How long is it since you got genuinely excited about something?
I’m not talking about moderate enthusiasm or slight motivation, no.. I’m talking about overwhelming, bursting-out-of-your-skin, child-like… excitement?
For some of us, it’s years.
I love that feeling of child-like, can’t-wait-to-tell-someone… excitement.
I’ve had it for the last forty eight hours (non-stop) and it’s a great feeling.
Isn’t it a pity that so many of us get to a point where we stop getting excited about things?
Apparently we’re too mature, too intelligent, too responsible and too busy… for excitement.
Or maybe too scared.
Too cynical.
Too pessimistic.
Too self-conscious.
At some stage we replaced our youthful excitement and hope… with logic, self control and the voice of reason (snore).
BORING.
I spoke to a lady recently (who happens to be hating her life) about the possibility of changing her reality and getting passionate and excited about what her future might hold and her response to me was:
“I decided a while ago that it’s much safer and far less painful to not get excited about anything; that way I’m less likely to get disappointed and hurt. My life has taught me to lower my standards, expect very little and be a realist.”
“Wow!!… I’m so glad I don’t live in your life… it sounds crap”, I (thoughtfully) informed her.
Excitement Lesson One:
Excitement doesn’t happen to us; we create it.
When I told her that excitement was something we choose, create and infect others with, she thought I needed professional help.
Some people are excitement machines; they are excited about life, opportunities, the future, challenges.. and what they might create.
They have made that decision (to have that mindset).
When we get excited (passionate, driven, motivated, proactive), we start to create amazing results.
We start to do, think, be and create… different.
Excitement produces results.
Want results?… get excited.
Simple.
Lesson Two:
Successful people get excited regularly (on purpose).
And when they get excited, so do others.. because excitement is contagious.
People wanna hang out with people who get excited about possibilities, potential… and life.
People who are excited (not to be confused with hyperactive, annoying and socially inappropriate – you know who I mean) are cool to be around because they are positive, fun and attractive (that is, their energy attracts people).
Excitement creates momentum.
Excitement changes situations, circumstances and environments.
Excitement affects others… as does a crappy attitude and negativity.
This week I have been very excited.
Very.
Canya tell?
I know when I’m reaaaaally excited about something because :
(1) I think about it all the time.
(2) I plan, I research, I write, I visualise.
(3) I drive people nuts talking about it.
(4) I’m more productive and proactive.
(5) My mind is busy, busy, busy.. with possibilities.
(6) I’m happier.
For years I have had a picture in my mind of a property I wanted to own and a business I wanted to develop and run from that property.
Here’s my picture:
(I’ve never shared this publicly so don’t tell anyone, it’s our secret)
The property is about fifty acres in area (huge).
It has creek running through it.
It is a wilderness setting with most of the property uncleared (of trees).
It has a beautiful old-style home (for me) and accommodation (huts, cabins) for about fifty people.
It has all the facilities and resources (commercial kitchen, lecture theatre, meeting rooms, etc.) for me to be able to run workshops, seminars and live-in personal and professional development programs.
It is located at the end of a windy dirt road and it is totally private, exclusive and serene.
It is near the coast.
The air is so pure it burns my city-slicker lungs and hurts my smog-conditioned eyes.
You already know what I’m gonna say don’t you?
No.. I haven’t purchased anything, but…
I have been investigating properties seriously for a while now and two days ago (at 12.30am after four hours of researching) I found my dream property.
It ticks every box.
Exactly.
It is set at the base of a mountain, it borders a national forest, it is twenty minutes from the coast, it has everything I want, even the creek… complete with fish.
If I was to build my dream from scratch, this is what I would have built.
I have only seen electronic brochures and spoken to the agents (three times) but everything I’ve heard and seen is very positive.
Exciting even.
I am off to see it in the flesh next Monday morning (it’s a few hours each way to drive).
I’m counting the sleeps.
Think of something that excites you… and then multiply it by ten… and that’s me right now.
I love excitement.
I love possibilities.
I love exploring, pushing, discovering and creating.
I dunno what’s gonna happen next Monday but I do know I love this feeling.
So glad I haven’t grown up yet.
Waddabout you?
When are you gonna get excited about something?
Anything?
Maybe sometimes… you could stop being so careful and sensible… and ‘the same’?
I dare you.
Double dare you.
And if you’re very good, I might let you come and visit it me on my new property… and possibly let you ride my big-ass mower.
Or not.
{ 38 comments… read them below or add one }
It has the huts and the kitchen and theatre and everything? Or you’re going to have to build some of that?
Either way, I’m excited for you! But I’ll take a raincheck on the mower and grab a fishing line instead, if that’s cool.
I have an idea myself – a small dream. And I can make it happen with just a little effort and work, so I’m setting sail on a little adventure..
