DannyHesterly

Do You PLAY?

"The opposite of play is not work, it is depression." -Brian Sutton-Smith

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"You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation." -Plato

Chasing Your Red Rubber Ball Pt3

Picking up from the last entry on the RRB and strength let's continue with the final ingredient when it comes to chasing your RRB. KC says,"Finding your red rubber ball is only half the battle. Once you find it, you must follow it and that takes courage, strength, and imagination (Rules of the Red Rubber Ball p.40-44)." 

[Imagination] I have heard it said, "The world is full of color. It's our imagination the enables us to see them." Well....I actually said that, but it's true. Right? If a person doesn't possess this final ingredient then chasing their goal, dream, or passion is near impossible. It's the imagination that helps a person see beyond their boundaries or limitations. Look at Picasso's paintings...what if he stayed within the lines? 

I'm finding out that the pursuit of the RRB is a life long journey that should be shared with those who love, support, and encourage your chase. It's amazing to watch someone doing the very thing God created them to do. They're happy and full of energy. Sure they get tired, but it's that feel good tired when you lay your head on your pillow at night thinking to yourself, "I just can't wait to get up in the morning!" Sure they get frustrated and wonder why things happened this way and not another, but they bounce right back up taking an opportunity to learn and move forward.

With all that said...discover the courage, strength, and imagination that you already possess and chase your Red Rubber Ball!

Chasing your Red Rubber Ball Pt2

Picking up from the last entry on the RRB and courage let's continue with the second ingredient. KC says,"Finding your red rubber ball is only half the battle. Once you find it, you must follow it and that takes courage, strength, and imagination (Rules of the Red Rubber Ball p.40-44)." 

[STRENGTH] How many of you have ever watch the World's Strongest Man/Woman competitions? They're pretty insane right? Here you have some of the biggest and strongest men and women (I by the way would never want to make angry) displaying feats that only the incredible could achieve. They have the physical build, which is clearly seen but beneath all the muscles they have this drive to achieve excellence. It's this inner strength that's keeps them motivated, pressing forward and giving it a try. 

Take a look in your own life. You have dreams, passions and goals that will not only require courage to step out and chase them, but you'll also need this inner determination, this strength that will keep you going no matter what the naysayers say to attempt to detour you in any way. What does this inner strength look like? I guess it comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes. For me, this strength comes from my relationship with God and with others. I understand that when my goals and passions align with what God has planned for me there rises this strength from inside that comes from God. I feel sometimes God wishes we would dare him to use us to change this world. To do the impossibles.

One of KC's rules of the RRB: Seek out Encouragers is a key component to our inner strength. When the naysayers come around looking for trouble its those around you that will help lift you up in times of self-doubt and frustration. You need them around you speaking the positives, keeping you focused and be there to help you along with your chase. 

Let me say to those who have laid down your dreams, passions or goals (whenever and for whatever reasons) to PICK THEM BACK UP! Dust them off! Tell your closest friends about what you want to accomplish. Let God reignite those passions and give you an inner strength so you can be doing what you were made to do. The chase continues...

Chasing your Red Rubber Ball Pt1

Let's continue this RRB conversation...As KC says, "Finding your red rubber ball is only half the battle. Once you find it, you must follow it and that takes courage, strength, and imagination (p.40-44)." 

[COURAGE] Stepping out and following the "God Passions" in your life is kind of scary. As a follower of Christ, I know we're not suppose to live in fear, but the reality is we often worry if the big, life changing decisions we make will work out for us.

When I decided to quit my job teaching after 5 years, to pursue writing children books, both Erin and I were nervous as all get out. For one, there was no guarantee I would ever become a published children's author. Second, what if this didn't work. What then? I had no back up plan.

But I did have this passion to follow a dream that had been brewing inside me for many years. But I still lacked something.

Kevin Carroll says in his book Rules of the Red Rubber Ball, "Bouncin' that ball will get you nowhere (p51)!" Now I'm looking at this phrase a little differently than what KC is meaning, but it works. Trust me. Until you step out and begin to actively pursue your passion(s) then all you're doing is playing it safe. There isn't any need for courage to rise up. The dream just stays caged up.

For me, when I finally understood that God is the creator of the RRB and he's the one who placed these passions inside me did I find the courage to step out in faith and take a risk. I also discovered while chasing the RRB I grew closer to God because the two go hand in hand. God gives us the courage to follow our dreams even if doubt or fear is attached to them. What would be the point of having courage if there wasn't anything to overcome (ie- fear, doubt, ourselves, circumstances, the naysayers). 

Anyway, it's late and this was running through my mind and needed to get out. I'm hoping it's making sense...

The Red Rubber Ball

One of the most influential books I've ever read is "Rules of the Red Rubber Ball" by Kevin Carroll.

This book is so creatively written and expresses what it means to chase your passions in a real, fresh and contagious way. For the next week or so I want to hash out some of the highlights from the book that really spoke to me. My goal in these posts is to not in any way take credit for what KC has said, but just share what this book has meant to me and in hopes that you'll pick up a copy and read for yourself what it means to pursue the red rubber ball. I want to give kudos to KC for allowing his story to influence the many people who have begun the chase. Let's get started...

If you ever walk in my office you'll notice it's filled with all sorts of reminders. I feel it's important to keep things in front of you so at any moment you can look at them and it trigger a creative thought, idea, or a moment of reflection. One important reminder in my office is the red rubber ball. In every direction you look there's one in sight. It reminds me to always keep my passions, ambitions, bhad (big hairy audacious dreams) in focus. Though this is not always easy to do because if I'm not careful life can crowd them out. Not that life's to blame, but that's how it goes sometimes. Today, Micah was in my office and he kept staring at this poster of all these different balls from around the world (another reminder). I want my son, as he grows up, to understand the importance of following the desires of his heart. 

So what is the red rubber ball? It's what drives you to get out of bed. It's what you can't wait to be doing. It's what brings you the greatest joy. Everyday there are people who get up and go to work feeling their life has no real purpose. That they are missing out on something bigger than themselves. They want to feel a sense of contribution in making this world a better place. They want to be living rather than existing. It's in this life long pursuit of this desire that they discover who they are and a purpose to keep on living. As KC says, "Finding your red rubber ball is only half the battle. Once you find it, you must follow it and that takes courage, strength, and imagination (p.40-44)." Will pick up with this statement later. But for now...

My question is...what's your red rubber ball?