I’m not a Star Trek fan… I don’t know how, but I missed it all when I was younger and know absolutely nothing about it now… except the “beam me up Scotty” message… This (apparently misquoted-pop-culture) phrase came to mind when I was reading an article about an Australian business…
I don’t do promotions on this site – there’s no ads and I don’t endorse any brands or products… BUT – I do want to mention one, not as a promotion, but as a concept that appeals.
According to a MSN article (here), a husband and father in Melbourne was getting in trouble from his wife for spending too much time and money on his Lego collection. So, what did he do? He tried to figure out a business he could invent that would allow him to claim his Lego creations as business essentials and tax-write-offs.
Mr Lee put a tiny little light into a barber’s pole in a detective’s setting… and had a light bulb moment of his own… and Light My Bricks was born, and has since grown and grown and grown…
Here’s the Notre-Dame Cathedral set all lit up from inside and outside… Quasimodo would be proud!
The lights are not cheap, and as I said, I’m not promoting products here, but what I did love about the concept, was not just the cheeky way he went about finding a way around his dilemma, but also how he has since been advocating a philosophy he refers to as “create away” – be bold, be brave, have a go…
“My advice is don’t look for validation”, Mr Lee says, “lean into what is unique, because the more unique it is, the better it is.”
What does this have to do with migraines and chronic pain?
Well, I have always been a Lego fan… I sometimes think it was my childhood with Lego that led me to be an architect… BUT (I’m all butts today) it’s also because I think highly of the “create away” attitude Mr Lee is endorsing – not in terms of entrepreneurial skills… but healing.
I have mentioned the importance of art-and-craft-therapy, and how much of a difference it has made to my healing journey… there is something very distracting, almost meditative, about doing a simple task over and over. (Big Lego kits might not be migraine-friendly to be honest, but I have been known to free-play with Lego in more recent times.)
More importantly, there is something about the notion of “lighting something up” that gives me great hope – what, I wondered, could I do that would light me up – how could I turn an apparent deficit into a win?
My blog comes to mind – it turns my pain into my passion – writing, and reading your comments, regularly lifts me higher and lights me up!
What about you?
Without having to worry about setting up a business, what is something that you really love that you could focus your attention on? If time and money were no barrier, what would you create, any way you want?
How could you turn your pain into a passion?
Stay curious – keep going, keep growing – keep glowing!
Take care, taking care, Linda x
PS – more and more these days, life is throwing me serendipitous moments of alignment… and today is no different. I found out that Lego JUST launched a collaboration with the Sunflower initiative for hidden disabilities (read more about my experience with the sunflower here) and more about Lego’s great participation here: Hidden Disability Sunflower – About Us – LEGO.com
Don’t forget – when you feel a little lonely, you’re not alone… even Lego recognizes that there are millions of us with hidden disabilities!
The Mindful Migraine 
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