Friday, August 3, 2012

Imaginary Lives

I'm working through The Artist's Way a little more slowly than I would like thanks to a hectic work schedule and the travel that comes along with it. After being gone from home for a little over two weeks, it was nice to sit down for my morning pages and ponder this question: "If you had five other lives to lead, what would you do in each of them?"

My answers:

1. Travel writer
2. Novelist/Poet
3. A mom
4. A singer/songwriter with a devoted little following but not enough of one to make me "famous"
5. An anchor alongside Diane Sawyer

What five other lives do you imagine yourself living?

I'll conclude with the lovely little poem Dreams by Langston Hughes.

12 comments:

  1. Hi Andrea - I love this particular exercise from The Artist's Way! Today, mine would be:
    1. photographer
    2. detective
    3. organic farmer
    4. chef
    5. print journalist
    Tomorrow, they might be different!

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    1. I can relate, Kathleen! I change my mind from day to day on certain ones too. Today, I'd add carpenter to the list!

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  2. What a fun exercise. One of mine would definitely be a museum curator....

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    1. That's a good one, Hannah! You have such great attention to detail.

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  3. I have always wanted to do The Artist's Way but have never made the investment. Last year, over at The High Calling, we did Julia's The Right to Write as a book club book. I like to think of that one as an abbreviated Artist's Way. I even stuck with those dreaded morning pages for quite some time. It is such a lovely practice. I adore her exercises. This is a good one. My number one would be the same as yours, I think. And then each subsequent would be a different type of writer as well. Dream big, right :). I hope you have been well, Andie. Love to you.

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    1. Thank you, Laura. Love to you as well. You're an excellent writer and inspire everyone who reads your blog.

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  4. I purchased The Artist's Way waaayy back when it was first published, and have STILL not completed the course, though I've made it through week 2. (ha ha) I'm not at all sure why, although I'm fairly certain what Julia Cameron would have to say about why I haven't completed the course! LOL. I'd love to see more posts as you work your way through.

    Here are my five:

    1) Travel photographer
    2) Archaeologist
    3) Interior designer
    4) Advertising agency writer or artist
    5) Magazine editor

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    1. I'm about to start week two, but it's taken too many weeks to get there! I'm excited for the new chapter. I like your interior designer choice!

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  5. My list, Andee, is remarkably similar to yours. (Have dipped in and out of the Artist's Way myself, and may have this list somewhere already... :) Instead of your number 5, though, I think I'd have to add storm chaser/meteorologist. :) Weather, especially big storms, fascinate me.

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    1. I knew I found your blog for a reason! ;) Weather is certainly fascinating and I'm sure chasing a storm would be thrilling!

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  6. I love this exercise, Andrea! Thanks for sharing.
    Here's my list:

    1. Poet/novelist
    2. Co-interviewer with Terry Gross on Fresh Air
    3. Physicist
    4. Abstract painter
    5. Landscape designer

    The Artist's Way(which I had never heard of...guess I'm out of it)sounds very intense, but I like the two main practices of morning pages and weekly artist "dates." May give those a try on my own. :)

    Jill

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    1. It's not too intense, Jill. I think you would like it! Just go at your own pace. There's lots of good stuff in it, especially the need for self-affirmation. The pages are a task, but they've been good for me. If you do dive into it, I'd love to hear about your experience.

      I love your answers! I can definitely see the landscape artist and the abstract painter in you! :) BIG hug.

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