imaginary lives.

i loved this couple reading together on the metro.

oatmeal with strawberries and yogurt from timor (the store).

a few of my favorite juice glasses.

peace. lily.

early morning view from my room.

i was challenged by a new yoga friend to answer the following questions from this blog post that are inspired by the book/creativity workshop called the artists way (i have written about the amazing practice from this book of writing morning pages before--i still totally swear by it) and i thought i would share the answers.

write ten things you love:
1. airports
2. thai massage
3. kombucha
4. hanging out with my brother
5. my bed
6. this blog
7. watching 30 rock
8. clothing swaps
9. gelato from dolcezza
10. my neighborhood

write five things you would do if you knew you wouldn’t fail.

1. pursue liz gilbert being my mentor
2. go to art school--have an art show
3. write a book
4. learn to sing
5. apply for a fulbright grant

write five alternative lives you would like to live other than your own.

1. a doctor without a border
2. an artist like this lady
3. a flamenco dancer
4. an anthropologist studying the amazon
5. a hardcore photojournalist like eugene richards

write four tiny things you can do in the life you have to bring you closer to those imagined lives.

1. investigate if anyone wants to trade voice lessons for yoga
2. ask at big bear or yoga district if i can have a photo show when i get back from peru this summer
3. sign up for art classes at nova this fall
4. go see the doctors w/o border documentary at e street

now, imagine an older, wiser version of yourself who has some advice to share.

what do you need to know?

that really, everything is going to be okay. to start exactly where i am now and start believing that the life of my dreams is a very real possibility. to say "no" more often and care less about people liking me and more about the things that really bring me joy. that my presence is extremely valuable and to be patient and to play more and let things work themselves out. also, not to waste time being angry at people--love is more important than being right.

what do you need to embrace?

rest, play, everyday decadence, mindfulness, trying something new every day, transforming negatives, people just as they are, finding the beauty in the mundane, telling the truth, sharing what i am really going through and appreciating what i do have going on for me. my life, my presence, the love i offer the world.

what do you need to do?

just jump right in. start writing a book and believe that the process will take you there. keep playing music even if you can only play two songs. find the beauty in every moment and find ways to document it--draw it, photograph it, write a song about it. dance a lot and trust my body to do amazing things. relax and keep on going even if things aren't flowing because they will start to flow as soon as you let go. believe fully in who i am.

what do you need to grieve?

that i can't make everyone happy and still be happy myself. that i have a strong perfectionistic streak in me that is how i try to control situations that make me uncomfortable. that people can't always give me what i need. that i am not 22 anymore and my world view is more complicated in a lot of ways. that i can't trust everyone. that sometimes i have to parent my parents. that i've spent a lot of time in my life not listening to myself or taking the time to believe in my vision and therefore have missed out on some awesome opportunities because i haven't been ready for them.

what do you need to celebrate?

that i am here now, breathing and beautiful. that i have work that i love that feels natural and healing. that i know how to always come back to appreciation and find the positive in every moment when i focus. that i have had such amazing travel/living abroad opportunities and met so many amazing teachers over these past years. that i have grown as a human being. that i have taken so many risks. that my dreams are alive and vibrant and i feel better poised then ever to go in their direction. that i feel connected to the experience of being alive more then i ever have before. the beauty of human imperfection and truth.

***

i've done a lot of thinking about dreams in this past year, mostly from taking this online course. i believe there is a special energy that comes when we talk about what we want. as human beings we are changing all of the time and i believe our minds should be used to set the course of where we want to go. i think if we can envision something different for ourselves then chances are we can figure out how to make it happen.

i think a lot about the idea that everything, all the raw materials, that we need to make our most advanced technology have always existed on our planet since we've known about it. so what has changed? our vision of what is possible.

but i understand that dreams can be a little scary, especially when they seem really out there. i always feel that way when i write about wanting to play music--like i am way too old and not naturally talented, etc. but the truth is that is something my heart wants and i can take my little steps. i mean, a year ago i couldn't play an instrument and now i technically do play the piano (two songs worth of the piano). so writing about the teeny tiny changes we can make reminds me again and again that the only way to achieve my dreams is to start living them now, in this very moment, in any small way that i can and then i can just leave the rest up to life.

so if you are inspired, take a few minutes and do the list yourself. if you want, you can post your list in the comments to this post and give your dreams a little public attention which they totally deserve.