You're Still In The Game
“Ellis. That is amazing. I wish the whole world could read what you just wrote me and understand it, seriously. I think your inner guru can't help but get out because it has so much to say that makes so much sense. You make me smile. :)” - Arnia Southworth, my cousin a world apart.
That was one of the best things ever said to me. So from those words I plan to write a book, not right now but as I live my life I will write. I have been inspired by some key things and people, I will link them after what your about to read.
Achievement
Achievement is to gain something new. But I feel there’s a little bit more. I believe with achievement comes a feeling from inside. People ignore it and seek more, but if you accept it and really think about it... is that feeling happiness? Even in the smallest things you get it. It’s all about seeing the world and feeling achieved, even by just being here.
You see a baby, looking around and smiling, such bright wide eyes? That’s because of that big rectangle thing over there, it doesn’t know that it’s a bus, but he definitely likes the look of it! All is new to him, and when he learns what it is, he will notice it once again, he can recognise it and thus has achieved, producing that exciting feeling which makes him smile.
These days everyone becomes bored of what they see everyday, and don’t see achievement when it hits them in the face. The computer game industry has become so huge because of this feeling. Level 2 is a step up from level 1, there’s an achievement. As Daniel Ilabaca explains in a short film called Choose Not To Fall; “That’s why kids are so addicted to games, because it’s an easy way to achieve.” The football, rugby and other popular sports also has this affect; the players achieve what the majority want, money and fame. So the army of supporters follow their every move, and feel a sense of achievement through the achievement of the players. Having not really achieved much themselves.
I ask every person I meet of their hobbies, and many say they have none. Or their hobby is Facebook, or Call Of Duty on the Xbox. These are the biggest things in their lives. School? Crap. Town? Crap. Such a lack of passion! Pick up three oranges; you can be a juggler for the rest of your life. Pick up a pencil, you can be an artist.
Remember when you were four-years-old and you played with your friends? Let’s pretend to be this, now let’s pretend to be that. How much fun was that? Just like how small you were then, it all starts there. Start small and it just grows. Buy a guitar, learn one note. You will progress. Bigger and bigger will the music grow, just like you did. Just play! Play games when you’re walking down the street, make eye contact with strangers, see if you get a smile. Ask the girl behind the till at Tesco how she is, ask her how her week has been. It’s the simple things that make waking up the most exiting achievement.
A New Perspective?
How sturdy is that chair you’re sitting on?
The reason I ask, is to ask my next question.
Have you ever stood on that chair, and had a proper look around?
Now this question is where the meaning is. I want you to stand on your chair, and take a real look around. Just look at your surroundings. Think about the abnormality. You may see this room every day, think nothing of it, but maybe from higher up you notice different items, Different patterns. This room may well become much more interesting, even though you have seen it every day for a long while. This isn’t a huge difference, but it puts a new perspective into visual context.
Ever done a head stand? Or sat on your sofa upside down and hung your head and looked around? Do that again sometime soon, but really look around this time. The world is amazing upside down. Don’t think about yourself being upside down, think that the floor is the roof, and everything is stuck to it. What you see every day suddenly becomes a lot more interesting. Going back to when you were a child.
When you’re upside down, just like when you were little you’re learning about the world all over again. When upside down everything you see is new, so your mind has to get used to it all. I feel like that is a big start to feeling at home within yourself, knowing that the world around you isn’t what you are. You are your world, your dreams, your memories, your thoughts.
I often climb onto the rooftops to watch life below. When you do this for a while you begin to notice how every person is a clone of the next. Their vision is straight forward, whilst not observing anything they try and get to their destination as fast as possible. I used to be the same, but after starting to think differently three simple words got printed into my thoughts, and will be for the rest of my life.
Look Up More
I began to look up and I noticed things I have never seen before, Huge letters, details, rooftops, was all so new and exciting! It made the boring task of walking home from school a completely different experience. People just don’t look. They don’t see the detail, they don’t feel the texture. They just don’t allow themselves the time.
But one thing always catches my eye. Children always look up. They have the imagination. They have to play with the trees, the walls, the cats and dogs. Remember when you played alone? The wonderful feeling of imagining all around you. Entering your world. Imagining a different scenario to normal life. This is what I am talking about; this is what the kids I see are doing all the time. That can be something to think about next time you walk to wherever you are going. To a child, life is a game.
You’re Still In The Game
Never let go of that. Grow up, be the adult, have the career but never let go of that childhood mind-set. That game of life. Be who you are, be everything you have ever been, just add onto the past with it. We are all born a big block of ice, all experience, our worries; our pain is an artist chipping away at the ice. You are becoming the gorgeous sculpture you were born to be.
All I have said can be just one day of your life; maybe you can give it a try? My mission with the book I may publish someday is to have everyone who reads it excited about waking up in the morning. To remember their childhood and how important they were. To not take this amazing world for granted.
Here are some links to things that I'll be writing about;
www.whataboutme.tv - This is One Giant Leap, a documentary film by Jamie Catto and Duncan Bridgeman. Ever thought about one thing that connects every human being on the planet? These guys have definitely found one. And it’s music. Read what they have to say, listen to what they have produced, watch the videos. I also urge you to buy the DVD.
www.peacefulwarrior.com - This is Dan Millman’s website; he is the author of an incredible book called Way of the Peaceful Warrior. A true story that has changed lives. Read about it on his site.
www.gabrielleroth.com - This is the website of Gabrielle Roth. The founder of the five rhythms dance school concept. It has made the concept of five rhythms of life, Flowing, Staccato, Chaos, Lyrical and Chaos. To focus on these points in your being and to express yourself with dance, you can free yourself and become a much happier person. This has also many stories practitioners’ lives being changed for the better.
www.danielilabaca.co.uk - I am also writing about the discipline of Parkour, and I believe the man to look at if you want to get to know Parkour is Daniel Ilabaca. Here’s a little documentary sharing some of his words. - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRSOe-rDa9Y
Follow your dreams, Ellis x
4 Comments – Post a comment
GraduStef
Commented 65 months ago - 28th December 2010 - 12:49pm
Wow! I am learning to juggle, immediately.
Tyezer
Commented 65 months ago - 30th December 2010 - 15:10pm
Inspirational stuff. You have so much drive, you should definitely keep writing!
CeefaxOfLife
Commented 64 months ago - 27th January 2011 - 12:08pm
Parkour from the 1930s - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zX_OPN8vqCU&feature=player_embedded
Jack_Alex
Commented 64 months ago - 2nd February 2011 - 16:32pm
Hi Ellis, I've only just read this but felt compelled to comment. I find it refreshing for one to see the world in such a positive light, it genuinely is (and I know this word gets thrown around a lot) inspirational. If you fancy a more world-weary read, have a look at my articles...
I urge you to continue writing with the same expanse and enthusiasm, because the written word really does touch people's hearts in ways that other communication does not.
Really enjoyed reading this, keep up the good work.
Jack