Galway Kinnell writes in the poem St. Francis and the Sow, "...everything flowers, from within, of self-blessing; / though sometimes it is necessary / to reteach a thing its loveliness".
Returning to that innate blossoming of self-blessing takes most of us most of our lives--if ever at all. Reteaching myself loveliness is why I write (and teach). It is also why I feel a kinship with and a reverence for Chris Guillebeau, the blogger and author who has been "challenging authority since 1978."
Guillebeau is one of the most coherent people I have ever experienced. His integration of who he is, what he does, and what he offers to his "small army of remarkable people" has created a momentum of leadership and authority that is inspiring, informative and, simply, remarkable. He invites people to do as he does: set your own rules, live the life you want, and change the world. In this way, Guillebeau is reteaching each of us the loveliness that was our birthright: that I am and you are a whole person capable of unfolding to our greatest potential.
In my 40 years on earth, I have observed the majority of the people around me, myself included, fragmented into the small selves, ideals and dreams we feel we are allowed. Disconnected from our sense of authority and power, our options seem few, and inspiration is scarce. Until, that is, we take our lives back, name and claim our passion, and risk shedding old ideas and walking unprotected into the wilderness of our own, personal passions.
If you want to call your soul back -- or line up even one little, jilted feather that is limiting your flight, I'd recommend reading The Art of Non-Conformity by Chris Guillebeau. Guillebeau will invite you back into the truth that your life can be remarkable. He will bring you back to what you have always known, but may have forgotten: that it is your birthright to do meaningful work that nourishes you and the community you serve.(He will also explain exactly how to go about this, and help you see how possible it is to actually do so.) Most importantly, Guillebeau will get you so excited about living an authentic life that you may find yourself effortlessly taking a step forward into your own, greatest desires -- then another. And another.
You may be familiar with the Marianne Williamson quote that begins, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?"
By presenting a thoroughly exhilarating alternative to this life-shackling fear, Guillebeau's The Art of Non-Conformity invites the reader to welcome all that we are--then use the force of our alignment to move where we were always meant to go.
Isn't it time to reteach yourself your loveliness? I, for one, want to see you live you live the life you were meant to live, not just the one you believe you are allowed to have.
