Doing Handstands
September 25, 2010 4 Comments
I love having my picture taken at iconic locations around the world but I’m getting tired of just standing there proudly with my arms in one of three positions (on my hips, crossed or by my side). I have the same picture of myself many times over with a variety of different backgrounds. How boring is that!?
This summer I began doing something different: handstands.
When I was in Hawaii a few months ago I wanted a “fun” picture. The first thing that came to mind was to do a handstand. I raised my hands above my head and threw myself forward in a desperate attempt to get my feet in the air. I can’t tell you the last time I tried to do a handstand and the picture is evidence that I’m not very good at them! I’ve been doing handstands ever since.
It’s become a bit of an obsession of mine, actually. Now I think of all the places I can visit just to do a handstand in front of that landmark. The Great Wall, the Eiffel Tower, Stonehenge, the Leaning Tower, the Pyramids, Machu Picchu, Easter Island, Taj Majal…
Where am I going with this?
Do what makes you happy. I dream of the next place that I will get to do a handstand and that motivates me to make it happen. Instead of imagining myself at these places, I picture myself upside down in front of them and I get excited thinking about being there.
Now I have something that drives me to visit these places. My desire to travel is amped up tenfold just by the thought of doing something so simple as a handstand. Angkor Wat? Yeah, that’s cool…but doing a handstand while there? That’s awesome!
When you find something in life that gives you meaning, chase after it with all your energy! People might wonder what’s wrong with you (they certainly look at you weird when you’re trying to do a handstand for the fifteenth time!) Let them wonder. What matters is that you’re living your life, on your terms and you’re doing what makes you happy.
And so my friends, where will my upcoming adventures take me? Into which soils will I plant my hands next? I know…but Erin won’t let me tell you…yet!
What motivates you to accomplish your dreams?
About Steven
Hey, I like that idea a lot! Usually I’m good if I actually get a photo of me in front of the thing I’m taking a picture of. I’ll have to think of something unique too!
Sounds like fun! Hey, whatever floats your boat right?
I don’t know if I want to do a handstand next time I visit someplace but usually I’m lucky if I get even one or two pictures of myself on a trip. Most of the pictures are of my kids and I’m okay with that. I did try something different not too long ago when I went to Washington, D.C. I included my feet in pictures I took of my kids while they were swimming in the pool. =)
Jersey Mom: I actually have a ton of feet pictures as well…that was my “thing” before the handstands. Whenever I traveled somewhere I’d look for things on the ground to take a picture of with my feet. When I was in DC, it was the word DISARM spray painted on the sidewalk, in Arizona it was a Route 66 marker. It’s kind of fun looking for those sorts of things to photograph because most people probably just walk right over them and don’t even notice they are there!
Pingback: I Wish I Could Do That « Hundred Goal$