2.17.2010

The most you can do


As my Mondo Beyondo class concludes, I'm feeling exhilarated by new ideas, exciting possibilities, and - most of all - the dreams I've articulated for myself. I'm also feeling a tad bit overwhelmed. Reading over the journal I've kept throughout the class, I'm struck by the sheer amount and variety of things that interest and inspire me. Things I've never really considered before, but that somehow made their way out of my subconscious mind and into my journal throughout the process. It's a little disorienting, for example, to see the words I want to to learn how to arrange flowers written in my own handwriting. Really? I think to myself. Is that what I want? I'm not sure. It came from somewhere though.

These pages filled with seemingly random tidbits, notes, and half-finished sentences feel significant in a way I can't put my finger on. But I think, in part, it's this: I'm noticing recurring themes - things that seem to pop up, in various forms, over and over again. Things like art + being surrounded by beauty, connecting with nature, creativity, family + community, food + cooking, adventure + travel, and holistic health/wellness. I already knew that these things were important to me in some general and undefined way, so the categories themselves aren't all that revelatory. But to be confronted with *specific* long-buried or never-before-articulated hopes and dreams (such as one of my adventure + travel dreams: become an Outward Bound instructor) is an incredible and slightly terrifying feeling. Talk about an "aha moment." You mean it's totally within my power to identify and pursue the things that are important to me? No one's going to give me permission? No one's going to do it for me? Nothing's stopping me?!?! WHAT?!?!?!?

Ahem. (Like I said...pretty exhilarating stuff.)

I keep coming back to this quote from the oh-so-wise Barbara Kingsolver:

"The very least you can do in your life is to figure out what you hope for. And the most you can do is live inside that hope."

I want to do the most.

Image via Chris Everard.

5 comments:

Meg said...

i think i want to take this class.

Kirsten said...

Ok. I love this post! And now I want to take the class too!

I feel like I want to do so many things and learn so many things and then I just don't do them. Which is crazy considering I have the ability to at least try most of them!

Random things on my list: learn to surf and learn to play the acoustic guitar.

Unknown said...

i was looking at my Mondo Beyondo list the other day and thought the same things...I want to do THAT?? really??!! i totally want to take the class now to. Kimberly Wilson is starting an e class next month that i think you would love. i am taking it. it would be fun to chat with someone else i knew was taking it! if you are interested, e mail me and i will send you the info....

shellytoland@hotmail.com

xoxo
ps- did i say i loved this post?

Jenn @ Dear Heart said...

Um, I'm totally looking into floral design classes. I'll let you know what I dig up.

alisha said...

love this post. it is overwhelming--and yet exhilirating--to have these realizations. i had some when i worked through the artist's way thish past summer. but this class sounds really interesting. hopefully i can take it soon!

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails