I dearly love life. The notion of life - its being, its presence, its puzzlement, its seemingly endless possibilities. Wholly and truly, I love life. By life, of course, I mean this: the vastness of essence, the wonderment of the copious levels of motion, the constant taking in of deep beautiful breathes on this giant spinning blue ball and catching glimpses here and there of earth's miraculously enchanting substance and all that lies within. Certainly, like everyone else, I have my days where the puzzle of life seems unsolvable and, in some cases, unbearable but by and large, life truly is a grand thing. I'm sure I don't have to tell you that, you likely already know it. In other words, and as per the fantastic Broadway musical, Wicked, I hope you're happy, my dear friends. The thing about it all is that in today's world, we have the opportunity to do so very much in life, as we never have had before, especially women. I want to do it all, and that is as plainly and to the point as I can state it. I can't tell you how many times I've incessantly daydreamed in droves about doing everything that there possibly is to do on this planet, realizing, of course, that daydreaming won't get things done and dreams need to be put into action. And I've met many a person who have relayed the same notion to me, of doing it all. It is by them, I am inspired in my quest. The bonkers thing of it is, this day and age is giving humanity the ability to accomplish as much (or as little of course) as we desire, quite literally. We can, as Oprah has said from time to time, do it all. Have it all. Be what we want and go after our dreams. We can live the fullest life that we can imagine for ourselves with firm motivation and steadfast dedication, focus and determination. We can. Even those things that pop into our brains that we haven't the foggiest idea how to bring into existence or tangible reality at the moment, we can accomplish. Those things, those dreams, can be an actuality at some point in our lives, if we are willing to work for them, go for them...try. I have always believed and fervently wish to continue to believe that if we can dream it, we can do it. I am certain of humanity's ability to do so. How else would we have gotten to this place in technology, creativity and innovation if otherwise, without those dreamers and action takers before us? Imagine it, one hundred years ago, a young child staring out their window into the dark night sky, attempting with all of their heart to wish into existence a way to touch the stars and then climbing into their beds, dreaming out several spectacular ways to make it happen. Could they have ever imagined that in less than sixty years from their night of dreaming that flying into outer space and "touching the stars" would, in fact, be realized. It's possible that young child's wishing and dreaming in his or her bed may have been the key to NASA getting into space. Maybe that child became the designer of the rocket, the engineer, the astronaut...who knows, but it's a pretty sweet thought. And of course now we send people into space to touch the stars on a consistent basis. That dream was realized. That is marvelous to me, dreams becoming reality. Of course, my dream in regards to super novas was to find a specific star. The second star to the right, to be exact. Finding Neverland was my dream (mad props to imagination master J.M. Barrie from the girl who firmly believed that Peter Pan was always sitting outside her window, waiting to take her to Neverland). However, the beautiful thing is is that as I've gotten older, and in what I believe to be true idealist fashion, I've found my own Neverland in various ways outside of finding the second star to the right. My Neverland exists everywhere around me, if I allow it to be so. It's wonderful. In all fairness, it will always be up to me to find it and delight in it, my Neverland. But, of course, I'm getting sidetracked. As is the case, I find, often in life...my life in particular. Getting sidetracked seems commonplace for me, but that's a whole other issue dedicated to a blog post all its own. In getting back on track with the concept of doing it all, I'd like to share the following thoughts. It's possible now that in most cases we, as a North American society, have the ability to attempt to do it all. As previously mentioned, I am one such person who literally wishes to do it all, and I know for a fact, I am not alone in this desire, as I said before, it is these people who have already relayed their wish to do it all who have inspired me. And so, I think the question we have to ask ourselves now is: what is it all? As is evident in the phrase...that seems like a lot. Excessive, all-too-much and possibly an overwhelming amount of things to do. It all. Well, it is. At least it is to me, as a person who sincerely desires to do exactly that - it all. Very overwhelming indeed. And so, what I've come up with, very recently and truly for my own sanity's sake, is this: the phrase it all needs to be personalized and made to be your very own. Instead of being overwhelmed and possibly feeling prematurely deflated before even the attempt of it all, you need to distinguish what it all entails for you, for your life specifically, and most importantly, for the dreams and desires you have within you. Basically, you need to create your own version of it all. What is it all to you. What do you want to do in your life, what are your dreams, what are your goals, all of what is important to you to accomplish that would warrant you adding it to