<p id="96be" class="graf--p graf-after--h3">Originally Published on <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" href="http://www.amyoes.com/" rel="nofollow" data-href="http://www.amyoes.com"><em class="markup--em markup--p-em">amyoes.com</em></a></p>
<p id="335e" class="graf--p graf-after--p">It’s been quite a full year for me. I’m a few months away from being a “thirty-something”, I’ve married, divorced, I’m finishing my college career, and I’ve officially closed the door <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jK8ZM00ESWI" rel="nofollow" data-href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jK8ZM00ESWI">on a decade of medical hurdles</a>. I’ve also taught school, performed my one-woman show all over the country for four years, sell my art, and got my official “art training” stuck in hospitals, and have an insatiable yearning to make my mark on the world.</p>

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<p id="3753" class="graf--p graf-after--figure">It’s become more important to me as I move out of medical crises and back into the world of health, to not give up on my dreams and to refine my passion into a living, a career, my own personal way to change the world.</p>
<p id="ce4d" class="graf--p graf-after--p">Every day is an opportunity for growth, change and discovery, and with every year of my 29 years on this earth, I’ve learned lessons about what it really takes to <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" href="http://missmillmag.com/millennial-mindset/millennial-mindset-making-things-happen/" rel="nofollow" data-href="http://missmillmag.com/millennial-mindset/millennial-mindset-making-things-happen/">make a difference in the world</a> by doing what I love.</p>
<p id="c5f2" class="graf--p graf-after--p">Giving a TEDx Talk was an amazing experience. Leaving that stage, I realized the many “flowers” from my “detours.” In fact, I was able to find the distance to stand away from the rush of th past (narly) thirty years, and find a “flower” from each unexpctd twist in my path.</p>
<p id="3b97" class="graf--p graf-after--p">In honor of TED — ideas worth spreading — and in honor of detours — paths that spread in uncontrollable directions — here are 30 flowers from 30 detours…or 30 lessons about life I learned from my <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" href="http://www.amyoes.com/tedx" rel="nofollow" data-href="http://www.amyoes.com/tedx"><strong class="markup--strong markup--p-strong">TEDx Talk: Follow Your Road, Find Your Flower</strong></a>…Part One!</p>

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<p id="8bc6" class="graf--p graf-after--figure">1. Everything is connected — people, places, events. Every encounter in life is a bridge to a new opportunity, even the opportunity is in disguise.
2. Start with a single step. The tiniest micro-movement can cause ripples that extend for miles.
3. Be fearless, shameless, but courteous and civil. Boldly reach out to people who inspire you, but know that there is appropriate time and place for everything.
4. The boat of opportunity will always come around. If you miss it this time, just keep your eyes pealed for the next time.
5. <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" href="http://missmillmag.com/millennial-mindset/forever-gutless-forever-grateful/" rel="nofollow" data-href="http://missmillmag.com/millennial-mindset/forever-gutless-forever-grateful/">Do what you love, live it passionately </a>and learn all that you can about it. Be an artist, a scholar and an entrepreneur at all times.
6. Creativity is more than arts and crafts. Creativity is a way to view the world differently. Use it as your ally, as your inspiration</p>

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<p id="4fdd" class="graf--p graf-after--figure">7. Have an idea? Odds are that someone else has thought of it before. But only you can infuse it with the passion that is uniquely yours.
8. And even if your ideas been thought of a million times, do it first and do it better. Do it anyway and see what happens.
9. If you feel strongly enough about something, stand behind it when nobody else will. Stand behind it passionately, invest time and money intelligently.
10. Emotions are arrows which point you in the direction your heart wants to go. Conflicted on which way to take your career? Listen to what’s going on inside. Your heart will guide you if you live what you love.</p>
<p id="c24a" class="graf--p graf-after--p">Stay tuned for the next ten. In the meantime…what are <em class="markup--em markup--p-em">your</em> ideas worth spreading?</p>

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<p id="cc66" class="graf--p graf-after--figure"><em class="markup--em markup--p-em">All </em><a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" href="https://www.amyoes.com/galleries/" rel="nofollow" data-href="https://www.amyoes.com/galleries/"><em class="markup--em markup--p-em">artwork</em></a><em class="markup--em markup--p-em"> was created by Amy on her detour. Learn about her</em><a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" href="https://www.amyoes.com/hire-me/motivational-speaking/" rel="nofollow" data-href="https://www.amyoes.com/hire-me/motivational-speaking/"><em class="markup--em markup--p-em"> speaking</em></a><em class="markup--em markup--p-em">, or catch her touring </em><a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" href="https://www.amyoes.com/gutless/" rel="nofollow" data-href="https://www.amyoes.com/gutless/"><em class="markup--em markup--p-em">Gutless &amp; Grateful</em></a><em class="markup--em markup--p-em">, her one woman musical, to theatres, colleges, conferences and organizations nationwide. Learn about her</em><a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" href="https://www.amyoes.com/gutless/for-colleges/" rel="nofollow" data-href="https://www.amyoes.com/gutless/for-colleges/"><em class="markup--em markup--p-em">mental health advocacy</em></a><em class="markup--em markup--p-em"> programs for students, and find out how to take part in the</em><a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" href="https://www.amyoes.com/lovemydetour/mission/" rel="nofollow" data-href="https://www.amyoes.com/lovemydetour/mission/"><em class="markup--em markup--p-em">#LoveMyDetour</em></a><em class="markup--em markup--p-em"> movement, and learn about her upcoming </em><a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" href="https://www.amyoes.com/book/" rel="nofollow" data-href="https://www.amyoes.com/book/"><em class="markup--em markup--p-em">book</em></a><em class="markup--em markup--p-em">, My Beautiful Detour at </em><a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" href="http://www.amyoes.com/" rel="nofollow" data-href="http://www.amyoes.com/"><em class="markup--em markup--p-em">www.amyoes.com.</em></a></p>
<p id="3dd1" class="graf--p graf-after--p graf--last">Follow Amy Oestreicher on Twitter: <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" href="http://www.twitter.com/amyoes" rel="nofollow" data-href="http://www.twitter.com/amyoes">www.twitter.com/amyoes</a></p>