Extraordinary Creatures
Well, as promised, I have not waited forever to post again or, in fact, fallen off the wifi network again which although is a huge relief to me, might not necessarily be the best news you've ever heard - but hopefully, you might find something more obviously positive within these words. Now the title is not a shameless attempt to somehow re-create or plageurise the inimitable JK Rowling's work - in my opinion only the truly reckless would attempt such a thing. So leaving her world of magical folk behind, my extraordinary creatures are much closer to home..they are people who I've met along the way and for a variety of reasons have left an unforgettable impression. The wonderful thing, is if we look for them, all our lives are populated with these kind of people - they aren't hidden or remote or even seemingly separated into the world of celebrity..they are like us, but not exactly the same...if we are wise, we find them inspirational and make us realise our own life experience can also be more than we might have imagined.
So my first extraordinary person is a woman, a writer whose life has been far from easy, she went through some serious traumas in her early life, which, understandably, have left their mark as she grew into adulthood. She has struggled with a degree of mental health issues and, like many others, the scars of her early life do not always seem to have healed. But despite all of this, she was determined not to lose her focus, her dream of becoming an author...now, there have been setbacks, especially when the darkness from her past threatened to engulf her - yet only the other day, she proudly announced the publication of her first novel ! Now speaking as one who has tried, it is a far from easy thing to do, to write a story with the sincere hope, people will want to not only read your words but enjoy them. Yet despite the obvious anxiety about releasing her work to the world, she has achieved her dream and is now working on novel number two. For me, this is the very definition of the word 'fearless'...because as someone very wise once said, you can't be truly brave if you aren't remotely scared. Now whether her book reaches the dizzying heights of the best sellers list remains to be seen, but knowing what it took for the work to exist at all - well, it seems to me, she has already achieved great things.
In a completely different way, my next extraordinary person, is also a woman, although a slightly younger one, but who's life has not been especially easy either and yet, she too, has risen from the depths to shine brightly. Her life had been pretty unremarkable for many years, she had always studied hard at school and college, she had some good, close friends and her future seemed to be headed to further academic study. But then a series of events happened, which, only a few short months ago, left her homeless and with little or no direction. It would have been unsurprising, if she had decided life was far from fair and given up - yet, she is now working, she has started a period of study and has a home again. Generally speaking, the wider world knows almost nothing of the difficulties she has faced, in fact, it could almost be as if they never happened - to anyone looking on, she had just taken some time off and was now returning to study. But if you look a little closer, she has changed, the experiences she has had, have left their mark and, as a result, her personality has altered. She is undoubtedly mentally stronger, she has more self-belief and undoubtedly more resolve to never allow herself to fall into such hard times again. On a day-to-day basis, she forces herself to confront some of her worst fears because, on some level, she now knows, she can cope with anything.
And finally, my last extraordinary person - now if this woman's life was made into a movie, it would seem way too much happens to her - even in the first few years of her life. It is impossible to tell her whole story to you, also, it isn't mine to tell any way...but perhaps if is enough to say, she has been through some of the worst things imaginable. If anyone had a reason to be embittered or angry at the world, it would be her and yet...when she does get mad, the emotion has all the focus of a heat-seeking missile...there is a reason, a justification for the intensity and woe betide anyone who attempts to justify an injustice. She has somehow retained a glorious sense of humour, a love of anything vaguely irresponsible and a genuine love of a good time...speaking as one who tries always to be 'responsible', her joy in being the complete opposite is not only infectious but a true life lesson - life is to be lived and in the wise words of 'Finding Nemo', if you don't want anything to happen to someone, they will end up having a life where nothing happens at all.
Now, on the face of it, it might appear these three stories are very similar - i.e. people go through tough time and come out the other side of it all, triumphant. I suppose, if that's all we see, then I would have to agree...but I see more. As I said at the beginning, to a casual onlooker,these three people are not obviously extraordinary...but , if you bother to take more than a cursory glance,their different qualities are...and that's really my point. It seems to me, we are in a world where celebrities are seen as 'amazing' even when they don't have any real discernible talent other than being able to walk in ridiculously high heels without buckling under the sheer weight of their enormous breast enhancements. Much as I respect anyone who can achieve just that level of balance, should we be looking to them for genuine inspiration...perhaps not, when it could be our neighbour, friend or family member who is truly extraordinary.
