Comments on: Break Free of the Sidewalks in Life http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2009/12/10/break-free-of-the-sidewalks-in-life/ Live on Your Own Terms Fri, 30 Jul 2010 01:39:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: David @ A Happy Pocket Full of Money http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2009/12/10/break-free-of-the-sidewalks-in-life/#comment-30891 David @ A Happy Pocket Full of Money Mon, 01 Feb 2010 13:35:33 +0000 http://www.illuminatedmind.net/?p=1649#comment-30891 A great post, thanks! I believe the first thing to do always, is to find the most effective path, from those who have been there done that, and then follow it, adding your own flavor as you go along. Copy success, then add your imprint to it. A great post, thanks! I believe the first thing to do always, is to find the most effective path, from those who have been there done that, and then follow it, adding your own flavor as you go along. Copy success, then add your imprint to it.

]]> By: Steve-Success Factors http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2009/12/10/break-free-of-the-sidewalks-in-life/#comment-29212 Steve-Success Factors Wed, 30 Dec 2009 01:42:00 +0000 http://www.illuminatedmind.net/?p=1649#comment-29212 This is an interesting perspective. So much of it has to do with our mindset. We need to commit to creativity and innovation, to a different paradigm. We need to read about and rub shoulders with those who who are urban runners, so that we don't get stuck skipping rope on the sidewalk ;-) This is an interesting perspective. So much of it has to do with our mindset. We need to commit to creativity and innovation, to a different paradigm. We need to read about and rub shoulders with those who who are urban runners, so that we don’t get stuck skipping rope on the sidewalk ;-)

]]> By: Jason http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2009/12/10/break-free-of-the-sidewalks-in-life/#comment-28665 Jason Sat, 19 Dec 2009 23:52:08 +0000 http://www.illuminatedmind.net/?p=1649#comment-28665 freerunning has always seemed like a very cool sport. However, with my flexibility at 40 I may seriously injure myself. I do love cycling and really find those moments of clarity and creativity when on my bike. Perhaps I need to get back on my bike... Great analogy and fun reading. freerunning has always seemed like a very cool sport. However, with my flexibility at 40 I may seriously injure myself. I do love cycling and really find those moments of clarity and creativity when on my bike.

Perhaps I need to get back on my bike…

Great analogy and fun reading.

]]> By: Jared-Brandentity http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2009/12/10/break-free-of-the-sidewalks-in-life/#comment-28567 Jared-Brandentity Fri, 18 Dec 2009 03:39:47 +0000 http://www.illuminatedmind.net/?p=1649#comment-28567 As always...amazing Oleg! Even in the 1920's Robert Frost preached that the unconventional path, the one you create for yourself, which is congruent with your identity, and enables you to find your authentic self, is the one to follow: 1. The Road Not Taken TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; 5 Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, 10 And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. 15 I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. As always…amazing Oleg!

Even in the 1920′s Robert Frost preached that the unconventional path, the one you create for yourself, which is congruent with your identity, and enables you to find your authentic self, is the one to follow:

1. The Road Not Taken

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth; 5

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same, 10

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back. 15

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

]]> By: Peter http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2009/12/10/break-free-of-the-sidewalks-in-life/#comment-28566 Peter Fri, 18 Dec 2009 03:24:10 +0000 http://www.illuminatedmind.net/?p=1649#comment-28566 Great stuff, Oleg. I noticed a similar shift of vision after a few years of adventure racing, which is a sport where the aim is to find the fastest path through a wilderness environment. Staring out the window of a train one day I realized I was looking at the landscape as a series of artificial boundaries that I could choose to recognize or ignore. Waterways could be swam, roads were suggestions, fences could be climbed, marshes could be crossed. It opened my eyes to how much the sport had changed my outlook. Great stuff, Oleg. I noticed a similar shift of vision after a few years of adventure racing, which is a sport where the aim is to find the fastest path through a wilderness environment. Staring out the window of a train one day I realized I was looking at the landscape as a series of artificial boundaries that I could choose to recognize or ignore. Waterways could be swam, roads were suggestions, fences could be climbed, marshes could be crossed. It opened my eyes to how much the sport had changed my outlook.

