The Art of Living Lost: The List

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A ceramic mug casting a shadow on a wooden surface by a lake.

Photographer — Betsy Martin @betsysinclair

Last year, over coffee and kids, two summer-time friends asked me about my love life; had I met anyone? Was I dating?  The answer to both questions was the same: no and no.

Over the years, I’ve gone on a few dates that frankly, weren’t worth the effort.  Truth be told, I’m at an odd age; I’m not old enough to retire from the love game, and I am too old to get married and start another family. Not to be deterred by my blatant disinterest, my pals decided that I should make a list of what I wanted in a partner so that I’d recognize them when I saw them.

After some giggles and some thought, I had nothing.  I had no idea what would make a suitable companion.  Fortunately, as it turned out, they had a list and, for the next ten minutes, I sat quietly as they rattled off the attributes of the perfect partner.  Here’s the original list in the order they deemed proper:

  • Confident and not intimidated by women
  • Funny
  • Smart
  • Financially secure
  • Understands family
  • Someone, if he were a girl, you’d still be friends

I added chemistry; let’s leave it at that…

So, with the list in hand, I chugged the rest of my coffee, collected my kids, and went home. A few weeks later, I found the list and posted it on a corkboard in my office.  As I looked at the list, I decided to add three items that I thought would round out my perfect partner:

  • Someone I could confide in
  • Someone I could trust
  • Someone who would take care of me

Satisfied, I re-pinned the list to my office wall and went on with my life.

Over the next few months, I raced a sports car, cursed along with Five Finger Death Punch, and navigated a glacial mass.  Today, NOW, it’s time to exercise another universal law — the Law of Attraction. I’ve put my list out there.  What’s on your list? It doesn’t need to be a love list; it can be a life list. Remember, you only get one life. What do you want to accomplish?

Write it down and let’s see what happens.

Have a great week,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Art of Living Lost: Helmet Please

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Close-up of textured, reflective glass surface with distorted patterns.Hunter Thomas once said, “Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride!”.

I’m hoping to stay vertical on my current adventure — but, let’s be honest, odds are slim.

Have great week,

The Art of Living Lost: Harnessing the Power of Tenacity

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Wooden boxes with the word 'JOY' printed in red.A few months ago, I was asked to write an e-learning module about the Power of Tenacity; as I contemplated the topic, I wondered what makes a person tenacious? Are you born with tenacity, or is it a learned characteristic? If we are born with the ability to be tenacious, how do we tap into it? It was with these questions in mind that I started my research.

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