the burning question... from Danielle LaPorte

Danielle LaPorte, in her website, asks: How do you want it to feel? This beautiful yogini-friend posted her response on her blog, and the thinking and imagery resulting from these questions became contagious. So I got inspired to do the same. Here goes...

- A Manifesto -

I want my day to feel like a busy yet calm, organized, and productive kitchen.

I want kissing to feel like the very first time.

I want my next success to feel like a soulfully composed photograph.

I want my body to feel like the grace, strength, and exuberant joy of a dolphin moving through the water.

I want smiling to feel like spring flowers turning their faces to the sun.

I want my friendships to feel like a refreshing breath of fresh air and a home-cooked meal -- warm and nurturing, made with love and positive energy, leaving people wanting to come back for seconds (or more!).

I want my nervous system to feel like a coconut oil massage on the beach in the Philippines, caressed by the tropical sun and the salty ocean breeze.

I want my neighborhood to feel like the energy, diversity, and community in a farmer's market on a Saturday morning.

I want my integrity to feel like a pillar of quiet strength*, grace, and compassion.

I want my work to feel like a spirited, intelligent conversation between my left brain and right brain.

I want my money-making to feel like a nonzero-sum game.

I want my laughter to feel like a belly ache from laughing too hard at my comedian brother's jokes at our long, leisurely family dinners as I was growing up.

I want the end of the day to feel like a deep belly breath, a delicious yin stretch, and a warm hug from my husband. 

I want being of service to feel like kaizen in the world of education.

I want my philanthropy to feel like what sunshine does to plant life, nourishing and allowing them to blossom and bear fruit.

I want my challenges to feel like a cooking experiment: relying on knowledge, experience, creativity, and intuition, then taking a calculated risk.

I want my writing to feel like a reminder of the connection between all of us as human beings in this world, dreaming, aspiring, doing, and finding our way in our messy and delicious lives.

I want my love to feel like ocean waves gently lapping the shore -- magical, yet steadfast and certain.

I want my ideas to feel like a young child discovering and exploring the world for the first time.


I'd love to hear from you, friends... how do you want it to feel?



*"A pillar of quiet strength" is from my best friend's (of 23 years!) description of me, when we graduated college and dreamed of seeing the world.