Where in the World is...John O'Leary??

Where in the World is...John O'Leary?

Are you wondering where I might be traveling to next? I've posted a few photos of the cities that I will be visiting soon. Can YOU name the city, just by a photo? If so, be sure to tell me what city you think it is by leaving a comment. (The third one is an easy one!)

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New Eyes

New Eyes 

One does not see anything until one sees its beauty.   - Oscar Wilde

 We often see firsthand the benefits of bringing a new set of eyes into a problem.  It allows us to look at situations or challenges from a fresh perspective that perhaps we hadn't yet considered.  It occurred to me over the weekend that sometimes we need to invite these new eyes into the limiting beliefs we have in our own lives, too.

Last Saturday we enjoyed a lazy morning together as a family. After a late breakfast (with 3 young kids, 830 is now considered late!) and a stroll around the neighborhood, I showered and got ready for the disappearing day.

My four-year-old, Jack, sat on a stool near the bathroom sink watching me shave.  He asked important questions like: "why don't I need to do that, Daddy?" and "why don't baseball players wear shorts?" Then he said, "Daddy, your skin is so ridgey, bumpy and red."  He paused for a few seconds, tracing one of the scars with his index finger, and added, "but I really like it."

He "really likes it"?!!!

It took me 20 years to see any beauty in the scars that cover 87% of my body.  Even today, when I am honest about it, there are moments when I have a very difficult time seeing good in them.  There are times when I host the pity parties (no one ever comes by the way!), when I wish they weren't there, when I feel less-than-perfect.

Into that mess and into those negative voices steps an innocent, blinded to prejudice, open to real beauty, little boy who sees the scars - not for the marks of imperfection so many may see in them - but for the badge of beauty and courage which they are. 

My friends, the unavoidable consequence of life is that we all get burned; we all have scars.  Some appear physically; most appear internally - and are much more painful.  They emerge after difficult experiences at work, challenges in health, being burned in relationships, being disappointed by our children, or being mistreated during our own childhood.  The wounds open, the scars appear, and we rarely acknowledge their existence, except for a few passing, painful moments.

Today, in your life, where do you need some four-year-old to step in with you and remind you what really matters? Where do you need a new set of eyes to turn your negative experiences into a positive opportunity for a bigger, better life?   Here's the real question: what are your scars?   

Consider reflecting on the scarring experiences from your story.  Consider owning what took place, learning from it, and being a better, more compassionate person because of it.  Consider the fact that your scars only exist today because the wounds have healed.  When you embrace that, you'll be able to look in the mirror with new eyes, acknowledging your scars and say, "they are ridgey, bumpy and red......but I really like them!"

John O'Leary | RisingAbove
Ignite Life | Fulfill Potential | Impact Others

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Ignoring the Cover

 Ignoring the Cover

"Judgments prevent us from seeing the good that lies beyond appearances."  Wayne Dyer

Too often we let our first impression of brands, foods, events and people dictate the way we feel about them going forward.  By just seeing the cover, with little real perspective and with limited knowledge we judge, pigeonhole, write-off, and never offer a second chance.  In doing so we often miss the opportunity for them to prove us wrong, reveal their real value, and (occasionally) become a significant presence in our life. 
 
Having an early morning presentation the following day in northern Wisconsin, I HAD to make the last flight out of Atlanta, GA.  Arriving at the gate as the plane was boarding, the airline attendant shared with me that the flight was oversold by five passengers that evening; it was extremely unlikely I would make it.  (Not good!)  Shockingly, five potential passengers voluntarily deplaned, agreed to fly out in the morning and left with roundtrip tickets anywhere in the US.
With great joy I boarded the plane last, found my seat, sat down next to a large, goateed man, smiled at him and said, "Man, I bet you were hoping that I was going to sit next to you tonight!"  The giant stared back at me without expression and in a deep voice growled, "Actually, I was hoping like hell that no one was going to sit there." 
Normally, I would have run and hid or at least sprayed mace in his direction (the cover of this man certainly suggested that would be the right move!), but as we were stuck sharing an armrest for the next 2 hours, I just smiled, nodded and pulled out some work for the coming flight.   
Shortly after takeoff the brute spoke again: What happened to your hands? How did the fire happen?  Anybody else hurt?  How was the recovery? What do you do now?  What kind of messages do you deliver?  How is business? How is your family? 
The colossal man listened deeply as I answered. 
His chiseled face became soft as he smiled discussing his own young family: his older boys, the adopted son, the new baby, the beautiful wife.  He loved his new company and his new city.  The wild grizzly I had feared because of his abrasive cover was, in reality, a tender teddy bear. 
About a month ago my new friend, learned of a high school near his new city that had dealt with a recent string of tragedies.   A total of four students had committed suicide in the past 12 months.  He called me the morning he heard the story and said, "Dude, don't care what it costs, don't care if I have to collect bottle tops, I am bringing you into this community to inspire these kids."
Last Friday, after challenging 1,200 young adults to dream big, act courageously, and impact others' lives through their own, I asked my friend (the former grizzly bear) why he felt the urge to do something. 
He replied, "Dude, when you see others suffering, and you don't do something, you become part of the problem.  Life is way too precious to not risk a little when there's an opportunity to serve others." 
Servant leadership was not on the cover of his book when I first met him.  Being forced to sit next to him on a flight, though, offered the gift of reading much more than some superficial cover.  After learning more of his story I am reminded of the value in reading past the cover.
My friends, in your life, consider diving into the stories being written all around you.  Turn past the ragged cover and expect a beautiful story to unfold.   Celebrate the pages of your relationships, rejoice in your own experiences, demand beneficial growth from even the most difficult challenges you face today.  To paraphrase the giant, "Dude, life is way too precious to expect anything other than that."

 

John O'Leary | RisingAbove
Ignite Life | Fulfill Potential | Impact Others

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