A Chic Paris Lockdown – Day 14 – An Authentic Life

“Design the Life of Your Dreams” is the title for Day 14 in Fiona Ferris’s book, 30 Chic Days. Fiona encourages us to conciously sit down and have a good, honest think about how we want to live our lives. She advises us to pick up pen and paper (or put fingers to keyboard) and make a list of everything that pops into our heads when we ask ourselves, “What really makes up the life of my dreams?” Big pieces and little details, list them without hesitation, especially without thinking of what anyone else would say or think if  they saw your list.

I tried this exercise in June of 2018. I was on an airplane – no where to go while in flight, no distractions. Just me and my thoughts. So I asked myself a similar question, “What would my life look like,  if I had a magic wand?” I was surprised when the words poured out of my hand faster and faster onto the paper as if completely bypassing my every-day brain. About 45 minutes later, I had completely filled the last few free pages of a small notebook that I carry with me. I had even scribbled up the sides of each page  and over some left-over sketches on an earlier page. I felt astonished and exhilerated and almost nervous as I looked at these words that exploded out of nowhere. But they were my words. They resonated with my truth.

The plane landed and I put the list away. Little by little, in small steps and some big steps, I have walked toward including the items on the list into my life. I didn’t need to look at the list all that often.  (I still have it, by the way). Just the act of asking the question and letting the honest answers roll out, I almost unconsciously started taking the small steps that move me in that direction. Happily, I found that many items on my list are easily implemented. Yea! Win-win: small effort – big pay-off in terms of fun and beauty.

Clearly, if you enjoy Fiona’s book or this blog, then you enjoy thinking about your life and looking for creative ways to up-level your daily experience. Fiona’s Day 14 is fun and powerful – give it a try!