Oriah mountain dreamer

[Tribe]

When I was in my early twentys , I was having a crisis of identity , I was feeling ambushed by modern society's values and my inability to live up to them , when I stumbled upon this , it changed my life somewhat , this week I was reminded of it and I feel the need to share it with those who have not yet come across this before :) with love Tribe xx

The Invitation

Oriah Mountain Dreamer

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life's betrayals or have become shrivelled and closed from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it, or fade it, or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own; if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, be realistic, remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true. I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself. If you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul. If you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see Beauty even when it is not pretty every day. And if you can source your own life from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand at the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, 'Yes.'

It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone and do what needs to be done to feed the children.

It doesn't interest me who you know or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the centre of the fire with me and not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.

[Moonlight]

:smiley hug: A long time favourite of mine. Thank you for bringing it back to my attention.

[Altaira]

This is so empowering and wonderful, thank you for sharing. :sun:

[Sooz]

Well, that spoke to me.:smile2:

[Sparky]

Hi Tribe:


ambushed by modern society's values
You were not alone in your experience. When I was in the corporate world in my 20's & 30's I saw it also, time and time again meeting new people.


Oriah Mountain Dreamer

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

Your post is the most beautiful poignant expression how to live a life of joy I have ever read. Thank you, Tribe.

I also felt ambushed by many in my industry when the first question out of there mouth was: "Where do you live or who do you work for". I knew immediately I was being "pigeon holed" so they could determine if I had value to them with the right zip code or boss. There will always be many shallow grubby people with their own interest paramount in their small mind.

In contrast, when I meet someone new, I introduce myself with a firm handshake and followup with information about myself appropriate to the occasion. I don't ask questions of them other than: "Tell me your name, I want to hear about your adventures" and wait for their reply. Questions are reserved for followup of their comments.

It's amazing the wonderful people I met that I could categorize as a "second", meaning I would like to have another visit with them again...and we did again and again. That was years ago.

Today, I'm finding something radically different on several occasions. Some people come up to you, don't bother to introduce themselves, and fire off immediately: "where do you live"? Initially, I excused it as ignorance. Now I reply: "In my body" and just walk away as you can't fix stupid.