Take Back Your Life!

Howdy,

I’ve noticed a lot of folks run around crying for change. Way fewer folks actually stand up and do something about it. That’s probably the number 1 reason life/governments/economies tend to stay the same – complete lack of action. I know it’s fear. Just wondering why we continue to reign each other in when that method clearly doesn’t work?

Maybe we should replace some of the holidays we have — the ones that seem to be shopping-oriented — with action days. People have the day off from work to take a chance and be the first person in line to do something. I used to need to know that someone was going to be in line behind me. 9 out of 10 times the person who said they’d support me lost his or her own nerve and I ended up at the front, alone, facing a not so happy authority figure. I got used to it. Now I have no problem being the first one to speak up, to write up, to walk up. Makes me feel powerful and alive.

If you’re serious about changing the world, you need to get comfortable being first in line … What’s something you’d be willing to be first in line for? (Besides gelati and new high tech products.)

Hi all,

For today’s post, I decided to pick a random quote out of my quote book. Landed on some neat words from the psychologist and philosopher William James, “To change one’s life: Start immediately. Do it Flamboyantly. No Exceptions.”

Did some quick research. William is the brother of novelist Henry James (Turn of the Screw, Portrait of a Lady). What intrigues me is that William lived from 1842 to 1910, so even back then people wanted to wake up and change their lives. If you surf the Internet you may get the idea we are the first generation to be dissatisfied with the status quote. Clearly that isn’t the case. Feeling hemmed in by one’s circumstances has been around for a long time. We just like to think we are somehow more emotionally advanced.

Why is it so hard for humans to changes their lives, to live flamboyantly?

Interestingly enough, I got in trouble for dressing flamboyantly at my first job out of college. I wore big earrings and really bright orange and yellow floral patterns, purple, lime green, etc. My boss took me to breakfast one morning and said, “You dress too flamboyantly.” I knew right then I needed to find another job and that the conventional work arena was going to conflict with my personality.

Why are we supposed to tone ourselves down at work? Will that make us work better or make us more controllable? I never quite understood the “dressing down” philosophy.

I’m curious if this quote speaks to you. Are there ways you could live more flamboyantly or would you rather keep your life the way it is?

Muse thx, Giulietta

Hey daring readers,

As some of you may know, I’m a karaoke junkie. Been doing it for years, so I’ve observed that most folks will go to a karaoke night and sing the same couple of songs. Now, my best song is “Only The Lonely” by The Motels and I could choose to sing it every time I go to a karaoke night. I’ve got it down near perfect. I know it sounds good.

But that feels way too safe for me. I much prefer to do at least one new song and then older ones that I rotate through. The result? I’ve got a huge repertoire of songs. Some new ones like “Love Hangover” rock the house; a few like “Sentimental Journey” semi-bomb. Because I’ve gone through “song rejection” and lived, I have no problem trying a new song, even one a bit out of my singing range like the Crystal Gayle version of “Wayfaring Stranger.” That song has a couple of high high sections, one after another. The first time I sang it, I majorly cracked on high section numero uno, but quickly recovered to hit the high notes on high section numero due!

I learned that I can do “it,” whatever that “it” is and the only way to do “it” is to just do “it.”

For me, it would be more embarrassing to get up every week and sing the same song perfectly knowing I’m not pushing myself, then to get up there and do something new, exciting and vocally scary.

How about you? Will you try doing your “it” this weekend?

Muse thx,

Giulietta

Hey fiery folks!

I’ve always loved the Woody Allen quote, “90% of life is just showing up.” He makes it sound easy enough. So how come so few people actually show up for life? Yes, people come to work and family events and other “shoulds,” “musts” and “have to’s”, but how often do you show up for the things you really want to do, the physically, creatively or emotionally riskier ones that make you feel alive?

Want to see for yourself? Take a piece of paper and pick a recent week in your life. List the seven days of the week down the left side. Divide the top right into two sections: “shoulds/musts/have to’s” and “want to’s.”  Then fill in the columns and see what you come up with. If you’re coming up short on the “want to’s” side, take some time right now to figure out why.

As you’ve probably noticed, life goes by really quickly. Waiting until your 65 to start showing up for your life doesn’t make a lot of sense.

Muse thx,

Giulietta

Hey rebellious ones!

I’ve been a cave junkie since I first went to the Polar Caves in NH as a young child. Something about the hidden “rooms” intrigued my child’s mind. I loved to explore the inner spaces because they seemed mysterious and unknown and scary. Also loved the challenge of squeezing through the tight spots, like the “lemon squeeze.” Although fearful I might get stuck, I never did.

Whenever my husband Jimmy and I go to another state in the US or another country, we try to visit the caves that exist there. Some are big and unadorned, others are smaller and decorated with stalactites (calcite icicles dropping from the ceilings) and stalagmites (calcite “icicles” raising from the floor) but all of them intrigue me due to their underground nature.

