point about not painting the picture of Wangapeka.

      I have learned so much from you this year! Thanks for everything. I will keep you posted.

      Delete
  6. Diane GottliebDecember 31, 2018 at 9:18 AM

    Hi Nicky! I love the Focus cup--and how you made sure, using all means, to drink from it daily! In my opinion, imagination is a muscle. Using that muscle most effectively is a skill, learned with practice.
    Thanks so much for the shout-out for my website! I would love to hear some of the things that you put on your 2018 list!
    Happy New Year to you and your readers!

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    1. nicolaDecember 31, 2018 at 9:27 AM

      So good to hear from you Diane! You are most welcome for the mention of your website - I hope my readers over 50 will check you out!

      I love that you think imagination is like a muscle and that increased use will make a difference.

      As for things on my list: Meeting you during Mastermind would be on the list for sure! Reading books you recommended such as The Fact of a Body - one of the books I read this year that will stay with me. The layering of two stories was so well done and to know that you had studied with the author made it even more compelling.

      Happy New Year to you!

      Delete

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