A turtle? What do I have in common with a turtle?

Recently I attended a conference where we listened to numerous speakers on various topics....all good, yet somewhat overwhelming at times. So many wonderful ideas! So many thoughts to follow up on.....so many people doing fantastic things!

One speaker however said a simple sentence that truly hit home for me.....he said, "A turtle doesn't get anywhere without sticking it's neck out." Bam! Wow! Hit me over the head with a dose of reality! Wake up!

A turtle? Never in a million years would I liken myself to a turtle......a turtle is cold, slimy.....lives in a tank, has a hard shell......hmmmmm.......hard shell? Maybe there is something there! I started thinking.....

Over the years I probably have developed a "shell" of some sort......it was a necessity when going through cancer.....as long as I was "tough" and had my "shell" to protect me I could get through. That shell often took the shape of laughter, jokes, bravery.......when underneath I too felt the same anxiety, fear, worries that every cancer patient feels.....yet I focused on being tough for my children, my family and myself. I've always been a positive thinker at heart and it is indeed a necessity during a trying time. Yes, the shell is there......

How else was I like a turtle? I realized that the speaker's phrase of "A turtle doesn't get anywhere without sticking it's neck out," again is exactly where I am once again! A turtle cannot take one simple step without sticking it's head out. A turtle will stay closed up in it's hard shell if it never sticks it's head out. A turtle cannot get anywhere in life if it doesn't take that first step of sticking it's head out.......I too found similarities to the turtle. Risks, adventures, trials, dreams, aspirations........all part of sticking my head out!

I realized that even thinking about the wonders of my life have encouraged me to "stick my neck out"....not everyone understands how one can be positive after an experience such as cancer.....yet I am. I am positive that joy is an integral part of my life. I am positive that life is good. Life is to be cherished. Life is to be lived!!!

Risks are to be taken. The risk of trying a bit harder....the risk of trying new things. The risk of enjoying life as it is meant to be enjoyed. If we don't try new things and push ourselves to new heights we will never know what we can become.......and that would be a shame. We are here to reach our potential......we are here to stick our necks out......we are here to be like the turtle......to stick our necks out to move forward. I guess being like a turtle is not so bad.....

What do you think?

Glenna Sanford
Author / Speaker / Power for Life Coach
www.glennasanford.com