Originally shared on 4 May 2018 via TinyLetter.

Dear all,

I’m headed to Nashville next week for my sister’s graduation from law school. I’m feeling a bit nervous, so I’ve been writing, biking and reaching out to some close friends. If I could sum up the ping-pong flow of worry, it is:

I won’t fit in. <> I’ll have to conform.

This might be one of my fundamental artistic questions in life. Maybe it’s a fundamentally human question because we are community-based species with a wild and wondrous ability to seek and live by our own free will. We ask “Who am I?” with the same breadth as “Where do I belong?”.

This worry can be broken down into detailed questions. Here is one that is on my mind, this week:

How do I relate my unruly professional life with one word? <> Do I actually yearn to be a named profession?

I don’t have an answer but I do have a challenge for myself and for all of you. Today, while weaving through my multigenerational world, I realized that adults will ask, “Are you a dancer?” but kids will say, “Come dance with me!”.

So, with that in mind, this next week, try this:

Embody a verb. Not a noun.

Go bike. Not a cyclist.

Imagine a book. Not a writer.

Sing. Not a singer.

Wander with words. Not a poet.

Shabbat Shalom, everyone.

Share your verbs, go forth and be playful. 😉

Love you!

xoMo

 

PS. If you know anyone in Nashville who might want to ride bikes or read poetry or collaborate on writing or exploring or art, please put me in touch!