One final thought, we are all blessed with knowing amazing people...perhaps the real challenge within a life, is to be inspired by them, to find just how extraordinary we can be too....can you imagine what the world would be like if we could ? Ah well...with that question..it's time for me to go for now...so until the next time...
Take care out there xxx
So my first extraordinary person is a woman, a writer whose life has been far from easy, she went through some serious traumas in her early life, which, understandably, have left their mark as she grew into adulthood. She has struggled with a degree of mental health issues and, like many others, the scars of her early life do not always seem to have healed. But despite all of this, she was determined not to lose her focus, her dream of becoming an author...now, there have been setbacks, especially when the darkness from her past threatened to engulf her - yet only the other day, she proudly announced the publication of her first novel ! Now speaking as one who has tried, it is a far from easy thing to do, to write a story with the sincere hope, people will want to not only read your words but enjoy them. Yet despite the obvious anxiety about releasing her work to the world, she has achieved her dream and is now working on novel number two. For me, this is the very definition of the word 'fearless'...because as someone very wise once said, you can't be truly brave if you aren't remotely scared. Now whether her book reaches the dizzying heights of the best sellers list remains to be seen, but knowing what it took for the work to exist at all - well, it seems to me, she has already achieved great things.
In a completely different way, my next extraordinary person, is also a woman, although a slightly younger one, but who's life has not been especially easy either and yet, she too, has risen from the depths to shine brightly. Her life had been pretty unremarkable for many years, she had always studied hard at school and college, she had some good, close friends and her future seemed to be headed to further academic study. But then a series of events happened, which, only a few short months ago, left her homeless and with little or no direction. It would have been unsurprising, if she had decided life was far from fair and given up - yet, she is now working, she has started a period of study and has a home again. Generally speaking, the wider world knows almost nothing of the difficulties she has faced, in fact, it could almost be as if they never happened - to anyone looking on, she had just taken some time off and was now returning to study. But if you look a little closer, she has changed, the experiences she has had, have left their mark and, as a result, her personality has altered. She is undoubtedly mentally stronger, she has more self-belief and undoubtedly more resolve to never allow herself to fall into such hard times again. On a day-to-day basis, she forces herself to confront some of her worst fears because, on some level, she now knows, she can cope with anything.
And finally, my last extraordinary person - now if this woman's life was made into a movie, it would seem way too much happens to her - even in the first few years of her life. It is impossible to tell her whole story to you, also, it isn't mine to tell any way...but perhaps if is enough to say, she has been through some of the worst things imaginable. If anyone had a reason to be embittered or angry at the world, it would be her and yet...when she does get mad, the emotion has all the focus of a heat-seeking missile...there is a reason, a justification for the intensity and woe betide anyone who attempts to justify an injustice. She has somehow retained a glorious sense of humour, a love of anything vaguely irresponsible and a genuine love of a good time...speaking as one who tries always to be 'responsible', her joy in being the complete opposite is not only infectious but a true life lesson - life is to be lived and in the wise words of 'Finding Nemo', if you don't want anything to happen to someone, they will end up having a life where nothing happens at all.
Now, on the face of it, it might appear these three stories are very similar - i.e. people go through tough time and come out the other side of it all, triumphant. I suppose, if that's all we see, then I would have to agree...but I see more. As I said at the beginning, to a casual onlooker,these three people are not obviously extraordinary...but , if you bother to take more than a cursory glance,their different qualities are...and that's really my point. It seems to me, we are in a world where celebrities are seen as 'amazing' even when they don't have any real discernible talent other than being able to walk in ridiculously high heels without buckling under the sheer weight of their enormous breast enhancements. Much as I respect anyone who can achieve just that level of balance, should we be looking to them for genuine inspiration...perhaps not, when it could be our neighbour, friend or family member who is truly extraordinary.
One final thought, we are all blessed with knowing amazing people...perhaps the real challenge within a life, is to be inspired by them, to find just how extraordinary we can be too....can you imagine what the world would be like if we could ? Ah well...with that question..it's time for me to go for now...so until the next time...
Take care out there xxx
