Friday, November 23, 2007

what do i want

A portion of my year 2007 was devoted to pondering what it is that I want, what do I deeply, sincerely want for my life. I read the book Eat Pray Love (now one of my favorite books), and its opening pages introduced me to a lesson Rumi taught his students. Rumi advised his students to write down the three things they wanted most in life. He then warned that one is destined for unhappiness if any item on the list of three clashes with any other item--for me this exercise was not for uncovering any contradicting desires (there were none) but was for going deeply within to find and face what it is I truly want. This introspection became one of my most significant efforts this year.

Weeks after discovering the book I watched Liz Gilbert (the author of Eat Pray Love) in a televised interview, and a lesson she left with her audience was for us to begin each day with the question "What do I really, really, really want ...?" (the words really, really, really are required). I was amazed with how much direction this little practice brings (the question relates to this day, for the rest of my days, or whatever comes up).

Both of these exercises helped me in my pondering and in every way that I explored it, I found the desire to create Spirit First.

Our lives are busy and complex, and so much noise and busyness can prevent our hearing the voice within that directs us to our own passion. Then, too, following one's own heart calls for courage (much courage) and strength, and maybe because it is easier not to pursue our dreams, we don't listen deeply. I lingered in my own pondering this year and made a decision to make every effort to honor my dream and bring it life. This, then, led to the beginnning of Spirit First. Whatever may come of it, I will be better for doing everything I possibly can to bring it to pass.

The Articles of Incorporation are now under review by my board of directors and my attorney and soon Spirit First will be legally incorporated. This dream shall come into being.

photography by permission of
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2 comments:

mermaid said...

I am so proud of you. Then again, I hope you are proud of yourself.

I really really want to be here, and I will remember to ask the question upon awakening.

Fri Nov 23, 05:40:00 PM EST
diana christine said...

Dear Mermaid ~ It used to be I struggled with not knowing how to feel "proud of my self," always seeing so much more clearly what I had not accomplished and what I had done imperfectly. Now, though, I practice each day an appreciation for and a pride in all that I am and all that I have done. It's lovely. Josh Groban's new song "Thankful" tells us "And even though we all can still do more,there's so much to be thankful for," and the words he wrote seem to me to be another reminder that even though I can always do more, there's so much that I have done that I can be thankful for.

Thank you, though, for also being proud of me. A sister's love and support is a beautiful gift.

Sat Nov 24, 08:24:00 PM EST

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