I liken our emotions, thoughts and feelings to a series of inner caves that need exploring. I call this exploration “inner spelunking.” The best way to start? Venture in slowly, a little more each day until you feel comfortable in there, adjusting your attitude helmet until you can learn to see with your own unique light.

The answers to most of your problems can be found in these inner caves.

Hey wonderful Wednesday wishcasting friends!

The circle of wishers continues to grow. Jamie Ridler believed a big market existed for wishes! She was right.

Today I’d like to acknowledge one of my greatest traits: perseverance. I set a “Milky Way” big intention and continuously move toward my heavenly goal until I reach it. My journey may get dark or dangerous or detoured but I keep going, keep reaching for the Holy Grail of my desires. Take writing, for example. I wanted to get published & paid so I kept sending things out, kept tweaking things, kept taking writing classes. At first every essay I sent out got rejected with no explanation, then I started to get “we almost picked you” rejection letters with nice notes from the editors. Finally, I got the calls I longed for, “I loved your essay and want to publish it.”

I’ve been getting published ever since (and still rejected too.). The key to accomplishing your heavenly goal, whatever it may be, is to never give up. Most people give up. When the going gets tough, they get scared and retract into their “see, I’m a failure shell.” I get even tougher. And if someone says something “can’t be done,” I work at it even harder.

Most writers do not get published because they give up to soon. If you want to “fill-in-the-blank,” see yourself achieving it. As cliche as it may sound, “YOU CAN DO IT!”

Muse thx,

Giulietta

Nothing like a rebellious Monday to get me thinking in new and varied ways!

You’ve probably noticed that everyone is suddenly talking about authenticity in business. Be yourself. Let your true self out. Be real. Despite all the social media talk, I still feel many folks — even the ones advising others to do it — have one persona for work and one for play. Or even a work one that stretches out a bit for play.

Why have we been taught to put on a business face for work? Is that supposed to get us more business? Get us promoted?

Frankly, even the word authentic feels inauthentic when talking about people. I might use it to find out if a piece of furniture is a real antique, but for people? It comes across as cold. I want warm! That’s what I associate with a human — being real, being alive.

In my twenties I know I came across as cold. That’s because I was scared to be myself, scared a wild, rebellious lass would get in trouble like I did in elementary school. So, I held myself back out of fear, to avoid being punished. It made for a very unhappy decade. Thank god, I warmed myself up through singing in my thirties.

If you want to really be yourself, start being the same person no matter what situation you find yourself in, no matter who is standing in front of you, no matter what his or her job title or income is. Remember, it’s just a job title, it doesn’t mean this person is better than you or smarter than you or more worthy than you or that they want you to act different in front of them. That just divides people: from each other and from themselves.

I’d love to hear from some of you. Do you divide your personality into work & play? Or, if you don’t, perhaps share some of your secrets?

Muse thx,

Giulietta

It’s Wednesday again. Time for Jamie Ridler‘s weekly wish circle. Great way to meet other bloggers and visit new blogs. I highly recommend it! Today’s wish prompt: What do you wish to remember?

I wish to remember that my life belongs to me and I can fashion it any way I like. The conformist push and pull to live, be and act a certain way makes for an unfulfilled life. Giulietta the Muse, inspirational rebel, follows her own path through life!

This is my thirtieth post for Connie Green’s 30 day power blog challenge. Seems fitting to talk about one of my top ten traits: perseverance. I rarely give up once I commit myself to something. I’ve been in continuing ed classes where the class has whittled down to just me by the last two classes.

One instructor almost started crying asking me, “Did I do something wrong?”

“No,” I said. “Your class was fantastic! People start out with good intentions and enthusiasm but life’s distractions get in the way.”

Because I’m well aware of the downward spiral nature of distractions, I work hard to stay the course. If the scared side of me shouts, “give up!” I block her out and keep going. There’s always time to do the things you really want to do. It all depends if you really want to do them or not.

I’d like to thank Connie Green for putting this challenge out there on Twitter. My web site was barely up when the challenge floated my way. I could have used that as a excuse to not try but I knew that was the part of my brain talking that wanted me to keep playing small. It’s been an amazing writing/blogging  journey!

I wish you the best in your own writing …

Opened the paper this morning (yes, I still love the feel of newsprint) to read about a young man, an ex-Iraqi war vet, who is walking across the country for peace. Being in a war changed his feelings about wars or what he thought a war was. He walks about 20 miles a day, stopping to talk to people along the way. He’s also giving away his combat pay to various charities and causes.

Now that’s generous! How many of us would give away our hard earned cash to promote love? I like his spirit and sense of adventure and wish him well on his continued journey.

Please check out his blog, “Contagious Love Experiment.”