The author titles Week 5 “Recovering a sense of possibility.” This chapter presents some hard questions that have me examining the ways that I put myself second and my family members first – something that I had accepted as necessary and virtuous. I learned today that this behavior can be a trap. But then, moving on from self-sacrificial actions, the Way gives me exercises to explore what I would and could do if it weren’t too selfish a thing.
The exercise, Forbidden Joys, asked me to list things that I would love to do, if I were allowed to do them. When I completed my ten things, I felt – exhilarated. Writing the list down made me smile. Reading it afterward warmed my heart. The theory is that writing about one’s forbidden joys breaks down the barrier to doing them.
Next, the Way tells me to post my list somewhere highly visible. Awwww! do I dare? After all they are Forbidden.
In the spirit of the Artist’s Way, what follows are ten things that I would love to do if they were allowed. To provide a full experience, I chose photographs illustrating my forbidden things. Half are my own photographs and half come from internet sites.
- Swim naked.
2. Climb onto a roof to watch the sun set.
3. Run up and down the stairs.
4. Eat chocolate cake once a week.
5. Interrupt someone who is speaking – especially when they are boring or pompous.
6. When travelling, stay the night at the finest hotel in town.
7. Have breakfast for dinner, or dinner for breakfast.
8. Take out the carpet in my studio and paint the concrete floor.
9. Pet every dog that I meet.
10. Hug every toddler that I meet.
There, that wasn’t so bad. I hope you tolerated my self-indulgence in revealing these forbidden joys. If you liked reading mine, perhaps you should try to make this list for yourself. You might just be convinced to actually do one of them.
Daily Fiber 