Party Clean Up

Thanks to everyone who attended my virtual birthday party yesterday. The beautiful thing about the Internet is even if you couldn't attend yesterday, you can still do it today.

First things first I'm sure plenty of you are wondering about the photo. A few weeks ago my dad sent me that photo and dared me to somehow incorporate it in my blog.

Even though some have said I am too deep for my own good this picture is proof I don't take myself too seriously. I think it is very healthy to be able to bust out the inner four year old on occasion. The last kid waving her arms up and down on the video yesterday inspired me to bust out the photo.

I had wanted to share with you my dream from yesterday, but I just couldn't figure out a way. So I guess when we're cleaning up the party is as good a time as any.

The last thing I saw on TV before I went to sleep was a piece on CNN about this great kid’s choir in Atlanta that is being invited to President-elect Obama’s inauguration. They were animated and extremely entertaining.

As I drifted off into dream world, these wonderful kids were practicing being led by a man in a suit who used cup crutches to get around. When the practice was over the leader joyfully walked home dancing and singing while he did it. What made this such an odd dream was he was walking home by using a major highway in which he was going the wrong direction. Somehow he was fine and happy even though cars were coming at him with incredible speed.

I just thought this dream was such an incredible metaphor. I think if we do the right things in life we are always being protected, but we don't always see it. He was so full of joy that the craziest of circumstances could not harm him.

The essence of life to me is to follow your dreams, work hard to make them happen and help out our fellow man. I strongly believe if we take care of those things we are constantly being protected down our path. This has been a gradual process over the last couple years, but I try extremely hard to label things as little as possible. A “bad” experience last month can be the catalyst for an experience beyond your wildest dreams next month.

As my party cleaning is wrapping up I would like to make everyone aware that my wonderful friend Benjamin Reece has directed a new fifty people one question starring the people of London. The question he asks in the London and Brooklyn video is beautifully simple and thought-provoking at the same time.

My answer would be: Right where I am and so many other places all at the same time. In order to know the question you should check out the video at fiftypeopleonequestion.com

I hope you enjoyed the party because I sure did!
Chris

2008: Many Failures = Great Success

I believe it is incredibly poetic that I started the year 2008 in front of my computer in Alabama and the final hours will be in front of a computer in my childhood home. I started the year unsure on so many fronts I thought it would just be easiest to stay in for the night as a subtle surrender to the crazy unknown world, however I end the year working on one of my deepest passions and 100% knowing I control my own life and I sit in front of my computer by choice.

In totality this year was so much more challenging and difficult then my greatest year of uncertainty 2006.   In 2006 I had only one goal to move down to Alabama by rugby season. I was lost in a mind of confusion and self-doubt for much of the year.  I applied for jobs in Birmingham and just sat reading, watching movies and working out, waiting for my phone to ring or e-mails to come to my inbox. Neither came because of my lack of action that was all tied into my low self-esteem. Thanks to the generosity of my uncle Ralph and aunt Trish a trail was blazed to Alabama in October of 2006.  I moved 700 miles away and made a dream a reality. I do not think it was a coincidence that less then six weeks later the idea to write a book popped into my head for the second time in my adult life. I started  writing, but by the time I had compiled 40 random pages I had convinced myself that no one cares about my college years and how I perceived them.  Between November 2006 and November 2008 I started and failed to complete seven books.  The books included two about college, a fictional character goes on his last road trip, a book about trying to figure out life, a fictional book about dating, a book I called Rathjeisms and a book about figuring out your new body once you have a disability. I just realized something, going with the biblical quote in Proverbs and the ancient Asian saying I fell 7 times before I rose to start writing  Don’t Be Afraid to Eat Soup with a Fork And Other Lessons from the Gut.
 

My biggest failure this year was I did not qualify for the 2008 Beijing Paralympics. In retrospect, I worked extremely hard, but I did not succeed because I wasn’t ready. There are so many things I am at peace with in my life that I never used to be, however training for the Paralympics was not one of them. Sure I trained 10-12 times a week meaning many days I would push up the hill to Lakeshore twice a day, but I did that out of fear of failing I did not do that out of faith. When the teams departed for Beijing in the later part of August a calmness came over me because they were on the plane and it was over.   Beijing didn’t happen, but London will.   A member at Lakeshore asked me the day after everyone departed if I planned to go to London.  For the first time ever, instead of my typical response I hope so. I said I’ll be there!  The path is still foggy  because I’m not at the level that I need to be at for either sport, but I know I will get there. 

I’ve never had much faith in myself, but it is growing thanks to a very interesting circle that has developed. I have a strong belief in God and everything good in the universe. I know a vast majority of my ideas are gifts from the universe. I wholeheartedly believe in my ideas. If God and the universe see it fit that I be blessed to be a megaphone for its glory, maybe I’m a better person then I have ever given myself credit. I’m 100% sure that this logic can be applied to anyone. All human beings are worthy and lovely creatures. Pump yourself up if you are down or bring yourself back to Earth if you think you are greater than others.