]]> By: Travis | iStorm Training http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2009/12/10/break-free-of-the-sidewalks-in-life/#comment-28562 Travis | iStorm Training Fri, 18 Dec 2009 01:51:17 +0000 http://www.illuminatedmind.net/?p=1649#comment-28562 Great article! As a facilitator for iStorm Training we help people "find their own way." You are quite literally "finding your own way" - breaking free from sidewalks, etc. Just wanted to say great article. And thank you! Great article! As a facilitator for iStorm Training we help people “find their own way.” You are quite literally “finding your own way” – breaking free from sidewalks, etc. Just wanted to say great article. And thank you!

]]> By: Oleg Mokhov http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2009/12/10/break-free-of-the-sidewalks-in-life/#comment-28289 Oleg Mokhov Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:24:05 +0000 http://www.illuminatedmind.net/?p=1649#comment-28289 Thanks for the great comments everyone. I’m glad I was able to provide something of value to Jonathan and yourself. I had no doubt in my mind that Illuminated Mind readers are a remarkable bunch. I’m honored to be here. @Henri: Definitely scary but totally worth it to unconventionally combine your passions. I agree - this fun and growth-oriented lifestyle is awesome. @Nathan: Thanks for the nice comment Nathan. Glad you liked the concept of tying freerunning into breaking through boundaries and creating your own world (I like how you put that). @HDT: Since parkour/freerunning started in France, it’s only fitting that the French started incorporating it in their films :) I'll have to check that one out. Another one that seems to be famous is “District 13.” @Nate: Agreed. It’s all about failing often to succeed faster. Selectively try as many things as possible - the more you eliminate what doesn’t work (fail), the faster you’ll discover what does (succeed). @Tomas: You're right - finding and surrounding yourself with people who inspire you is definitely effective. Like you stated, when most people you know are unconventional and living life how they want to, following life the conventional way becomes weird. You naturally become encouraged to start finding and living your own way. Beginning to surround myself with remarkable people has been super-helpful to me, and it seems to be for you as well. @Cate: Interesting concept your friends have of tech-based scavenger hunt from city to city. Thanks for sharing the link. Very unconventional, very awesome. @Jon: Everything has its uses. Use the sidewalks when needed for safety, but don’t get shackled by them, both literally and figuratively in life. @Roland: Thanks to David Belle and Sebastien Foucan coining different terms for almost identical things, there will never be a consensus on which term fits what :) Freerunning is about finding your own way and lends itself to a life philosophy, whereas parkour is more about efficient moving from point A to B if I understand correctly. @Nathalie: Thanks for the nice words. Like Jon wrote, I agree that everything can have its uses (sidewalks provide safety) - the important thing is to just not get shackled by them and utilize your freedom to find your own way. @sui: Yeah, I love the connection that physical activity can have towards personal development and life in general. Definitely check out some freerunning vids on YouTube, some creative feats of movement to be found. @Srinivas: That’s so awesome you’ve been able to break free of your job “sidewalk,” and just pursuing your unconventional path with your blog in general. Not easy and definitely scary, but then what endeavor worth pursuing wasn’t? Finding our own way is something new and uncharted, but when we get out of that comfort zone and start attaining our unique lifestyle, we couldn’t live any other way. So fulfilling. Thanks for the great comments everyone. I’m glad I was able to provide something of value to Jonathan and yourself.

I had no doubt in my mind that Illuminated Mind readers are a remarkable bunch. I’m honored to be here.

@Henri: Definitely scary but totally worth it to unconventionally combine your passions. I agree – this fun and growth-oriented lifestyle is awesome.

@Nathan: Thanks for the nice comment Nathan. Glad you liked the concept of tying freerunning into breaking through boundaries and creating your own world (I like how you put that).

@HDT: Since parkour/freerunning started in France, it’s only fitting that the French started incorporating it in their films :) I’ll have to check that one out. Another one that seems to be famous is “District 13.”

@Nate: Agreed. It’s all about failing often to succeed faster. Selectively try as many things as possible – the more you eliminate what doesn’t work (fail), the faster you’ll discover what does (succeed).

