“I keep watching what I do to see what I really believe.” ~ Sister Helen Prejean
In February of this year, inspired by a post on Gretchen Rubin’s Happiness Project blog, I posted Ten Things I Believe. It was the first time I’d ever attempted to answer the question, “What do I believe?” and it took me a couple of days to come up with my list.
I had an inkling at that time that something significant was going on inside me. I didn’t realize the extent of it, though. As it turns out, I was at the beginning of a year that would be spent regrouping, figuring out who I am, what I’m capable of, what I want. I’ve learned so much this year. In so many ways (maybe in the most important ways), I feel I am a different person than I was when the year began. So as 2009 comes to a close, I wanted to revisit the list, spend some time again thinking about what it is that I believe.
Here’s my list today (mostly the same, but with just a few changes because that’s how evolution works).
Ten Things I Believe Now
- Normal life is extraordinary.
- We are all capable of magic; it’s important to perform some every day.
- The quickest, easiest way to produce something beautiful and lasting is to risk making something horribly crappy.
- Creativity itself is an act of faith.
- The act of listening is not instinctual; it’s an art. Let’s all be artists.
- Everything that ever happens to you, happens right now. Pay attention.
- Generally speaking, you get what you expect from people.
- Being yourself attracts people who love you. (Who better to fill your life with?)
- This cliché is true: Laughing is the best medicine.
- A beautiful spirit is irresistible.
So… what do you believe?
Before I read your new list, I read your first list. The seemingly subtle changes are significant.
1. Do you mean that normal life as in just being alive is extraordinary? Or do you mean that being able to live a normal life without upheaval or deprivation is extraordinary? I’m probably overcomplicating this, huh?
2. I love this – we are all capable of magic. I hadn’t read your earlier list when I said that I wish you a year that is magical. I do believe. I do believe.
3. I agree.
4. I agree. And I think we all have some area of our life where we have a creative talent whether it’s writing, painting, cooking, etc. But if you don’t believe in it, don’t have faith, it doesn’t come to the surface. Is that what you mean?
5. A lesson I learned later in life.
6. Pay attention to right now – so true. Especially don’t be focused on the would’ve, could’ve, should’ve dones cause then you continue to pass up opportunities if you’re looking at the past all of the time. Is that in line with what you meant?
7. I agree. And I think that they show us who they really are very quickly. I also think people treat us the way that we allow them to.
8. I definitely agree with the way you changed this item to being yourself attracts people who love you! I don’t believe in trying to change oneself for someone else. Compromise, sure, but not become what someone else wants just to make them happy while making yourself unhappy.
9. Yes! Laughing is the best medicine for every ailment except maybe a collapsed lung. It might kind of hurt to laugh then.
10. Of course you’re irresistible!
I like your list so much that I’d just like to use it, too, ‘kay? It’d take me too long to come up with one of my own with 10 items. I can give you the one thing that I believe above all others – family is THE most important aspect of my life. I get my psychic nourishment from my daughter and grandchildren. Second is the sustenance that comes from the affection and support of friends.
Hi, Dani! What a wonderful response, thank you! I think sometimes we’re so busy waiting for the momentous, that we miss the tiny ordinary, extraordinary miracles that happen every day – like when something blooms, or something muddled becomes clear…
And I so agree that people treat us the way we allow ourselves to be treated. Too often I think we forget our own power. Family – yes, the ones we’re born into and the ones we create for ourselves. :-)
I’m going to borrow this quote from the comment thread in February:
cmw said:”Recently learned: Receiving graciously and delightfully, is a form of giving. Do both with intensity and sincerity, without expectations”
A BIG BIG lesson for me and one you certainly helped teach me at this late stage of my life.
Thanks for all you gave me this year ms j. Both the tangible and the intangible. Both are priceless.
Big giant hugs!!!
k :0)
Thank you back! I’ve learned so much from you about grace and forgiveness and forward motion no matter what. You are an inspiration (who gives awesome big giant hugs.)
Pow! You smacked me with number 8. It’s so very simple, as most truths are, I guess. I think I’ve tried, unsuccessfully, to be someone else for most of my life. Now I’m wondering why.
I wish you another year of coming into your own, Judy.
I have to remind myself of 8 all the time, when I feel myself getting all tied up knots trying to please someone. It’s such an easy trap to fall into. But this year, I really tried to just be me. And look all you amazing people who jumped into my life!
I believe that is a great list. Remarkable, actually. Such a positive and pragmatic view of life.
I believe we are all connected, therefore our actions (positive or negative) affect everyone on the planet to some degree.
I believe that those of us with children have the highest obligation to teach them to be kind, loving people.
I believe you receive what you put out.
I believe there are things we may never understand and we should just accept them.
I believe this is one of the coolest posts I’ve seen in a while.
Cheers
George
I believe we are all connected too, and I absolutely, whole-heartedly believe you get what you put out. (You, my friend, must get all sorts of smart, bawdy fun.)
I’m not going to get all mushy on blog, but if I said all I want to say to you, I could make you cry right here in front of everyone. Hug.
“Creativity itself is an act of faith.” Yes, indeed it is. Thank you for the wonderful reminder–and the amazing list. I’m going to go work on one for myself, and try to create some magic in my day.
Actually, the realization that creativity is an act of faith was one of my big epiphanies this year. It allows me to let go of the outcome a little more – something I’ve struggled with. I think it’s only when you stop obsessing about the end result, that you free yourself up to be your most daring, creative self.