Outside of sports another weakness has been my interesting mix of social skills. With the dual purpose of getting the word out about my writing and coming to grips with my entire life I have sent out more e-mails and friend requests on facebook then ever before. In today’s day and age I realize there is no reason I must keep my thoughts to myself. If I think of someone or something there’s no harm in writing a paragraph or sentence to send out good energy in the world.   As I have previously written, thanks to John Mayer, I realize life is so much better when you “say what you need to say.”  I hope everyone out there figures out the best way for them to communicate and they find the courage to communicate freely. I cannot reiterate this enough, there is nothing special about me I just got to the point where I was fed up with aspects of my life and I realized it was completely in my control to change it.

When talking about friendship I find it very fitting to share with you my last sleeping dream of 2008. I entered a movie theater with some people, as we approach the seats they go to the last row of the theater rather than sit up front with me. I just kind of sit there baffled as I sit there alone. Before I know it the entire theater fills up with people many of which I do not know. As the last seat in the theater is filled, the movie theater morphs into a mini version of my favorite stadium in the entire world, Huff Hall. A pep rally breaks out and my greatest cheerleader for the past 8+ years my incredible friend Dave joins me in the front row and makes the entire crowd keel over in laughter thanks to the assistance of his large microphone.

This dream had some metaphors in it. Just like the ideas of frequency and music we should find people who like to sit in the same part of the theater as we do.  It is most politically correct for me to sit in the front, but I want to surround myself with people who are not embarrassed by me dragging myself to the top row.  Dave has done more fireman carries and other acts of sheer will to help me eat the soup of life then anyone. We all have our cheerleaders and people to sit next to but sometimes it takes patience and a willingness to go about your life pushing forward regardless of the circumstance.

Now it is time to thank my copious amount of supporters.  The first thank you goes out to my guardian angels. I know I have many passed family members and friends who are looking after me as well as my man Brenden Foster as vessels sent to me by the universe.

I would also like to thank the wonderful people at fiftypeopleonequestion.com It has been an honor to get to know Benjamin Reece and I look forward to getting to know the rest of the crew in 2009 and beyond. This blog and my career would not be where it is without your influence.  They are geniuses and their voice needs to be heard by the entire world.

Thanks to Judy Vorfeld, Daryn Kagan and the people at Chicken Soup For the Soul for being the first people to professionally  believe in my writing.  2008 has also been the year of the virtual friend. I have made more connections without actually meeting people then ever before. Thank you our new friendships have been an honor and  a privilege so far.  Facebook continues to amaze me and I am excited with more people joining my group every week.

Thank you to my amazing Lakeshore family, my biological family, and my entire rugby family and  all  the other brothers and sisters I have collected from Lester elementary school, Herrick Middle School, Downers Grove North,  University of Illinois, Northwestern University  Medill IMC, Birmingham and this odd and wonderful dance we call life! 

Even though I failed early and often in 2008 it was the greatest year of my life. This year I realized I 100% control my life. Speed bumps are  a certainty, but that is our chance to prove we really want something.  If anyone ever has a time of challenge, email me at chris.rathje@gmail.com  I will do my best to help. We are all in this together!

Towards the end of 2007 I met a great young director named Jared Goodman.  He asked me what I wanted to accomplish and I told him to get some real momentum going in my life. I knew if I became a more consistent person and believed in myself more I could become a force of nature.   I joked there is earth, fire, wind and Rathje. I know together we can accomplish great things.  I’ve come up with a new analogy.  Lets all get on a rocket train together. Horizontally we can bust through anything that comes, like a freight train, and vertically we’re headed to the top in a way never seen before. 

I’m really excited for 2009! In complete honesty I don’t fully believe in myself yet, but I do fully believe in my ideas. I have to succeed to show the blessings I have been given have merit.  Lets all walk together in faith, belief and love to promote positivity one step at a time.

Thanks to all the faces in the crowd that have been such wonderful support and all those blank faces in my dream that I’ve yet to meet.  We will sit together and make beautiful music with lyrics that anyone can do anything being sung often!

Thanks 2008 it has been a blast.  Hello new friend 2009, the best year yet! 

Thanks for reading!

Chris  

 

The New Question: Where?

The crew at fiftypeopleonequestion.com have posted new work!  The location is Brooklyn and now the question is "If you could wake up anywhere where would it be?"

This question sets the table for us to have a deep look into someone's thoughts through the portal of a simple question.

We see a wide variety of answers that represent contentment, excitement, creativity and even grief.

