what does it mean to take your life seriously?

spontaneous thoughts on self-respect

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I am practicing the way of self-respect.

I am practicing the way of self-respect.

I have to practice self-respect.

I have to practice self-respect.

I am trying to take myself seriously.

I am trying to take myself seriously.

I want to be worthy of my own time.

I want to be worthy of my own time.

What does it mean to take one’s life seriously? To take oneself seriously?

I think it means to question.

To look squarely at what you once called inevitable and to ask whether it might not be so. To feel curious, though to feel certain is safer. To be open to change, to all possible outcomes, to the chance that you might not know the ending just yet. To find the courage to befriend doubt, to begin to trust it.

I think it means to try.

To apply that wisp of potential instead of drowning in all the reasons you can’t develop it. To take risks, to invest hours, to get rejected, to find a teacher, to hone a craft, to fail miserably, to learn to do better.

I think it means to play.

To prioritize the things that bring you happiness. To buy art supplies and paint in your bedroom; to frost the most outlandish cake you can imagine; to put on colorful clothes and mismatched prints; to read smut or horror or whatever it is you like that embarrasses you a little bit.

I think it means to strategize.

To use time wisely; to unplug, get offline. To take your Adderall and do the work in front of you and stop disassociating, for the love of god. To go to bed early and to rise early. To forfeit your meager hours to nothing but your intentions.

I think it means to filter.

To put your life through a sieve and see what makes it through. To be selective about friendships and committees and hobbies and book clubs and all the obligations that eat away at your precious days because there is no time for should. Relieve yourself of the unnecessary. Let what remains be worthwhile.

I think it means to tend.

To nurture your body like it is your child, gentle but firm and with utmost kindness. To feed it good food and a lot more water. To stretch and strengthen it, most especially when you don’t want to — unless you listen deeply and it says no really and you say okay then, a blanket and tea it is. To walk barefoot. To open your senses.

I think it means to emerge.

To step away from the corner of the room. To call a ceasefire with false humility and self deprecation. To acknowledge your expertise. To see your achievements for what they are. To stop hiding from yourself and your own largeness. To accept a compliment for crying out loud.

I think taking your life seriously means getting honest with yourself until it scares the living daylights out of you.

And then keep going.

XOXO,

Shannon

Took my life seriously this week by putting pink streaks in my hair and taking a chicken with me to school pickup. Highly recommend both.