(even more) be who you are

I feel comfortably safe in the mainstream.  When I am pushing my shopping cart through the grocery store in my yoga pants and Uggs holding my Starbucks cup, I am very aware that I fit squarely within my demographic.  And the truth is, it's what I've always wanted.  But, I am always grateful for the lift, the delight, and the inspiration I get when I cross paths with a "character" - someone who is blatantly being who they are, seemingly without a care in the world for what the rest of us think. These people are demonstrating their freedom to be, the greatest freedom of all and it's ours for the taking. 

I love the "Character Project" from USA Network, celebrating America's characters with 11 photographers capturing people in a "stunning example of our country's diversity." It is worthwhile encouragement for each of us to question how we might be more uniquely ourselves. 

Top photo: Mary Ellen Mark

(more) be who you are

How do you remain peaceful when the world is demonstrating everything but peace? Loving, when the world is demonstrating everything but love? Forgiving, when the world is demonstrating everything but forgiveness?

You insist on being who you are no matter what the rest of the world is being.

-The New Revelations, Neale Donald Walsch

be who you are

I pledge allegiance to my self

I WILL be more, do less.

I WILL be and let be.

I WILL be who I am.

I WILL become what I want.

I WILL begin inside

Eat, Pray, Love and try to Relax

I love Elizabeth Gilbert and her book "Eat, Pray, Love."  I am super excited that her book is being made into a movie starring Julia Roberts and that she has a new book (out tomorrow) I will read soon.

So it is not a stretch that I am enamored with her in this video clip from an interview for a new 3 part PBS series called "This Emotional Life" which airs tonight.  She describes observing a man in New York who was moving quickly, walking his dog, talking on the phone, reading a paper and shoving a bagel in his mouth all at the same time.  We can probably relate to a similar type of multitasking.  She questions why we do this, but most strikingly she comments that it takes a "ferocious, committed stubbornness" to "push against the river of forces that tell you there is not time to think even for one minute about what might bring you joy."

This hits on a very interesting aspect of being.  For such a passive, easy, lazy sounding concept, it is actually one of the most challenging things we can take on.  The world we live in values speed, productivity and measurable deliverables often at the cost of feeling, experiencing and appreciating what is happening at the time.  It actually takes just as much, if not more, focus and motivation to be more than to do more.  Or as Elizabeth Gilbert says, a "ferocious, committed stubbornness" to be more in a world that tells you there's no time or reward for it.

I don't know if her clips will make it into the series, but you can watch here.  "This Emotional Life" is hosted by Dan Gilbert, the Harvard professor who has become well known for his studies on and teachings of happiness.  It explores the spectrum of human emotions and how and why there are so many obstacles to happiness.  And it was produced by my awesome friend Dyllan.

Happy New Year

What if we didn't resolve to DO anything this year other than BE more?  

Let this new year bring a soaking in of the moments while they're here, an appreciation for the little things, a releasing of the past and an accurate view of where you are right now - the beginning of the rest of your life.