The running trail I was on is primarily made up of dirt and grass surfaces, but there are also some tricky bits where it turns into gravel or pavement. It's mainly flat, but a few steep inclines every so often help to keep your heart rate up. I'm cruising merrily along to my favorite tunes when I get my first glance of the man. Actually, I see his dog first who is about thirty or so meters out in front and then I see him. The man has on running attire and the appropriate shoes, but he's not running. He's walking at a fairly fast pace with crutches. It's not until I’m just a few feet away from him that I realize he only has one leg. As I ran past him, the above quote came to mind and I couldn't help but turn my head around to watch him continue on the trail. It wasn't long before I stopped, turned off my music and considered what I just saw and what effect it was having on me.

Here's a man with one leg who's not letting the fact that he has one less limb prevent him from exercising and going for a walk with his dog. Here's me, a woman with two legs and plenty of time to exercise who doesn't run as much as she'd like and who tends to complain about the way her 39 year-old body looks these days. "You're taking up too much space," is the gruff voice I hear inside my head. What? "You're not living on the edge of what you know is possible," the voice says more gently and that's when I got it. "The Edge" isn't the precipice from which we can fall off of. It's that place inside of each of us that represents our greatest potential, our core being if you will and only we can define and know what that edge is for ourselves.

What if you don't know where your greatest potential lies? What if your core being is something you're just now beginning to understand? "The Edge" can be found in many areas of your life. Here are a few to take a look at and some questions to consider:

5 Places to Explore Your Edge

1) People - Are your relationships with others satisfying and enjoyable? Do you like spending time with family and friends? Are you able to be completely authentic with the people who are in your life?

2) Passion - What brings you the most pleasure in your life? Do you spend time doing things you really love? Do you know what you really want and what's the next step you want to take to have it?

3) Purpose - Do you like what you do for a living? Does the work you do give you a sense of pride and accomplishment? Do you feel your work makes best use of your talents, skills and gifts?

4) Physical wellbeing - Are you in your ideal state of health and fitness? Do you take care of your body through exercise and good nutrition? How do you feel about the way you look and feel?

5) Participation - Are you a part of something greater than yourself? Do you contribute your time, energy or money to a cause or an organization you believe in? Is it important for you to be of service and feel like you're making a difference?

Perhaps the best question to ask ourselves is this one...Are we living our lives as full as we possibly can or have we settled for something less than what we really want? Do we fill our days with what brings us joy, growth and self-satisfaction or do we complain about the circumstances of our lives, find others to commiserate with and then make no effort to change what's no longer working? Is it possible that our complaints, grievances and self-criticisms might be taking up too much space in our heads that there's no room left to remember what it's like to live on the edge of all our greatness? If we take a good look within and are honest with ourselves, we're usually quite aware of when we're happy and when we're hungry for more.

I'm all for being comfortable and content and I also know (just like you know for yourself) when I'm selling myself short. For example, I want to write a book. I know I'm a good writer and I know it's going to take writing something every day in order to make it happen. So on the days I don't write, when I'm not living on that edge of my creative expression and passion, I know I'm taking up too much space elsewhere. Living on the edge isn't about constantly striving to get something. It's about following your bliss and engaging in what makes you thrive everyday.

While I watched that one-legged man walk away, something deep inside me was re-awakened. It wasn't about not exercising as much as I'd like to. It was about empowering myself to live on the edge of those things that bring challenge and meaning to my life. You know what's challenging and meaningful to you. The hidden image within the picture doesn't have to remain hidden. When you live on the edge, you'll find you have as much space as you need.

One of the calls I've been avoiding and will be answering when I get home is redefining what exactly "my work" is. I know I'm a writer and I know I'm a facilitator and yet there's something else that has been whispering in my ear for a good eight months now and I know it's time to stop ignoring it. It's about time to explore that edge. It's not so much what I do, but how I do it and who I do it with that needs further addressing. I'll let you know more about this call very soon.

Last Monday, I had an early Valentine's Day gift. When I opened up my weekly email from Monday9am, I discovered that the film of the week starred yours truly. It was a wonderful surprise to be featured again on Nic's site. He is a creative and brilliant man whose inspiring films have touched thousands of lives, mine most certainly included. When Nic and I met and made the film back in October 2006, he had no idea (and I didn't know it at that time either) he was giving me a gift of profound significance.

The Girl Who Looked into the Mirror is not just a film about a part of my life that has been both painful and passionate, but it's the book of the same name that I'm writing now. As a result of the film making another appearance, I've had the honor and pleasure of connecting with people from around the world who have seen the film. Thank you for getting in touch with me and thank you to those who have recently subscribed to this newsletter. The film is truly a gift that continues to keep on giving. Those really are the best kind of gifts to give. I love that.

Care to share what these questions stir up in you?

Send me an e-mail. I welcome your thoughts and will respond to all e-mails received.

~Playful Spirit Productions' mission is to inspire people to show up, be real and play big in life.~