@Tomas: You’re right – finding and surrounding yourself with people who inspire you is definitely effective. Like you stated, when most people you know are unconventional and living life how they want to, following life the conventional way becomes weird. You naturally become encouraged to start finding and living your own way. Beginning to surround myself with remarkable people has been super-helpful to me, and it seems to be for you as well.

@Cate: Interesting concept your friends have of tech-based scavenger hunt from city to city. Thanks for sharing the link. Very unconventional, very awesome.

@Jon: Everything has its uses. Use the sidewalks when needed for safety, but don’t get shackled by them, both literally and figuratively in life.

@Roland: Thanks to David Belle and Sebastien Foucan coining different terms for almost identical things, there will never be a consensus on which term fits what :) Freerunning is about finding your own way and lends itself to a life philosophy, whereas parkour is more about efficient moving from point A to B if I understand correctly.

@Nathalie: Thanks for the nice words. Like Jon wrote, I agree that everything can have its uses (sidewalks provide safety) – the important thing is to just not get shackled by them and utilize your freedom to find your own way.

@sui: Yeah, I love the connection that physical activity can have towards personal development and life in general. Definitely check out some freerunning vids on YouTube, some creative feats of movement to be found.

@Srinivas: That’s so awesome you’ve been able to break free of your job “sidewalk,” and just pursuing your unconventional path with your blog in general. Not easy and definitely scary, but then what endeavor worth pursuing wasn’t? Finding our own way is something new and uncharted, but when we get out of that comfort zone and start attaining our unique lifestyle, we couldn’t live any other way. So fulfilling.

]]> By: Srinivas Rao http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2009/12/10/break-free-of-the-sidewalks-in-life/#comment-28160 Srinivas Rao Sat, 12 Dec 2009 18:53:04 +0000 http://www.illuminatedmind.net/?p=1649#comment-28160 My favorite line in this post is "You can only be you...everyone else is already taken." Regarding breaking free of the sidewalks, I couldn't agree more. I've blazed a fairly unconventional path by starting a blog, and forcing myself to take it to the next level by turning my blog into a real viable business. After a 6 month search, I walked away from a job after only two weeks. It wasn't an easy choice, and I didn't know what the next move would be and I still need to find a real job. But Knew that I was stuck on the "sidewalk" and moving at the pace along with every other battery in the matrix. That's not the life I was ever meant to lead. My favorite line in this post is “You can only be you…everyone else is already taken.” Regarding breaking free of the sidewalks, I couldn’t agree more. I’ve blazed a fairly unconventional path by starting a blog, and forcing myself to take it to the next level by turning my blog into a real viable business. After a 6 month search, I walked away from a job after only two weeks. It wasn’t an easy choice, and I didn’t know what the next move would be and I still need to find a real job. But Knew that I was stuck on the “sidewalk” and moving at the pace along with every other battery in the matrix. That’s not the life I was ever meant to lead.

]]> By: sui http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2009/12/10/break-free-of-the-sidewalks-in-life/#comment-28136 sui Sat, 12 Dec 2009 03:23:35 +0000 http://www.illuminatedmind.net/?p=1649#comment-28136 not only is freerunning a good simile for life, it sounds like an intriguing sport in general! sounds like it can open a lot of minds to newer possibilities :) not only is freerunning a good simile for life, it sounds like an intriguing sport in general! sounds like it can open a lot of minds to newer possibilities :)

]]> By: Nathalie Lussier http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2009/12/10/break-free-of-the-sidewalks-in-life/#comment-28133 Nathalie Lussier Sat, 12 Dec 2009 01:00:05 +0000 http://www.illuminatedmind.net/?p=1649#comment-28133 Hey Oleg! I love your concept of sidewalks.. I usually look at things through the lens of a conveyor belt, but I think sidewalks are a much more positive metaphor! They were definitely created with a positive goal in mind (to keep people safe) but sometimes it's okay or even better to make your own way. :) Love it! Hey Oleg!

I love your concept of sidewalks.. I usually look at things through the lens of a conveyor belt, but I think sidewalks are a much more positive metaphor!

They were definitely created with a positive goal in mind (to keep people safe) but sometimes it’s okay or even better to make your own way. :) Love it!

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