OYou 2012 Boot Camp Challenge – Week 1.

So often we wait for a sign…something to reaffirm that we are heading in the right direction.  However, we can spend our whole lives waiting.  Imagine that opportunities run parallel in your life.  Without reaching out or turning a corner, you may never come in contact with them.  In fact, the comfort of the narrow road we travel often limits our experiences.  With this week’s OYou challenge of searching for our best lives, let’s all reach out a little to our parallel paths and maybe we just might find something that sparks our interest! 

Here are a couple of things you can try in your search for your best life.

• Self-Discovery – Take a moment to write down all of the things you are good at, all the things that make you happy and all the things you would try if you didn’t fear failure. When two (or even all three) of these things come together, pay attention. It can change your life.
• International Food Night – Make it a point to venture out this week and find an Indian, Greek, Ethiopian, French, Thai or any International restaurant. It is a great way to experience a little of the world without needing a passport.
• Give a Little Bit – Find a local charity that interests you.  Give them a call and offer your services for a few hours, a day or even a few hours throughout the week. Use your skills to help your community…pack food bank bags, walk animals at the shelter, paint props for local children’s theater groups, offer free haircuts to a battered woman’s shelter, music lessons to the local children’s shelter or simply offer to do office work.  Every little bit helps and you may find that you benefit the most from the experience.
• Get Creative – Sign up for a local painting class or simply grab your camera and head out to experiment with your own inner artist.
• Share Your Story– We all have something that we can’t read enough about, whether it is fashion, holistic medicine or current events.  This week, take one of the headlines and use it for inspiration.  Sit down and write.  It doesn’t have to be polished or flow smoothly.  Simply write and try to capture what it is about the subject that captivates you.