Alta
Ordinary people in extraordinary times
Hi faunabay and Keavy,
Going back in a sec to interact with what you folks wrote, but just want to run this one by you first.
But....have to say, I also felt that the four of were already connected. I got that strongly in the visualization. Even when I first saw your names, I knew it.
Walking out of the War Museum, I passed once again in the foyer a large collection of war art entitled, "Ordinary people in Extraordinary times". I always find the collection haunting and stopped to once again stare at the compelling portrait of the young man now in military prison who committed an atrocity against a youth in Somalia that the entire Division was disbanded afterwards. I am haunted by his eyes.
But as I walked across LeBreton Flats to the bus, I started to turn the concept around in my mind. How much untapped potential do each of us have that we really *cannot* access in everyday life, but which is brought out by extraordinary circumstances?
Churchill was a widely admired war Prime Minister, but largely vilified in peace times. He had a skill of being a war leader, but not necessarily a leader per se. If the war had not happened, no doubt he would have been admired for his historical writings and perhaps some political actions, but would not be the almost mythological figure that he is today.
So, trying to bring this down to my scale. What potential did I tap because circumstances demanded it? The one that immediately came to mind is public speaking. If I had had a different profession, I would not have found out that I am an excellent public speaker. But, my profession put me into this role again and again, and it fed on itself until I was 'in demand'. Now I am retired, no one wants to hear what I have to say, so the skill sinks back into the ooze, so to speak.
The expression "Untapped Potential" itself seems to speak to this. It is there, that is, it exists in you, but getting the bore hole down to bring it up some can be internal but sometimes takes external factors.
It may be a strong argument for forcing yourself outside of your comfort zone, almost as an experiment to 'see what happens'.
Hi faunabay and Keavy,
Going back in a sec to interact with what you folks wrote, but just want to run this one by you first.
But....have to say, I also felt that the four of were already connected. I got that strongly in the visualization. Even when I first saw your names, I knew it.
Walking out of the War Museum, I passed once again in the foyer a large collection of war art entitled, "Ordinary people in Extraordinary times". I always find the collection haunting and stopped to once again stare at the compelling portrait of the young man now in military prison who committed an atrocity against a youth in Somalia that the entire Division was disbanded afterwards. I am haunted by his eyes.
But as I walked across LeBreton Flats to the bus, I started to turn the concept around in my mind. How much untapped potential do each of us have that we really *cannot* access in everyday life, but which is brought out by extraordinary circumstances?
Churchill was a widely admired war Prime Minister, but largely vilified in peace times. He had a skill of being a war leader, but not necessarily a leader per se. If the war had not happened, no doubt he would have been admired for his historical writings and perhaps some political actions, but would not be the almost mythological figure that he is today.
So, trying to bring this down to my scale. What potential did I tap because circumstances demanded it? The one that immediately came to mind is public speaking. If I had had a different profession, I would not have found out that I am an excellent public speaker. But, my profession put me into this role again and again, and it fed on itself until I was 'in demand'. Now I am retired, no one wants to hear what I have to say, so the skill sinks back into the ooze, so to speak.
The expression "Untapped Potential" itself seems to speak to this. It is there, that is, it exists in you, but getting the bore hole down to bring it up some can be internal but sometimes takes external factors.
It may be a strong argument for forcing yourself outside of your comfort zone, almost as an experiment to 'see what happens'.