Tonight I watched Escape from Alcatraz on Austar and got to thinking about how motivated those guys were to get out of that jail. If everyone had a small chunk of their kind of motivation, imagine how much better this world could be!
Snoskred
http://www.snoskred.org/
Cooooolll!!!!
Is there a slow combustion stove in the kitchen?
Wow !! Now ya got me all excited ! Sounds fantastic… hope it works out perfectly for you… I’ll be ready and waiting for the invitation !
Tina
Guess what Craig! I am excited… I love when dreams come true, or even if they come close enough to smell them. I know your mind is racing past your list now, like what kind of outdoor workshops could occur with a mountain backdrop, and bonfires at night and oops! Sorry, I just stepped in with both feet, see it is contagious. Definitely keep us posted. I want to be a guest or even a “ranch hand”. I’ll fish and drive the mower, besides… I think a tractor’s sexy. Or is that a song? Tomatoes, tomAtoes… wow! That phase loses something in written communication, hmmmm… no matter! 6 days Craig! You really have to post a pic if you decide the land is dreamworthy! I am in Alabama and I am sending good vibrations and tons of excitment your way! Dream on!
We’re both just big kids! I’m so excited right now, I have my first driving lesson on Saturday. I’m a ball of nervous excitement!
The place sounds really lovely Craig. I hope everything goes through ok. I’m packing my bags in anticipation
P.S. I showed your blog to my boyfriend, he thought it was very funny
Hey Snoskred.
Dude… it’s all there!!
Yes you can fish.. as long as you help me around the ranch!
We can do ‘man stuff’ together.
Now get working on YOUR dream.
Peace.
Hi Janine.
Er.. dunno.
Is that a pre-requisite for you being the cook?
( )
Hi Tina.
There’s a bunch of beds.. you’re welcome.
Hope you’ve got some skills… you’ll have to earn your keep!!
Cheers.
Hi Tami.
Thanks for the good vibrations.
Bonfires at night.. now I’m more excited!!
You sound like you might make a good ranch hand… you may have to fight me for the mower though!
See you at the ranch Tami.
Hi Clare.
Driving lessons.. cool!
Getting my license was one of ‘those’ days in my life (a boy thing) .. you’ll dig it; it’s so much fun.
Those cabins are filling fast… but we’ll save you a spot!!
Hope you’re skilled!
See ya.
Wow, Craig, that is indeed exciting and excitement is indeed contagious cuz now I’m excited too!
If you have the money and you have the dream, you should give it serious thoughts (I didn’t say just do it without thinking about it). But if it’s something you know you’d regret later if you didn’t do it, then totally give it serious thoughts to verify that! =)
Good luck. If this does happen, it would be a spot that I’ll definitely visit if I get to visit Australia sometime in the future.
Hi Kelvin.
Waddayamean.. IF.. you come to Australia?
Dude, it’s WHEN… you come.
How can I start my crazy-ass cult without Kelvin from LA?
Later.
Hey Big Fella,
Great post…..I have been through some trauma lately, as you know, but I still get really excited about things, life, the future possibilities….I sometimes wonder if it is normal to be like this but I am not about to change as life is too short!
I too am genuinly excited about a current project I am looking at and cannot stop thinking and talking about it…your post has just heightened that excitement (if possible)….thanks for the adrenaline rush!!
Hello Champion (Darrell).
Hope you’re well Mate.
Don’t change.
Stay excited.
( )
ah craig dreams DO come true! mine is sitting in my front yard, our 12m timber yacht that is only 6 months away from going in the water, after 12 months of building by LOML and me.
hope yours comes true, mine is!
take care gorgeous man
julie hobart tasmania
Craig,
The kitchen has always been the gathering place in our home from when I was young . The best times were always had in the kitchen with lots of family , friends and a lot of laughter. We rarely used the loungeroom when we had visitors and the combustion stove adds to that atmosphere especially in the country on cold days and it is winter…..
I did learn to cook on and in a combustion stove ( warming oven was used to regain feeling in feet on particularly cold mornings….but that is another story) and things do taste better from wood ovens but I can cook on others….
Hope your find is all you want it to be …
Cheers
Janine
Hi Julie.
Can you sail that bad boy over and visit me?
12 metres is a big-ass yacht!
How yer gonna get it out of there?
Doh!!
Hi Janine.
That’s it; I’m getting a combustion stove!
Now… if only I had friends to gather around it…
( )
Hello Craig!
This post came just in time for me! I am generally a person full of excitement, but recently I haven’t been myself – because of the reasons stated by the lady you described in the beginning of your story – excitement hurts when something you get so excited about does not turn out the way you wanted it – imagine that finest property you finally found in reality will be far from your dream and colorful prospects. When something like this hits me really hard (and the strength of it is usually directly-proportional the level of excitement) and I get really hurt about something I was so excited about I, for a while, turn into that very cautious person who once burned by hot milk is blowing on cold water.