your very own it all list? Because I can see and have experienced how following a potential ideal of it all could be very frustrating and, quite frankly, unhappily exhausting if not accomplished the way we may have previously thought it all should have been accomplished. Nothing, I suspect, is more challenging than attempting to keep up with or trying to accomplish someone else's version of it all. We need to be individually specific. What is specific to the dreams of Jillian, what is specific to the dreams of Beth, what is specific to the dreams of Anna (it's like Romper Room only with a point) because we are individuals. My idea of it all may be minuscule compared to some and lengthy compared to others. To each his own - live and let live - that should always be the way of it. I know I'm one of many (read oodles and oodles) on this planet whose goals, dreams and aspirations run rampant inside of my being and I know this because I have met far too many people with the same desire, the same spark, of wanting to do so much in this short span of time we call life ...essentially, wanting to do it all. And so where is it written that it all has to have one meaning for all of us? It isn't written anywhere! Write your own rules, discover and be exactly who you were placed here to be and come up with your own meaning for it all. Specific to beautiful, wonderful, and uniquely unique you!
To be as open and honest as possible on this whole idea, here is what my it all looks at this particular moment in time:
-always try
-give love, always give love
-acknowledge often that I do not have all the answers, if any at all
-dance daily and listen to music daily
-learn all ways: always learn
-make a list of places to see in the world in order of importance to me and do my best to see them
-open my own store that houses only refinished, handmade and recycled items, furniture, books, etc.
-take care of the planet everyday
-be genuine
-learn to dance well - tango, salsa, rumba, ballet, jazz, jive
-create something every week, but my own version of create (refinish, sew, paint, photograph, write, bake, etc.)
-learn to focus and be determined in all that I do
-exercise daily and attempt to take care of this body well - it is a gift
-read a book once a month
-be a role model/a big sister/a foster parent
-design a fashion line of vintage style clothing
-take Enid Avenue Incorporated to a level I am satisfied with
-write and star in a movie
-become a world famous canning and preserving genius
-write and publish books
-learn photography well
-learn guitar/ukulele well and write music
-start a vineyard and lavender farm after purchasing land in the south of France
...the list goes on, but I won't bore you with more. This is just an example and is definitely not the finished version of what my it all list might look like. It doesn't mean that I am going to complete or attain everything on the list, but it does mean I am going to try and bring these things into fruition and I am going to pursue with all my heart and soul my dreams. I have to. I feel it inside me as being necessary, and that is an inexplicable feeling. I do think it's important to hold ourselves accountable for the things we wish to achieve in life and I think by creating such a list (whether it's a mental list, a physical list, an online planner, a list of the heart, etc.) we are attempting to hold ourselves responsible and are more easily and realistically on our way to accomplishing exactly what we want in life. To put it metaphorically, I am like the horse that needs the blinders because I would be all over the place without them, possibly getting other horses in trouble and wreaking havoc on those around me. My it all list could be thought of as my way of attempting to keep myself focused and hold myself accountable for the things that I know I dearly wish to achieve thereby creating reasonable order in my life and the lives of those around me. I think it's important, actually I take that important back, rather it's necessary to make sure that your list contains everything that you want it to contain, even if right now you may think it is not an achievable part of your it all list...put it on. It needs to be what you find passion in, what you believe in, what you want for your life and what, at the end of your life, will leave you saying "I am therein content"...basically, I'm happy to go as I have passionately pursued and lovingly utilizd all of those things my heart gave me to think on. Recall that your soul - your heart, is your own and will send you things, ideas, dreams that simply cannot exist in this world without you as a catalyst. There is absolutely nothing wrong with imitating inspiration but know that you, yourself, in so many ways are inspirational as well and might someday be the one that others are imitating. When creating your it all list, do it over time. It doesn't have to be a written in one afternoon affair. Look at your list often, very often and in the morning when things look their brightest. Your list can go on and be written down over a long period of time - over your life even. I think I can say with certainty that there is no age limit to creating and maintaining your list and even changing it if you see fit. Your list may, and likely will, vastly differ from mine, but that is the point - it is your list. Your own. It's contents and your quest to accomplish them are what is important. A number, big or small, will never diminish their importance. These are your dreams, your desires and your aspirations. They should suit exactly you.
