Waking up in a pile of white pillows, comforters and soft blankets, miles away from home, I am slowly taking in all the gifts of the last 36 hours. As I walked into the huge classroom yesterday morning, my mind was spinning a little: there were people wearing "Keep Calm and Sprinkle On" tee-shirts (I want one badly), people coming to shake my hand or hug me, asking me to shoot little videos of me to share with their students. All sets of U.S. Signs were together for the first time, and I could see all the many, many signatures on the back of them, reminding me of all the places they had traveled, these last four years, all the hands that had held them, all the eyes and hearts that had read the messages. There was so much yellow in that room that the gray sky was no match, and when we headed out - all 100 of us - to Sprinkle Bakersfield, CA, I was feeling a little floaty. And when the TV camera pointed at me, I wanted to say so much I was afraid I would accidently switch into French. The rest of the day was spent talking and learning with these heart-centered educators, about ways to inspire students to experience more mindfulness, kindness and compassion. It was a huge privilege to be there and to be welcome among them. In that room, I got a chance to "explain" to all these teachers the magic of the Happiness Sprinkling Project with both my heart and the backup of some official studies, I was deeply aware that all this reasoning was in hindsight. The foresight had been simply ... a strong pull to just do it. Pretty much an inability to not do it. Four years later, I had plenty of ways to validate it, from 1000s of photos to TV appearances, from a map full of yellow pins to grown up studies on cognitive behavior and the fine art of "priming," which I just learned about. Yes, now that it's in its successful teenage years, I can make this project sound mostly grown up. But its conception? I did not have a clue. So, as I get ready to make my way back home, one thing that emerges for me this morning is: DO IT. That thing you want to do "because it feels right"? Do it. Even if it makes no sense today, do it. Oftentimes, the "sense" comes later, sometimes much later. So if your heart says it makes sense: do it. Your mind will catch up.
2 Comments
Danita
12/2/2016 03:42:31 pm
"Do It". . . If you have a passion and want it to lead you somewhere, just take the first step and keep taking the next first step. I've seen it happen with several family members. So when and if I find myself wanting something that my heart is truly calling for, I hope I remember this advice.
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