Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Ivan Blades - Artist - Adventurer - Focused In The Moment

Ivan Blades - Artist - Adventurer


I have a friend I've never met face to face, but I know in my heart of hearts he is a good, kind, very intelligent, courageous, creative, and a talented human being. I am of the opinion that to be this kind of person it takes the heart of an adventurer, who has a vision quest to become a better human being.

The only way I think an individual walks this road, is to be willing to take risks in order to grow,  increasing  confidence, and then becoming ready to embark upon adventure.

I greatly admire people like my friend Ivan, who have a deep desire to push the limits of personal growth, in pursuit of the adventures in life, that result in transformation. It truly is a beautiful thing.

Ivan is presently in Spain walking the road  "The Camino de Santiago, also known by the English names Way of St. James, St. James's Way, St. James's Path, St. James's Trail, Route of Santiago de Compostela, and Road to Santiago, is the name of any of the pilgrimage routes (most commonly the Camino FrancĂ©s or French route) to the shrine of the apostle St. James the Great in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain, where tradition has it that the remains of the saint are buried. Many take up this route as a form of spiritual path or retreat, for their spiritual growth."
                                                                                                      -Wikipedia

I know his feet are very sore and tired. I wish him God speed, healed feet, and safe journey, one step at a time, one moment at a time.

" Staying focused and in the moment takes courage and practice. "
                                                                    -Ivan Blades

The Adventurous personality style according to Dr. John M. Oldham
  1. Nonconformity. Men and women who have the Adventurous personality style live by their own internal code of values. They are not strongly influenced by other people or by the norms of society.

  2. Challenge. To live is to dare. Adventurers love the thrill of risk and routinely engage in high-risk activities.

  3. Mutual independence. They do not worry too much about others, for they expect each human being to be responsible for him- or herself.

  4. Persuasiveness. They are silver-tongued, gifted in the gentle art of winning friends and influencing people.

  5. Wanderlust. They love to keep moving. They settle down only to have the urge to pick up and go, explore, move out, move on. They do not worry about finding work, and live well by their talents, skills, ingenuity, and wits.

  6. Wild oats. In their childhood and adolescence, people with the Adventurous personality style were usually high-spirited hell-raisers and mischief makers.

  7. True grit. They are courageous, physically bold, and tough. They will stand up to anyone who dares to take advantage of them.

  8. No regrets. Adventurers live in the present. They do not feel guilty about the past or anxious about the future. Life is meant to be experienced now.

O You Who've Gone On Pilgrimage
O you who've gone on pilgrimage -
              where are you, where, oh where?
Here, here is the Beloved!
              Oh come now, come, oh come!
Your friend, he is your neighbor,
             he is next to your wall -
You, erring in the desert -
              what air of love is this?
If you'd see the Beloved's
              form without any form -
You are the house, the master,
              You are the Kaaba, you! . . .
Where is a bunch of roses,
              if you would be this garden?
Where, one soul's pearly essence
              when you're the Sea of God?
That's true - and yet your troubles
              may turn to treasures rich -
How sad that you yourself veil
              the treasure that is yours!




Oh, if a tree could wander
     and move with foot and wings!
It would not suffer the axe blows
     and not the pain of saws!
For would the sun not wander
     away in every night ?
How could at every morning
     the world be lighted up?
And if the ocean's water
     would not rise to the sky,
How would the plants be quickened
     by streams and gentle rain?
The drop that left its homeland,
     the sea, and then returned ?
It found an oyster waiting
     and grew into a pearl.
Did Yusaf not leave his father,
     in grief and tears and despair?
Did he not, by such a journey,
     gain kingdom and fortune wide?
Did not the Prophet travel
     to far Medina, friend?
And there he found a new kingdom
     and ruled a hundred lands.
You lack a foot to travel?
     Then journey into yourself!
And like a mine of rubies
     receive the sunbeams? print!
Out of yourself ? such a journey
     will lead you to your self,
It leads to transformation
     of dust into pure gold!
                      Rumi - " I Am Wind You Are Fire "

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