November 2011
20 posts
respecting your natural ability and your never, never, evers.
So an extreme runner, a baker, and a writer walk in to a dinner party…
I didn’t even know there was such a thing as “extreme runners”. IronMen, yes, but extreme runners? People who run like, ONE HUNDRED MILES at a time. In a day. Over the course of 12 to 24 hours. Without, like, DIEING. I listened to the runner’s personal story, absolutely riveted. When I picked my jaw up off the table, I pummeled him with questions. How do you feel after a race like that, How long to train, How do you push through, What about injuries, How long have you been this insane?
And I think to myself: Never, never, ever. I have no concept of what that natural ability feels like.
And then came dessert. A sixtroopled layered meringue masterpiece. Layers of cakey meringue propped up with gorgeous goopy lemon curd and fluffy whipped white goodness whispering out of the tiers of scrumptiousness. Blessed with raspberries. And mint leaves. Placed on a heavy ceramic white rectangular platter. Sprinkled with edible fairy dust. I thought the co-hostess was joking when she said that she made it herself. I swear to the Gods of confectionery pleasure, this is what went through my head: It would be easier for me to build a bridge then to bake that mother. I was mystified.
And I think to myself: Never, never, ever. I have no concept of what that natural ability feels like.
Then the conversation turned to writing. And the dinner guests say kind things about what I do, how I string words together. And without being smug (one of my least favorite human dispositions), I softly say that, Ya, it comes easily to me. Pure delight. And someone says something like, “I could never write as easily as you. Nope. Never.”
And it occurs to me that we each have our delicious natural joys and our Never, never, evers.
And how beautiful that is.
“Some of the most life shaping decisions you’ll make will about walking away from good-enough, in search of can’t-live-without.”
—
Inquisitive beast
My mind is an inquisitive beast
which is to say
it is like a fish
attracted to shiny things
like hooks.
It’s why I never write
with music on
I am too distracted
by the lyrics
erasing a day
before I realize I have been the audience
not the art.
Play
Time soaks up the day
Time soaks up the day
and I attend to the assembly line of lists
like a dancer in a play
that never stops
so it is me
that must punctuate
this cascade
with poems
like the flagpoles of explorers
except what I am staking
is me.
“
Be there. Go there now and never leave. Imagine that your dreams have already come true. Live your life from that mindset. Predicate your behavior on that reality, not the illusions that now surround you. Filter every thought, question, and answer from there. Let your focus shift and be born again - because dwelling from, not upon, the space you want to inherit is the fastest way to change absolutely everything.
See the difference?
The Universe
Get pushing.
Horoscope for today:
“You know what needs to be done, so get on and do it. This is one of those times when, if you push yourself just a little bit harder, you will somehow get ten times more done than you expected. So get pushing.”
—
I usually don’t follow horoscopes, but I will randomly check when I am curious. Usually when I do that, they are spot on. Like today. I have been procrastinating a daunting list of tasks and I hope this will motivate me to just do it.
Ghosts That We Know
Mumford & Sons
“Ghosts That We Knew” a brand new track by Mumford and Sons
“And we’ll live a long life
So give me hope in the darkness that I will see the light
Cause oh that gave me such a fright
But I will hold as long as you like
Just promise me we’ll be alright”
“The difference between success and failure isn’t the absence of fear but the determination to pursue your heart’s desires no matter how scared you are.”
—Martha Beck, Finding Your Own North Star
You Are Beautiful
via my dearest friend’s blog the poetry of life .
Have you heard of the “You are beautiful” movement? Maybe you were walking down the street on a particularly dismal day and stumbled upon the words on a telephone pole, in a bathroom stall, or on the wall of a favourite coffee joint (or on a giant panda atop an Irish hilltop.) Well, someone left them there for you.
You are beautiful. It’s true.
I’ve long been a fan of this simple, creative movement and I just got word that they are doing a reprint in a couple of weeks. So, if you’re thinking of getting some stickers, now is the time!
From the You are beautiful website:
We can’t go anywhere without a few in a wallet or back pocket. They always come in handy - slapping one up, leaving one behind for that nice waiter, or dropping one into the lap of someone who has had a tough day.
You’ll get 10 stickers for each dollar, and we’ll cover shipping on all donations made between now and November 4th.
Songs To Press Repeat-Cardigans and Coffee Edition
1. Death Cab For Cutie-A Lack Of Color
2. Andrew Belle-Add It Up
3. Sean Carey-In The Stream
4. Joy Williams-Speaking A Dead Language
5. Jaymay-Autumn Falling
6. Priscilla Ahn-Dream
7. The Weepies-Somebody Loved
8. Iron & Wine-Love and Some Verses
9. Neko Case-Maybe Sparrow
10. M. Ward-I’ll Be Yr Bird
11. Bon Iver-Blindsided
12. Angus and Julia Stone-Bella
13. The Middle East- Months