How do you sort out these consequences of true and overwhelming excitement?
Thanks, Olga.
Craig,Craig,Craig…..I know you are an only child and all…. and you did write an article that suggests an arms length is as close as you get ( except when hugging of course) but I think you would have enough friends to have to squish them at the table….no arguing or I will be having a serious word when I get back to training !!!! Scared yet…lol.
Craig,
I’m excited!
I joined the local performing arts society earlier in the year. It was something that I had always wanted to do but didn’t have the guts (or possibly the talent)to actually do. Our play opened last weekend and finishes this weekend and I have had the best fun being involved in it. My daughter has been doing it with me and it is great to have someone to share it with. The writer will be at Saturday’s performance so that is a bit nerve wracking but exciting at the same time.
Thanks for encouraging me !!
Wendy from Kilmore
Hi Craig,
Another fantastic post. I love hearing about peoples dreams slowly coming true. Your place sounds wonderful! I am a very excited person myself and my partner thinks I’m crazy because of it! I don’t stop being excited though. Being excited gives me the motivation to keep working towards my goals. Being excited about the little things in life is great too. We live in such an opportunistic country. We have so many valuable resources. I get sick of listening to people who have the “Woe is me” outlook on life or the ” i got delt the sh*t cards attitude”. Get excited we live in a free country.
By the way it is Louise here Nadine’s sister. I have been checking out your site for a long time now. On Saturday Nadine came round to visit and I was showing her your site. She loved it! She suggested that we both write a request for the same topic in the hope for a reply as it is something that concerns us both.
We are both very busy women and find it difficult to create a balance in our lives. Sometimes we neglect those who we love most, perhaps you could say we take them for granted and just expect that they will be there at the end of everyday to love support us and pick up the pieces. We have made a decision to make a concious effort to spend quality time with our partners more often. To get out of the house and away from the TV, the washing, the cooking, the computer and other distracting elements. Our focus it to really enjoy the time with our partners and appreciate all they do for us. I am treating my partner to a fishing trip. I know he will love it!!
Have a great day!
Louise RINGWOOD
Hi Olga.
It’s tough, but part of succeeding and creating ‘amazing’ is dealing with the disappointment and the hurdles.
Whenever we have a struggle (problem, challenge) we need to find the good, find the lesson.. There’s always a lesson and always some good that can come out of even the worst situation… depends how we look at things.
Stay positive and keep getting excited.. even though it’s painful sometimes…
Peace.
Yes Janine… I’m scared.
Hi Wendy.
Good for you; well done.
Keep performing, keep having fun, keep getting excited and keep me posted..
( )
Hi Lousie.
Glad you and Nadine are enjoying the site.. keep visiting!
Your bloke sounds like a lucky man.. not too many girls (that I know) would organise a fishing trip.. are you going?… ’cause THAT would be love!!
Peace…
Hey craig – Getting excited about things is something I had to learn. Obviously its natural to get excited and we all do at times. We all bubble over with it a time or two… some of us daily but some of us like myself have to cultivate it more because of a more analytical/serious nature.
It never hurts anyone to show your excitement and right now I’m really excited about a lot of things including co-authoring a book in the near future!
Tim Draayer
Live Your Best Life
Hey Tim.
Good for you buddy… let me know when your book is done and I’ll give it a plug for you..
Cheers… and keep writing.
Hi,
You’re infectious and that’s great! It’s wonderful to be passionate and excited about something, even just one thing. It’s almost not worth living otherwise.
Best wishes and continued excitement.
I found you through Tim Draayer’s blog. I have posted some of my own thoughts on my blog.
Hi Harveendhesi.
Is infectious kinda like contagious!!?
Peace.
Hi G’s Cottage… checked out your site.. nice work. Keep up the writing..
Best Wishes.
Im excited to read this craig as I was last nite when I saw your show for the first time. I can visualise this property of yours and share a similair goal but in a longer time frame. May the energy be there for you on Monday!
This post is exciting I am so glad I came across this blog. For the past 2 days I’ve been feeling a little blah. I’m feeling pumped up and excited about the many possibilities thanks for the kick in the butt and reminder its ok to be excited in fact its good! Grown ups tend to forget that lol (I guess as an effort to not get our hopes up, but we should get our hopes up and expect our hopes be fulfilled)
Hi Faith.
Love your name.
Thanks for your wishes.
Stay tuned.
Peace.
Hi Marenda.biz.
Happy to kick you in the butt any time.
Cheers.
Craig, great article. We all need to be reminded sometimes that it is ok to be childlike and play. I wrote an article a short time ago about a poem that I wrote back in 1990 about reclaiming my childlike wonder and realizing that she was my center of creativity. You can read my article at http://patriciasingleton.blogspot.com/2007/06/keeper-of-my-creativity.html . I love your articles and your excitement for life. Your property sounds wonderful.
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