Showing Up - The 90% Rule
We can walk through life by going through the motions,
or we can be present and let our light shine.
- The Miracle Collectors
We had no idea that when we travelled the country to show up at book events to tell our stories and share what we had learned after the publication of our first book, The Miracle Chase, others would show up as well, bringing with them their own remarkable stories. It was a gift we hadn't anticipated and is what forms the backbone of our new book, The Miracle Collectors, Uncovering Stories of Wonder, Joy, and Mystery. I'm not sure why exactly, but often I find myself in places I hadn't anticipated and have met people or had an experience that emphasizes the importance of being spontaneous and stepping outside of my comfort level. I joke that perhaps it is my fear of missing out (FOMO) that keeps me going, but the reality is that I have found that in showing up there are often extraordinary gifts to be found and savored.
Like the current demand for a PlayStation 5 (PS5) among a certain group of gaming aficionados, for most of us, another much anticipated gift would be the COVID vaccine and its availability to anyone who wants it, regardless of age or illness, living situation or job classification. While for some people showing up looks like early access via computer or crack of dawn store arrival, showing up looked a bit different near Grant's Pass, Oregon last week. Stuck in a snowstorm behind a traffic accident that closed the road and with vaccines that would expire before they reached their destination, the health care workers took it upon themselves to vaccinate others who were also trapped in the backup of traffic. No, they didn't ask for permission from their bosses; they had a job to do and they were 'all in' doing it. No precious vaccines would be wasted on their watch and those that were vaccinated were overjoyed with their unexpected gift.
As we wrote in The Miracle Chase, “It is through fully living our experience that gives the miraculous the power to change lives far beyond our own.” The reality is that in order to fully live our experiences, we have to show up, to be present in whatever form that takes right now, virtually, or in person. As one ninety-three-year-old New York physician said when asked why she continued to show up for work, “Someone may need what I have to offer.” Maybe that's the best reason of all...(Joan)