"...I decided to stay, be curious and see what I would learn. I wasn't aware how important that life changing decision was for me and the positive impact it would have on my life."

John Potts - November 1986 Grad

I periodically flashback to my situation in life in 1986 when I tentatively walked through the doors of the Wings Seminars building feeling scared and nervous, clearly questioning why I had signed up for a personal growth seminar that lasted four and half days. I remember how Snoopy sat on top of his doghouse, typewriter at hand, tapping out "It was a dark and gloomy night." This scenario appeared that way to me as it was a typical gray, dreary late afternoon November day. The PES started on Wednesdays in the afternoon; my state of being and weather were in alignment as I was diving into the unknown realm of personal growth.

As the evening unfolded and our group intensely grappled with the seminar agreements, of which there were many, I experienced my usual reaction to being told what to do by an authority figure: RESISTANCE. I was again reminded of my time in basic training in the Air Force and thought "I've been there and done that before" and almost left the seminar stewing in my frustration and anger. As I started to breathe again and calm down I decided to stay, be curious and see what I would learn. I wasn't aware how important that life changing decision was for me and the positive impact it would have on my life.

I was on my journey. I quickly moved into the CrossOver seminar and explored on a deeper level my resistance and how I disappear and hide. During the seminar I worked on my contract with a confusing, half hearted effort. I believed Bev Foster spoon fed me my contract and it was just a string of words that carried little meaning at the time, and, it was short! I thought most other contracts I heard were so eloquent and meaningful.

Good news did show up! Over time, as I embraced my contract and actually lived it, the meaning of that 'short' contract deepened and expanded to so much more than the actual words. As I explore myself on a deeper level I continually expand my comfort zone and grow more into my contract. The beauty of all of this, in my opinion, is that there is always something more to learn, to do and to become as I continue my journey as a life long learner. Yes, I will still have distractions, challenges and difficult decisions to make, and I believe I have the skill and resourcefulness to handle them in a way that can create win-win situations.

My self discovery during the PES, claiming of a lifelong contract in CrossOver, creation of a clear vision in LifeWorks and year long commitments to the leadership intern program have been so incredibly rich in my life and assisted me to expand myself beyond what I believed back in those dark and gloomy days of November 1986. I think my life has somewhat mirrored what I believe Wings has experienced over the years; an ongoing evolution of doing new things, learning from what may not have worked out, strengthening and fine tuning what works well, standing strong in our commitment to our values, and being in loving service. Now I remember Snoopy, ears flapping in the breeze, as he jumps joyfully in the air.

“I am Alive and at Peace with Myself.”
- John Potts