Nobody Gets To Watch The Parade

"Most great adventures work that way. You don't plan them, you don't wait to get all the details right, you just do them."  ~Bob Goff

I love Bob Goff.  You know this from my raving about his book, Love Does.  Seriously, this guy is a genius and I wish there was some way that I could move to California and pitch a tent in his front yard and just follow him around every day.  No, seriously.  I do.

So imagine my delight when I was reading a book last week, and it turns out that the author is friends with Bob Goff.  Even better, dude told stories about Bob Goff.  (I could have just said Bob there, but I think there are some people who just have to be addressed by both names.  George Strait.  Michael Jordan.  John Lucas.  Bob Goff.)

The one that stuck with me was the story of Bob Goff and his kids starting a New Year's Day tradition of a neighborhood parade.  Bob Goff's kids were bored one New Year's Day, and Bob Goff relaied that it was probably the most boring day of the year.  So he asked the kids what they might like to do.  One suggested a parade.  And, becuase Bob Goff is the most awesome person on the planet, a parade it was.  Bob Goff's kids went door to door to invite the neighbors to join in the parade and end up in the Goff's yard for a picnic.  That's how it started.  And now, it's an annual tradition. Involving over 400 people. Some neighbors who have moved away plan vacations back just to be part of the parade. See why I want to pitch my tent in this dude's yard?

Now, there was only one rule about the parade.  Nobody gets to watch.  That's right, no spectators allowed.  Why?  Because Bob Goff says that it's more fun to be in a parade than to sit by and watch the parade.

Well, isn't that a metaphor for life?  It's more fun to be in the parade than watching.  There should be no spectators.  Instead of lining up and watching other people do things--have fun, make a difference, chase their dreams, dance like a crazy person, fall in love--we should be right there in the middle of the parade with everyone else.  Sure, it's easier to be a spectator.  It's not scary, there's no risk, you don't have the chance of failure or getting hurt or getting laughed at.  But we were created to live, not to spectate.  We were created to be out there marching in the parade.  And hopefully wearing a funny hat and carrying balloons.