I wish to choose less.
Not make fewer choices, but allow less into my life. Less of that which is not me.
Sounds like the opposite of allowing abundance in, but it’s actually a recognition of the abundance that already surrounds and suffuses me.
I wish to let go and get rid of that which is not me so I can choose to be and act on that which is me.
Here’s how I’m getting to what is me: I’m listing some experiences in which I remember living effortlessly, with joy. Then I’ll figure out what was effortless, what was me at that time.
1. Reading _Follow the Brook_ with my great aunt and pretending to be that raccoon family. We used the davenport as our den.
2. Walking carefully across the trestle bridge over the river carrying a case of beer to the dinosaur park. Opening a bottle while riding Stegosaurus.
3. Swimming across the lake in the almost dark.
4. Windsurfing.
5. Hiking through the Lauterbrunn valley in Switzerland. Eating cheese, sausage, jam and bread. Cooling our feet in the stream.
6. Exploring the stacks in unfamiliar libraries. Reading old copies of Advertising Age. Feeling the weight of all those ideas as I turned the handwheel to open the shelf on the other side.
7. Hanging out outdoors on any college campus. Watching people using public spaces.
8. Figuring out how to put something together, how to get something to work. Installing my parents’ dishwasher.
9. Traveling with the train though central Europe, standing in the corridor with the window down, watching the landscape, towns, people.
10. Packing the car and taking off EARLY in the morning for parts unknown.
Okay. So it looks like my abundance includes imagination, adventure, a bit of risk, the outdoors, concentration, quiet time, ideas, discovery, independence, motion. These are what are wish to choose.
What a wonderful way to choose and recognize the things you love and that make you happy. I too choose to do the things that make my life meaningful and happy. As you wish for yourself, I wish for you as well.
By: Ginny on Wednesday 17 August 2011
at 2:02 pm
As you wish for yourself, so I wish for you also.
By: Lucy on Wednesday 17 August 2011
at 2:31 pm
Love your wishes. Less stuff, more you. As you wish for yourself, I wish for you as well. I would have loved to meet your great aunt…
By: beejee23 on Wednesday 17 August 2011
at 2:37 pm
What a great post! That book sounds like something i’d like to share with my grandchildren…please let me know how to find it. And what you are wishing for — more of — adventure, imagination, quiet, independence and movement sounds just about perfect. Well, maybe it is perfect. Good food for thought for me too! As you wish for yourself, so i wish for you also!
By: susannasays on Wednesday 17 August 2011
at 5:39 pm
Hi! Thanks for visiting. The book may be out of print, but I found some copies on Amazon. It’s called _Follow the Brook_ by Dorothy Lathrop.
Here’s a short description: “Two pet raccoons escape from their cage and return to their real home in the woods where they learn how raccoons really live, eat, and play.”
By: epapaluap on Wednesday 17 August 2011
at 6:46 pm
I like this idea.
As you wish for yourself, I am wishing for you also.
By: Dominee on Wednesday 17 August 2011
at 6:15 pm
Such a wise post – choosing what really matters to us. We only have so much time here on Earth, and the possibilities are endless. Going with what you feel passionate about seems like a very good “North Star” to follow
As you wish for yourself, I wish for you also!
By: Janece on Wednesday 17 August 2011
at 6:29 pm
this made my heart flutter, I recognize myself and am reminded I want to choose some of these things too. Thank you for casting this wish. As you wish for yourself, I wish for you, and me, and others, lovingly, as well.
By: Liz on Wednesday 17 August 2011
at 10:12 pm
What a wonderful list! My travels in Germany have always been my most favorite memories! As you wish for yourself, so I also wish for you!
By: Cindi Clarke on Thursday 18 August 2011
at 1:05 am
Such a wonderful list and your post makes perfect sense. It’s almost about choosing the important-to-you things and not getting bogged down by the rest. as you wish for yourself, so I truly wish for you also.
By: Mare on Thursday 18 August 2011
at 3:12 am
What a beautiful list!
As you wish for yourself, i wish for you also!
By: Lisa Pijuan-Nomura on Thursday 18 August 2011
at 4:41 am
Imagination, adventure, a bit of risk, the outdoors, concentration, quiet time, ideas, discovery, independence, motion ARE WONDERFUL.
As you wish for yourself I so lovingly wish this for you also. xx
By: sarahlulu on Thursday 18 August 2011
at 12:33 pm