Living Your Best Life
I went to my Drunk Austen book club yesterday (Jane Austenites with humor, minus snobbery) and was surprised to be presented with a fruit tart with a candle in it. It's my birthday on Tuesday, and my fellow Austen-reader Mariel had seen it on Facebook. They sang a Happy Birthday mashup song that was part Happy Birthday, part Cumpleaños Feliz, and as I blew out the candle, the only wish I could think of was...
"Please let me have more of this."
Oasis Camel Dairy Watermelon Days
More community with kindred spirits.More joyfully 'nerding out' with people who embrace their unique, multipassionate selves.And Mariel gave me another unexpected gift yesterday when she said "You know, when I'm talking to my husband, I refer to you as 'Living her best life Lauren,' because every time I see what you're doing and the events you're interested in on Facebook, I think, 'she's really living her best life!'"It's the nicest compliment I've ever had. It cast a new light on my life goal, my purpose really, showing it to me from a different angle. I don't usually talk about what I believe my life's purpose is. It's too important, too near, to bandy about in casual conversation. But anyone who bothers to read this blog is clearly a dear friend, so I'll tell you: It's to live in a way that shows other people what's possible; to inspire them to reach for more, to stretch the boundaries of what they think they can do, have and be. I'm not the only person with this mission. I've met so many people who live the same purpose, all approaching it in slightly different ways. We're all here, asking people to take another look at their limiting beliefs and question whether those limits should really apply. All of my clients share this mission, which makes my work for them an extension of my own purpose.Of course, it's not the only way I live my purpose.The other branch is to 'live my best life' as an example of the wonder that is possible. This world is so full of wonders. As much as we can't ignore the problems, we can't forget the beauty we're privileged to be part of.For me, this means hurtling myself into unusual hobbies that excite my sense of wonder, like camel handling, hat-making, herbalism and gardening, vintage collecting, hosting dinner and cocktail parties, dressing up in full 1920s style and dancing with people crazy enough to love doing the same. And I'm always looking for the next unusual hobby. I've just discovered I'm rather good at axe throwing. Who knew?The very best part of pursuing these odd interests though is meeting people who are further along their own unusual paths than I am. People who show me what more is possible. People who help me see my own limiting beliefs and flick them away like so much inconsequential dust. People who teach me to be braver and go farther. Let's help each other expand our expectations for ourselves, shall we?