I realize this may sound like a "bucket list" but it's not. A "bucket list" is a list of things you want to do before you die. Your it all list is the list of all of the things you want to create, produce, put forth, realize, accomplish and find joy in while you LIVE.
Remember that we are all different and, for certain, our beauty lies in our variety. Not everyone views life the same way I do (and that is to your credit, I suspect - I'm a scatteration to be sure) and that is absolutely the way it should be. You may never write a list nor see the benefit or need in doing so. And that is completely the way it should be. If life inside presents itself to you in the most polar opposite way than what I have described here previous, and you find your absolute bliss in that, well, that is wonderfully splendid and beautifully meant to be for you. We are all individuals and it is how we each choose to live our lives that makes the world go round. So please take or leave this post in whatever way you see fit. That's the loveliness of choice - it's yours. Please don't mistake me, either. I do not mean this idea in any vain way that we should think ourselves better because of the desires of our hearts. That is not what is meant. I mean it to show that we are a humanity of insane amounts of creativity and capability that I, in my short time here on earth, have had the privilege of witnessing in both family and friends, acquaintances, strangers and role models (according to what we know and make ourselves aware of). I feel that we have only barely scratched the surface on what we as a human race are able to achieve. To me, it is not a vain thing, it is not meant as a vanity, rather it is meant as a way contribute what has been placed inside each of us as individuals that cannot come from anyone except the individual, our own self, because even science proves we are each unique and are the only one of ourselves. No vanity, only ability. Think of how we all add to this world and how much more we can add if we wish to and determine within ourselves to do so. That's pretty empowering, I think.
In closing, because this has been one hell of a long post and you are likely bored out yer' head, I will tell you that I have written an it all list and will continue to write my it all list. From this day on, until the end of my life, whenever that may be, I will be passionately pursuing the dreams given my heart, coming from my soul which is my life's star whose origins have come from another world, another time, a great Creator. It is a beautiful madness, this desire to do it all, but a madness I happily and fervently will chase. It's a start, at least, and if I've learned one thing in life, it's this - you have to start somewhere. I lament far too often about time passing me by, so now I hope this helps me to grab time by the coat tails and hang on for dear life as we fly about together. To all you beautiful, beautiful souls, I cannot wait to see what you bring forth into life from the heart and soul of your person. It excites me to no end to wait and watch for the brilliance inside come forth from the genius folk that surround me. It happens all the time - I see it all the time. You are all amazing and I hope someday, you might see fit to share your lists with me. Until then, be happy and stay passionate.
One more thing. I found a quote today by W.B. Yeats that I love. It's on dreams. When we share our dreams with others, we entrust them with a most precious part of ourselves. It is important that those dreams be nourished and encouraged and never made ridiculous or unworthy. For those of you with dreamers in your charge, be they children, family, friends, students, or even your spouse, be a good and caring steward of their dreams. I believe that you will reap the rewards of their dreaming as much as they do.
"I have spread my dreams beneath your feet. Tread softly because you tread on my dreams." ~ W.B. Yeats
*photos are not my own and are only meant as reference to some of the items on my it all list
Interesting, J. Along my path, I discovered this and I think it goes with your wonderful of "it all"
http://wonderofitall.com/
check it out. It's beautiful!BTW, I love your blog.
xo
Posted by: Alice | Saturday, 29 October 2011 at 01:02 PM