My teenage son hung a poster on his wall... "Life is a daring adventure or nothing," Helen Keller's bold words were emblazoned atop a crashing wave. The attic treasure he discovered had influenced me since my teen years. I asked him what he thought of Helen Keller. "Who?" His contorted eyebrows confessed a lack of recognition of the woman who had coined the phrase.
How often do we grasp a surface knowledge of a topic, task, program, project, relationship, image or words? How do we face others who we want to grasp more from certain words or images? Most likely, we'll never know the answer to these questions... unless we re-view things.
In our roles as leaders, managers, fathers, mothers, or neighbors at ...what are the words and images that inspire you? Are you returning and revisiting these? Is there a level of understanding remaining to be gained? How will you know unless you re-consider them?
Helen Keller rose to being the first blind/deaf person to attain a BA and eventually became a noted
American author,
political activist and
lecturer. Born days before the 4th of July, her life and words continue to inspire a world of folks to circle themselves with good influences, and hold the right attitude and perspective as they grapple with life's challenges.
I stripped Helen Keller's words from my son's wall eighteen years ago for his lack of awareness of the greatness behind the legend who voiced them. As I re-visit that day, I recognize that I can't return to that decision and action, however, I can re-view and react in a new way. And, today I believe, it doesn't matter if he can't give me a report on Helen Keller as long as he is inspired by the few words or seeks to gain the greater level of meaning in them. He deserves the chance to re-view them. So, I'm placing the tattered poster into an envelop to send off to my son because he is a man of honor. He grapples with the realities that challenge any responsible young man serving a beloved wife and three young children while also serving America's interests in Iraq. He is living his desired daring adventure.
In simple or complicated thoughts and deeds...we have the opportunity to re-view... our perspectives. While a surface knowledge of anything has usefulness, it's in the reviewing of things where we gain renewed and greater benefits. Gaining perspective in all aspects of life is today's daring adventure for me.
By Teresa Newton-Terres
PS: When you consider the WARP Speed Map, notice the rolling wave image which is to remind you to stop and take time to review your project work to determine how to move forward. Check in the next P-TNT Perspective for more about the wisdom of the 'Rolling Wave to Planning'.
So what is 