Since the first time I have seen the video I have had one definite answer but I would also like to go over some alternatives from different sides within in me.

My inner 4 year old wants to wake up wherever wheelchair rugby  is being played in addition to where his friends are so he can be goofy and loud.

My romantic side wants to wake up in a warmer bed then I am used to.  He is eager to see the face of an unknown angel that will change his life.

My creative side wants to wake up in a world where total strangers having a conversation is commonplace.  If people from all over the world could switch roommates every few days think about the better understanding of the world around us we would have!

Now for my main answer I want to wake up wherever I am and in days to come places I dream of.  I wish to recognize the current step in my journey while knowing my dreams are coming true sooner then I can fathom.  I want to wake up in places like New York, London, Hawaii, Buenos Aires and Auckland but in order for that to happen I must be appreciative of the current day and work towards the visions of my mind's eye.

In closing I would like to send major kudos to the woman in the blue scarf for her outside of the box thinking.  Thoughts like that are the catalyst for propelling society to new heights.  

Keep up the great work fiftypeopleonequestion.com!  Food for thought dreams can become thoughts and thoughts can become reality.  Therefore anything is possible if you remember your dreams wherever you wake up!

Sweet Dreams Everyone!

Chris

What could they have asked?

This next entry is dedicated to my grad school classmate Kyle Parker. He made me aware of the online clips that I will discuss in this post. The website is http://fiftypeopleonequestion.com/

The clips can be found at
New Orleans
New York


The concept is simple the same one question asked to 50 people. They did one clip on their answers from New Orleans and one clip on their answers from New York. The question that was asked and the corresponding videos that followed inspired me to write the first three posts of my blog in about nine hours. The question can be considered anything from simple to complex depending on your perspective.

By the end of today what would I wish to happen?

The reason I had such a positive reaction to this idea is because I just finished reading The Success Principles by Jack Canfield and Janet Switzer. The first principle in the book is to take 100% responsibility for your life. The last couple of days I had set up some ideas for my first few blog entries but I felt I had writer's block when it came to actually putting it together. This question reminded me that I have complete control of my life. What did I want to do by the end of the day? I wanted to get my blog rolling!

I know that depending on your perspective that question could fall anywhere on the spectrum between beautiful and easy and gut wrenching and impossible to answer.

If you find yourself too far on either end may I offer some humble advice? First off for those who find it impossible to answer have comfort you are not alone I and many others have been there to. From my experience when I got so overwhelmed by either the activities I had to perform or the uncertainty of what I was supposed to do the best thing to do was to break it down. Breaking it down is just taking a larger goal and chunking it down into smaller parts. If your mind is so full of thoughts and you don't know where to turn next try calming it down. Do a little meditation or say a prayer and your conscience will point you in the right direction.

For those who find it easy I hope their quick response is full of passion and certainty. I hope it is not just an acceptance of the norm. Trust your gut; it knows the difference.

By the end of today what would I wish to happen is a loaded question. That is why I'm addressing it. I would like to comment on some of the responses to the question I saw from the clips. I would like to point out some themes I noticed as well as other observations. Before I dive in I want to make crystal clear that I believe everyone has a right to answer any question however they feel is right and if any of this comes off as judgmental I apologize in advance.

The first theme that was most obvious to me was the reaching out for love and success. I think in a way this kind of the default for human being. I know at 26 I am still striving for love and success so take this with a grain of salt. I’m not sure how to be successful or how to find true love but my gut tells me follow your passion. If you follow your passion logic would say you're going to be a happier person a good amount of time. I also think the goals that are planted in our heart are a roadmap from the universe on what we are supposed to do with our lives.

The next theme I noticed was real human emotion. Both sides of the coin were well represented. I saw real sadness and a real genuine happiness. My answer to both situations is prayer. I pray for those who are sad to find a way to let go and find that silver lining that is out there for all of us if we look hard enough. I also pray for those with big grins on their faces because I hope that they can keep that ability every day for the rest of their life.

I would like to send out another prayer for those whose day consisted of what I like to call the mundane complain. Sometimes days are filled with ordinary tasks but only the individual can determine how they are accomplished. Instead of saying “I just want all my work be done.” As an alternative try “I will accomplish all my goals with ease!” I have faith in the saying if you can believe it you can achieve it.

I felt sad for the lady in the New York clip who is not looking forward to seeing someone at a wedding and was afraid that her answers might become public. It reminded me of a younger version of myself. My advice is be who you are in your heart and never worry about judgment. Saying what you really feel to anyone that asks has a way of attracting what you want into your life.

I hope that everyday you wake up with a wish in your heart for that day because if you do what is necessary to make that wish come true the end result will be a life full of dreams come true.

A big thank you to the great minds behind fiftypeopleonequestion.com

Keep up the great work!

Thanks for reading!
Chris