I just visited your blog. Love the sloth post! Thank you for introducing yourself here!
well, i believe you are right. :-)
congratulations on a wonderful, evolutionary, artistic year, my friend! (and thanks for sharing it with me.)
Thank you for being there when I call, desperate and overwhelmed. Your skills at talking me off the ledge are unparalleled. Hug!
Aw. sniff. Just that sent a little one down me cheek.
g
Hee hee. Wait until I call you dawg.
Judy, I’ll print out your list of 10 out and call it a guide for a full life…in it I see the essense of theology, faith, love, purpose, relations and essentially what it is (or takes) for us to be fully human…particularly love #6. Cheers…
Aww! Thanks. It took me a while to come up with the list. It was a really necessary thing for me to do at a time when I felt very lost and adrift. Now, it’s good to remind myself.
Hmmm, a year of growth and learning… noticing you are different than when the year started… significant changes to who you are…?? This all coming the same year we reconnected, hmmm?!? Well, seems OBVIOUS to me there is a direct correlation there! ha!
Nice set of things to believe in up above. I do think it always wise to believe in oneself along the way! Thats right up there with believing that we (as individuals and as a whole) should be better than we were yesterday! Not to be confused with my belief that it takes effort to be better and those that just exist are completely missing the point in life! Which goes hand in hand with believing that socks should never be worn with sandals (if your feet are cold wear shoes, sheesh!). All those together add up to my belief that one should always have things they believe in!
Hee hee! When I do my list of things I’m crazy thankful for, you will be way up toward the top! Socks with sandals… When you’re right, you’re right. NO argument from me.
So, I went back to the first time you posted on this topic, and low and behold, I listed 10 things I believe. Looks to me that 365 days hasn’t changed me much, so I will re-list them, with only a few tweeks:
1. Doing the same thing over and over will result in the same outcome, no matter how much you want it to come out different.
2. Knowledge is the mother of invention, curiosity is the father and serendipity is the weird uncle that delights everyone.
3. Blood is thicker than water.
4. People have, for the most part, good intentions.
5. Don’t sweat the small stuff.
6. I don’t believe in Karma, but if you do good things, you create an environment where more often than not, good things happen to you.
7. The only afterlife is the memory of one’s life left behind after one is gone, good or bad.
8. Receiving graciously and delightfully, is a form of giving. Do both with intensity and sincerity, without expectations.
9. Shit happens. Learn from it and move on.
10. Life is wonderful. Live it. Enjoy it.
cmw, And I still love #9. I need to master the “move on” thing. :-)
This list is why you’re beautiful.
It’s perfect. I’m not sure I could come up with anything else to comment back on.
I think I’ll make my own list –
Thank you, Becky! If you make your own list, I want to see it! (It’s actually really cool making a list like this. I felt like it help me set a direction… or two.) :-)
“I believe in the soul, …the small of a woman’s back, the hanging curve ball, high fiber, good scotch, that the novels of Susan Sontag are self-indulgent, overrated crap. I believe Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. I believe there ought to be a constitutional amendment outlawing Astroturf and the designated hitter. I believe in the sweet spot, soft-core pornography, opening your presents Christmas morning rather than Christmas Eve and I believe in long, slow, deep, soft, wet kisses that last three days.”
Well, since you left your post up it was just screaming for some Crash Davis commentary! ha!
Bobby, If I didn’t love you before (which I did, so that’s a mute point), I would now. Quoting my favorite scene from one of my favorite movies! One of the sexiest monologues EVER!
I’m going to watch BD tonight!
That’s a wonderful list Judy, you’re so right!
Once again, you’ve inspired me to write about something, I’ll let you know when my list is up.
I’m sure I’ll need a few days to come up with a list also…
Meanwhile if you check out my post for today I think I’ll bring an extra smile to your face :)
Oh, yay! And I absolutely love when you remind me to go look at your blog! You always delight me and I’m terrible about remembering. Big hug!
I believe in so many things I couldn’t possibly list them all without going haywire. Here are my two most recent discoveries:
1. I can no longer wait to be “in the mood” to write. Since I learned this (yesterday), I have become a better writer, because I actually … write.
2. I don’t gain weight; my head just gets smaller
My head is tiny right now. Shhhh.
hey! I didn’t know you liked that movie. Had I realized, I would have been tossing out quotes loooong before this! ha! The funny thing is, it was the first thing I thought of when I read the header yesterday. The second thing I thought of was actually Natalie Wood in Miracle on 34th Street saying sarcastically/ doubtfully “I believe , I believe , I believe…”
OK, a little more BD for you… “Man that ball got outta here in a hurry. I mean anything travels that far oughta have a damn stewardess on it, don’t you think?” — tooo funny of a line!
or
“why’s he calling me meat. I’m the one driving a porsche!”
They have absolutely nothing to do with your post but they make me laugh when I think of them!
Whenever I write a post, I breathe through my eyelids. Seriously.
Whatta list–you have a great way with words and wonderful spirit!! And, yes! to your no. 3–I need to remember that always…
I am always so delighted when you come by! I wonder if your artwork (which I love) starts out crappy. I’m going to believe it does. That would be encouraging!
i looove your list of 10 things! happy new years as we continue to dance into them!
Rachel, Happy new year to you too! Dancing. More of that for me, I think. Thank you for the reminder!
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