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How I Found Inspiration in a Door Frame

Inspiration and doors

I had a thought today that sent shivers down my body. It came seemingly from nowhere, only moments after I had woken up from a nap on the couch. I walked into my bedroom and boom it came to me. The doorway.

Thoughts on doorways and life

I walked through the doorway and thought about how I have heard the way the door frame is used as a metaphor for open opportunities. You know many quotes about doors, I’m sure, but here are a few for you, just as examples:

“When one door closes, another door opens.” (Alexander Graham Bell)

“The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live.” (Flora Whittemore)

And then here is the boom that came to me. Doorways are limited. They have frames. Physical frames, usually of wood or steel, fill the sides and top of the opening. They’re made large enough for most people to be able to walk through and they are sturdy. Some people are so tall that they need to bend down a bit to get through it.

Limits, yes

Here’s my point though – they are limited. Doors are opportunities, yes, but they have frames that limit their size. We walk through them, yes, but we can walk through so many more opportunities when we stop limiting ourselves to frames on doors.

Instead, let’s eliminate those frames and just make it so that we walk through spaces, open spaces. Yes, this blog is a source of female encouragement, but this concept applies to women and men of all ages. Let’s keep us open rather than having boundaries.

Why limit what we can achieve in life? Even if you have never attended college, had a job that pays more than minimum wage or owned a home, you can still achieve what you want in life. Dream. Take away the boundaries of the doors to your mind. Replace them with open spaces through which you can walk and rise.

Take away the boundaries

Say to yourself, “I will rise. I will seek. I will do.” Remember, no limits. None. You can do so much when you stop limiting what you believe you can achieve.

Let’s take life and make it all that it can be! Are you with me?

Looking for more inspiration? Check out this spotlight on the incredible Harriet Tubman.

 

Photo Source: Hartwig HKD, CC BY-ND 4.0, via Flickr

30 thoughts on “How I Found Inspiration in a Door Frame”

  1. Lovely post, Christy, full of inspiration and encouragement for everyone. Your analogy was perfect and “no limits” is something we need to keep in fine view…thank you! Hugs!

  2. I love how you took the doorframe and spun it into a metaphor. I agree Christy, we have to push through as though there are no boundaries or we can tend to become procrastinators for all of our endeavours. We all need to reach forward as though there are no boundaries and if there are, reach past them. :)

    1. I think if we keep pushing forward, Deb, we can overcome so much. It’s a mind over matter sort of thing. I’m so glad you liked the post xo

  3. *peeks over the wall*
    Shhh, once was whispered
    but alas it appears a sound will sound

    my confusional tendencies does has found a playmate…

    hint: it does never come from “nowhere”
    “Don’t Wake Me Up” – Cranes <–youtube that for a lead

    Carry on then/than

  4. Doors have always been a powerful symbol for me, whether in dreams or prayers. This post really rang home for me, and opened my eyes to the limits we unknowingly set for ourselves. Here’s to dismantling those frames and walking through those wide open spaces! Thanks for the inspiration!

  5. Wow! You make a great motivational speaker Christy! I’m with you, no limits, no boundaries, just open space, open mind, open thought. Super great post! You just tore your door frames completely down today and are open to endless possibilities :)

    1. Thank you, Syl! Your comment gives me additional strength, more smiles and the feeling of belonging. HUGS!

  6. Christy, this is a wonderful and inspiring post. Some people view a door as an obstacle to opportunity. I love that you showed it as an opening, where one passes through and the opportunities are there. Thanks for sharing.

  7. Doors are symbolic because they are like “blind” boundaries. They lack the glass (most of them do anyway) that windows have, through which we see something at least. Yet, there is the thrill of what will one find when opening them. It is that aperture to the physical, social world, the being “outside”. How many doors will I open, as opposed to how many the world will because I had the right key, or a bunch set of keys to try to open one in particular, when other doors that surround me also wait for that one trial. Great post, Christy!

    1. Maria, Your analogy of the lack of glass of windows is an amazing one! Thank you for sharing that point here. I always welcome your commentary and deep way of thinking about the issues. You add value to the posts!

  8. Toast to you and this beautiful post Christy… I really enjoyed the analogy between doors and opportunities… And I think (as I believe I once told you) that relationships are also doors (or bridges, maybe both)… Keeping doors open is the best decision we can take… As those doors are mechanisms to travel somehow, but mostly to move on, and therefore to learn… BOOM teacher!…
    The frames on the doors.. That’s a good one too… I am lucky I am not that tall though… It is good to forget frames from time to time.. Even more if they act as constraints… But having a general shape is vital too… Knowing limits help us know when we can go beyond them. Frames are useful then… To give a clear sense, to select among categories (of acts) to define ourselves too as we define our world…Also to find the latch (as I am now following your previous allegory. :)
    Congrats for this truly well penned post. Thanks for sharing!
    Many hugs, Aquileana :D

    1. Aqui,
      Your comment here is wonderful. So true that frames can provide boundaries that truly are necessary to keep an orderly society. I’m glad you added that valuable point!

      I appreciate that you and I have openness and that we can find ways to smile, hug and laugh even on the more difficult days. Many hugs, for always. xo

    2. WOW! What a great post. I can’t wait to show this article to someone. He THINKS, because he is a certain age there is little he can do to reach his desires. But age, like your door, can’t keep one “boxed in”, if they don’t let it.

    3. Christy Birmingham

      Hi Mary, I am honored you intend to share the post. The restrictions are all in the mind, indeed.

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